Dubai Visa on Arrival: Countries, Fees, Rules & Eligibility

Dubai welcomes over 17 million tourists every year. For travellers from many countries, entering is simpler than expected — thanks to the Dubai Visa on Arrival system, which allows eligible passport holders to receive an entry permit directly at the airport with no advance application required.

Eligibility depends strictly on passport nationality. The rules — including fees, validity periods, and extension options — vary based on your country of citizenship. This 2026 guide covers everything: eligible nationalities, exact fees, the Indian VOA rules, the step-by-step airport process, extension procedures, and the overstay fine framework.

Quick reference: Dubai Visa on Arrival by nationality

What is Dubai Visa on Arrival?

A Dubai Visa on Arrival (VOA) is an entry permit issued by UAE immigration authorities at the airport after you land. Eligible travellers do not need to apply for a visa before travelling — the visa is stamped directly into your passport at the immigration counter.

Dubai Visa on Arrival eligibility

Dubai visa on arrival eligibility depends on passport nationality — not your country of residence, your employment status, or any other visa you hold (except for the special Indian VOA category, which has its own conditions).

A person holding a US Green Card but travelling on an Indian passport, for example, falls under Indian VOA rules — not US rules.

GCC nationals — no visa required

Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries do not need any visa to enter the UAE. They receive a free entry stamp and may stay for extended periods under UAE-GCC bilateral agreements. This is not a visa on arrival — it is a separate visa-free entry arrangement.

GCC countries eligible for free entry: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia

30-day Dubai Visa on Arrival — eligible countries

Citizens of the following countries receive a free 30-day visa on arrival, stamped at immigration with no advance application. The 30-day visa can be extended once for an additional 30 days before it expires.

90-day Dubai Visa on Arrival — eligible countries

Citizens of the following countries receive a free multiple-entry 90-day visa on arrival, valid for 6 months from the date of first issue. Within that 6-month window, you may stay in the UAE for a total of 90 days across one or multiple visits.

180-day Dubai Visa on Arrival — Mexico only

Holders of a Mexican passport are eligible for a special multiple-entry 180-day visa on arrival, valid for 6 months from the date of issue, allowing a total stay of 180 days within that period. This is issued free of charge at UAE airports.

Dubai Visa on Arrival for Indian passport holders

Indian nationals do not automatically qualify for Dubai Visa on Arrival. However, a special conditional scheme exists that allows eligible Indian passport holders to obtain a visa upon landing. In February 2025, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed a major expansion of this scheme, adding six new qualifying countries.

Who qualifies — Indian VOA eligibility

An Indian passport holder can get a Dubai Visa on Arrival only if they hold a valid visa or residence permit from one of the following countries, with at least 6 months' validity from their date of UAE entry:

Indian VOA: key facts at a glance

Step-by-step: how Indians get Visa on Arrival at Dubai Airport

1. Land at Dubai International Airport (DXB) or another qualifying UAE airport.
2. Do not proceed directly to the main immigration counters. Look for the Marhaba Services counter, located before the main immigration area.
3. Present your Indian passport, your qualifying residency document (original, with 6+ months' validity), and your confirmed return flight ticket.
4. Pay the AED 100 fee by credit or debit card. Cash in UAE Dirhams is also accepted.
5. Receive your fee receipt — keep this with you throughout the airport.
6. Proceed to the main immigration counter with your receipt and passport.
7. The immigration officer verifies your documents and stamps your passport with the 14-day single-entry visa.

Processing time: Typically 10–20 minutes if all documents are in order.

How to extend the Indian VOA

If you need to stay beyond 14 days, apply for the extension before your initial visa expires:

• Visit an Amer Service Centre in Dubai, or apply through the GDRFA Dubai portal
• Pay the extension fee of AED 250
• Maximum extended stay: 14 additional days (28 days total)
• No further extensions are permitted — if you need more than 28 days, you must exit and apply for a pre-arranged Dubai Visitor Visa

Dubai Visa on Arrival documents required

For all VOA nationalities:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months from your date of UAE entry
• Confirmed return or onward flight ticket
• Proof of accommodation — hotel booking confirmation or host's contact details
• Evidence of sufficient funds — bank card, cash, or bank statement
• Payment method (for Indian VOA: card or UAE Dirhams cash)

For Indian VOA holders, additionally:

• Original qualifying residency document with at least 6 months' validity

For minors (under 18) travelling to Dubai:

• Child's valid passport
• Passport-size photograph (white background)
• Birth certificate in English or Arabic (or with certified translation)
• Documents of the accompanying parent or guardian
• If travelling with only one parent: a notarised No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the other parent

Which UAE airports offer Visa on Arrival?

Dubai Visa on Arrival is available at all UAE international airports:

Step-by-step: Dubai Visa on Arrival airport process

For all eligible nationalities except Indian passport holders (who follow the separate Marhaba counter process above):

1. Land at a UAE international airport and follow signs to the Immigration Hall.
2. Proceed to the immigration counters for your nationality/visa type.
3. Present your passport and required documents to the immigration officer.
4. Biometric data (fingerprints and photo) may be collected at this stage.
5. The officer verifies eligibility and stamps your passport with the VOA.
6. Exit immigration and proceed to baggage claim.

Processing time: 15–45 minutes depending on queue length. Factor in extra time during peak travel periods (December–January, July–August).

Dubai Visa on Arrival fee — full breakdown

Fees are payable at the airport by credit card, debit card, or cash in UAE Dirhams. Currency exchange booths are available at all UAE airports.

Dubai Visa on Arrival validity and extension rules

30-day VOA: validity and extension

• Valid for 30 days from your date of arrival
• Eligible for a 30-day inside-country extension
• How to extend: Apply through the GDRFA Dubai portal or visit an Amer Service Centre before your current visa expires
• Extension can also be arranged through a licensed travel agency in Dubai
• No grace period — fines begin on day one after expiry

90-day VOA: validity and re-entry

• Multiple-entry visa valid for 6 months from the date of first issue
• You may stay for a total of 90 days within that 6-month window across any number of visits
• No formal extension needed — simply exit and re-enter while within your allowance
• If you fully use your 90 days, apply for a pre-arranged Dubai Visitor Visa

Indian 14-day VOA: validity and extension

• Valid for 14 days from entry (counting arrival day as Day 1)
• Extendable once for 14 more days (AED 250) — maximum 28 days total
• Apply at an Amer Service Centre or via GDRFA portal before expiry
• No further extensions — exit and apply for a new visa if needed

Dubai Visa on Arrival overstay fines and penalties

Overstay fines are calculated on a per-day basis from the first day after your permitted stay ends. The commonly reported fine is AED 50 per day — always verify the current rate through official channels (UAE ICP, GDRFA Dubai, or an Amer Service Centre) before your visa expires.

Dubai Visa on Arrival vs pre-arranged Dubai Visitor Visa

If you are not eligible for visa on arrival — or want certainty before leaving home — apply for a Dubai Visitor Visa online with options from 14 days to 60 days Visa, single or multiple entry.

Common reasons for Dubai Visa on Arrival denial

Even if your nationality appears on the eligible list, entry is not guaranteed. Immigration officers can deny entry at their discretion. The most common reasons include:

• Passport valid for less than 6 months from the date of entry — the single most common and preventable denial reason
• No confirmed return or onward ticket — immigration may ask to see it on your phone or as a printout
• No proof of accommodation — especially for first-time visitors; carry your hotel booking confirmation
• Insufficient funds — no evidence of financial means to support your stay
• Previous UAE overstay history — flagged permanently in the ICP/GDRFA database
• Previous UAE visa violations — including cancelled visas not properly closed
• Suspected intention to work without a permit
• Indian VOA: expired or ineligible qualifying document — e.g., permit from a country not on the qualifying list, or fewer than 6 months' validity remaining
• Damaged or tampered passport — immigration may reject passports with missing pages or heavy wear
• Security-related flags — any match to watchlists results in immediate escalation

Dubai Transit Visa — different from Visa on Arrival

Many travellers confuse the Visa on Arrival with the Dubai Transit Visa. These are entirely separate entry categories.

If you have a layover in Dubai and want to exit the airport to explore the city, you need a transit visa — not a visa on arrival: