Famed for its luxuriant aura, Dubai is a city of extravagance. A land that has bloomed from a desert town to a flourishing metropolis, it had an influx of about 15 million visitors in 2016. A fabulous place for every travel enthusiast, Dubai has world-class infrastructure, fantastic attractions and desert safaris, shopping avenues, well-paying jobs, and so much more. To explore one of the best cities in the world, the Dubai tourist visa for Indians is mandatory. As one of the top 10 visited cities in the world (according to Forbes), Dubai has an increasing number of tourists every year. With something to offer for everyone, this oasis of the Middle East is worth travelling to!
Here is a complete guide to help in obtaining the Dubai visa for Indians traveling for tourism purposes –
Types of Dubai tourist visa for Indians
The government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) offers to Indians several types of visas to enter Dubai. You could find yourself confused between a visitor visa and tourist visa. Ensure that you apply for the right one according to your travel plans. A Dubai visitor visa allows you to perform multiple tasks in Dubai. On the other hand, a Dubai tourist visa has a narrow scope and allows you to perform only certain tasks on your visit. A Dubai tourist visa is granted by the authorities for limited time duration and is often considered to be a subcategory of the visitor visa.
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There are two types of Dubai tourist visa for Indians:
1. 14-day Dubai tourist visa
As implied by the name, the 14-day Dubai tourist visa allows you to stay in UAE for 14 days. Perfect for those who wish to explore the wonder of Dubai and have in mind a limited duration of stay, this visa can be the one for you! With a validity period of 2 months, this 14-day Dubai visa for Indians does not permit you to continue traveling in the city after 14 days.
2. 30-day Dubai tourist visa
Specially offered for those who intend to travel in Dubai for a longer time, the 30-day Dubai tourist visa permits a stay duration of 30 days. This visa allows you to travel to other cities in the UAE as well. However, those applying for this visa will have to finish traveling within 60 days after the issuance of the visa, after which it lapses. Only on certain terms and conditions, the duration of this visa can be extended by a maximum of 10 days.
Apart from the Dubai tourist visa, there are several other Dubai visas for Indians. However, the application rate for the tourist visa is higher than the others. If you intend to travel to Dubai on different occasions within a particular time duration, it is advised to apply for a Multiple Entry Visa.
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Dubai Visa on Arrival for Indians
There is a provision for obtaining a Dubai visa on arrival for Indian nationals. The person is required to have a passport valid for 6 months from the date of arrival, and a visit visa or a green card issued by the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), or the European Union (EU) which is also valid for a minimum of 6 months. The Dubai visa on arrival, in accordance with the mentioned requirement, will be granted for a maximum stay duration of 14 days. The charge for visa on arrival is AED 120 (INR 2317). You can apply for an extension of 14 days on your visa provided you pay the charge of AED 250 (INR 4827).
Dubai Transit Visa for Indians
The government of the UAE offers two types of Dubai transit visas for Indians. These are –
1. 48 hours transit visa – This transit visa is valid for 48 hours only. It is free of cost.
Document requirements –
- An Indian passport or travel document that has a minimum validity period of 3 months
- Your photograph against a white background
- An onward ticket booking confirmation to a third destination, apart from the one you are coming from
2. 96 hours transit visa – This transit visa is valid for 96 hours. The cost of this visa is AED 50 (INR 967).
Document requirements –
- An Indian passport or travel document that has a minimum validity period of 6 months
- Your photograph against a white background
- An onward ticket booking confirmation to a third destination, apart from the one you are coming from
These transit visas are sponsored exclusively by the UAE-based airlines. They must be processed and approved before your entry into Dubai. Neither of these two visas is extendable.
Suggested read: Guide To Visa Photo Size Requirements
Documents Required for Dubai Visa
The documents required for Dubai visa intended for tourism purposes are –
- Passport – It is mandatory for travellers to have a valid passport that depicts his/her Indian nationality. In case you are applying for the visa online, scanned copies of the passport must be submitted. Ensure that your passport has a validity of a minimum period of 6 months to enable the processing of your visa application. Copies of the first and last pages of the passport need to be given. It is recommended that the scanned copies are in colour. Black and white copies can get rejected.
- Application form for Dubai visa for Indians – You will have to fill out an application form in order to obtain the visa. This form must also contain your signature. Ensure that the informed provided by you is accurate. Re-check the details to assess their accuracy. Any discrepancies could lead to a delay in the processing of your visa application.
- Photograph – As per the norms set by the UAE government, you must submit your photograph along with the completed visa application. It must be a recent photograph, no more than 6 months old. The photograph must be in colour.
- Travel itinerary – It is necessary to submit your travel itinerary along with the visa application. The itinerary must include the dates of travel, copy of your flight tickets, and the details of the hotel where you will be staying during your time in Dubai. Providing this document provides surety to the authorities that you have your plans set for the duration of stay in Dubai and that you will return to India before the expiry of the visa.
- Financial accounts – Though it is not usually required for the tourist visa, it is highly recommended that you keep these documents handy. These can include your bank account statement and other related documents that prove your financial credibility. In case of any doubt regarding your visa application, the authorities might ask you for these documents to assess your financial survivability in Dubai.
- Address proof – This, like the financial statements, is not mandatory. However, it becomes necessary if your current permanent residency address is different from your Indian nationality.
In addition to the mentioned documents, the authorities can ask you to submit any other document according to the requirement. Ensure that you are completely prepared with all relevant documents pertaining to you.
Validity of Dubai tourist visa for Indians
The Dubai tourist visa for Indians allows you to enter and stay in Dubai for the duration of the visa. If you obtain the 14-day Dubai tourist visa, you will be allowed to stay in Dubai for 14 days only. The 30-day Dubai tourist visa offers you a longer stay duration of 30 days. This visa can be extended by another 10 days, thereby permitting you to stay in Dubai for 40 days in total. Note that this extension is given on certain conditions and not everyone can obtain it.
The Dubai tourist visa is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. You can travel to Dubai anytime within this duration. In case you do not travel to the city within the said duration of 60 days, your visa lapses and needs to be cancelled. If you do not travel to Dubai and do not cancel the visa, you will not be given one in the future unless the previous visa is cancelled.
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Dubai Visa Fees for Indians
You can obtain a visa to Dubai only if you have a local sponsor. This sponsor can be a friend, family member, travel agent, or even a hotel. It is highly recommended that you approach travel agents to apply for a tourist visa. The Dubai visa fees for Indians can slightly differ from agency to agency.
These are the typical rates for a Dubai tourist visa
- For a 14-day visa – INR 5800 – INR 6500
- For a 30-day visa – INR 6100 – INR 7000
These rates are inclusive of all service charges and taxes.
It is important to note that the rates mentioned showing the general price of obtaining a visa through registered travel agents. You can avail the visa at a cheaper rate if you have friends/family members in the UAE as they can apply for your visa on their behalf.
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Certain travel agencies have Express Visa options through which you can avail your visa faster if you are in a rush to visit Dubai. The typical rates for these, including service charges and taxes, are –
- For a 14-day visa – INR 6500 – INR 7400
- For a 30-day visa – INR 6700 – INR 7700
As the rates can vary from agency to agency, ensure to check your options accordingly.
In some cases, you might be asked to pay a certain amount to the agency as a security deposit. This amount is refundable and will be reflected in your account within 5 working days of your arrival in India.
Difference between Dubai tourist visa and Dubai visit visa
It is not uncommon for people to get confused between the tourist visa and visit visa to Dubai.
These are the essential parameters of distinction between the two –
1. Purpose
Tourist visa – allows you to visit as a tourist, exclusively for leisure and sightseeing purposes
Visit visa – Allows you to visit for business/work or sightseeing
2. Duration of stay
Tourist visa – Allows you a stay duration of either 14 / 30 days; a maximum extension of 10 days can be provided on the 30-day tourist visa
Visit visa – Allows you to stay in Dubai for a maximum duration of 90 days
3. Validity
Tourist visa – Has a validity period of 2 months from the date of issue
Visit visa – Has a validity period of 6 months from the date of issue
4. Charges
Tourist visa – Relatively cheaper
Visit visa – More expensive than the tourist visa
5. Sponsor criteria
Tourist visa – The sponsor for your travel or accommodation could be a friend/family member in the UAE or even a local hotel/travel agency
Visit visa – The sponsor for your travel or accommodation must be a resident of the UAE
6. Conversion of visa
Tourist visa – It is not possible to convert this visa into any other one
Visit visa – It is possible to convert this visa into an employment visa on certain conditions
You can now easily apply for a Dubai tourist visa for Indians!
Are you ready to explore the marvel that the city of Dubai is?
Read: What is a Sponsorship Letter for Visa?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do Indians need a visa for Dubai?
A: Yes, Indians need a visa for Dubai. However, those Indian nationals with a visit visa or green card from the USA, UK, or EU are eligible for visa on arrival to Dubai.
2. What is the cost of Dubai visa from India?
A: The cost of the 14-day Dubai tourist visa ranges from INR 5800 to INR 6500 and for a 30-day visa, from INR 6100 to INR 7000.
3. How long does it take to get Dubai visa from India?
A: The typical processing time duration to obtain a Dubai visa from India is 5 working days. You can avail the visa through the Express Visa service from travel agents in just 24 hours.
4. How do I get Dubai visa from India?
A: Dubai visa from India can be obtained from the Dubai Visa Application Centres in the country or even through online modes. It is recommended that you apply for your Dubai visa through a registered travel agency.
Further read: UK tourist visa from India – How to prepare your visa application
