Coming to Dubai – to apply a visit visa or tourist visa?

If you are interested to come to Dubai for holiday or visit purposes (or to look for a job), then a valid visa should be obtain. The procedures for getting a visa to enter Dubai are relatively simple and hassle free if all documents are in order but most question is what type of visa to apply in order to come to Dubai?.

What is the difference between a visit visa and a tourist visa? Although they are both entry permits for visitors to UAE, the difference is mostly to do with who sponsors the visitor, the cost and whether the visa is renewable or not.  

Tourist visas are available to all nationalities (except Israeli passport holders) and must be prearranged usually through sponsorship (with the relevant visa fee) by an airline, tour operator/travel agent or hotel based in the UAE. Validity to stay in the country is 30 days and renewable once only for similar period (30 days).

For the application of tourist visa the documents that are required are; passport copy, photo (size 4.3 x 5.5 cms colored and clear with 80% of face clearly visible) and data including address of home country. As a standard practice, the sponsor (airline, tour operator/travel agent or hotel) will require booking of flight and hotel before the application of tourist visa. The usual cost for tourist visa range from AED 850 to AED 1000.

Visit visas are also available to all nationalities (except Israeli passport holders) and sponsorship is done through a UAE based company, a UAE/ Dubai national/local or a UAE / Dubai residence visa holder with qualifications to sponsor. 
Company visit visa is intended for business visitors to the UAE that have some type of relationship to the company. There are chances that some proof might be requested upon arrival of the visitor in the airport such as business card. 
Application of sponsorship through a UAE / Dubai residence visa holder is very easy if the visitor is a first degree relative (mother, father, son, daughter, husband or wife, brother or sister). Second degree relatives will probably require special permission from the immigration department. 
A Dubai residence visa holder is qualified to sponsor if he/she is getting a monthly salary of not less than AED 4000 or AED 3000 + accommodation but sponsoring a friend is possible only under certain conditions; higher monthly salary like a minimum figure of AED 10000 and under limited number of professions. Visit visa application might be difficult if the sponsor is male and the visitor is unrelated female or vice versa.

For the application of visit visa the documents that are required are; passport copy, photo (size 4.3 x 5.5 cms colored and clear with 80% of face clearly visible) and data including address of home country. If the sponsor is a relative, additional documents might be requested such as attested birth certificate, relationship proof attested from the embassy (in case relationship cannot be proved from family names and relative's passport). Validity to stay in the country depends on the type of visa applied; Short Term visit visa, which is valid for 30 days or Long Term visit visa, which is valid for 90 days. Both are non-renewable.
  
Fees for short term visit visa are AED 620 application fee + typing fee and for long term visit visa is AED 1120 application fee + typing fee. (List of Visa Fees for Dubai). Also a refundable deposit of AED 1000 is to be paid by the sponsor. The mentioned deposit amount can be reimbursed after the visit visa holder has left the country.

A proof of health insurance is mandatory for application of tourist or visit visa and processing would normally take 72 hours and in urgent basis is issued within a day. Once the visa is issued the visitor should enter UAE / Dubai within 60 days.

It is always advisable for a visitor to have either the original or copy of the visa before travelling to Dubai. But there are nationalities and category that may get their visit visa at the airport, upon arrival and does not require sponsor. The following are:

1.    AGCC Residents who are not GCC nationals but who have a high professional status such as company managers, business people, auditors, accountants, doctors, engineers, pharmacists, or employees working in the public sector, their families, drivers and personal staff sponsored by them.
2.    National citizens of the following countries:
UK(with the right of abode in UK), France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Finland, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and holders of Hong Kong SAR passports. It should be noted that this list may vary slightly from time to time, therefore it is better to check with your local UAE embassy (List of UAE Embassies Abroad) or the airline that you are using to fly to the UAE.
 
National citizens of GCC (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman) do not require a visa to enter Dubai.


Please note: The above information regarding visa rules, requirements, prices are provided according to the current procedure and information collected. It is always recommended to check the UAE embassy in your country or the relevant authority in the UAE.