Dubai Tourist Visa Application Guide for Indians

Dubai is one of those international destinations that is on the list of all travel enthusiasts. The city boasts of world-class social infrastructure, engaging tourist attractions, fun shopping centres, etc. and boasts of being one of the top 10 cities for Indian tourists to visit.

With amazing cultural diversity, futuristic architecture, exciting nightclubs, and exotic man-made islands, Dubai is a must-visit place for every Indian. But first things first, any Indian wishing to travel to Dubai will need a Dubai Visa. The Dubai tourist visa application process is fairly simple and hassle-free.

In this blog, we will look at the Dubai Visa application process for Indians and some other things that you should keep in mind.

Dubai Tourist Visa Types

Any Indian tourist wishing to travel to Dubai has the leverage of choosing what kind of visa they would like to apply for:

• 48-Hour Visa 

This kind of visa is applicable for only a 48-hour visit to the country, including the date of arrival and departure. This is ideal for people who are visiting Dubai for official purposes and don’t intend to stay in the UAE for more than two days. Travellers usually apply for this visa for a short trip or when they have a layover from a connecting flight.

• 96-Hour Dubai Visa

This single entry visa is valid for a period of 96 hours, including the date of arrival and departure. This visa is best for those intending to stay for less than four days.

• Short-Term Single Entry Visa 

This tourist visa is valid for a maximum period of 30 days, including the date of entry and exit. It is valid for a period of 58 days from the date of issue and can be extended twice for a maximum period of 30 days. The extension fee is AED 850 per instance.

• 90-Days Dubai Visa 

This tourist visa is valid for a period of 90 days and can be used for a single entry visit. This visa is ideal for tourists who are visiting family and friends or just generally planning to visit for an extended period of time. Anyone who is granted this visa is required to complete their trip within 58 days from the date of issue and is eligible for an extension twice for a period of 30 days. The extension fee is AED 850 per extension.

• 14-day Dubai Tourist Visa 

When the traveller applies for this visa, they are allowed to stay in the country for a period of up to 14 days. This visa is valid for only two months, which means that if you want to visit Dubai on this visa, you will have to travel there within two months of the date of issue. Further, all the lengthy paperwork can be avoided, as this visa is also available on arrival.

• 30-day Dubai Tourist Visa 

Applying for this visa allows you to stay in this city for a period of up to 30 days. Any person granted this visa is required to complete their trip to the country within 60 days of the date of issue, or the visa will expire. Further, this visa can also be extended for a period of 10 days on the basis of certain terms and conditions.

• Multiple Entry Short-Term Visa 

This is a multiple entry visa that is valid for 58 days from the date of issue and can be extended twice for a period of 30 days each.

Dubai Visa Application Documentation

To complete your Dubai tourist visa application, you will need to submit a certain set of documents. Given below are some of the documents that you will be required to furnish while applying for a Dubai visa:

• Passport with a minimum of 6 months validity from the travel date. 
• Copy of the visa application form duly filled and signed by the applicant.
• Two passport size colour photographs with white background.
• The applicant’s cover letter stating the purpose of visit and visit duration.
• Copies of confirmed return flight tickets.
• Proof that you’ve booked accommodation in Dubai for the duration of your stay.
• Copies of the income tax returns and PAN card of the applicant.
• Scanned copies of investment declaration documents. If the applicant chooses to provide this document, their investment should be at least Rs. 5 lakhs in the form of fixed deposits.
• Any woman under the age of 24 who is travelling alone will require a No Objection Certificate(NOC) from their spouse or father.

Dubai Visa Process for Indians

The Dubai Visa application process for Indians is actually pretty simple and straightforward. Prior to travelling to the city, any Indian is required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which grants them the right to travel to Dubai for a short duration. An Indian traveller is considered to be eligible for a Dubai tourist visa if they hold a passport with at least six months validity.

If you are visiting Dubai for tourism purposes, you will require a single entry short term visa that is valid for a period of 30 days. But first, you will have to prove your purpose for a visit to the city. This is required to determine what visa category you fall under.

How to Apply for a Dubai Visa

An application for a Dubai tourist visa can be made either via an Online Travel Agency or the Dubai Visa Processing Centre. Given below is the step-by-step process to apply for a Dubai visa online via a travel agency:

Step 1: Once you have determined what type of visa category you fall under, you will be required to obtain a quote from an online travel agency.

Step 2: The process can then be carried out online by depositing the registration fees and the agent’s commission using a debit or credit card, net banking, e-wallet, etc.

Step 3: You will then need to upload all the required documents and enter all the details as they are mentioned in the online requirement sheet. The online travel agency will then verify the authenticity of your documents and ask you to make some changes if required. After that, the application will be forwarded to the consulate for approval.

Step 4: You can track the status of your visa application online till the time you finally receive it on the registered email address.

Note: The Dubai Visa processing time for Indian applicants might be as less as 24 hours. However, to be on the safe side, expect the average wait time to range from 3 to 4 days.

Fees for Dubai Visa Application

The fees for a Dubai visa application will depend on the type of visa that you are applying for. Let’s take a look at the Dubai tourist visa application fees based on the visa category: 

Some Reasons for Dubai Visa Application Rejection

Given below are some of the reasons why your Dubai tourist visa application might get rejected: 

• In case a woman below the age of 24 years is travelling alone without a NOC from her spouse or father, the application processing might be delayed or might even get rejected.
• If the applicant has a criminal record or a history of misconduct, the authorities might reject the visa application.
• In case the applicant held a UAE residence visa in the past and has moved from the country without cancelling the visa, the application might be rejected. The law dictates that the Public Relations Officer is required to have the visa cancelled on behalf of you before a new tourist visa is issued.
• In case the scanned copies of the passport are not clear or illegible, the authorities might view that as suspicious and reject the application.
• The authorities might reject the visa application if your passport lists you as a blue-collar professional like a farmer, labourer, etc.
• If your passport has spelling mistakes or typos in the passport number, name, date of birth, issuance and expiry dates, the application might get rejected.
• If you previously applied for a Dubai tourist visa but had not used it, you might have to get it cancelled with the OTA before applying for a new one.
• If you have previously applied for an employment visa via an organisation in the UAE but did not use it, the Public Relations Officer of that organisation will need to cancel the visa before you can make an application for a new one.

Some Things to Note For Travelling to Dubai Post Covid-19

Please note that any Indian citizen travelling to Dubai post the pandemic will have to furnish a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report that also contains the QR code to the report on the database. The test is to be presented to airport officials during check-in and to the officials from Dubai Health Authority. 

Given below are some of the other things to keep in mind:

• The traveller should carry a negative RT-PCR test report with respect to a test carried out within 48 hours of the departure time. The authenticity of the test report should be verified by an approved health facility.
• A negative test report of a rapid RT-PCR test was taken at the departure airport within 6 hours of departure time.
• The traveller should have a valid health insurance policy for the duration of the stay in order to cover any quarantine, test, and medical expenses.

FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)