How Much Does a UAE Visa Cost for Indians in 2026?

What you actually pay depends on the route. The VFS Global route, which handles Dubai visas for travellers flying Emirates, publishes all-inclusive prices in rupees. UAE government routes through ICP and GDRFA Dubai publish fees in AED only, and this article does not convert them. All amounts are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. For entry rules and documents, see our UAE visa guide for Indians.

What does a UAE tourist or transit visa cost through VFS Global?

VFS selects the visa category from your Emirates ticket itinerary. Its published prices are inclusive of service charge and tax.

Emirates cannot sponsor unaccompanied minors or students, who are considered only when travelling with parents.

Is the express fee worth paying?

Normal processing takes 5-6 working days from the date of submission, excluding Saturday, Sunday and UAE holidays. Express processing, offered for the 48-hour and 96-hour transit visas and the 30-day and 60-day tourist visas, is completed within 48 hours from submission.

If you can submit at least a full working week before you fly, the normal fee is usually enough. Express makes sense when your trip is days away or a UAE holiday falls inside your processing window. Remember that the visa remains valid for 58 days from issue, so applying early carries no penalty as long as you travel within that window.

How much do the visa on arrival and the 60-day visa cost?

These cheaper options are open only to Indian ordinary-passport holders who hold a valid US visa or Green Card, a UK or EU visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand. The UAE Embassy in New Delhi announced in February 2025 that the visa on arrival was extended to holders of residence permits from the last six countries.

• 14-day visa on arrival: AED 100, available at any UAE entry point and extendable once for 14 days. GDRFA Dubai lists the extension fee as AED 250 plus 5% VAT and AED 20.
• 60-day visa from ICP online: AED 250 plus an AED 100 smart service fee. It is single entry and cannot be extended, and you must enter within 30 days of issue. ICP lists a completion time of 2 days.

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months, and GDRFA Dubai wants the qualifying visa or permit to be valid for at least 6 months too.

What do longer stays cost: 5-year tourist, job-seeker, study and work?

The 5-year visa also needs a bank balance of USD 4,000 over 6 months, UAE health insurance and an onward ticket. For residence permits, Emirates ID, medical test and insurance costs are extra, and Dubai applications through GDRFA Dubai may differ from ICP's list.

Which extra charges catch Indian travellers out?

• No refunds. VFS says the visa fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
• Cancellation: INR 3465 per visa.
• Extensions inside the UAE: AED 850 each time, at Emirates Commercial Visa Services, DXB Terminal 3. Tourist visas extend by 30 days, up to three times for a 30-day visa and twice for a 60-day or multi-entry visa.
• Overstaying: ICP's June 2026 announcement on the 14-day and 60-day visas sets an overstay fine of AED 50 per day.
• Security deposit: the financial criterion on the VFS page also mentions, in some cases, a USD 1000 refundable security deposit.

How to keep your UAE visa cost down

1. Check whether you already qualify for a visa on arrival. A valid US, UK, EU or other listed visa or residence permit opens the AED 100 route.
2. Match the visa to the stay. Buying a 30-day visa and then extending at AED 850 a time can cost more than choosing the right length upfront.
3. Apply early enough to skip express. Five to six working days covers normal processing.
4. Get the eligibility proof right first time. VFS accepts one of three criteria: travel at least once in the last 3 years or a valid visa for the USA, UK, Schengen, EU, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Canada or Japan; Form 16 or ITR for 2 years showing gross income above INR 2 lakhs a year, or INR 5 lakhs or more in bank or post office FDs; or an invitation from an immediate family member living in the UAE.

Note that the VFS route requires a confirmed return or onward Emirates ticket and a confirmed hotel voucher, so a reservation is not a substitute there. For other routes and visa files, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or visit our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is the UAE visa fee refunded if my application is rejected?

No. VFS Global states that the UAE visa fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. A separate cancellation charge of INR 3465 per visa applies if you cancel.

Can I pay the UAE visa on arrival fee in rupees?

UAE authorities publish the visa on arrival fee in AED only: AED 100 for the 14-day visa. No official INR amount is published for this or other ICP and GDRFA Dubai fees.

How much does it cost to extend a UAE tourist visa?

An in-country extension costs AED 850 each time at Emirates Commercial Visa Services in DXB Terminal 3. A 30-day tourist visa can be extended by 30 days up to three times, and a 60-day or multi-entry visa twice.

Do I pay for my UAE work visa myself?

The UAE employer applies for the MOHRE work permit, which costs AED 250 to AED 3,450 depending on its classification, and for the work entry permit. Working without a MOHRE work permit is illegal under the UAE Labour Law.