Do I Need Uae Visa For Transit
When travelling, you may need to transit through a country to get to a final destination. You need to have documentation that is valid for the duration of your stay in a country. In this article you will discover the different kinds of documents needed for a transit visa, and how you can go about getting one.
A No-visa transit is a transit through an airport of UAE, in which the travelers do not leave the airport terminal. This is a short stopover that occurs on the way to or from another country. Transit visitors will have their passports stamped and may stay in the UAE for up to 24 hours before traveling to another destination. We will base our discussion today on – Do I Need Uae Visa For Transit. But, other resources which you can find on our website include some frequently asked questions such as: do i need a transit visa for dubai if i am not leaving the airport and dubai transit visa 48 hours
Do I Need Uae Visa For Transit
Anyone who’s ever been to the U.A.E, UAE or Dubai knows that you’ll see multiple visa options to enter the country. The fact of the matter is that not every traveler is eligible for a visa on arrival option during their transit to the country or if your travel itinerary includes the U.A.E for more than 24 hours, you’ll need a visa in advance. This article walks you through the different options of entry visas depending on your nationality and travel plans to give you peace of mind as you embark on your transnational journey.
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
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
How Can I Apply for a UAE Transit Visa?
You have to apply for a UAE Transit Visa before you travel. But just as with other types of UAE visas, you cannot apply by yourself at a UAE embassy or consulate abroad; you need a sponsor who can apply on your behalf.
Who can sponsor my UAE Transit Visa?
If you need a transit visa for Dubai/UAE, only your UAE-based airline can serve as your sponsor. They are the ones who arrange to get your transit visa from the relevant visa issuing authorities in the UAE. So, if you know you will stop in Dubai or Abu Dhabi or any other emirate on your way to a third destination, then you must contact your airline to start the process of obtaining your transit visa.
If you are travelling through a travel agency, they can help you with the process, but it is only the airlines who arrange your transit visa for you. Travel agencies or private sponsors cannot apply on your behalf, like for tourist visas.
Where to apply for a UAE Transit Visa?
First, you apply through your airline. Then, your airline applies for your transit visa online, through one of the following ways:
- Through the eChanel portal of the UAE Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA); or
- Through the websites of the GDRFA in each emirate:
- Through the mobile apps:
Where can I apply for a Dubai Transit Visa?
Dubai is part of the country of the UAE, and as such, you can apply for a Dubai Transit Visa in the same way as is detailed above.
How to get an Abu Dhabi Transit Visa?
You can get an Abu Dhabi Transit Visa by arranging for one with an UAE-based airline, in the same process as is detailed above. That’s because Abu Dhabi is one of the emirates making up the UAE, and so you actually need a UAE visa not an Abu Dhabi Visa.
How long is the UAE Transit Visa valid?
A UAE Transit visa is valid for 14 days starting from the date it is issued. You must use it within those days. However, once you have travelled to the UAE, you can only stay for 48 hours or 96 hours, depending on the type of Transit Visa you receive.
How long can I stay in UAE with a Transit Visa?
There are two types of transit visas for Dubai/UAE:
- 48-hour Transit Visa
- 96-hour Transit Visa
You cannot stay in the country beyond the date that the visa is issued for. The countdown starts from the time you enter the UAE.
Can you extend a UAE Transit Visa?
No, you cannot extend your UAE Transit Visa beyond the number of hours that is is issued for. If you’ve received a 48-hour Transit Visa, you cannot extend it to a 96-hour one, nor can you extend the 96-hour for longer than that.
UAE Transit Visa price
The price of the transit visa depends on they type:
- The 48-hour UAE transit visa is free of charge
- The 96-hour UAE transit visa is AED 50 (about US$13 – US$14)
How long does it take to get a UAE Transit Visa?
A UAE Transit Visa is usually processed within 3-4 working days, but may take longer depending on the airline, your country, and other specific circumstances.
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
- 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.
