Do I Need A Uae Visa For Transit Through Dubai
Dubai is a city of United Arab Emirates, and as a Tourist, you may transit in Dubai for 14 days without visa. However, if you want to stay longer, then you’ll need a UAE visa. You can get your UAE visa from the airport or from the various UAE embassies worldwide. If you plan to enter any of the 7 United Arab Emirates and intending to stay there for more than 14 days and less than 4 months, then you’ll have to apply for and get an entry visa issued by the respective country’s embassy where you reside.
A transit visa allows you to enter the UAE (United Arab Emirates) while waiting for a connecting flight. It doesn’t need to be renewed. But you can’t enter other countries while on a transit visa. Your onward journey must always be the same country as your entry point to the UAE e.g. a United States tourist can’t get a transit visa in Dubai if they are traveling on to Australia – as this would be exiting the UAE and entering another country. To be eligible for a transit visa: We will base our discussion today on – Do I Need A Uae Visa For Transit Through Dubai. But, other resources which you can find on our website include some frequently asked questions such as: transit visa dubai less than 8 hours and transit visa for dubai
Do I Need A Uae Visa For Transit Through Dubai
Do I need a visa to transit in Dubai or Abu Dhabi?
You need a visa to transit in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or any other emirate in the UAE if:
- You are not exempt from UAE Tourist Visas or you are not eligible for a UAE Visa On Arrival; and
- Your onward flight is in the next 48 or 96 hours
Nationals of Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger and Yemen cannot apply for a Transit Visa for UAE.
Who is exempt from Dubai Transit Visa?
If you are from one of the following countries, you can enter Dubai and any other emirate in the UAE without a visa and as such, you do not need a UAE Transit Visa:
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Saudi Arabia
If you are from one of the above-mentioned countries, you have freedom of movement and may enter the UAE with simply your passport or ID.
If you are from Mexico, you may enter the UEA without a visa for up to 180 days.
If you are from one of the following countries, you may enter the UAE without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180 day period:
- EU member states (excluding the UK and Ireland)
- Honduras
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Montenegro
- Norway
- Russia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Switzerland
If you are from one of the following countries, your may enter the UAE without a visa for up to 90 days.
- Argentina
- Barbados
- Brazil
- Chile
- Nauru
- Paraguay
- Serbia
- Solomon Islands
- Seychelles
- Uruguay
If you are from one of the following countries, you may enter the UAE without a visa for up to 30 days:
- China
- Japan
- Macau
- Ukraine
Who can get a Dubai Visa On Arrival?
If you are from one of the following countries, you can get a Visa On Arrival for Dubai and any other UAE emirate, and so you don’t have to apply for a UAE Transit Visa beforehand:
- Andorra (valid for 30 days)
- Australia (valid for 30 days)
- Bahamas (valid for 90 days)
- Brunei (valid for 30 days)
- Canada (valid for 30 days)
- Costa Rica (valid for 90 days)
- El Salvador (valid for 90 days)
- Hong Kong (valid for 30 days)
- Ireland (valid for 30 days)
- Kazakhstan (valid for 30 days)
- Malaysia (valid for 30 days)
- Maldives (valid for 90 days)
- Mauritius (valid for 30 days)
- Monaco (valid for 30 days)
- Mongolia (valid for 30 days)
- New Zealand (valid for 30 days)
- San Marino (valid for 30 days)
- Singapore (valid for 30 days)
- South Korea (valid for 90 days)
- United Kingdom (valid for 30 days)
- United States (valid for 30 days)
- Vatican City (valid for 30 days)
What Documents Do I Need for a Transit Visa?
When you apply for a UAE Transit Visa, you must submit the following documents to your airline:
- Your passport, valid for at least three more months
- Passport-size pictures of yourself, in line with UAE visa photo requirements
- Flight ticket for onward travel to a third country
- Hotel reservation in UAE
Transit visa
The UAE issues two types of transit visas: one for 48 hours which is free of charge, and another for 96 hours for AED 50 only. Transit visas are sponsored only by the UAE-based airlines and must be processed and approved before entering the UAE. Both types of transit visas are not extendable.
- Related eServices
- Who needs a transit visa?
- Who can apply for your transit visa?
- Duration of transit visa
- Important note
Related eServices
- Transit visa from Etihad Airways – Etihad Airways
- Transit visa from Emirates Airline – Emirates Airline
Who needs a transit visa?
If you are not one of the nationalities that are eligible for visa on arrival or a visa-free entry to the UAE, then you need a transit visa.
Who can apply for your transit visa?
Only the UAE based-airlines you are travelling through can arrange your transit visa prior to your journey. If your trip is through a travel agency, the agency can also help you get the visa, but all visas are routed through the airline. Airline agents can apply online for transit visas through one of the following means:
- the eChannels portal
- the ICA UAE eChannels app for Apple and Android
- online channels offered by the relevant General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in each emirate.
Duration of transit visa
Transit visa is issued either for 48 hours or for 96 hours. Please note that once a 48 hours visa is issued, it cannot be extended to 96 hours.
Transit visas for 48 hours
Transit visas for 48 hours are issued free of charge to passengers transiting through the UAE’s airports. You need to apply for the visa in advance through a UAE-based airline. This visa is not extendable, nor renewable. The validity of the visa is 48 hours from entry into the UAE, and you must leave the UAE within 48 hours from arrival.
To get a transit visa, you must have:
- a passport or travel document with a minimum validity of three months
- a photo of self against a white background
- an onward ticket booking to a 3rd destination, other than the one you are coming from.
Transit visas for 96 hours
Transit visas for 96 hours are issued against a fee of AED 50 to passengers transiting through the UAE’s airports. You need to apply for the visa in advance through a UAE-based airline. This visa is not extendable, nor renewable. The validity of the visa is 96 hours from entry into the UAE, and you must leave the UAE within 96 hours from arrival.
To get a transit visa, you must have:
- a passport or travel document with a minimum validity of six months
- a photo of self against a white background
- an onward ticket booking to a 3rd destination, other than the one you are coming from.
Important note
No fees or additional amounts can be imposed by any federal, local or private entity. A departure fee of AED 30 is levied on each passenger passing through the UAE’s airports.
Useful links:
- Transit guide – Abu Dhabi Airports
- International connections – Abu Dhabi International Airport
- Check the requirements for your UAE visa – Etihad Airways
- How to apply for your UAE visa – Emirates Airline
