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UAE visa table - list of possible residence and visit visas available

Do not rely on this table as the actual rules seem to vary depending on expat or visitor nationality, emirate of arrival, and any other random factors you can think of. Contact the DNRD helpline for official information (for Dubai), preferably two or three times to see if you get the same answer.

List of UAE visa types and essential information

Type	Length	Cost	Renew	Effective	Notes
Conference Visit Visa	30 days	Dh100	no	01 Aug 2008
Employment Visa	30 days				arranged by employer, not a work permit, entry only
Exhibition Visa					see Conference Visa
Family visit visa	30/90 days	Dh620*	no*	01 Aug 2008	*possibly yes, Dh1120 for 90 days, min salary
Family Visit Visa	60 days	Dh100		not available	min 3-6k salary requirement, Dh2000 deposit
Friend Visit Visa	30 days			01 Aug 2008	min 10k salary, Dh1000 deposit, not confirmed
Friend Visit Visa	60 days	Dh100		not available	min 3-6k salary requirement, Dh2000 deposit
Investor Visa	3 yrs	Dh300			invest Dh70k in partnership with UAE National
Maid visa UAE	1 yr	Dh5100	yes
Medical Visit Visa	90 days	Dh1000	yes, 1x	01 Aug 2008	renewal Dh500
Mission Entry Visa	14 days	Dh220	no	not available	only from hotels or companies
Mission Visa	90 days	Dh600	yes, 1x	not available	renewal Dh1200, need Temporary Work Permit first?
Mission Visa	90 days	Dh200	no (yes?)	01 Aug 2008	cost 600 dhs? renewable for 500 dhs?
Mission Visa business	14 days*	Dh320	no		*possibly 14 days, intended for professionals on short business trip
Multi-entry Visa	180 days	Dh1000		not available	30 day max per visit, company application only
Multi-entry visa	180 days	Dh2000	yes, ?x	01 Aug 2008	14 day max stay each visit
Parent residence visa	1 yr	Dh100	yes	01 Aug 2008	deposit Dh5000, need special FNRD permission
Relative Visa					see Family Visa
Residents Permit					see Residence Visa
Residence Visa	3 yrs		yes		employer or sponsor should arrange
Residence Visa property	3 yrs	Dh5000*	yes		*estimated, may vary (no longer valid)
Residence visa property	6 mths	Dh2000	yes	01 Jun 2009	Validity period might be 180 days, conditions apply.
Residence visa family	1-3 yrs		yes		Dh5000 deposit needed for parents
Student Visa (residence)					ask college or university when applying for entry
Student Visit Visa	60 days	Dh1000	yes, 2x	01 Aug 2008	UAE university registration, renewal Dh500
Tourist Visa	30 days	Dh120	no	not available	only from hotels and tour operators
Tourist Visa	30 days	Dh110	yes? 1x	01 Aug 2008	only from hotels and tour operators
Transit Visa	96 hours	Dh30	no	not available	might be free - conflicting information seen
Transit Visa	96 hours	Dh100	no	01 Aug 2008	need outbound ticket, some reports say 14 days
Visit Visa 30 days	30 days	Dh500	no	01 Aug 2008
Visit Visa 30/60 days	30 days	free*	yes, 1x		*free visit visa countries, 30 days from Jan 2009, see UAE visa run
Visit Visa 60 days	60 days		yes, 2x	not available
Visit Visa 90 days	90 days	Dh1000	no	01 Aug 2008
Visit Visa GCC*	30 days	Dh100	yes, 1x	01 Aug 2008	renewal Dh500, *GCC nationals / citizens
Visit Visa GCC*	30 days	Dh100	yes, 1x	01 Aug 2008	renewal Dh200, *visitors with GCC nationals
Visit Visa extension	30 days	Dh500	no	not available
Visit visa renewal	30 days	free*	unknown		*only for visit visa on arrival nationalities
Work Permit					not a visa, employer arranges after arrival in UAE
Work Visa					see Work Permit or Employment Visa

• This information is correct to the best of our knowledge as of 18 May 2010
• * in "Effective" column means that visa type is expected to be no longer available after 01 August 2008.
• * Residence Visas available via property purchases are in a state of flux with some reports saying they are not available. Whatever the true story is, no developer can "guarantee" a visa, and never could. They could only ever apply on your behalf to the UAE immigration / residency department, which would make the final decision.
• Nationalities eligible for free visit visas on arrival will continue to be able to receive them after 01 August 2008, according to statements reported on 09 June 2008.
• Visitors from countries which get a visit visa on arrival may still have a 60 day visit visa after 01 August 2008, even though passport will be stamped with a 30 day visa. Or it might really be only 30 days. Ask when you arrive how long it's valid for ... and tell others in the visit visa discussion. Or worse, the stamp says 60 days but it's only valid 30 days - see UAE visit visa validity period.
• If "Effective" column is empty, then that visa type will continue to be available as far as we know.
• Most Visit Visas will require a deposit of 1000-2000 dhs to be left with the Naturalisation and Residency Department, refunded after visitor departs the UAE.
• Limitations on renewal for free visit visas supposed to be 2x according to some reports but that information out of date from August 2009. The visit visa on arrival can be extended once for 30 days at the immigration department for a fee (about AED 600 in 2009), or do a Hatta visa run to obtain a new visa (or go to any convenient land border crossing).
• Employers are required to arrange and pay for employee residence visas and work permits (but not their families).

Change in visa rules 29 July 2008

29 July 2008 - New visa rules apply from 07:30 this morning (as opposed to 01 August as previously stated). Conflicting reports in the press, based on conflicting statements from various officials, left everyone confused. If you're from one of the visa on arrival countries, you'll probably have an easier time of it. Bring money for visa fees, patience, and politeness, and assume visa rules will be implemented randomly depending on the mood of the official you're dealing with at the entry point or visa office. Do not assume this table is correct as the actual rules seem to be in flux.

Last update Wednesday 01-Sep-2010

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