types of emirates visa

The government of UAE issues different types of emirates visas with specified stay permits as per the purpose of your visit to UAE. In case, you are planning to visit Dubai or any of the seven emirates of UAE in the near future, you must obtain your emirates visa. All types of emirates visas have a specified duration and entry permits. These entry permits on the emirates visa follow a set of rules and regulations that the visitor has to adhere to. The stay permit on an emirates visa ranges from the duration limit of 48 hours to long-term visas with multiple entries depending on the objective of your visit.

Emirates visas are issued electronically via email, therefore, it is imperative to check your email to obtain your emirates visa. Although, the UAE official portal enables you to access emirates visa services, however, you can access your emirates visa validity through an emirates visa check online.

To check your emirates visa status, you will require your passport number and passport expiry date to access the validity of your emirates visa through the online portal for an emirates visa check. These details will entail your full name, your emirates visa expiry date, your emirates visa type, and your emirates visa number. Emirates visa check helps you keep a track of your emirates visa status and further helps you determine when you need to renew or extend your emirates visa to avoid overdue penalties.

To apply for emirates visa, the documents required are

• Passport-sized photograph of the applicant
• Copy of applicant's passport having a validity of three months.
• The original application form that can be accessed in Arabic or English.
• Emirates ticket: A copy of confirmed return ticket

The validity of each visa depends on the emirates visa type and entry permits based on the purpose of your visit. Several emirates visa types are depending on your duration of visit and the validity of your emirates visa. It is necessary to check all the visa details before selecting the visa that fulfills your objective of visiting the UAE. This is the list of different emirates visa types issued by the government of UAE particularly based on the duration of stay:

Transit Visa 

Transit Visas issued by the UAE are sponsored by UAE-airlines and must be approved and processed before arrival. The two types of transit visas 48-hour and 96-hours are not eligible for extension.

48-hours Visa: This is a single entry visa with a stay permit that remains valid only till 48 hours of stay. This visa is ideally suited for those who plan a short-term immediate visit to attend events, corporate meetings, or undertake stopover e-routes for their journey. This visa is valid for a duration of 30 days only from the date of issue.

96-hours Visa: This is a single entry visa with a stay permit that remains valid till 96-hours of stay ideally suited for visitors planning to stay for 4 days or less. This visa is valid for a duration of 30 days only from the date of issue.

Tourist Visas 

Tourist Visas are issued for those who are not eligible to procure a visa on arrival or do not fall under the category of issuing visa-free entry. Visas under the tourist type can be extended through multiple entries. Licensed travel agents and management services such as hotels can arrange a tourist visa for your arrival to maintain the accommodation reservation.

Conditions that apply for tourists visas:

• Females under the age of 18 are not eligible for this visa unless they are traveling under parental guidance.
• Children under the age of 18 accompanied by adults can obtain a free-entry emirates visa.

30 Days Visa: This visa has a single entry as well as multiple entry permits with 30 days duration of stay. The visa has a short-term validity of 58 days from the date of issue with an entry permit of 30 days visit, this visa enables multiple entry permits to be issued from the date of first entry.

90 Days Visa: This visa has a single entry as well as multiple entry permits with 90 days duration of stay. The visa has a long-term validity of 58 days from the date of issue, enabling multiple entry permits to be issued from the date of first entry.

Business Visas 

A business visa falls under the Golden Visa system through which foreigners can obtain visas for a long-term duration. This visa can be obtained for both the visitor and their dependents. Business visa applicants receive their emirates visa after the nomination is approved by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship or by an incubator of the UAE government.

14 Days Visa: This emirates visa is also known as the service visa that is mainly issued for commercial purposes. This visa is well suited for those who wish to stay in UAE for 14 days confirming the return ticket within the limited duration. This visa is issued to Corporate Officials and Representatives, Sales and Service Managers, Accountants, etc., and their respective family members.

Student Visas 

This visa is generally issued for foreign students who aspire to attain their education in UAE and are above 18. The visa is issued for one year, however, recently the UAE government has approved granting of a 5 years visa to outstanding students. The emirates student visa can be renewed after producing proof of continuing their education.

Entry Permits to Patients and Companion 

This emirates visa type is granted to foreigners who are in need of receiving treatment in the UAE. These foreign patients must have their treatment sponsored by the government or private hospitals or medical institutes. These healthcare providers undertake the responsibility of processing the entry permits on patients' requests. This visa is eligible for extending single entry and multiple entries within 60 days from the date of issue with 90 days duration of stay.

e-Visa for GCC Residents 

GCC Residents and their companions are mandated to apply and procure emirates visas arrangement to enter UAE. This visa has an entry permit validity of 30 days from the date of arrival that can be extended further for 30 days. GCC residents will receive their e-visas at their registered email address, the residents must ensure the passports to be valid for 3 months from the date of arrival. However, the entry permit for companions accompanying the GCC resident has a validity of 60 days from the date of issue with 60 days duration of stay from the date of arrival which can be extended for 60 days.

Please note that under any circumstance, the emirates visa fees are not refundable once the payment is made after the application of any of the types of Emirates visa; the cancellation of purchased visas will incur further charges. 

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