Dubai, also referred to as the 'City of Gold,' is a modern city that attracts many people worldwide. If you are Sri Lankan and would like to travel to Dubai, it is important to know about the type of Dubai visas.
Whether you are traveling to Dubai for work, holiday, or transit, you need a visa to enter. There are different types of Dubai visas; thus important to know about them. That way you will know which one you need as they are meant for different reasons.
Dubai is the biggest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is located on the Persian Gulf's southeast coast, and is the country's commercial and financial center.
The city, which is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, serves as the country's capital in Western Asia. Due to the fact that it is one of the fastest-growing towns in the country, people from all over the world come to it for a variety of reasons, including work and recreation.
Even though the rising economy, luxurious lifestyle, and high quality of life have helped Dubai establish itself as a global financial center, the city is also considered a key economic hub in the Middle East. If you aspire to visit this city, then here we expound on the type of visa you need to be allowed to enter.
Visa is one of the must-haves if you would like to enter t Dubai if your passport holder of the country is not included in the Dubai visa except.
There are different types of Dubai visas available to cater to everyone who would like to enter Dubai for different reasons. We have broken down these Dubai visas for you.
This visa is only valid for 48 hours and cannot be extended. It is the best option for persons traveling to the UAE but only intends to remain for a short period (less than two days). There is a 30-day validity period on the visa, starting from the date it is issued.
Usually, the minimum wage they are paid is not set by the UAE government; hence the blame is their country's government. It is even unclear if labor laws in UAE support the minimum pay scales set by other governments.
Like the 48-hour visa, this visa is appropriate when visiting the country for four days or less, i.e., 96 hours or fewer. It can be obtained online.
Travelers in the UAE for business meetings or stopping over on their way to another destination prefer to obtain a visa rather than a passport. When issued, the visa is valid for 30 days from the time of issue.
Valid for two weeks, or 14 days, the 14 days single entry short-term visa is non-extendable and can only be used once. Individuals can apply for this sort of visa if they plan to visit the country for a short period, whether for business or to spend time with family and friends.
The 30-day single entry Dubai visa is valid for 58 days from the issue and allows you to visit the country only once. An individual is permitted to remain in the country for a total of 30 days with the help of a visa. It should be noted that the visa is non-extendable at this time.
Compared to other forms of visa, this one allows persons to remain in the country for a longer period if they apply for it. The visa has a 90-day validity period and is suitable for visiting family or friends, attending business training, taking long vacations, and other similar activities.
The multi-entry long-term Dubai visa is valid for 90 days and multiple entries. It can be used to extend one's stay in the United Arab Emirates. The use of this visa allows the holder to enter the country multiple times and remain in the country for a total of 90 days from the date of the first arrival.
Unlike other types of visas, the multi-entry short-term Dubai visa is non-extendable. It can be used to visit the country more than once during the visa's validity period. The visa has a validity of 58 days from the date of issue and can be used to enter and remain in the UAE for a total of 30 days from the date of the first entrance made using the visa. In this context, it should be noted that once a multi-entry visa has been employed, it cannot be canceled.
This visa is intended for prospective students who aspire to pursue higher education in colleges and universities in the United Arab Emirates.
This visa is valid for one year and must be renewed upon submission of documentation demonstrating that the individual will be continuing their study. In November 2018, a new student visa was introduced, valid for five years, and may be obtained from any country in the world.
A standard tourist visa can be obtained through an airline, an authorized tour operator, or through a friend or relative who lives in the UAE and can handle the visa for you. Women under 18 are not permitted to apply for this visa; however, dependents are not required to pay any visa fees.
The eligibility to apply for the Dubai visa differs from one country to another. However, certain criteria are cut across no matter your country. Here we have expounded on the criteria you ought to fulfill thus being eligible to apply for a Dubai visa.
The first criteria you need to meet to apply for a Dubai visa is to have travel records that show you have been in other countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada, the US, and others. The traveling records show you traveled in the last five years. You can also show documents or records which indicate you traveled to the UAE in the last five years.
If you don’t have travel; records, you can also present your financial records to be eligible for a Dubai visa application.
When you have a minimum gross income from a business, profession, or employment of $2,600 per annum, you can file either Form 16 for the previous two years or the Income Tax return for the same time, depending on which option you choose.
As an applicant, you can also present proof of investments in the form of fixed deposits at banks or the post office if the total amount of their investments exceeds $6,500.
The other option for you to qualify for a Dubai visa is to receive an invitation from an immediate family member residing in the UAE.
Despite getting an invitation, there are various restrictions on their age and standing. Only children under the age of 21 are permitted, together with their spouse and parents, over 60 years old.
Among the supporting documents that must be submitted with this type of application are an invitation letter, a photocopied of the host's passport, and a valid copy of the host's residency visa in the United Arab Emirates.
If you are a newly married couple and are married to a UAE citizen and would like to get a Dubai visa, you must present a marriage certificate.
For couples whose names are not inscribed on the passport, the marriage certificate or certified affidavit stamp paper or No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their parents with photo ID proof and the couple's marriage photos must be submitted.
Here we look at the requirements you need to have before starting the process to apply for a Dubai visa. These are documents you need to present when applying for the Dubai visa, no matter which type and failure to have them will lead to visa rejection.
The first document required when applying for any type of Dubai visa is traveling documents. Here is a summary of the traveling documents you need to have when applying for a Dubai visa.
If you are applying for a Dubai visa based on financial status, like you would like to get an investor Dubai visa, you need to have the below documents when applying for the respective Dubai visa.
If you have all requirements, you can apply for any Dubai visa. Applying for a Dubai visa may be complicated; thus, the best option is to get assistance.
The best way to get a Dubai visa is to seek assistance from a traveling agency offering Dubai visa services. The traveling agency understands all the requirements needed currently and will also assist in getting the visa on time.
You should get assistance from a UAE registered travel agency to get a Dubai visa. You should be careful of agencies online claiming to offer the services only for them to con you.
It is important to know how long you have to wait for the visa after application. Here we have broken down how long it takes to process any type of Dubai visa.
| Dubai Visa Category | Dubai Visa Category | Visa Application Submission Time |
|---|---|---|
| 48-hour visa | Processing time is taken for Normal Visa: 3-4 working days from the date of submission (excluding Friday, Saturday, and any UAE Holiday). | Submission Time for Normal Visa: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
| 96-hour visa | Processing time is taken for Normal Visa: 3-4 working days from the date of submission (excluding Friday, Saturday, and any UAE Holiday). | Submission Time for Normal Visa: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
| 14 days Single entry short-term visa | Processing time is taken for Express Visa: 36 hours from the time of submission (excluding Friday, Saturday, and any UAE Holiday). | Submission Time for Express Visa: 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. |
| 30 days Single entry short-term visa | Processing time is taken for Express Visa: 36 hours from the time of submission (excluding Friday, Saturday, and any UAE Holiday). | Submission Time for Express Visa: 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. |
| 90 days visit visa | 3-4 working days from the date of submission of the visa application (excluding Friday, Saturday, and any UAE Holiday). | 9:30 a.m. to 17:30 p.m. |
As you learn the types of Dubai visas, it is important to know the requirements for all passengers arriving in Dubai. These are regulations you have to meet to be allowed to enter Dubai. Even though you have the right Dubai visa and do not meet these requirements, you will not be allowed to enter. Note that these regulations can change anytime; thus, you should keep updated with UAE passenger regulations.
The UAE government outlined requirements for all passengers traveling to Dubai from all countries to meet one of the below requirements.
Yes, a person must have entry permission or a visa to enter the United Arab Emirates. If you are a citizen of the GCC, on the other hand, you will not require a Visa. An exception applies to nationals of countries with which the UAE has signed visa-on-arrival treaties, such as the United Kingdom.
There are different types of visas and entry permits; they include visit visas, medical entry permits, E-Visas for GCC residents, transit visas, student visas, and retirement visas for inhabitants of the United Arab Emirates.
An entry permit is an authorization granted by the government of the United Arab Emirates for particular activities and periods. Individuals of foreign nationality who have already been residing in the UAE based on an entry permit can apply for a residence visa to remain in the country for extended lengths of time.
If all necessary paperwork and information have been submitted promptly, the visa will be issued within four working days.
According to UAE law, all individuals, including adults, children, and newborns, are required to hold a visa.
Under several nations, citizens are required to pay a security deposit, which is refundable in certain circumstances. The sum is repaid to the resident once they have left the UAE. Following your departure from the UAE, the process will take around four working days.
No, visas issued by the UAE embassy are not revoked. The only individual who has the authority to terminate your visa is the person who sponsored your visa. You will be unable to travel to the UAE unless your previous visa is canceled, which means you will be unable to visit the country.