UAE Visa on Arrival: List of Eligible Countries

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) offers various methods for getting a visa. Visas on Arrival are among the options available to visitors based on the objective of their visit; those who qualify can obtain one at the immigration desks of the airports after landing in the nation.

News About UAE Visa On Arrival

Indian nationals with a US green card or a residency permit in the UK or another EU member state can now apply online for a pre-approved visa-on-arrival, allowing them to enter the UAE as guests for a 14-day stay.

This 14-day temporary visa can be renewed once, according to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai.

To make travel for tourists easier, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made significant revisions to its visa exemption program. The visitation process is now made simpler for citizens of 87 countries since they can enter the UAE without a pre-entry visa. Travelers who meet the requirements can pick up a 30-day entry visa upon arrival, with an extra 10-day grace period. To allow for longer trips, citizens of particular countries will also be able to extend their visas up to 90 days after they arrive.

You can check your eligibility by visiting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs official website and looking through the list of nations exempt from visa requirements as well as the entry requirements for each. You can also get more information by getting in touch with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Ports Security, and Customs (ICP).

Cost & Eligibility

Indian nationals are reportedly qualified for a visa-on-arrival in the United Arab Emirates if they have a regular passport with at least six months remaining on it. Indian passport holders must have a valid US visa, or green card, or be a resident of the EU or the UK for at least six months to be eligible.

UAE airports have been providing visa-on-arrival services to qualified tourists since 2017. Upon arrival, this visa is normally stamped at the immigration counter. Customers may now pre-arrange their visas, which will speed up their arrival procedure and let them “breeze through customs,” thanks to a new service that Emirates has implemented.

There is a service charge of USD 18.50 in addition to the service cost of USD 47. According to Emirates, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs retains “absolute discretion” over the issuing of visas.

Nations Listed For UAE Visa On Arrival

Several nationalities are exempt from the need to get a visa in advance to enter Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). You don’t need to apply for a visa in advance of your trip to the UAE if you are arriving from any of the nations or areas indicated below. You can easily go to immigration after arriving in the UAE to obtain a visa.

Additionally, citizens of the GCC countries—Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE—can visit the country without a visa as long as they show a valid ID card or passport.

The following nations’ citizens are qualified to apply for the UAE’s visa on arrival (VoA) program:

Australia
Swiss Confederation
Czech Republic
Slovak Republic
French Republic
Hellenic Republic (Republic of Greece)
Hungary
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United States of America
United Mexican States
Japan
Principality of Andorra
Principality of Liechtenstein
Principality of Monaco
Ukraine
Barbados
Brunei Darussalam
Solomon Islands
Republic of Azerbaijan
Republic of Estonia
Argentine Republic
Eastern Republic of Uruguay
Republic of Albania
Federative Republic of Brazil
Portuguese Republic
Republic of El Salvador
People’s Republic of China
Republic of Maldives
Federal Republic of Germany
Republic of Austria
Republic of Ireland
Republic of Iceland
Republic of Italy
Republic of Paraguay
Republic of Bulgaria
Republic of Poland
Republic of Peru
Republic of Belarus
Republic of Chile
Republic of San Marino
Republic of Slovenia
Republic of Singapore
Republic of Seychelles
Republic of Serbia
Republic of Finland
Republic of Cyprus
Republic of Kazakhstan
Republic of Croatia
Republic of Korea
Republic of Costa Rica
Republic of Colombia
Republic of Kiribati
Republic of Latvia
Republic of Lithuania
Republic of Malta
Republic of Mauritius
Republic of Nauru
Republic of Honduras
Georgia
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
State of Israel
State of Kuwait
State of Qatar
Vatican City State
Russian Federation
Romania
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Sultanate of Oman
Commonwealth of the Bahamas
Canada
Malaysia
Kingdom of Spain
Kingdom of Bahrain
Kingdom of Denmark
Kingdom of Sweden
Kingdom of Norway
Kingdom of Belgium
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Montenegro
New Zealand

For a cost, Indian nationals with a valid six-month visit visa, a valid green card granted by the USA, or residency in the UK or EU may apply for a visa on arrival, valid for a maximum stay of 14 days, which can be extended for an additional fee.

Before visiting the UAE, please confirm with the UAE consulate in your country since the lists of nations that can receive visas upon arrival are subject to change.

UAE Visa Upon Arrival

30‑day Visa On Arrival Eligibility: These nations’ and territories’ citizens are qualified for the 30-day VoA.

The Republic of Ireland, San Marino, Singapore, Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, New Zealand, United States of America, Vatican City, United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland.

90‑day Visa On Arrival Eligibility: The following nations’/regions’ citizens are qualified for the 90-day VoA.

Argentina, Austria, Bahamas Islands, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, U.S.

180‑day Visa On Arrival Eligibility: A 180-day multiple-entry visit visa is available to holders of Mexican passports; it is valid for six months after the date of issuance.

Requirements For Obtaining A UAE Visa Upon Arrival

Those who meet the requirements for the Visa on Arrival program will be issued a 30- or 90-day visa, which can be extended if necessary. The visa can be obtained online to avoid the lengthy immigration line while arriving in the United Arab Emirates, as well as upon arrival at any entrance point.

You must travel with one of the authorized airlines to obtain a visa at the airport upon arrival. Moreover, you can apply for a visa in advance through the UAE-approved electronic visa system. The electronic visa system eliminates the need for you to pick up your visa at the airport; instead, it will be sent to you by email.

Travelers must confirm they will have enough money to maintain themselves and any dependents during their visit before submitting an electronic visa application.

After entering the UAE, the passport of the visitor must remain valid for six months.
A picture of the passport page with the bio
A working email account
A working credit or debit card to cover the cost of the UAE tourist visa

When requesting a pre-arranged tourist visa for entry into Dubai or Sharjah (for friends, family, or relatives), the sponsor or host in the United Arab Emirates needs to have the following:

A minimum salary of AED 3,000.
Passport copy and residence visa with a minimum of 3 months validity
Bank statement of the previous 3 months stamped by the bank, or the latest salary certificate and tenancy contract (with a minimum 3-month validity).
Visitors’ passport copy (6-month validity).
Two photographs of the visitor with a white background.
A cash deposit of AED 2500 (for each visitor).
Proof of relation such as a copy of Marriage / Birth certificate attested from the ministry of UAE and translated to English or Arabic.

You can still apply for a visa even if you don’t have a host or sponsor in the UAE. See which permits and visas you can apply for without a sponsor by reading our article.

Only if they are traveling with another GCC national can residents of any GCC country apply for a UAE visa online via ICP Smart Services or the GDRFA website. These visas have a 30-day expiration date, but they can be renewed for an extra 30-day period.

Visas Are Not Issued To Arriving Visitors

Via its embassies and consulates abroad, the United Arab Emirates does not grant any visas. Therefore, to enter the United Arab Emirates, if you are not a citizen of one of the aforementioned nations, you must obtain a pre-arranged visa. You are unable to apply for a UAE visa on your own. Any one of the following is used to process all pre-arranged visit visas within the United Arab Emirates:

A host or sponsor based in the United Arab Emirates.
An authorized travel agency (the company from which you get your ticket).
The UAE hotel where you are now staying.
any carrier, such as Etihad Airways, that is permitted to grant a visa as long as you will be traveling with them like

Emirates Airlines
Etihad Airways
Flydubai
Air Arabia

Those who are not qualified for a Visa on Arrival or a Visa-Free Entry must apply for a visitation visa inside the United Arab Emirates through their UAE host or sponsor. Before leaving, please make sure you have a copy of your visa from your sponsor.

For further information about applying for a visa on arrival and entry permits/visas to enter the UAE, please visit the official government portal of the United Arab Emirates.