Dubai's visit visa system runs on a small number of official products, each with a fixed fee set by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai. This guide sticks to those numbers, current as of 2026, rather than the vague "check the latest fees" advice most visa guides fall back on. It covers what each visa type actually costs, how long it lasts, how fast it's processed, and what happens if you overstay.
Visit visa types and validity in 2026
GDRFA Dubai issues tourist visas as single-entry or multiple-entry products, each available in 30-day or 60-day validity, alongside longer-stay options such as the full range of UAE visa types. A separate 5-year multi-entry visa exists for frequent visitors. Here's the current structure:
| Visa type | Entries | Stay per visit | GDRFA fee (AED, before 5% VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa, single entry | Single | 30 days | AED 200 |
| Tourist visa, single entry | Single | 60 days | AED 300 |
| Tourist visa, multiple entry | Multiple | 30 days | AED 300 |
| Tourist visa, multiple entry | Multiple | 60 days | AED 500 |
| 5-year multi-entry tourist visa | Multiple, unlimited | Up to 90 days per visit (up to 180 days/year with one extension) | ~AED 3,713 total (application, issuance, guarantee and service fees combined) |
Those are the base government fees; add 5% VAT, and if the application is sponsored while the visitor is already inside the UAE, GDRFA adds a further AED 500 "inside the country" charge plus small Knowledge and Innovation Dirham fees. Visitors weighing a longer-term stay tied to property ownership should also look at the Golden Visa's benefits and eligibility rules. A travel agent or airline handling the paperwork on your behalf will usually add its own service fee on top of GDRFA's rate. You may still see 90-day or 96-hour visa products advertised by travel agencies. Some of that reflects older visa categories or agent-repackaged combinations of the 5-year visa's per-visit allowance, so it's worth confirming directly with GDRFA or a licensed agent what you're actually being sold.
Processing times and extensions
GDRFA's own published service times list roughly 48 hours for both the single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visa once your documents are submitted. Applying through an airline like Emirates or flydubai, or a licensed travel agent, can move faster in practice, and agents commonly offer paid express handling, though GDRFA doesn't publish a separate express fee.
A visit visa can be extended without leaving the country. GDRFA can approve one or more extensions, but the total extended period can't exceed 120 days combined. The extension fee is AED 600 plus 5% VAT per request (around AED 630 all-in), with the same inside-country add-ons applying if relevant.
Overstay fines
Since 11 February 2026, the UAE runs a single unified overstay fine of AED 50 per day, applied the same way across tourist, visit and residence visas and across all seven emirates. It replaced the older system, where fines varied by visa type and by emirate. There's no built-in grace period: the fine starts accruing from the day after your permitted stay ends, and it's checked and payable through GDRFA's fines-inquiry service in Dubai or the ICP portal elsewhere in the UAE.
Eligibility and required documents
Core requirements are consistent across the tourist visa products:
- A passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry.
- One recent passport-sized photograph.
- A copy of the passport's bio page.
- For certain nationalities (including Iraq, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan), a copy of the national ID card in addition to the passport.
- Proof of onward or return travel.
- Proof of accommodation, such as a hotel booking or a host's tenancy details.
- Financial proof, typically a recent bank statement, showing you can support yourself for the stay.
Who needs a visa in advance, and who doesn't
Eligibility splits roughly into three groups. GCC nationals don't need a visa at all to enter the UAE. A wide band of other passport holders, including most of the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, get visa-free entry on arrival, generally for stays of up to 90 days. As of June 2026, the UAE extended a conditional visa-on-arrival to nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa, provided they hold a valid residence permit from one of those visa-exempt countries: a 14-day option at AED 100 or a 60-day option at AED 250, per the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Residents of GCC countries holding a valid GCC residence visa may also qualify for visa-on-arrival under long-standing UAE policy, though it's worth confirming current eligibility on the GDRFA or ICP site before travelling. Most other nationalities, including Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and many African and CIS passport holders, need to apply for a visa before travel, through GDRFA directly, an airline, or a licensed travel agent.
The application process
- Decide which visa fits your trip: single-entry, multiple-entry, or the 5-year option if you'll be visiting repeatedly.
- Gather your documents, passport copy, photo, proof of accommodation and return travel, and financial proof.
- Apply online through GDRFA's own portal, or through an airline or licensed travel agent if you'd rather not manage the paperwork yourself.
- Track the application; most single- and multi-entry tourist visas are processed in around 48 hours.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying through unlicensed "agents" found on social media rather than GDRFA, an airline, or a properly licensed agency.
- Assuming your visa allows unlimited re-entries when you actually hold a single-entry product.
- Letting a visa lapse without applying for an extension in time, since overstay fines now accrue immediately with no grace period.
- Not checking your passport's remaining validity before applying; six months is the standard requirement.
FAQs
What are the current Dubai visit visa fees?
Single-entry tourist visas are AED 200 for 30 days or AED 300 for 60 days. Multiple-entry versions are AED 300 for 30 days or AED 500 for 60 days. All figures are before 5% VAT and any add-on charges.
How long can I stay in Dubai on a visit visa?
30 or 60 days depending on the product you apply for, extendable by GDRFA in one or more increments up to a combined maximum of 120 days.
What happens if I overstay my Dubai visa?
Since February 2026, overstaying any UAE visa costs a flat AED 50 per day, with no grace period, across every emirate.
Do I need to apply for a visa before I travel to Dubai?
It depends on your nationality. GCC nationals need nothing. Many passport holders, including most EU, UK, US, Canadian, Australian and several other nationalities, get visa-on-arrival. Most other nationalities need to apply in advance through GDRFA, an airline, or a licensed agent.
How long does it take to get a Dubai visit visa?
GDRFA's published standard processing time for the single- and multi-entry tourist visa is around 48 hours from submission.
Planning a visit that might turn into more
Getting the visa right is the easy part once you know the actual numbers above. Plenty of visitors who come to Dubai for a fortnight end up asking harder questions about the city, including whether it's worth owning a piece of it; our complete guide to the Dubai Investor Visa is a useful next read. If that's a conversation you'd like to have while you're here or before you book your flight, a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our advisors is a good place to start.
