# UAE eVisa for Indians: Who Can Apply Online > Which Indians can file a UAE visa online themselves, which visas an airline, hotel or employer must file, and what each route costs in AED and INR. _Published: 2026-10-25 · Reading time: 6 min · Words: 1404_ ## TL;DR Indian passport holders can apply online themselves for the UAE's self-sponsored 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa, and those holding a qualifying US, UK, EU or other listed visa or residence permit can get a 60-day visa online from ICP. Indians resident in a GCC country use a separate GCC-resident eVisa. Shorter tourist visas are filed by an airline, hotel or travel agent, and work or study visas by the employer or university. ## Key takeaways - The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists India as 'Visa Required', and UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas. - Any Indian can apply online with ICP or GDRFA Dubai for the self-sponsored 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa (AED 3,713 total at GDRFA Dubai). - Holders of a qualifying US, UK, EU or other listed visa or residence permit can get a 60-day single-entry visa online from ICP for AED 250 plus AED 100. - Indians resident in a GCC country apply online for a 30-day GCC-resident eVisa before arrival. - Work and student visas are filed by the UAE employer or university, not by you. **According to the UAE's ICP and GDRFA Dubai, any Indian can apply online for the self-sponsored 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa. Indians holding a qualifying visa or residence permit, such as a valid US, UK or EU visa, can get a 60-day visa online for AED 250 plus AED 100. Shorter tourist visas go through an airline, hotel or agent.** ## Article 'UAE eVisa' is a search term, not one product. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs marks the Republic of India as 'Visa Required', and the UAE government portal u.ae says UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas. What you can file online yourself depends on what you already hold and where you live. Everything below is as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For fees, centres and checklists across all UAE visa types, see our UAE visa guide for Indians. ### Which Indians can apply for a UAE visa online by themselves? Four groups of Indian passport holders can file directly with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA Dubai). Everyone else goes through a sponsor. Who you areWhat you can file onlineOfficial feeExpected timeAny Indian travellerSelf-sponsored 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa (ICP or GDRFA Dubai)AED 3,713 total at GDRFA Dubai; total may varyNot givenIndian with a valid US visa or Green Card, UK or EU visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand60-day visa (ICP online, or through GDRFA Dubai's smart services)AED 250 + AED 100 smart service fee2 days (ICP)Indian resident in a GCC countryGCC-resident eVisa, applied for before arrivalNot givenNot givenGraduate or skilled jobseekerJob seeker visit visa for 60, 90 or 120 days (ICP or GDRFA Dubai)AED 200 / AED 300 / AED 400 plus 5% VAT48 hours (GDRFA Dubai)If none of these fits, a UAE airline, hotel or licensed travel agent applies for your tourist visa. Work, study and residence visas are applied for by the UAE employer, university or sponsor. ### What do you need for the 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa? This is the one tourist visa any Indian can file online without a host. It is self-sponsored and open to all nationalities. The official conditions are: - A bank balance of USD 4,000 over 6 months - UAE health insurance - An onward ticket GDRFA Dubai lists the cost, as of October 2026, as AED 100 application plus AED 500 issuance plus AED 3,000 guarantee, plus guarantee/service and Knowledge and Innovation Dirham fees, for AED 3,713 in total. GDRFA notes the total may vary. Because the guarantee forms most of that figure, read the GDRFA service page carefully before you pay. ### How does the 60-day online visa work for holders of US, UK or EU visas? If you 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, you have two options. - Apply online before travel. The ICP 60-day visa service costs AED 250 plus an AED 100 smart service fee. It is single entry and cannot be extended. You must enter within 30 days of issue. ICP lists a service completion time of 2 days; GDRFA Dubai gives 48 hours for its version. - Take the 14-day visa on arrival. It costs AED 100 at any UAE entry point and can be extended once for 14 days. GDRFA Dubai lists the extension fee as AED 250 plus 5% VAT and AED 20. The documents are short: an Indian ordinary passport valid at least 6 months, a personal photo on a white background, and a copy of your qualifying visa or residence permit. GDRFA Dubai wants that qualifying document to be valid for at least 6 months. Two dated changes shaped this route. On 13 February 2025 the visa on arrival was extended to Indians with residence permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Singapore. On 25 June 2026 ICP opened the same entry visa to other nationalities; India was previously the only eligible nationality. That announcement also set an overstay fine of AED 50 per day. ### Living in a GCC country? The GCC-resident eVisa Indians who live in another Gulf state apply online with ICP or GDRFA Dubai for the GCC-resident eVisa before arrival. According to u.ae (updated 1 October 2026): - The eVisa is valid 30 days from issue and allows a 30-day stay, extendable once. - Your GCC residency must be valid for at least 1 year. - Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. - Your profession must be on the approved list. ### If none of these fits, who applies for your tourist visa? Most Indians without a qualifying visa take a 30-day or 60-day tourist visa arranged by an airline, hotel or travel agent. Emirates passengers can use VFS Global, which is 'Trusted by Emirates and the Government of Dubai'. This route is not online: you fill an offline form and submit it at a VFS centre after booking an appointment. VFS lists these fees, inclusive of service charge and tax: Tourist 30 days INR 7735 (express INR 9870), Multi Entry Short Term 30 days INR 12770, Tourist 60 days INR 17595 and Multi Entry Long Term 60 days INR 22885. Normal processing is 5-6 working days, excluding Saturday, Sunday and UAE holidays; express is within 48 hours for the transit, 30-day and 60-day tourist visas. You must meet one eligibility criterion: travel 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 the last 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. VFS lists ten centres, from Ahmedabad to Thiruvananthapuram (temporarily closed). ### Can you apply online for a UAE work or student visa? Not yourself. The employer applies for the work entry permit through ICP (AED 100 application, AED 100 issuance and AED 100 smart service), and the MOHRE work permit fee of AED 250 to AED 3,450 is paid by the employer. For study, the licensed university or institute applies for the student entry permit. The job seeker visit visa in the table above is the main exception that you file yourself, and it needs MOHRE skill level 1, 2 or 3 (or a top-500 university degree in the last 2 years), a bachelor's degree and an AED 1,000 refundable security amount at GDRFA Dubai. ### Mistakes Indians make with 'UAE e-visa' plans - Expecting to extend the 60-day ICP visa. It is single entry and non-extendable. - Applying with a US or UK visa that expires soon. GDRFA Dubai wants it valid for at least 6 months. - Entering more than 30 days after the 60-day visa is issued. - Overstaying: the fine is AED 50 per day. - On the VFS route, using a passport whose name contains special characters such as brackets, which VFS does not accept. The visa fee is non-refundable, and cancellation costs INR 3465 per visa. For travellers on the airline or agent route, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for visa files, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can the 30-day UAE tourist visa be extended inside the country? Yes, on the Emirates/VFS route. Tourist visas can be extended by 30 days at Emirates Commercial Visa Services, DXB Terminal 3, for AED 850 each time: up to three times for a 30-day visa and twice for a 60-day or multi-entry visa. #### How long is the VFS 30-day UAE tourist visa valid for entry? VFS lists the Tourist 30 days visa as valid 58 days from issue. You need to enter within that period and then stay no longer than the 30 days the visa allows. #### Is travel insurance compulsory for a UAE tourist visa? Not on the VFS/Emirates route, where insurance is not listed among the mandatory documents. The self-sponsored 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa does require UAE health insurance. #### Do Indians with a Canadian or Australian residence permit qualify for the UAE visa on arrival? Yes. Since 13 February 2025 Indian ordinary-passport holders with valid residence permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or Singapore can get the 14-day visa on arrival for AED 100. A visitor visa from those countries is not listed as qualifying. ## FAQ ### Can the 30-day UAE tourist visa be extended inside the country? Yes, on the Emirates/VFS route. Tourist visas can be extended by 30 days at Emirates Commercial Visa Services, DXB Terminal 3, for AED 850 each time: up to three times for a 30-day visa and twice for a 60-day or multi-entry visa. ### How long is the VFS 30-day UAE tourist visa valid for entry? VFS lists the Tourist 30 days visa as valid 58 days from issue. You need to enter within that period and then stay no longer than the 30 days the visa allows. ### Is travel insurance compulsory for a UAE tourist visa? Not on the VFS/Emirates route, where insurance is not listed among the mandatory documents. The self-sponsored 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa does require UAE health insurance. ### Do Indians with a Canadian or Australian residence permit qualify for the UAE visa on arrival? Yes. Since 13 February 2025 Indian ordinary-passport holders with valid residence permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or Singapore can get the 14-day visa on arrival for AED 100. A visitor visa from those countries is not listed as qualifying. ## Sources 1. [u.ae - Tourist visa (embassies do not issue tourist visas; 5-year tourist visa)](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Types-of-visas/tourist-visa) — UAE Government (u.ae) 2. [ICP - Issuance of a 60-day visa for nationals of certain countries residing abroad](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=68f5bcdb8c587a0011cb16d5) — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security 3. [GDRFA Dubai - Multi-entry tourist visa (5 years)](https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services/7fe37963-b7f8-11ed-5210-4cd98f768936) — GDRFA Dubai 4. [VFS UAE India - Visa Types (all tabs)](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/are/visa-type) — VFS Global