Do I Need A Transit Visa For Dubai

The transit visa for Dubai is known as free visa in Dubai. When you are going to Dubai with a purpose of transit and you have an end destination such as other country outside the UAE, you can obtain a free transit visa in Dubai. A transit visa for Dubai enables you to travel from one country to another through Dubai airport and avoids the necessity of obtaining a short term tourist visa if your purpose is only to pass through and leave the country.

Dubai has been the fastest growing and wealthiest city in the world for decades. Every year you can find more buildings being constructed and streets being paved. The main reason behind Dubai’s rapid growth is it’s advanced infrastructure, safe environment, stunning natural beauty and breathtaking entertainment events. Every year millions of tourists visit Dubai to escape from the cold of their own country and also to enjoy Dubai’s beaches and nightclubs.

Do I Need A Transit Visa For Dubai

Who needs a transit visa?

If you are not one of the nationalities that are eligible for visa on arrival or a visa-free entry to the UAE, then you need a transit visa.

Who can apply for your transit visa?

Only the UAE based-airlines you are travelling through can arrange your transit visa prior to your journey. If your trip is through a travel agency, the agency can also help you get the visa, but all visas are routed through the airline. Airline agents can apply online for transit visas through one of the following means:

• the eChannels portal
• the ICA UAE eChannels app for Apple and Android
• online channels offered by the relevant General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in each emirate.

Duration of transit visa

Transit visa is issued either for 48 hours or for 96 hours. Please note that once a 48 hours visa is issued, it cannot be extended to 96 hours.

Transit visas for 48 hours

Transit visas for 48 hours are issued free of charge to passengers transiting through the UAE’s airports. You need to apply for the visa in advance through a UAE-based airline. This visa is not extendable, nor renewable. The validity of the visa is 48 hours from entry into the UAE, and you must leave the UAE within 48 hours from arrival.

To get a transit visa, you must have:

• a passport or travel document with a minimum validity of three months
• a photo of self against a white background
• an onward ticket booking to a 3rd destination, other than the one you are coming from.

Transit visas for 96 hours

Transit visas for 96 hours are issued against a fee of AED 50 to passengers transiting through the UAE’s airports. You need to apply for the visa in advance through a UAE-based airline. This visa is not extendable, nor renewable. The validity of the visa is 96 hours from entry into the UAE, and you must leave the UAE within 96 hours from arrival.

To get a transit visa, you must have:

• a passport or travel document with a minimum validity of six months
• a photo of self against a white background
• an onward ticket booking to a 3rd destination, other than the one you are coming from.

Important note

No fees or additional amounts can be imposed by any federal, local or private entity. A departure fee of AED 30 is levied on each passenger passing through the UAE’s airports.

Useful links:

• Transit guide – Abu Dhabi Airports
• International connections – Abu Dhabi International Airport
• Check the requirements for your UAE visa – Etihad Airways
• How to apply for your UAE visa – Emirates Airline

Learn more about visas in the UAE.

Do I need a visa to transit in Dubai or Abu Dhabi?

You need a visa to transit in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or any other emirate in the UAE if:

• You are not exempt from UAE Tourist Visas or you are not eligible for a UAE Visa On Arrival; and
• Your onward flight is in the next 48 or 96 hours

Nationals of Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger and Yemen cannot apply for a Transit Visa for UAE.

Who is exempt from Dubai Transit Visa?

If you are from one of the following countries, you can enter Dubai and any other emirate in the UAE without a visa and as such, you do not need a UAE Transit Visa:

• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Saudi Arabia

If you are from one of the above-mentioned countries, you have freedom of movement and may enter the UAE with simply your passport or ID.

If you are from Mexico, you may enter the UEA without a visa for up to 180 days.

If you are from one of the following countries, you may enter the UAE without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180 day period:

• EU member states (excluding the UK and Ireland)
• Honduras
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Montenegro
• Norway
• Russia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines