Asia

United Arab Emirates Visa Guide for Indian Passport Holders

Informational use only. This page is a travel-preparation reference for Indian passport holders, not legal or immigration advice.

iamravi.com is not affiliated with any embassy, consulate, government, VFS, BLS, CGI Federal, USTravelDocs, USVisaScheduling, or any other visa service provider.

Visa rules change without notice. Always verify current requirements, fees, and processing times on the official source linked on this page before you apply, pay any fee, or book any appointment.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-28. (1 day ago) Report outdated information

At a glance

Capital
Abu Dhabi
Tourist visa
depends
Business visa
required
Transit
depends
Classification
depends
Visa method
Conditional
Estimated cost
AED 252+ (30-day) or free if eligible for VOA

At a glance

The United Arab Emirates is not visa-free for Indian passport holders, but there are two distinct paths, and which one applies to you depends entirely on what other travel documents you already hold. Read both sections below carefully β€” they are genuinely different processes with different fees and validity periods.

Path 1: Visa on arrival (only if you hold a qualifying document)

Per GDRFA Dubai's official published service, Indian passport holders may receive a visa on arrival if they hold, at the time of entry:

  • A valid US Green Card (permanent resident card), or
  • A valid residence visa issued by the United Kingdom or a European Union country

with at least 6 months' validity remaining on that qualifying document, and a passport also valid for at least 6 months.

  • Validity: 14 days, extendable once for a further 14 days.
  • Application: through GDRFA Dubai's smart services platform (smart.gdrfad.gov.ae) before travel, or check current airport arrival procedures, since this facility is explicitly framed as a pre-registration smart service rather than a walk-up counter process.
  • Documents: valid passport, the qualifying green card/residence visa, and a passport-style photo on a white background.

This path does not apply just because you hold any US or UK visa β€” the GDRFA's own published terms specify a green card (not simply a US visa) for the US route, and a residence visa (not a short-term visitor visa) for the UK/EU route. If you're unsure whether your specific document qualifies, check the current GDRFA Dubai page directly before assuming eligibility.

Path 2: Standard pre-arranged tourist visa (for everyone else)

If you don't hold one of the qualifying documents above, you'll need a pre-arranged tourist visa, arranged before you travel β€” the UAE government's own guidance is explicit that "a tourist visa is for those who are not eligible for visa on arrival."

How to apply

  • Directly, through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) smart services platform, or GDRFA Dubai's smart services if entering via Dubai.
  • Through an airline, hotel, or licensed travel agent β€” many travellers booking flights or hotel stays in the UAE have their visa arranged as part of that booking; each airline/hotel has its own conditions (for example, flying with that airline).

Visa types and validity (per GDRFA Dubai's official fee schedule)

  • 30-day single-entry tourist visa: AED 252 (+5% VAT)
  • 60-day single-entry tourist visa: AED 352 (+5% VAT)
  • A separate multiple-entry 5-year tourist visa also exists for all nationalities, but requires proof of at least USD 4,000 (or equivalent) held for the preceding 6 months, plus valid UAE-applicable health insurance for 180 days.

Requirements

A recent passport-style photo on a white background, a copy of your passport (valid at least 6 months from your entry date), a return or onward travel ticket, and valid UAE-applicable health/medical insurance.

iamravi.com is not affiliated with the UAE government, ICP, GDRFA Dubai, or any airline, hotel, or travel agent involved in visa arrangement. All application, payment, and issuance steps happen on official UAE government platforms or through your chosen licensed provider β€” never here.

Business travel

The UAE does not have a separate "business visa" application form distinct from the tourist visa system described above β€” business visitors typically use the same entry-visa channels (ICP/GDRFA or airline/hotel/agent-arranged), with the purpose of visit stated at application. If your visit involves being sponsored by a UAE-based company for a work-related visa (rather than a short visit), that is a different, employer-sponsored process outside the scope of this guide.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming any US visa (rather than specifically a green card) or any UK visa (rather than specifically a UK residence visa) qualifies for visa on arrival β€” the official criteria are narrower than commonly assumed.
  • Traveling with a qualifying document that has less than 6 months' validity remaining β€” GDRFA's terms are explicit that this disqualifies you from the arrival facility.
  • Not arranging valid UAE health insurance before travel, which is a stated requirement for standard tourist visas.
  • Confusing ICP (the federal authority) fees with GDRFA Dubai's fees β€” check the fee schedule on whichever channel you actually apply through.

Official sources

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