Which UAE Visa Should Indians Apply For?

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the Republic of India as 'Visa Required', and UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas. Tourist visas are arranged by UAE airlines, hotels or licensed travel agents, or applied for online with ICP or GDRFA Dubai. The options below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Our UAE visa hub for Indians has the full document list.

Which UAE visa fits your situation?

Already hold a US, UK or EU visa? Start with visa on arrival

Indian ordinary-passport holders qualify if they hold any of these: 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 added the six residence-permit countries on 13 February 2025, as announced by the UAE Embassy in New Delhi.

• 14-day visa on arrival: AED 100 at any UAE entry point, extendable once for 14 days. GDRFA Dubai lists the extension at AED 250 plus 5% VAT and AED 20.
• 60-day visa: AED 250 plus AED 100 smart service fee from ICP online. It is single entry, cannot be extended, and you must enter within 30 days of issue. ICP lists 2 days for the service.
• What to carry: an Indian passport valid for at least 6 months, a photo on a white background and a copy of the qualifying visa or permit. GDRFA asks that it be valid for at least 6 months.

ICP's 25 June 2026 announcement also sets an overstay fine of AED 50 per day for these visas.

No qualifying visa? How the VFS and Emirates route works

VFS Global in India handles Dubai visas for travellers flying Emirates, and the visa category depends on your Emirates ticket. You must meet one of three eligibility criteria:

1. Travel record: 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.
2. Financial records: 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.
3. Family invitation: an invitation from an immediate family member residing in the UAE.

Fees include the service charge and tax. Normal processing takes 5-6 working days from submission, excluding Saturday, Sunday and UAE holidays; express takes up to 48 hours. Tourist and multi-entry visas are valid 58 days from issue. VFS centres operate in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune; Thiruvananthapuram is temporarily closed.

Visiting several times a year: multi-entry or the 5-year visa?

For a few trips close together, the VFS multi-entry visas are the simpler choice if you fly Emirates. For regular visits over several years, the self-sponsored 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa is open to all nationalities and applied for online.

• GDRFA Dubai lists the total at AED 3,713: AED 100 application, AED 500 issuance and an AED 3,000 guarantee, plus guarantee, service and Knowledge and Innovation Dirham fees. The total may vary.
• You need a bank balance of USD 4,000 over 6 months, UAE health insurance and an onward ticket.

Visiting family or friends who live in the UAE

On the VFS route, an invitation from an immediate family member residing in the UAE is one of the three eligibility criteria. If you stay with them, carry the host's tenancy contract or Ejari, or title deed (two or more bedrooms), and their UAE resident card.

For visit visas sponsored by a UAE resident, ICP set minimum sponsor incomes on 29 September 2025: AED 4,000 for first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second- or third-degree relatives and AED 15,000 for friends.

Going to work, look for work or study?

• Job offer: a UAE employer registered with MOHRE gets your work permit and entry permit. The standard work visa lasts two years and is renewable.
• Job search: the job seeker visit visa needs MOHRE skill level 1, 2 or 3, or a degree from a world top 500 university within the last 2 years, plus a bachelor's degree and a financial guarantee.
• Study: an accredited UAE university applies for your study entry permit through ICP (GDRFA in Dubai). A UAE-resident parent can also sponsor you.
• Long-term residence: the Green visa (5 years) and Golden visa (10 years, per ICP) are self-sponsored routes with salary, investment or talent criteria.

Mistakes that cost Indian applicants time or money

• Asking the UAE Embassy for a tourist visa. UAE embassies do not issue them.
• Using the VFS route with a non-Emirates ticket. VFS selects the visa category from the Emirates itinerary.
• Special characters in your name. VFS does not accept passport names with characters such as brackets.
• Sending students or minors alone. Emirates cannot sponsor unaccompanied minors and students; they are considered only when travelling with parents.
• Cancelling after paying. The visa fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.

The VFS route asks for a confirmed hotel voucher matching your flight dates. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares hotel bookings, flight reservations, itineraries and cover letters, from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (complete set). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Can I extend a UAE tourist visa while in Dubai?

Yes. Tourist visas issued through the VFS and Emirates route can be extended by 30 days at a time, three times for a 30-day visa and twice for a 60-day or multi-entry visa. Each extension costs AED 850 at Emirates Commercial Visa Services, DXB Terminal 3.

What does it cost to cancel a UAE visa applied through VFS?

VFS lists a cancellation charge of INR 3465 per visa, and the visa fee itself is non-refundable under any circumstances.

What photo size does a UAE visa need?

A recent colour photo of 2 x 2 inches on a plain white, shadow-free background, front-facing with a neutral expression. Polaroid photos and ordinary printer prints are not accepted.

I am an Indian working in Saudi Arabia. Which UAE visa do I need?

Indians resident in a GCC country apply online with ICP or GDRFA Dubai for the GCC-resident eVisa before arrival. It is valid 30 days from issue for a 30-day stay, extendable once; your GCC residency must be valid at least 1 year, your passport at least 6 months, and your profession must be on the approved list.