UAE Visa for Indians 2026: Visa on Arrival and Fees

Most Indian passport holders need a UAE visa arranged before travel, such as a 30 or 60-day tourist visa from an airline, travel agent or UAE sponsor. The exception is Indians holding a valid US visa, US Green Card, or a visa or residence permit from the UK or an EU country, or a residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand. They can get a 14-day visa on arrival for AED 100, extendable once for 14 days, or apply online for a 60-day visa for AED 250. The passport must be valid for at least six months.

Do this next before you fly to the UAE

• Check your documents: a valid US, UK or EU visa or residence, or a residence permit from one of the six newer countries, means you may qualify for a visa on arrival.
• Otherwise, get a visa in advance through your airline, a travel agent or a UAE resident sponsor.
• Check your passport has at least six months of validity left on the day you arrive.
• Carry your return ticket, hotel booking and proof of funds, because immigration officers can ask for them.

UAE visa options for Indian citizens at a glance

Visa	Who it is for	Stay	Official fee	Where to get it
Visa on arrival	Indians with a qualifying visa, Green Card or residence permit	14 days, extendable once by 14 days	AED 100	On arrival at UAE entry points
60-day visa	The same eligible Indians and their family members	60 days, not extendable	AED 250 plus AED 100 smart service fee	ICP Smart Services before travel
Tourist visa, single entry	All Indian passport holders	30 or 60 days	AED 200 or 300 plus 5% VAT	Airline, travel agent or accredited tourism company
Visit visa for a relative or friend	Indians with a family member or friend living in the UAE	30, 60 or 90 days	AED 200, 300 or 400 plus VAT, plus deposit	The UAE sponsor applies to GDRFA or ICP
5-year multiple-entry tourist visa	Frequent visitors with USD 4,000 in the bank	Up to 90 days per visit	AED 500 plus service charges	ICP
Employment or family residence visa	Indians moving to the UAE to work or join family	Usually 2 years	Paid by the employer or family sponsor	Employer or sponsor via GDRFA or ICP

Government fees are the base amounts. Airlines, agents and visa platforms add service charges, which is why prices quoted in rupees vary so much. Always check what is included before you pay.

UAE visa on arrival for Indians: who qualifies

ICP allows Indian nationals with ordinary passports to get a visa on arrival if they hold one of these:

• A valid US visa or US Green Card.
• A valid visa or residence permit issued by the United Kingdom.
• A valid visa or residence permit issued by a country of the European Union. Many travellers use a Schengen visa issued by an EU member state; confirm with your airline before flying.
• A valid residence permit (not a visit visa) issued by Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand. These six were added from 13 February 2025.

Your Indian passport must be valid for at least six months from arrival, and the qualifying visa or residence permit should still be valid when you land. Diplomatic and official passport holders follow different rules. Indians who are already UAE residents do not need any of these visas; they simply re-enter on their residence.

Visa on arrival fees, length of stay and extension

Item	Detail
14-day visa on arrival	AED 100
Extension	Once, for another 14 days. ICP lists AED 250; GDRFA Dubai lists AED 600 plus VAT and in-country charges for its extension service
60-day visa (applied online in advance)	AED 250 issuance plus AED 100 smart service fee
60-day visa entry window	Enter within 30 days of issue
60-day visa extension	Not extendable
Overstay fine	AED 50 for each extra day

If you expect to stay more than two weeks, the 60-day visa is usually the better choice, because it costs little more than a 14-day visa plus an extension. You apply for it on ICP Smart Services with your passport, a personal photo and a copy of your US, UK, EU or other qualifying visa, residence permit or Green Card. ICP’s completion time is 2 days.

UAE tourist visa for Indians without visa on arrival

Most Indians travelling on holiday get a regular tourist visa before they fly. Common routes are:

1. Through your airline: Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, Air Arabia and Air India offer UAE visa services for their passengers.
2. Through a travel agent or tour operator: an accredited tourism company in the UAE sponsors the visa.
3. Through a UAE resident: a relative or friend living in the UAE applies for a visit visa through GDRFA Dubai or ICP and pays a refundable deposit.

Documents usually needed

• A scanned copy of your passport’s front and back pages, valid for at least six months.
• A recent colour photo with a white background.
• A confirmed return or onward ticket.
• Hotel booking or the address of the person you are staying with.
• Travel or health insurance valid in the UAE.

Processing for a complete tourist visa application is often 2 to 4 working days, and GDRFA’s expected time for a tourist visa is 48 hours. Apply at least a week before travel during holiday seasons.

Do Indians need to carry AED 3,000 to enter the UAE?

There is no published UAE rule that every visitor must carry a fixed amount in cash. However, immigration officers can ask visitors to show they can support themselves, and some airlines flying from India have advised visit-visa passengers to carry proof of funds, often quoted as about AED 3,000 or a valid credit card, along with a return ticket and accommodation details. Carrying a card and these documents avoids problems at Dubai International Airport or Abu Dhabi.

Why UAE visa applications from India get rejected

• Passport problems: less than six months of validity, a damaged passport or missing pages in the scan.
• Poor scans or photo: blurred passport copies, or a photo that is not on a white background.
• Name mismatches: a surname or given name entered differently from the passport, especially when only one name is printed.
• Past immigration issues: an earlier overstay, an absconding report or a ban on the file. Former residents can check with our travel ban check.
• Unlicensed agents: applications filed through sellers who are not accredited tourism companies can be refused or never submitted.

A rejected visa can usually be applied for again once the reason is fixed. Ask the agent or airline for the reason before paying a second time.

Working or moving to the UAE from India

A tourist or visit visa does not allow you to work. To take a job, your UAE employer applies for a work permit with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) and an entry permit with GDRFA or ICP. Indian passport holders with Emigration Check Required (ECR) status also need emigration clearance from India’s eMigrate system before flying for work. Families of UAE residents come on a family residence visa sponsored by the resident. Indian investors, top earners and skilled professionals can also apply for the 10-year Golden Visa on the same terms as other nationalities.

Tips for Indian travellers arriving in the UAE

• Keep a printed or digital copy of your e-visa and your qualifying US, UK, EU or other visa.
• Get a local SIM at the airport; see how to activate a du tourist SIM.
• Use the Metro from the airport with our first-time Dubai Metro guide and track fares with the nol card balance check.
• Leave before your visa ends; our UAE overstay fine check explains the AED 50 daily fine.
• If you travel on to another country, UAE residence opens more options; see visa on arrival for UAE residents.

Official sources: ICP’s 60-day visa for nationals of certain countries and Visa Extension pages, GDRFA Dubai’s visitor visa on arrival extension and single-entry tourist visa pages, and the UAE government’s tourist visa page. Rules can change, so check with ICP or your airline before you travel.

This guide is part of our UAE Visa and Emirates ID Guide.