Visit World - British Citizens Traveling to United Arab Emirates: Entry Rules, Visa Requirements & Regulations

From November 9, 2022, in order to travel to the UAE (by any airline, to any airport) you do not need to have a PCR test, vaccination or recovery certificate.

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Citizens of GCC countries do not require a visa or permit to enter the United Arab Emirates, nor do they need the financial support of a UAE citizen or resident. At the point of entry to the UAE, they must present a country passport or national ID. If you do not need a visa to enter, the total period of stay in the country should not exceed 90 days within 180 days. This applies to those cases when you travel as a tourist, visit family or friends, cultural or sports events.

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Depending on your country of residence, you can get a 30-day or 90-day visa upon arrival in the UAE without prior registration.

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A 30-day visa on arrival

If you are the owner of the passport of the specified country, you do not need to pre-apply for a visa to visit the UAE. Just get off the flight and go to migration control, where a 30-day visa will be inserted into your passport for free to visit the country.

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Right to visit within 90 days

If you are the passport holder of one of the listed countries, your passport will be inserted with a 90-day multiple-entry visa, which is valid for 6 months from the date of issue, and the total period of stay is 90 days. Citizens of the listed European countries also have the right to apply for a visa in advance if their 90-day visa on arrival has been fully used.

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Right to visit for 180 days

If you have a Mexican passport, you are entitled to a multiple-entry visa for 180 days, which is valid for 6 months from the date of issue.

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To find out if you need a tourist visa and which one, depending on your country of residence, follow the link.

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Anyone who is not eligible for visa-free entry or visa upon arrival in the UAE will need to obtain a tourist visa before arriving in the UAE and have a sponsor.

You need a sponsor to apply for an entry permit. The sponsor can be:

UAE citizen;

a foreigner with a valid residence permit in the UAE;
an airline based in the UAE;
hotel or travel agent from the UAE;
state body;
companies in the private sector or free zones.

Where can I get a tourist visa to the UAE?

UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas. To obtain a tourist visa to the UAE, you need to contact one of the airlines based in the UAE, a travel agency or hotel (where you are going to stay) in the UAE, which will apply for a visa on your behalf, as well as the official authorities issuing visas.

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Tourist visas through airlines

Each airline has certain conditions that must be met for them to issue you a visa. One of the conditions is to fly with them. For more up-to-date information, check the visa types, amenities, and conditions of the following UAE-based airlines:

Visa services from Etihad Airways;

Visa services offered by Emirates Airline;

Visa services from Fly Dubai;

Visa services from Air Arabia.

At the links, you will receive detailed information on the tourist visa, the rules for submitting documents, etc.

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Tourist visas through agencies and hotels

Licensed travel agents and hotels in the UAE can arrange a tourist visa for you, provided that you purchase a ticket through them and book a hotel in a specific location.

You can also contact travel agencies in your country for any travel packages available in the UAE in cooperation with your local tour operator.

It is important to check the integrity of the travel agents you are dealing with and refrain from paying for or sending copies of your official documents. You can contact the UAE Embassy in your country for verification.

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Where can I apply for a tourist visa?

You can apply for an entry permit or visa through the Federal Authority For Identity,Citizenship,Customs & Port Security (ICP) website, eChannel for residency and citizenship. Or you can contact the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) of a separate emirate.

Apply online for a visa to the UAE here:

eChannels portal;
GDRFA website - Dubai;
mobile applications:

- GDRFA Dubai

- ICA eChannels

- Dubai Now

For more information, please contact:

The UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security;
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai.

Important!

All tourists must have a return ticket when entering the UAE from November 7.

As per instructions from the UAE Authorities, effective 21st November 2022, passengers with a single name on their passports travelling on tourist, visit or any other type of visa shall not be allowed to travel to/from UAE.

However, passengers with a single name on passports and in possession of a residence permit or employment visa shall be allowed to travel provided the same name is updated in the “First Name” and “Surname” columns.

Can a tourist visa be extended?

All types of tourist visas can be extended for 30 days twice after the application and after successful approval by the relevant authority. Visitors and tourists can apply for a second renewal before the expiration of the first one for 600 UAE dirhams.

Since December 13, in order to extend a visitor's visa, one must leave the country. Thus, the UAE returned to the standard procedure that existed until 2020. The possibility of extension without leaving the country was introduced during the pandemic as a temporary measure.

Ordinary tourists are not affected.

Overstaying of tourist and visitor visas in the UAE is subject to a fine of 50 dirhams per day. And those who exceed the time limit of 30 days will face arrest.

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In addition to the regular tourist visa, the UAE Cabinet has unveiled a new five-year multiple entry tourist visa that allows visitors to stay in the UAE for up to 90 continuous days without a sponsor. However, visitors cannot stay more than 180 days per year. This visa requires proof of a bank balance of 4000 USD or equivalent in foreign currency for the last six months. Details on how to obtain this visa have not yet been provided. As with the standard visa, the changes came into force on October 3, 2022.

If you are going to make a stopover in the UAE on your way to a third destination, you may need to apply for a transit visa, depending on your nationality.

You need a transit visa to the UAE if:

You are not exempt from tourist visas in the UAE or you are not eligible for a visa to the UAE upon arrival;
Your next flight will take place within the next 48 or 96 hours.

What documents do I need for a transit visa?

When you apply for a UAE transit visa, you must provide the following documents to your airline:

Your passport
Two passport-sized photos.
Air ticket for further travel to a third country;
Booking of hotels in the UAE;

How can I apply for a UAE transit visa?

You must apply for a transit visa to the UAE before traveling. But, as with other types of UAE visas, you cannot apply yourself to the UAE Embassy or Consulate abroad; you need a sponsor who can apply on your behalf.

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Who can sponsor my transit visa to the UAE?

Only your UAE-based airline can be your sponsor. They organize the receipt of your transit visa from the relevant authorities issuing visas in the UAE.

If you are traveling through a travel agency, they can help you with this process, but the transit visa for you is issued only by the airline.

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Where to apply for a transit visa?

First, you apply through your airline. Then your airline applies for a transit visa online in one of the following ways:

Through the eChannel portal of the UAE Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA);
Through GDRFA websites in each emirate;
Through mobile applications:
eChannel ICA portal
GDRFA Dubai

For how long is the UAE transit visa valid?

The UAE transit visa is valid for 14 days from the date of its issuance. You have to use it during these days. However, once you go to the UAE, you can only stay for 48 or 96 hours, depending on the type of transit visa you receive.

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Is it possible to extend the UAE transit visa?

No, you cannot renew your transit visa to the UAE for more than the number of hours that are issued. If you get a 48-hour transit visa, you can't extend it to a 96-hour visa.

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What is the cost of a transit visa?

The price of a transit visa depends on its type:

A 48-hour transit visa to UAE is free of charge
UAE's 96-hour transit visa costs 50 AED

How long does it take to get a UAE transit visa?

A transit visa is usually issued within 3-4 business days but may take longer depending on the airline, your country, and other specific circumstances.

If there is transit on the route, then you need to fill out a confirmation form that your pet did not contact other animals during the transit.

Your pet must have permission to transit through the UAE by land.

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Pets must enter the UAE via Abu Dhabi International Airport, Dubai International Airport, or Sharjah International Airport.

It is allowed to transport a maximum of two pets per person per year. The agent can organize an increase in the number to five.

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To import pets into the United Arab Emirates, all animals must have:

Microchip for pets;
Vaccinations.

A vaccination card/certificate is required for each pet that clearly states your animal's current rabies vaccination, including the vaccine manufacturer, batch number, and expiration date.

Import Permission

You must apply for an import document from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in person or online before the arrival of your pet, which is valid for 30 days from the date of issue. The ministry will charge permission fees. You can specify up to two pets for permission. If you have more than 2 pets, you will need several permits.

If you return to the UAE with your pet, you will need a re-entry card instead of an import permit.

For some animals, a test for antibody titer against rabies is required;
Health Certificate;
Internal and external parasites;

Before your pet can enter the United Arab Emirates, your veterinarian must treat your pet for internal and external parasites within 14 days of transportation.

For more information about the rules for importing pets into the UAE, visit the website.

999 - police, 997- fire department, 998 - ambulance

For information and advice on the customs regulations of the United Arab Emirates, visit the official website of the Federal Customs Administration.

Tourists wishing to rent a car in the UAE are required to have an International Driver's Permit, passport, credit card, be at least 21 years old (some rental companies set a minimum age limit of 25 years), have a driving experience of at least a year.

Get more information about the features of driving a car in the UAE on the website.

UAE Embassies in different countries can be found here: https://www.embassypages.com/uae

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