Dubai Visa

Dubai is one of the most popular cities in the world. It is the biggest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), well-known for its pristine beaches, modern architecture, expensive brand showrooms and of course skyscrapers. Burj Khalifa, which is one of the tallest buildings in the world, is also located in Dubai. The city of Dubai is amongst the world’s leading tourist destinations and witnesses the maximum amount of dollars spent per day. About 997,000 Indians have visited Dubai in the first half of 2019. All these people have been able to visit this Emirate only by obtaining a Dubai visa and a valid travel insurance policy.

What is Dubai Visa?

Dubai visa is an authorization that allows a foreign national to enter the territory of Dubai for a limited period of time. It grants permission to its holder to travel and stay temporarily in Dubai. It also allows travelers to transit from the international transit areas of the Dubai airport. Dubai visa is issued by the government of Dubai and can be applied by UAE-residents as well as organizations on behalf of a foreign national.

Obtaining a Dubai visa is compulsory for all Indian citizens who wish to travel to Dubai. The applicants of Dubai visa for Indians should also have a valid travel insurance policy for their trip as it is a mandatory requirement for traveling to Dubai.

Features of Dubai Visa

• Available for tourists as well as transit passengers
• Option to select a single trip or multi-trip visa
• Travel insurance mandatory to travel to Dubai
• Dubai visa on arrival for Indians with a valid US Green Card or US visa (except work visa)

Dubai Visa Types

Different people may have different reasons for traveling to Dubai. According to the purpose of travel, the Dubai visa is divided into three types. A person seeking a Dubai visa should select a type of visa keeping in mind their travel purpose. Here are the various types of Dubai visas:

Tourist Visa

 A Dubai Tourist visa is a type of visa meant for people who want to travel to UAE for vacations. It is not issued by the UAE Embassy but has to be applied by the hotel/ airline or tour agency on behalf of the foreigners. This can be done only if the foreign national has a booking with that hotel/ airline or tour agency. Dubai Tourist visa for Indians is available for short-term as well as long-term.

Visit Visa

A Visit Visa is a type of visa that is granted to people traveling to UAE in order to visit a family member based in UAE. The Dubai Visiting visa can be applied by the UAE-based family member or by the airline/ hotel/ tour agency from UAE.

Transit/ Stopover Visa

A Dubai Transit visa or a Stopover visa is a type of visa meant for people who have a layover at the Dubai International airport. It is to be applied by people who will be traveling to Dubai in order to board a connecting flight from Dubai airport to their destination.

Service Visa

A Service visa is a type of visa that is granted to people who want to travel to the UAE to offer a service to a company or carry out commercial activity such as account auditors, sales managers, etc.

Study Permit 

A Study visa is a type of visa that allows a non-UAE citizen to study or get training in Dubai. This type of visa can be applied by a UAE-based university/ school that is sponsoring the education on behalf of the foreign student.

Medical Treatment Permit 

A Medical Treatment permit is a type of visa that allows a foreign national to visit Dubai to obtain medical treatment. This permit is issued for single entry as well as multiple entries.

Work Permit

A Work Permit is a type of visa that is granted to people who want to come to Dubai to work. It is issued by the Labour Ministry. A work visa has to be applied by the company or firm with which the expat will be working in Dubai. All applicants of the Dubai Work visa should be at least 18 years old but should not more than 60 years of age.

Duration of Different Types of Dubai Visa

Who Should Apply for Dubai Visa

Getting a Dubai visa is mandatory for travelers from most countries in the world, including India. All Indian nationals require a Dubai visa for Indians in order to travel to the city of Dubai. The visa should be obtained by the Indian passport holders before you begin your trip to Dubai. However, people with a valid US Green Card or US visa (except work visa) can get a Dubai visa on arrival for Indians. People without a valid Dubai visa will not be allowed to enter this Emirate.

How to Apply for Dubai Visa?

The process to apply for a Dubai visa for Indians is very easy. You can choose to apply for a Dubai visa online or offline as per your convenience. You can apply for an e visa Dubai offers to international visitors irrespective of whether you want to obtain a Dubai tourist visa, Dubai transit visa or Dubai visiting visa. You just have to follow the steps mentioned below under Dubai visa process.

• Decide the type of Dubai visa you want to apply
• Visit the official website of the Government of UAE or the UAE-based Tourist visa service provider
• Fill up the visa application form
• Upload all the supporting documents
• Pay the visa price
• Submit your visa application
• Dubai visa for Indians will be granted to people with a successful application

Documents Required to Apply for Dubai Visa

Take a look at the list of documents required to apply for a Dubai visa:

• Duly filled visa application form
• Copy of first and last page of the passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity
• Recent color photograph on a white background
• Proof of Residency visa (if the applicant's country of permanent residency is different from his country of nationality)
• Sponsorship from a Dubai-based tour agency or hotel or airline
• A valid travel insurance policy
• Confirmed hotel or flight booking with the airline or hotel which would apply for Dubai visa on your behalf
• Proof of investments or annual income of a minimum of USD 8000. You can submit income tax documents as proof

Dubai Visa Fee

*All applicants of Dubai Visiting visa need to pay a deposit of AED 1020 which will be refunded after the visitor has left UAE.

Travel Insurance for Dubai Visa

Dubai is a complete holiday destination with something to capture the interests of all kinds of travelers. But what if you forget your passport somewhere or fall ill due to the desert climate of UAE? Such incidents would not only mess up your travel plans but will also upset your trip budget. To avoid such scenarios and stay appropriately prepared for any unforeseen emergencies, you must have a travel insurance policy.

A travel insurance policy is a safety device that will protect you from any eventualities that you may come across during your Dubai trip. It covers the insured traveler from any unpredictable incidents that may lead to financial losses. Any expenses relating to the loss of passport, medical expenses, repatriation of mortal remains, delay or loss of check-in baggage, medical evacuation to a hospital, flight delay, personal liability, flight hijack, missed connection flight, trip cancelation & curtailment, personal accident, etc are covered by an international travel insurance plan.

A wide variety of travel insurance plans are offered by insurance providers in India. Right from family travel insurance to senior citizen travel insurance, there are different types of travel insurance plans designed to suit the needs of various kinds of travelers. People traveling to Dubai for studying purposes can opt for student travel insurance policy that comes with sponsor protection cover, study interruption, compassionate visit, etc. You must select a suitable Dubai visa based on the purpose of your travel, age of the traveler and the frequency of your trip.

As per the visa guidelines of the Government of Dubai, it is mandatory for all applicants to possess a valid travel insurance policy while traveling to Dubai. Applicants from India can obtain a Dubai visa for Indians if they have travel insurance for their trip.