Overview
The United Arab Emirates also known sometimes simply as the “Emirates” is one of the major countries in the Middle East sharing its borders with Oman in the East and with Saudi Arabia in the south. With a history of human cultures dating back to roughly 125,000 BCE, UAE’s socio-cultural tradition is layered with a variety of influences that inform its vibrant contemporary landscape. Today, cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE are some of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, characterized by state-of-the-art facilities for both business and recreation. Overcoming significant economic crises in the first-half of the 20th century, the UAE revitalized itself not only as one of the largest oil reserves in the world but as an international transit point for aviation and maritime trade. Today, the UAE provides a wide range of potential for a variety of travellers who would like to have a bit of business and pleasure.
As of 2018, expatriates accounted for nearly 89% of UAE’s total population of 9.543 million at the time. With more than 4/5ths of its population being composed of non-native communities, the UAE is one of the most inclusive and welcoming regions in the world, characterized by a peculiar balance between globalized modernity and strong traditional roots. In 2018, Dubai welcomed almost 16 million international visitors and is fast becoming one of the most accessible and tourist-friendly regions in the world. Below, is a brief UAE travel guide.
Application Process for a UAE Visa
Any Indian who has a valid passport or a visa to any of the schengen countries is essentially exempt from the need to get a UAE visa. A tourist visa can also be arranged for by a sponsor that one has in the UAE or can be got from a hotel booking in the UAE, through the Emirates airlines office, Air Arabia Office or through a travel agent in India. You can apply for a UAE visa at your closest visa application center with all the required documents and colored passport-sized photos as listed above. Visa application forms are available online. If you are a citizen of any one of the 22 nationalities exempt from visa requirements, then you can fill an online form and apply for an e-visa in less than 15 minutes.
The process differs slightly based on the eligibility criteria associated with the type of visa that you are trying to avail. The basic eligibility criteria for a UAE visa have been explored in the following section.
Documentation Required for UAE Visas
Travel History
Any applicant who has travelled to the UAE at least once in the past 5 years preceding the time of application or has a visa to any of the Schengen countries or the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland is eligible to travel to the UAE.
The documents required for an application based on the travel history eligibility criteria are:
- A visa application form that is completed and signed with a colored passport-sized photograph.
- An original passport that is valid for a period of at least 6 months from the date of travel.
- Original and copies of return or onward tickets from the UAE.
- Invitation letter from relatives, friends or business hosts.
- All female applicants above the age of 18 and who are travelling alone will be required to carry a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from parents or husband, their photo identity cards and a colored copy of the host’s passport and/or residence visa.
- Stipulated fees for visa in through cash, demand draft or credit card.
Financial Records
All applicants who have not fulfilled the eligibility criteria for travel history will need to submit legitimate financial records such as their income tax records of the past 2 years in Form 16 or records of income tax returns from the preceding 2 years. Also, the minimum gross income from any business, service or professional employment should exceed at least 2 lakhs per annum. In case that applicants are not able to submit these records, they can also provide records of investments of up to INR 5 lakhs that they have made in the form of FDs in a bank or post office.
While submitting proofs such as income tax returns, you need to submit all of the documents that you would, if you were providing proofs of travel history. The only other document that is mandatory would be originals and copies of income tax returns, salary slips from the preceding 6 months, copies of your PAN card and/or the originals and copies of your fixed deposit receipts.
Invite from Family
Applicants/tourists can also travel to the UAE on the basis of invitations received from family residing in the UAE. Invitations can however only be provided to one’s spouse, children below the age of 21 and parents who are above the age of 60.
All documents are common as for applicants providing proof of travel or financial records with the exception of an invitation letter and a legitimate residence visa of family living in the UAE.
Recently Married Couple
For recently or newly married couples, in case the name is endorsed on the passport, they need to produce:
- A Marriage Certificate or a notarized affidavit on an INR 100 stamp paper.
- A No Objection Certificate from both sets of parents with a photo identity proof, the wedding card and wedding photographs to confirm the identity and married status of the couple.
In addition to the various documents that one will need to submit depending on the nature of visit, applicants may also be asked for other documents as deemed necessary by immigration authorities in the UAE. An important point to note here is that all unaccompanied students and women below the age of 25 will need to pre-approved by guardians or parents.
Types of Visa for the UAE
The different types of visa for travel to the UAE are based on the duration of stay. They are as follows:
- 48 Hour Visa: As the name suggests, such visas to the UAE are valid only for a duration of 48 hours. It is ideal for tourists or businesspersons who wish to visit the UAE and stay there for only a couple of days. It is like a long transit visa for travellers using the UAE as a stop-over before onward travel. This kind of visa is valid for a period of 30 days from the date of issuance and costs INR 820. The basic documents required for availing this visa are a filled application form, copies of Emirates ticket and colored copies of the first and last pages of the passport. Typically, the processing time for such visas is between 3 and 4 days.
- 96 Hour Visa: Like the 48 hour visa, the 96 hour visa is preferred by tourists and business travellers who wish to visit the UAE for a short duration of time and are possibly using this stay as a transit before a longer trip. It is also valid for a period of 30 days from the date of issuance and costs INR 1770. The documents required are the same as for the 48 hour visa and processing time for the 98 hour visa is also between 3 and 4 days.
- 14 Day Visa: This is also known as a ‘Short Term Visit Single Entry’ visa and can be used for visits up to 14 days. The validity for entry is from 14 days of the date of issuance of the visa and the visa period is non-extendable. The processing time for this visa is also between 3 and 4 days and costs INR 5690.
- 1 Month Visa: This is also classified as a ‘Short Term Visit Single Entry’ visa and is valid for a period of 30 days or 1 month. The entry validity for the 1 Month visa is 58 days from the date of issuance. However, this visa is extendable twice for a period of 30 days each at a price of AED 850. The basic cost of the visa for a month-long visit is INR 5690.
- 90 Day Visa: The 90 day visa allows travellers to visit the UAE for a period of 90 days at a stretch and is often preferred by those who visit family or training. It is extendable twice for a period of 30 days after having stayed for 90 days. Like in the case of the month-long visa, the extension fee is AED 850. For the 90 day visa, applicants need to provide a covering letter citing the reason and purpose of travel. Depending on the purpose of travel you will need to submit specific documents:
- For travellers who wish to visit the UAE for business meetings, conferences or symposiums, they will need to submit copies of their passport, confirmed tickets, hotel booking, a covering letter from concerned company and an invitation from the same or resident host.
- For travellers visiting the UAE to meet family or relatives, they will need to submit a copy of their passport, EK or FZ tickets, a copy of their host’s passport, host’s residence proof, a covering letter or guarantee from the host and any proof of relationship.
- Recreational tourists or those seeking to invest in property in the UAE will need to submit a copy of their passport, confirmed travel tickets, hotel booking and/or proof of property tenancy.
Over and above these documents, travellers applying for a 90 day visa to visit the UAE may also need to submit other documents if requested by the immigration authorities.
The fees for availing a 90 day visa is INR 14,100 and is typically processed in 3 to 4 days.
6.Multi-Entry 30 Day Visa: This visa is for travellers who will likely be entering and visiting the UAE for a total duration of 30 days spread out across multiple visits. The entry validity for this visa is 58 days and this multiple-entry visa can be extended for 30 day period not more than two times. The fees for this visa is INR 13,580 and typically takes between 3 and 4 days for processing.
7. Multi-Entry 90 Day Visa: This visa is for travellers wanting to visit the UAE for a period of 90 days spread across multiple visits. The visa can be extended for 30-day periods twice and the fee for extensions is AED 850. Like the normal single-entry 90 day visa, travellers will need to provide specific documents depending on the nature and purpose of their visit, whether it be for official, personal or property and tenancy related.
In either case, all applicants will need to provide covering letters mentioning the purpose of their travel, details of hosts in the UAE and a self-attested guarantee that they will not overstay their visit in addition to their visa duration. Applicants will also need to submit details of two local contacts in the city or region that they are visiting.
FAQs
1. Do I need to have booked my tickets to the UAE before doing my visa?
No. You can apply for and get your visa as late as 4 days before your planned departure.
2. My passport is expiring in 2 months. Can I get a UAE visa?
Unfortunately, no. Your passport will need to be valid till at least 6 months after the date of arrival.
3. Is there a security deposit for visiting the UAE?
Yes, that is correct. There is a nominal security deposit that will be refunded within 4 working days of your departure from the UAE.
4. Do infants and minors also need a visa for visiting the UAE?
Yes. Infants and children also need visas.
