Your complete guide to Dubai Visa for Indians
If you are an Indian citizen heading to the UAE or specifically Dubai for a holiday, work, or as a transit passenger, there are visa requirements - and fees. Learn more in this complete guide to a Dubai visa for Indians.
Do Indian citizens need a visa for Dubai?
Yes, all Indian citizens require a visa to enter Dubai. Dubai is one of the Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE), so if you are heading to Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, or any of the other Emirates, you will need to apply for a visa.
If you are an Indian citizen residing outside of India, you may be eligible for a visa on arrival, depending on your residence permit. Check out the section later in this article for details. And if you hold a non-Indian passport, take a look at the type of visa you will need on the Visit Dubai website.
Types of Dubai visas
There are two main types of visas that resident Indian citizens can apply for when going to Dubai: Tourist visa and Work visa.
Dubai tourist visa for Indians
Indian citizens looking to holiday in Dubai must have a tourist visa before they travel. There are four kinds of tourist visas:
- Short-term single-entry tourist visa
- Short-term multiple-entry tourist visa
- Long-term single-entry tourist visa
- Long-term multiple-entry tourist visa
It is recommended to follow up with your holiday booking service (the airlines, hotel, or agency) to coordinate your tourist visa. Make sure to have your return ticket to India in place before traveling: Dubai can refuse your entry if you don’t have one. Also, keep in mind it is illegal to work in Dubai on a tourist visa, and you should not stay beyond the duration of your visa.²
Dubai work visa for Indians
If you are looking to head to Dubai for work, you will need to arrange your visa beforehand with your employer or company. Your employer must submit the application, and details like how long the visa is for depending on your employment contract. You can’t apply for a work visa directly.³
There is also the option for a visit visa for Dubai, allowing someone to visit the nation to explore job opportunities without an employer. To qualify, you must be a graduate of one of the top 500 universities in the world, hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and provide a financial guarantee of roughly INR 22,000.⁴
Dubai visa on arrival for Indians
Visa on arrival is available to Indian passport holders only if they also have one of the following:
- A US visit visa or a green card, valid for a minimum of 6 months.
- A UK or EU residence permit
There is a fee for the visa on arrival, and you can only stay a maximum of 14 days. You can extend your visa one time for an additional cost.⁵
Do Indians need a transit visa for Dubai?
Yes, Indian citizens are required to have a transit visa if you plan to leave the airport during your stopover in Dubai. The transit visa can be provided and coordinated by the airline that is flying through Dubai, such as Emirates Airline, Flydubai, Etihad Airways or Air Arabia.
Transit visas are issued for Dubai stopovers ranging from 48 to 96 hours. The stopover is typically part of a longer journey onward when Dubai is not the final destination. You must have a flight out of the UAE to qualify and a hotel booking during your stay there if required.
Dubai visa fees for Indians
A UAE tourist visa for Indians costs between 250 AED to 1740 AED, depending on the type of visa. Here are the fees you can expect for a Dubai visa:
| Type of visa | Cost in Emirati Dirham⁶ | Cost in Indian Rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term single-entry tourist visa. | 250 AED. | 5,644 INR. |
| Short-term multiple entry tourist visa. | 690 AED. | 15,578 INR. |
| Long-term single-entry tourist visa. | 600 AED. | 13,546 INR. |
| Long-term multiple-entry tourist visa. | 1740 AED. | 39,284 INR. |
| Work visa | 200 AED. | 4,515 INR. |
| Visa on arrival for qualifying Indians | 120 AED. | 2,709 INR. |
| Transit visa for 48 hours | 0 AED. | 0 |
| Transit visa for 96 hours | 50 AED. | 1,127 INR. |
Visa fees and currency conversion verified on 21 May 2023.
A work visa may have additional fees and can vary depending on your job. The employer would typically pay for a work visa. For a visa on arrival in Dubai for Indian citizens, you can pay 250 AED to extend your stay an additional 14 days.
All visa fees are non-refundable.
Dubai visa requirements for Indian citizens
Here are the requirements for Indian citizens to apply for a tourist or transit visa:
- A passport that is valid for at least six months before entering the UAE.
- A color passport size color photo
- A completed application form- this should be provided by the airlines or hotel you have booked with. For example, here is theEmirates Airlines application form.
Certain applications from a hotel or airline may require you to show evidence of a return ticket to India or leaving the UAE for an onward journey.
Work visas may require other documents; check with your employer for what you might need.
How to apply for a Dubai visa from India
You can apply for a Dubai visa from India through the airlines or hotels for your trip or through your employer’s application. Unlike other nations’ embassies, the UAE embassy does not issue tourist visas. Instead, you can apply for a tourist visa with:
- The airlines you use to fly to the UAE, such as Etihad Airways, Emirates Airline, FlyDubai, or Air Arabia.
- The hotel, travel partner, or agency you have used to book your trip.
- Organizations based in the UAE
- Family or friends who are UAE residents can apply for a tourist for you.
You can not be issued a tourist visa without at least your stay or travel booked. A visa can take 3-4 working days to process and issue.
Similarly, a transit visa will be issued through your airline so ensure that you have it arranged before you leave India.⁷
How long is a Dubai visa valid?
A Dubai visa is valid for a certain number of days after you enter the country. The duration depends on the type of visa you get:
| Type of visa | Validity from entry into Dubai |
|---|---|
| Short-term single-entry tourist visa. | 30 days |
| Short-term multiple entry tourist visa. | 30 days |
| Long-term single-entry tourist visa. | 90 days |
| Long-term multiple-entry tourist visa. | 90 days |
| Work visa. | 60 days |
| Visa on arrival for qualifying Indians. | 14 days |
If you overstay on your tourist visa, you are fined 200 AED plus 100 AED per day beyond the visa expiration date. You may be able to stay longer on a work visa, depending on your employment contract.⁸
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Sources used for this article:
- Official portal of UAE
- Dubai Visa Guide | Dubai Tourist Visa Requirements
- Dubai Visa Guide | Dubai Tourist Visa Requirements
- Issuing a visit visa to explore job opportunities
- UAE visa information | Visa and Passport | Before You Fly | Emirates India
- What are the process for Tourist Visa ?
- Transit visa - The Official Portal of the UAE Government
- Visa Issuance for Foreigners linked with Job Contract
Sources verified on 21 May 2023.
Photo by David Rodrigo on Unsplash
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