How to apply for a UAE visa

Start by working out whether you need one at all. Some nationalities enter without applying, some are issued a visa on arrival, and only those who fall outside both apply in advance, through ICP, through GDRFA in Dubai, or through an airline, hotel or licensed travel agent acting as sponsor.

The list of nationalities changes, so the official advice is to check with the UAE embassy in your country before you travel rather than to rely on a list you found online.

1. Check your eligibility for visa free entry or a visa on arrival.
2. If you do need to apply, decide who sponsors it: ICP or GDRFA directly, or an airline, hotel, tourism company, a UAE based company, or an individual resident.
3. Choose the right visa for the trip. A visit visa and a tourist visa are different services with different prices.
4. Submit the application and pay. ICP’s own service card puts completion at two days.
5. Travel with a passport valid at least six months from the date you enter.

Whichever route you use, the visa itself is issued by the UAE authorities. Embassies do not issue tourist visas, which is why an airline or a hotel ends up being the applicant in so many cases.

What this does not mean

An entry visa is not residence. It permits a short stay for a stated purpose and does not allow you to work or to sponsor anyone. Nor is approval automatic: a previous deportation or ban blocks entry until special permission is obtained, and a passport with less than six months left is refused regardless of the visa.

If you are moving rather than visiting, see our guide to UAE residence visa costs. American passport holders should start with do US citizens need a visa.

Sources: u.ae, Check if you need a visa to enter the UAE (six month passport rule, changing eligibility lists); u.ae, Tourist visa (who can apply on your behalf); ICP, Issuance of a Visa; Abu Dhabi Residents Office (sponsors, and the effect of a previous ban).