India is not on the UAE's visa-free list, so an Indian passport alone does not get you into the UAE. There are two routes in:
If you're not sure which applies to you, treat the "advance visa" route as your default and check the visa-on-arrival conditions before assuming you're covered.
Yes. Unlike citizens of many GCC and Western countries, Indian nationals cannot simply land in the UAE and receive an entry stamp. Every Indian traveller needs either a pre-arranged tourist visa or a qualifying document that unlocks visa on arrival. There's no scenario where an ordinary Indian passport, on its own, is sufficient for entry.
Only under specific conditions — and this is the point most other guides oversimplify. Visa on arrival for Indian passport holders is not automatic; it depends entirely on a second, foreign document you also hold.
The list of qualifying countries has changed more than once since 2018, most recently expanding in February 2025. Some sources reporting in mid-2026 suggest the UK residence-permit route may have been tightened or removed, though this wasn't confirmed on an official UAE government channel at the time of writing. Because immigration rules can change with little notice, always verify your eligibility directly with UAE immigration (ICP or GDRFA) or your airline shortly before you travel — don't rely solely on this or any other article.
| You qualify if you hold, in addition to your Indian passport | Status |
|---|---|
| A valid US visa (any category) or US Green Card | Eligible |
| A valid visa or residence permit from an EU member state | Eligible |
| A valid visa or residence permit from Australia, Canada, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, or New Zealand | Eligible (added Feb 2025) |
| A valid UK visa or UK residence permit only | Under review — some 2026 reports say this no longer qualifies on its own. Confirm before booking. |
| No foreign visa, residence permit, or Green Card of any kind | Not eligible — apply for a UAE tourist visa in advance |
Where eligible, the visa on arrival is typically issued for 14 days and can generally be extended. Your Indian passport must also have at least six months' validity remaining, and your qualifying foreign document should be valid for the duration of your trip — some sources recommend at least six months' remaining validity on that document as well.
We'll check your documents and tell you which route applies before you book flights.
If you don't hold a qualifying document for visa on arrival, you'll apply for a standard UAE tourist visa before you fly. Indians have the same visa types available as most other applicants — the difference isn't the visa itself, it's how you get there.
Covers a single stay of up to 30 days from the date of entry. It's the most common choice for a standard holiday, family visit, or short business trip, and it's available as single-entry or multiple-entry.
Covers a single stay of up to 60 days. Better value than applying twice or extending a 30-day visa if you already know your trip will run longer — useful for extended family visits or longer holidays covering multiple Emirates.
Allows you to leave and re-enter the UAE more than once within the visa's validity window, without applying again each time. Useful if your trip includes a side visit to another GCC country such as Oman.
| 30-Day Visa | 60-Day Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Standard holidays, short business trips | Extended family visits, longer holidays |
| Entry options | Single or multiple entry | Single or multiple entry |
| Extension | Usually extendable once | Usually extendable once |
| Government fee (Dubai, single entry) | Approx. AED 200–250 + VAT | Approx. AED 300–350 + VAT |
Government fees above are the base GDRFA Dubai charge and exclude service fees, insurance, and VAT. Total prices from any visa service will be higher and vary by provider — see pricing section below.
Your Indian passport must be valid for at least six months from your date of arrival, and needs at least one blank page for entry stamps.
A recent passport-style photo with a plain white background, taken within the last few months, meeting standard biometric photo guidelines.
Most applications ask for a confirmed return or onward flight booking as proof you don't intend to overstay.
A hotel booking confirmation, or an invitation/host letter if you're staying with family or friends in the UAE.
Depending on your specific situation, you may also be asked for a recent bank statement, employment letter, or (for children travelling with parents) a birth certificate — requirements can vary slightly by visa route and applicant profile, so confirm the exact list at the point of application.
There's no separate "Indian" pricing tier — cost depends on visa duration and entry type, not nationality. What you'll typically see:
For an exact, current quote, use our visa pricing tool rather than relying on a fixed number in any article — fees are reviewed periodically and can change without notice.
Prices depend on visa type, entry option, and processing speed.
Standard applications are typically processed within a few business days once all documents are submitted correctly. Express or urgent processing is usually available for an additional fee if you're travelling on short notice. Processing time is never guaranteed by any provider — building in a buffer before your travel date is the safest approach, especially during peak Indian travel seasons.
Yes — the standard route for Indian applicants today is a fully online application, without visiting an embassy in person. For the complete step-by-step walkthrough of the online process, see our UAE tourist visa online application guide.
If you're an Indian national already resident in the UAE on a work or residence visa and want to host visiting family or friends, you're the sponsor, not the applicant — different documentation applies on your side than for the visiting relative. If you need to change your own visa status while inside the UAE, see our visa status change and extension guide.
This is the most common scenario: applying from India, before departure, using an Indian address and Indian-issued documents. The requirements above apply in full. If you're instead an Indian passport holder based outside India (for example, in the Gulf, UK, or US), the same visa types apply, but your qualifying visa-on-arrival document — if you have one — is usually tied to your country of residence, not India.
Children travelling with parents generally need their own passport and photo, plus a birth certificate in some cases. Where a family is applying for visa on arrival, each traveller's eligibility is generally assessed on their own documents — a child doesn't automatically inherit a parent's qualifying visa/residence permit, so check this specifically rather than assuming the whole family is covered.
Overstaying a UAE tourist visa can lead to fines and status complications, and the exact rules depend on how long you've overstayed. Rather than guess, see the full breakdown in our dedicated guide: what happens if your UAE visa expires.
In many cases, yes — tourist visas can usually be extended once before they expire, without leaving the country. Extension terms depend on your original visa type. Full details and how to apply are covered in our visa extension and status change guide.
In practice, "tourist visa" and "visit visa" are often used interchangeably for the same short-stay entry permit. Where a distinction is drawn, it's usually about sponsorship (tourism-licensed sponsor vs. an individual/company host) rather than a difference Indian travellers need to actively choose between. For the fuller comparison, see our UAE visit visa guide.
| Your situation | Recommended visa |
|---|---|
| Short holiday or business trip, dates are fixed | 30-day |
| Extended family visit or unsure exactly how long you'll stay | 60-day |
| Planning to leave and re-enter the UAE during your trip | Multiple-entry version of either |
As a general guideline, applying one to two weeks before your planned travel date gives enough buffer to resolve any document issues without pressure. If you're relying on visa-on-arrival eligibility, double-check your qualifying document's validity dates well before booking flights — not after.
Talk to a visa specialist and get help with documents, visa type, and timing.
Do all Indians get UAE visa on arrival?
No. Only those who also hold a valid visa, residence permit, or Green Card from a specific list of approved countries qualify. Everyone else needs to apply for a UAE visa in advance.
Is the UAE visa-on-arrival list the same for everyone?
No — the approved list of qualifying countries has changed more than once in recent years, most recently expanding in February 2025. Always verify current eligibility directly with UAE immigration before travelling.
Can I use my UK visa for UAE visa on arrival?
This is currently uncertain. Some 2026 reports suggest UK-only documents may no longer qualify, but this wasn't confirmed on an official UAE government source at the time of writing. Confirm directly with ICP/GDRFA or your airline before relying on it.
Does an Indian child need their own visa?
Yes, generally. Children travelling with parents typically need their own passport, photo, and in some cases a birth certificate, and their visa-on-arrival eligibility is usually assessed on their own qualifying documents, not their parents'.
Can I apply for a UAE tourist visa from India without visiting an embassy?
Yes. The standard process today is a fully online application submitted before departure.
What's the difference between a 30-day and 60-day UAE tourist visa?
They allow stays of up to 30 or 60 days respectively per entry. The 60-day visa generally costs more but can be better value than a 30-day visa plus an extension for longer trips.
Can I extend my UAE tourist visa while inside the country?
In many cases, yes, usually once, before the current visa expires. See our extension guide for exact steps.
What happens if I overstay my UAE tourist visa?
Overstaying can lead to fines and complications with future entry, with specifics depending on how long you overstayed. See our dedicated guide on visa expiry for the current rules.
Is the UAE tourist visa fee different for Indian nationals compared to other nationalities?
No — the fee structure is based on visa type and duration, not nationality.
How far in advance should I apply?
One to two weeks before travel is a reasonable general guideline, giving time to resolve any document issues.
Can Indian residents of the US or UK get visa on arrival even if their passport is Indian?
Yes, if they hold a valid qualifying visa, residence permit, or Green Card from an approved country — the Indian passport itself doesn't grant this; the second document does.
Can I work in the UAE on a tourist visa?
No. A tourist visa is for leisure, family visits, and short personal trips only — it doesn't permit employment.
Visa issuance is at the sole discretion of UAE immigration authorities. Gulliver Travels cannot guarantee approval. This page is reviewed periodically and updated when UAE visa rules change — if you spot outdated information, please let us know.