Dubai eVisa Services 2025: The Complete Handbook

From quick stopovers to year-long stays, here’s the visa guide that actually makes sense—and saves you time, money, and headaches.

Landing in Dubai used to mean juggling paper forms and hoping the immigration queue moved quickly. Not anymore. With the Dubai eVisa service just a few clicks away, you can skip the old airport hassle and head straight to the taxi stand, your phone already buzzing with brunch reservations at the Marina.

But hitting “apply” without the right plan can still cause problems. One typo here, a missing hotel booking there, and suddenly that dream layover is stuck in limbo.

Whether you’re after a quick Dubai digital visa for a two-day stopover, a month-long shopping spree, or even planning a long-term move with the Golden Visa UAE for investors and skilled professionals, it pays to know which visa matches your plans and passport. Choosing the right option saves time, avoids surprises at immigration, and makes sure you can focus on what really matters—enjoying your stay in Dubai.

That’s where this handbook steps in. We’ve boiled down the fine print, fee charts, and insider tips in a easy way, so you can focus on camel rides, dune bashing, or simply watching the Burj Khalifa sparkle instead of refreshing a government portal.

Quick Overview of Visa Types and Key Details

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Think of Dubai’s visa menu like a restaurant tasting platter—pick the portion size that fits your appetite and budget, then dig into the city’s skyscrapers, souks, or sand dunes without second-guessing your paperwork.

Here’s a quick guide to the key short-stay visas for 2025. And yes, it’s trimmed of legal jargon and sprinkled with real-world tips so you can choose in under a minute.

1- Tourist Visa — 30-Day Single Entry

Your classic long-weekend-plus option. With up to a month on the clock, you can tour the Burj Khalifa, haggle for gold in Deira, and still have time for that “breakfast in the clouds” at atmosphere.

Stay length: 30 days
Government fee: 200 AED + 5 % VAT
Approval speed: Officially 48 hours, but 3-5 business days is normal
Sweet spot: Short holidays, family catch-ups, or a quick medical check-up at Dubai’s world-class clinics

2- Tourist Visa — 60-Day Single Entry

Double the days, double the wiggle room. Perfect if you want to split your time between Dubai’s nightlife and a slow desert retreat—or if you simply hate watching the calendar.

Stay length: 60 days
Government fee: 300 AED + 5 % VAT
Approval speed: Mirrors the 30-day visa (3-5 working days)
Sweet spot: Extended vacations, combo city-and-desert itineraries, visiting relatives scattered across the UAE

3- Transit Visa — 48-Hour Stopover

Got a long layover? Two days buys you brunch at the Marina, a sunset at Jumeirah Beach, and bragging rights that you “popped into Dubai” between flights—for free.

Stay length: Up to 48 hours
Government fee: 0 AED
Approval speed: 24-48 hours via airline portals
Sweet spot: Quick city blitz or breaking up a marathon intercontinental trip

4- Transit Visa — 96-Hour Stopover

Four days to reset your body clock, squeeze in a dune-bashing tour, or close a deal in DIFC before your onward flight.

Stay length: Up to 96 hours
Government fee: 50 AED + tax
Approval speed: Same as the 48-hour pass
Sweet spot: Long layovers, short business swings, or sampling Dubai’s weekend nightlife without committing to a full holiday

5- Digital Nomad (Virtual Work) Visa — 12 Months, Renewable

Swap your home office view for the Arabian Gulf and pay zero local income tax while you’re at it. This visa turns Dubai into your year-round co-working space, complete with beach cafés and lightning-fast Wi-Fi.

Validity: 12 months, renewable
Entry permit fee: 200 AED + tax
Extra costs: Medical test, Emirates ID, visa stamping (total 1,200–1,600 AED depending on clinic/courier)
Approval speed: 2-10 days if your paperwork is spotless
Sweet spot: Remote employees, freelancers, and founders serving non-UAE clients who want bank accounts, long-term rentals, and the freedom to call Dubai home

By matching your travel goals to the right visa now, you’ll save yourself last-minute fees and focus on what really matters—whether that’s dune surfing at sunrise or closing a Zoom deal with a skyline backdrop.

Do You Need an eVisa?

If you’re from one of over 80 lucky countries like the U.S., U.K., most of Europe, Australia, Canada, Russia, China, Japan, or Malaysia you’re in the fast lane. Just land and get a free visa on arrival for 30 or 90 days. No paperwork, no fee, no stress. Your passport gets stamped, and you’re off to the beach or business meeting in no time.

But if your country’s not on that list?

You must apply for an eVisa in advance. It’s a quick online process, but skipping it means your airline might deny boarding. Play it safe:

Fill in your details
Upload a clear passport scan
Attach hotel or address info
Get your PDF visa approval in 3–5 working days
Print a copy or save it on your phone (immigration will scan the QR code)

Special Case: GCC Residents

Living in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, or Kuwait with a valid residence visa? You might qualify for a visa on arrival regardless of nationality, but there’s a catch.

It depends on the profession listed on your residence card.

Engineers, doctors, and managers usually qualify
Assistants, general workers, or less-skilled roles often don’t

Pro tip: Always confirm with your airline before you fly.

Planning to Work Remotely?

Tourist and transit visas do not allow any kind of work, even if you’re paid overseas.
Want to:

Open a UAE bank account?
Get a local SIM card?
Rent an apartment long-term?

You’ll need the Digital Nomad Visa. It’s the only short-stay option that lets remote workers live legally in Dubai while earning from non-UAE clients.

Dubai Digital Nomad Visa — Your Ultimate Dubai Digital Visa Option

Image by Jay Zhang on Unsplash

Picture this permit as your year-long backstage pass to Dubai: you can work on your laptop by day, ride an abra across the Creek at sunset, and keep every dirham you earn because there’s zero local income tax on foreign revenue. Here’s the full low-down, minus the legal snooze fest:

Eligibility Checklist

Passport good for 6+ months
A near-expired passport is an instant “computer says no.”
Health insurance that covers the UAE
Think hospital bills, not just lost luggage. A PDF policy summary with Dubai listed does the trick.
Salary proof: USD 3,500+ per month
A fresh payslip or an HR letter usually works. Some sites still quote the old USD 5,000 rule, so always match the number shown on the form you’re filling out.
For founders & freelancers
Swap that salary letter for a business licence + personal bank statements proving you clear the same income floor.

Fees & Speed

What you pay for	Typical cost	Why it matters
Entry permit	AED 200 + VAT	This is your official entry permit—without it, you won’t be able to enter the UAE or switch to a longer stay later.
Medical test + Emirates ID + visa stamping	AED 600–1,000	A quick blood draw, fingerprints, and a smart-card ID so you can sign leases and utility contracts.
Timeline	2–10 days	Submit crisp scans and you’ll often get the approval email before your week is out.

Why Digital Nomads Love It

Bank like a local — open a UAE account, tap-to-pay in dirhams, and dodge overseas fees.
Lock in a long-term flat instead of pricey hotel rates. Your Emirates ID is the golden key that landlords want to see.
Hook up utilities & a local SIM without begging friends to co-sign.
Pay zero UAE income tax on money earned from abroad. More cash for Friday brunch, less for the tax man.

Bottom line? If your boss (or your own company) pays you from outside the UAE and you dream of morning jogs along the Marina boardwalk, this visa flips Dubai into your hassle-free remote office. Pack the right documents, and your approval can land faster than you can finish a shawarma.

Step-by-Step UAE eVisa Application Process

Choose your channel. You can apply through an airline portal such as Emirates or Etihad, the federal ICP Smart Services website, the Dubai GDRFA portal, or a licensed travel-visa agency.
Create an account and register with an email address you monitor daily.
Complete the application form with passport details, travel dates, and a confirmed UAE address or hotel booking.
Upload a high-resolution passport scan and a recent colour photograph with a white background. For tourist visas, also attach flight and hotel confirmations.
Pay the fee by credit or debit card and save the receipt.
Track your UAE eVisa application online until it switches to approved, then download the PDF permit.
Print one spare copy or store the PDF on your phone; immigration officers will scan its QR code on arrival.

Common rejection trigger: mismatching name spellings. Copy names exactly as they appear in the passport machine-readable zone.

What You Can —and Can’t—Do on Each Visa

Tourist & Transit Visas
- Allowed: City-hopping, mall marathons, medical check-ups, trade shows, even a TED-style conference if you’re just attending.
- Not allowed: Earning a penny—even remote freelancing for a foreign client technically breaks the rules. Think of these visas as “vacation-only mode.”
Digital Nomad Visa
- Allowed: Zoom calls for your foreign-based startup, invoicing overseas clients, and collecting payments in any currency except UAE dirhams.
- Not allowed: Taking a salary from a Dubai-registered firm or moonlighting on a local payroll. You’re a guest worker, not a resident employee.

So, if your income comes from inside the UAE, you need a proper work residence visa. Everything else is sightseeing or remote-only.

Where You Can Touch Down

Your eVisa is a multi-emirate pass—pick the airport that suits your itinerary or ticket price:

DXB (Dubai International) – the biggie; metro straight into town.
DWC (Al Maktoum) – budget carriers and the Expo district.
AUH (Abu Dhabi) – handy for Yas Island and the Grand Mosque.
SHJ, RKT, FJR, AJM – Sharjah, Ras al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman for quieter gateways or low-cost charters.

Smart Packing Tips for eVisa Holders

Print two copies of your PDF approval—immigration loves paper backups.
Hotel confirmation (or friend’s address) on hand; they ask more often than you’d think.
Travel-insurance certificate—sometimes needed before boarding, not just on arrival.
Same card you paid with—airline staff may verify the charge.
Save the PDF + QR in your phone’s files and camera roll; scanners can be fussy.

Best Time to Hit “Apply”

Season	Apply at least	Why
Eid holidays & Winter peak (Dec 15 – Jan 5)	10–14 days ahead	Everyone’s flying, and queues are slow.
Summer rush (Jul & Aug)	7–10 days	Tourist surge plus staffing breaks.
Quiet months (Jan, Feb, Sep)	4–5 days	Fewer files in the system = faster stamps.
Any Friday or UAE public holiday	Add 24 hrs buffer	Government offices close early.

How to Dodge Visa Scams

Stick to “.gov.ae” or official airline links—anything else, pause.
Skip agents who chat only on WhatsApp and want a bank transfer first.
Look for HTTPS. So, if there is no padlock, no payment.
Demand an itemised receipt with a trade licence number.
Unsure? Use the live-chat pop-up on ICP or GDRFA portals; real agents reply in seconds.

Staying Longer? Here Are 4 Smart Ways to Turn Your Visit into Long-Term Life

Falling in love with Dubai is easy. And if your quick trip turns into thoughts of a more permanent setup, you’re not alone. The good news? There are legit, flexible ways to stay longer without breaking any rules. Here’s how travelers are turning short stays into long-term lifestyles:

1. Upgrade Your Digital Nomad Visa into Full Remote-Work Residency

If you entered the UAE on the Digital Nomad Visa and find yourself wanting to stay, you don’t need to start from scratch. You can renew it year after year, as long as you continue meeting the income and health insurance requirements.

2. Invest & Go Gold: The 10-Year Golden Visa

Got serious plans and some savings? Dubai rewards long-term investors with the prestigious Golden Visa, which gives you up to 10 years of residency—no local sponsor needed.
You’ll need to meet certain criteria, like:

Investing in public investments or real estate
Having specialist skills in areas like science, tech, or the arts
Running a successful business

3. Job Seeker Visa: Try Before You Move

Looking for a job in Dubai but not ready to commit long-term just yet? This visa lets you test the waters. You can apply for a 60, 90, or 120-day Job Seeker Visa, giving you just enough time to attend interviews, explore the job market, and hopefully land a local contract.

Once you secure employment, you can easily convert it into a full residency and work visa sponsored by your new employer.

4. Property Owner Visa: Turn Bricks into Residency

If you’ve invested in Dubai real estate worth AED 750,000 or more, congratulations, you’re eligible for a Property Owner Visa.

It’s perfect for:

Investors who visit regularly
Families who want a second home in the UAE
Retirees looking for warm winters and world-class healthcare

This visa gives you the right to stay long-term, sponsor family members, and enjoy access to local services—all without needing an employer or job offer.

Five-Year Multi-Entry Tourist Visa

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Introduced in 2023, the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa is a total game-changer if you’re a frequent visitor. Whether you’re flying in for quarterly business expos, visiting family, or escaping harsh winters back home, this visa keeps the door open year after year.

Here’s how it works:

You’re allowed up to 90 days per visit—no need to exit every month.
You can extend each stay once, giving you a max of 180 days in the UAE every calendar year.
The visa is valid for five full years, and lets you hop in and out of the Emirates whenever you like.

Who it’s perfect for:

Entrepreneurs or consultants working with regional clients
Parents with kids enrolled in UAE schools or universities
Snowbirds fleeing cold seasons
Shoppers who treat Dubai Mall as a second home

This visa does require health insurance and bank statements showing at least USD 4,000 balance over six months, so it’s best suited for well-prepared travellers who want maximum flexibility.

Overstay Fines, Grace Periods & Clean Exits

Accidentally overstaying your visa happens more often than you’d think, but don’t panic. Dubai gives you a 10-day grace period after your visa expires to exit the country without penalty.

But after that?

You’ll be fined AED 50 per day you overstay.
There’s also an exit clearance fee, usually around AED 250.

Best part? You can now pay your overstay fines online before heading to the airport. Just log into the ICP Smart Services app or portal, clear your dues, and breeze through immigration without last-minute surprises.

Pro tip: Set a calendar reminder 5 days before your visa ends, especially if you’re staying for 30 or 60 days. You’ll thank yourself later.

How to Extend a 30- or 60-Day eVisa in Two Clicks

If you’re loving your time in Dubai and want to stay longer, extending your eVisa is surprisingly easy. You can renew twice, each time for 30 extra days, without needing to exit the UAE.

Here’s how to do it in the ICP Smart Services app:

Open the app and log in (create an account if it’s your first time).
Tap “Services → Visa → Extend Tourist Visa”.
Enter your visa number and passport details.
Pay the fee—AED 610, including VAT.
Download the updated visa PDF instantly.

It usually updates within minutes. Immigration systems sync fast, and you’ll get a fresh entry stamp if you re-enter after your extension.

No embassy visits, no exit runs to Oman—just tap, pay, and chill.

Smart Gates & Biometrics: Skip the Queue in Seconds

Dubai’s Smart Gates use facial recognition and e-passport tech to zip you through immigration in as little as 30 seconds. And yes—eVisa holders can use them, too!

Here’s how:

Download the DubaiNow app before you travel.
Register your passport, eVisa, and a clear selfie.
Once approved, you can walk straight through the Smart Gate at Dubai International (DXB) without waiting in the regular immigration line.

Great for:

Solo travellers
Late-night arrivals
Business folks who can’t waste time in queues

Bonus: It also means one less stamp in your passport, keeping those pages neat for future trips

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does tourist visa approval take?

Government service-level agreement is 48 hours, but three to five business days is typical.

Can a thirty-day tourist eVisa be extended?

Yes. You may extend twice for 30 days each through the ICP Smart Services mobile application without leaving the country.

Do children need separate visas?

Yes. Every passport holder, regardless of age, must hold an individual eVisa or receive a visa on arrival according to nationality.

Ready, Set, eVisa—Let’s Wrap This Up

Still scrolling? You could have your UAE eVisa application or even your Golden Visa UAE process halfway done by now. The online form takes about ten minutes (just enter your name, upload your passport scan, pay, and you’re done). Once you hit submit, our support team shadows your file like a personal concierge, nudging the portal if it stalls so you can stay focused on restaurant reservations, dune-buggy tours, or that perfect Burj Khalifa sunset shot.

We’re sticklers for accuracy, too. All fees, salary thresholds, and processing times—including for the Golden Visa UAE were re-checked on 26 June 2025. We refresh these numbers every single Monday, plus anytime the GDRFA or federal ICP sneaks in a price tweak. Translation? The guide you just read is as current as tomorrow’s boarding pass.

So go on—tick the “Apply” box now, and let today’s ten-minute task become next week’s touchdown at DXB. Safe travels, faster stamps, zero guesswork.

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