If you have a long layover in the UAE and wish to explore the country, you’ll need to arrange for a transit visa. These visas are only available through UAE-based airlines and must be processed and approved before your arrival.
Do You Need a Transit Visa? First, check if your nationality qualifies for visa-free entry or visa on arrival. Citizens from over 80 countries can enjoy visa-free stays for 30 or 90 days. To check your eligibility for visa-free entry, click here.
Indian citizens holding a visit visa or a green card from the USA, or a residence visa from the UK or the EU, can get a pre-approved visa on arrival for a 14-day stay, provided these documents are valid for at least six months from the arrival date.
Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFAD) offers a pre-approval service for smoother arrival. Emirates passengers can use this service to skip queues upon arrival.
Types of Transit Visas for the UAE If you don’t qualify for visa-free entry or a pre-approved visa, you’ll need a transit visa. There are two options:
- Transit Visa for 48 Hours
- Validity: 48 hours from entry
- Cost: Dh37 for Emirates passengers, Dh55 for Etihad passengers
- Application: Must be applied in advance through a UAE-based airline and cannot be extended or renewed.
- Transit Visa for 96 Hours
- Validity: 96 hours from entry
- Cost: Dh179 for Emirates passengers, Dh216 for Etihad passengers
- Application: Must be applied in advance through a UAE-based airline and cannot be extended or renewed.
Required Documents for a Transit Visa:
- A passport or travel document with a minimum validity of three months.
- A passport-size photograph with a white background.
- An onward ticket to a third destination, different from where you are coming from.
How to Apply for a Transit Visa: Transit visas are issued through UAE-based airlines and the process can be completed online:
- Complete your ticket bookings.
- Visit the airline’s website and select your ticket booking.
- Choose the option to ‘Apply for transit visa’.
- Ensure you are applying for a transit visa with the same airline you are flying with. Itineraries that include flights from different carriers will not be accepted. The stay in the UAE should be within the visa duration.
- Once payment is made, the visa will be issued by the airline.
If you book your tickets through a travel agent, they can assist with obtaining a transit visa, but all visas are processed through the airline.