Dubai Visitor Visa Cost 2026: Exact AED Fees, All Visa Types & What You'll Actually Pay

Do You Even Need a Dubai Visa?

Before looking at fees, check whether you need a visa at all. Over 90 nationalities enter the UAE completely visa-free, including British, American, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders — no application, no fee, just your passport.

You are visa-exempt if you hold a passport from: all EU member states, the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and most of the Americas. Each visit allows 30–90 days depending on nationality. [→ See the full UAE visa-exempt nationalities list]

You need a visa in advance if you hold a passport from: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, most of Africa, and most of Southeast Asia (with some airline-specific exceptions covered below).

You may be eligible for visa on arrival if: you are an Indian national holding a valid UK, US, EU, or Australian residence permit; a Filipino national flying with Emirates or Flydubai; or a GCC resident of any nationality.

If you fall into the visa-required category, every fee and visa type below applies to you.

Dubai Visitor Visa Cost 2026: Complete Fee Table

Every total below follows the same formula: Government fee + 5% UAE VAT + Service charge = What you pay.

The government fee is fixed by GDRFA Dubai and is identical no matter where you apply. The service charge is what varies between providers — a GDRFA typing centre charges AED 80–120; a full-service online agency charges AED 150–300.

Understanding Your Dubai Visa Cost: The 4-Part Breakdown

When one website quotes AED 350 and another quotes AED 700 for what looks like the same visa, you're not being overcharged — you're seeing different combinations of these four components:

1. Government fee — set by GDRFA Dubai or ICP, fixed and non-negotiable. For a 30-day tourist visa this is AED 200. Paying through an airline, a travel agency, or directly online makes no difference to this number.

2. 5% UAE VAT — applied to all government services. On a 30-day visa this adds AED 10.

3. Service / processing charge — this is where providers differ. A GDRFA Amer typing centre might charge AED 80–120. An online platform that manages your documents, tracks your application, and handles rejections charges AED 150–300. Neither is a scam — they're different service levels.

4. Optional and mandatory add-ons:

• Health insurance: mandatory for most visa categories (AED 40–150 depending on duration)
• Express processing: optional, AED 100–250 extra for 24–72 hour turnaround instead of 3–7 days
• Inside-UAE surcharge: AED 500 + AED 10 Knowledge Dirham + AED 10 Innovation Dirham if you apply while already in the UAE
• Security deposit: AED 3,000 refundable deposit required for the 5-year multi-entry visa and some family visit categories (returned when the visa expires or is cancelled per GDRFA rules)

The rule: Before paying anything, ask: "Is this the government fee only, or the total I'll pay?" Any quote that doesn't include VAT and service charge is incomplete.

Which Dubai Visitor Visa Type Should You Choose?

Choosing the right Dubai visitor visa depends on your travel purpose, stay duration, and travel frequency. Dubai offers multiple visa options, including short-term tourist visas, long-term visitor visas, transit visas, and multiple-entry visas to suit different travel needs. Whether you are planning a quick holiday, business visit, family trip, or frequent travel to the UAE, selecting the correct visa type can help you save money, avoid unnecessary issues, and enjoy a smoother travel experience.

48-Hour and 96-Hour Transit Visas (AED 180–480)

For travellers transiting through Dubai International Airport with a layover long enough to leave the terminal. The                 48-hour transit (AED 180–250) lets you spend two days in Dubai — plenty for the Marina, a desert excursion, or Dubai Mall. The 96-hour transit (AED 300–480) suits those combining a Dubai stopover with a wider trip who want four full days to explore. Neither type is extendable. Both must be arranged before you arrive.

14-Day Tourist Visa (AED 300–450)

The right choice for a short city break where you're certain about your dates. Single-entry, valid for 14 days from the date you enter, and non-extendable. Works well for travellers who have booked a fixed-date package holiday. At AED 300–450 it's the most affordable entry-level visa, but if there's any chance you'll want to extend your stay, the 30-day visa is better value than paying for an entirely new application.

30-Day Tourist Visa (AED 350–550) — Most Popular Choice

The standard choice for first-time visitors. Thirty days is enough time to experience Dubai in full — the old city around Al Fahidi, a desert safari, the top of the Burj Khalifa, day trips to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or the Hajar Mountains. Available as both single-entry and multiple-entry.

Government fee: AED 200 + AED 10 VAT. Extendable once for another 30 days (AED 680–780 total extension cost) or twice in some cases, giving a maximum stay of 90 days. If you're likely to want more than 30 days, the 60-day visa is cheaper than extending — see the cost comparison below.

60-Day Tourist Visa (AED 580–900)

The better choice for family visits, longer holidays, or travellers combining Dubai with other UAE destinations or the wider region. Government fee: AED 300 + VAT. Can be extended once for a total possible stay of 120 days.

The extension cost comparison: A 30-day visa extended for 30 days costs AED 350–550 (visa) + AED 680–780 (extension) = AED 1,030–1,330 total for 60 days. A 60-day visa from the start costs AED 580–900 for the same period. If you might stay more than 30 days, apply for the 60-day visa upfront — it saves AED 430–430.

90-Day Tourist Visa (AED 900–1,500)

For longer stays: extended family visits, travellers who want to explore the UAE properly over several months, or those combining tourism with job-seeking or business meetings (note: you cannot work or generate income on a tourist visa in the UAE). Single-entry. Can typically be extended once for a further 90 days, giving a maximum total stay of 180 days — which is the legal ceiling for a tourist in the UAE in any calendar year.

Multiple-Entry Visas — 30-Day and 60-Day (AED 700–1,200)

Allow unlimited re-entries to the UAE within the visa validity window. Each stay is limited to 30 or 60 days (depending on the variant you choose), but you can leave — to Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, or elsewhere in the GCC — and return without applying for a new visa. Well-suited to business travellers making multiple regional trips, or those combining a Dubai base with GCC travel.

5-Year Multi-Entry Tourist Visa (AED 1,800–2,500 + AED 3,000 refundable deposit)

The best value option for anyone who visits Dubai regularly. Five years of unlimited entries with each stay up to 90 days and a maximum of 180 days in any one calendar year. No UAE sponsor required.

What it costs in full:

• Government fee: AED 1,000–1,200 + 5% VAT
• Service charge: AED 200–400
• Health insurance: AED 200–500
• Refundable security deposit: AED 3,000 (returned in full when the visa expires or is cancelled — this is not a fee, but you need the cash available)
• Total out of pocket at application: AED 4,800–5,500 (of which AED 3,000 is returned)
• Actual net cost over 5 years: AED 1,800–2,500

At the upper end of AED 2,500, that's AED 500 per year — roughly equivalent to applying for a single 30-day visa. If you visit Dubai twice a year or more, this visa pays for itself in the second visit.

Eligibility requirements: Passport valid for at least 2 years from application date · Bank statements showing a minimum balance of USD 4,000 for the 6 months prior to application · Valid health insurance covering the UAE · Clean immigration record.

Inside-UAE Status Change (Additional AED 700–900)

If you're already in the UAE on a tourist visa and need to switch to a different visa category — a longer-duration tourist visa, a family visit visa, or a different entry type — without leaving the country, this option allows that. The status change attracts an additional government fee of AED 500 on top of your new visa fee. Apply through GDRFA Dubai (for Dubai residents) or ICP Smart Services (for other emirates).

Dubai Visa Extension: Cost, Rules & How It Works

Most tourist visas can be extended while you're still in the UAE — you don't need to leave the country and re-enter.

Where to apply for an extension: GDRFA Dubai online portal (gdrfad.gov.ae), ICP Smart Services app, or in person at an Amer or Tasheel typing centre. Apply before your current visa expires — not after.

The 180-day rule: Regardless of the visa type and number of extensions, you cannot spend more than 180 days in the UAE in any 365-day period as a tourist. This is an ICP-enforced limit.

Dubai Overstay Fine 2026: AED 50 Per Day, No Grace Period

As of 11 February 2026, the UAE removed the previous 10-day grace period and unified the overstay fine at AED 50 per day, starting from the first day after your visa expires.

Fines must be paid in full at the airport before you can depart. An unpaid fine results in a system block on future UAE visa applications and can prevent re-entry. The only way to avoid a fine is to extend your visa before it expires or leave before the expiry date.

A practical example: if you miss your expiry date by 10 days while dealing with a travel disruption, that's AED 500 in fines plus AED 200 for the exit outpass — AED 700 total. A 30-day extension applied before expiry costs AED 680–780 and gives you 30 days more. The extension is almost always the better financial decision.

Documents Required for a Dubai Visitor Visa

The document requirements are consistent across most categories:

• Passport with at least 6 months' validity from your planned entry date
• Clear passport-size photograph (white background, no glasses, no filters, minimum 300 DPI)
• Confirmed return or onward flight ticket
• Hotel reservation or confirmed accommodation address in the UAE
• For the 5-year visa: bank statements covering the previous 6 months, showing a minimum balance of USD 4,000 (roughly AED 14,700)
• For family visit visas: attested proof of relationship — birth certificate or marriage certificate — and a copy of the UAE sponsor's Emirates ID and visa
• Health insurance valid for the UAE (basic cover from AED 40; comprehensive from AED 90–150)

Can You Work on a Dubai Tourist Visa?

No. A tourist or visitor visa does not permit any form of employment, freelancing, or income-generating activity in the UAE. Working on a tourist visa is a violation of UAE immigration law and can result in deportation and a re-entry ban. If you are exploring job opportunities in Dubai, you can attend interviews and meetings on a tourist visa, but you cannot begin work or receive payment until you have converted to a UAE work visa or employment visa.

Dubai Visa: Common Mistakes That Cost You Money

• Choosing the wrong visa duration: Extending a 30-day visa later can cost much more than applying for a 60-day visa from the start. If you may stay longer, choose the 60-day option upfront.
• Missing the extension deadline: UAE overstay fines are AED 50 per day with no grace period. Set a reminder before your visa expires to avoid unnecessary penalties.
• Using unlicensed agents: Fake visa agents may charge hidden fees or provide invalid approvals. Always verify the provider before making payment.
• Paying for express processing unnecessarily: Standard processing usually takes 3–7 working days. If your trip is not urgent, regular processing is often enough.
• Uploading incorrect photos: Poor-quality or wrongly cropped photos are one of the main reasons for visa delays and rejections.