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A UAE visit or tourist visa can be extended without leaving the country. In Dubai a tourist visa can be extended one or more times, up to 120 days in total, and a relative or friend visit visa up to 180 days in total. The government fee Dubai’s GDRFA publishes for an extension is AED 600 plus 5% VAT; because the visitor is inside the UAE, the card adds AED 10 + AED 10 + AED 500, so the government total shown on the card is AED 1,150. The application is filed online or through an Amer centre, not at the airport. Everything below was checked on official pages on 8 August 2026, and the extension limits and fees again on 3 October 2026.
Who can extend, and by how much
| Rule | What the government states |
|---|---|
| Extension length | tourist visa (GDRFA Dubai): up to 120 days in total; relative or friend visit visa: up to 180 days in total; GCC-resident eVisa: 30 days |
| How many times | tourist visa: one or more times within the total; GCC-resident eVisa: once |
| Leaving the country | not required: the extension is filed from inside the UAE |
Sources: GDRFA Dubai, tourist visa extension, GDRFA Dubai, relative or friend visit visa extension and u.ae, tourist visa, checked 3 October 2026. GDRFA Dubai keeps separate extension services for tourist visas, relatives’ visit visas, job-exploration visas, study visits and visas on arrival, and the limit follows the card: the current u.ae tourist visa page states no general 30-days-twice rule.
The published fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Visa extension fee (GDRFA Dubai) | AED 600 |
| VAT | 5% |
| Knowledge Dirham | AED 10, for a visitor inside the UAE |
| Innovation Dirham | AED 10, for a visitor inside the UAE |
| “Inside the country” fee | AED 500, on every extension card checked (tourist, relative or friend visit, visa on arrival) for a visitor inside the UAE |
On the card the government total for a visitor inside the UAE is AED 1,150 (600 + 30 VAT + 10 + 10 + 500). Sources: GDRFA Dubai, tourist visa extension and relative or friend visit visa extension, checked 3 October 2026. GDRFA itself notes totals vary with individual circumstances, and typing centres and Amer offices add their own service charge on top of the government fee. The honest way to know your exact total is the fee screen of the application itself, before payment, not a blog’s number.
How to apply
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Pick the channel | GDRFA Dubai website or app for Dubai-issued visas (24/7), an Amer centre in person, or the ICP smart services channel for visas issued by other emirates |
| 2. File before expiry | the extension is an application, not a right – file while the current visa is valid |
| 3. Upload and pay | passport copy and the current visa; fee per the service card |
| 4. Wait for approval | GDRFA states 48 hours of processing on its extension services |
The Dubai-or-federal split matters: a visa issued through GDRFA Dubai extends through GDRFA channels, one issued through ICP extends through ICP – the two systems are separate, which is exactly the confusion behind half the questions in this search result.
If the visa has already expired
Overstaying accrues a per-day fine, and the extension application does not erase it – the fine is settled with the application or at exit. Check the current amount and how it is counted in the overstay fine guide, run your dates through the overstay fine calculator, and note that a cancelled residence visa has its own grace period rules – a different regime from a visit visa.
When an extension is refused
| Typical reason | What it means |
|---|---|
| Extension limit reached | the total the card allows (in Dubai 120 days for a tourist visa, 180 days for a relative or friend visit) is used up: exit and re-enter on a new visa if eligible |
| Filed after expiry | the application becomes an overstay settlement case first |
| Category not extendable through that channel | some visas on arrival and special categories run on their own service cards with their own conditions |
Who handles this
From the Emirae directory, measured 8 August 2026: 70 active consultants, of whom 38 cover visa and residency. Most extensions are a self-service task in the app; a consultant earns the fee when the case is messy: the extension limit reached, an overstay already running, or a switch from a visit visa to residency.
Frequently asked questions
How many times can a UAE visit visa be extended?
It depends on the visa. In Dubai a tourist visa can be extended one or more times, up to 120 days in total, and a relative or friend visit visa up to 180 days in total (GDRFA Dubai). A GCC-resident eVisa can be extended once for 30 days (u.ae). Checked 3 October 2026.
How much does a visit visa extension cost?
GDRFA Dubai publishes AED 600 plus 5% VAT per extension. Because the visitor is inside the UAE, the extension cards add AED 10 + AED 10 + AED 500, so the government total on the card is AED 1,150. Amer or typing centres charge their own service fee on top, and the application’s fee screen shows the exact total.
Do I need to leave the UAE to extend?
No. The extension is filed from inside the country through GDRFA, ICP or an Amer centre.
How long does the extension take?
GDRFA states 48 hours of processing on its extension service cards. Digital channels accept applications 24/7.
Can I extend after the visa expired?
You can still apply, but the overstay fine accrues per day and is settled with the application – file before expiry.
Is a tourist visa extension different from a visit visa extension?
Yes. GDRFA keeps separate service cards for tourist visas, relatives’ visits, job-exploration and study visits, and conditions and totals follow the card: in Dubai a tourist visa extends up to 120 days in total, a relative or friend visit visa up to 180 days.
Can a visa on arrival be extended?
Yes for eligible categories – GDRFA runs a dedicated visa-on-arrival extension service with its own conditions and fee components (checked 8 August 2026).
What happens when the extension limit is reached?
The allowance is exhausted: leave before expiry and, if eligible, re-enter on a new visa – or switch to a residence route if you qualify for one.
Extension limit reached, or a deadline already missed? Describe your case and compare offers from consultants.
Official references used for context in this article.
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