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Dubai Visa On Arrival For Indians: Requirements & Process

Last Updated : 18-Sept-2023

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30-second Summary

Indian nationals can apply for a Dubai visa to enter Dubai, and one option is the Dubai visa on arrival (VOA). However, you must have a certain passport/visa to be able to apply for a VOA.

The visa is obtained at the immigration counter upon arrival in Dubai and is available only for nationals from specific countries.

Note:

    There are strict eligibility criteria for Indian citizens - such as having a UK, EU, or US visa (or green card).

    Indians will not be able to get a VOA if they don't adhere to the eligibility criteria.

    VOA approval is not guaranteed — 1 in 10 people do not get their visa on arrival.

Important Information

Is There A Dubai Visa on Arrival?

Yes, certain Indians are eligible for a visa on arrival. However there are strict conditions. Learn More

UAE visa cost

The UAE visa fee is 120 AED. This fee must be paid on arrival in Dubai.

Visa Processing Time

There is no official processing time. Atlys encourages Indians to rather apply for their Dubai Evisa. Learn More

Stay Period

Indians can stay in Dubai for 14 days with a visa on arrival.

Indian nationals must apply for a Dubai visa to enter Dubai. An easy option is the Dubai visa on arrival (VOA). However, you must meet the passport requirements for a VOA in order to apply.

Travellers who do not meet the requirements can get a Dubai visa online through Atlys.

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Can Indian Citizens Get A Visa On Arrival To UAE From India?

Yes, you can. However, you must meet the requirements to apply for a Dubai Visa.

A Dubai-on-arrival visa is a short-term visa that you can obtain after landing in Dubai and doesn't need to be pre-arranged. The visa is stamped at the Immigration counter after disembarking from your flight. This visa is only available for foreign nationals from specific countries.

There have been reports where Indian travellers couldn't get their visas when they reached the airport. Because of this, they lost a lot of money as they had to cancel their plans and places to stay. They even had to leave the country.

It is highly recommended that Indian travellers obtain a tourist visa for Dubai in advance rather than relying on the VOA option.

To be eligible for a Dubai visa on arrival for Indians, you must own a normal Indian passport. Additionally, you must have:

    You have a valid US visa or,

    You have a valid green card issued by the USA

    You have a valid Schengen or EU residence visa

    You have a valid UK residence visa

    The visa issued by the US, UK, or EU must have at least 6 months of validity.

Confirm with your airline if they will allow you to board without a visa or if you would need a tourist visa for Dubai.

If you meet the eligibility to apply for the Dubai VOA, you'll need to collect the following documents:

    Indian citizens must have their US visa or green card, UK or EU visa

    Have a normal passport valid for 6 months from the date of travel

    Return flight ticket

    All documents are valid for 6 months from the date of arrival

    Visa on-arrival fees

Tip: Make a few copies of your documents—just in case.

How To Get A Visa For Dubai?

Finally, we get to the good stuff. So, if you're wondering how to get a visa for Dubai, you're in the right section. I will discuss the process of how to get a UAE Visa On Arrival.

At the Indian airport, you must first check in at the counter in person. Then, the airline staff will take a photo of your valid residence permit (US, UK, or EU) or green card and send it to the embassy for verification purposes. This ensures you get the visa on arrival for Indians in Dubai at the airport.

The Dubai embassy has to verify and approve the validity of your visa, which could take 10 minutes. Then, the airline staff will provide you with your boarding pass.

Once you have landed in Dubai and disembarked your flight, you must head to the Marhaba Services stall in the airport. Here you can purchase your Dubai visa on arrival for Indians.

The VOA counter in UAE.

The staff at the counter will take pictures of your passport, visa, and boarding pass and verify the documents. Then, you can pay the visa fees with your card or in AED, and you should have your UAE Visa On Arrival.

Receipt of the UAE visa on arrival

Now you must head to the immigration counter with your receipt. Then, the immigration officer will check the visa on arrival printout. Lastly, they will ask for your passport and stamp it.

An Overview Of The Dubai Visa On Arrival For Indians

You need to know a few things before you choose to apply for this visa. Luckily, that's why I'm here! So let's dive in:

Generally, the processing time is 5-15 minutes. The processing time may include filling out the application form, verifying documents, and paying for the Dubai visa on arrival fees. However, you might wait longer than 15 minutes if the queues are long.

Note that there is no standard processing time as it depends on how many people apply for a visa on arrival at the airport.

If you want to avoid waiting in queues at the airport, I recommend using Atlys to get a Tourist Visa to UAE.

The Dubai visa on-arrival fee for Indian citizens is 120 AED, which must be paid on arrival in Dubai. This is only the visa on arrival for Indians in Dubai visa fees as an Indian citizen that you have to pay.

Remember, the visa costs of a Dubai on-arrival visa might change, check the Embassy or Consulate website for the prices.

Make sure you take your credit or debit card for the visa on arrival for Indians in Dubai. Unfortunately, you cannot pay for the VOA fees in INR, USD, or cash change.

The Dubai 14-day visa on arrival is a single entry visa. This means that you can only enter Dubai once. The visa is valid for 14 days from the date of issue. You will receive a fine if you fail to exit the country or extend your visa before the visa's expiry date.

Yes, you can. You can extend your visa once for an additional 14 days and none after that. You will need to pay for the Dubai on-arrival visa for an Indian extension.

The visa extension cost is 250 AED.

The last thing I want to leave you with is 5 tips to remember when you're getting your visa.

Have All Your Documents On Hand

Searching for documents once you get to the desk can prolong the application time. This is why you need to make sure that all the documents you need are within reach.

Download A Game Or Book

Sometimes the queue can be long, and you'll have to wait an hour or more. This is why it's good to have a game or a book to keep you busy (time will go by faster).

Wear Comfortable Shoes

This might sound stupid, but if you're waiting in a long queue and wearing uncomfortable shoes, it'll feel like time has slowed down to a stop.

Keep Water With You

Once again, suppose you're standing in a queue, and you're thirsty. You can't just leave your spot to get something to drink (you know the rule of line etiquette: now cuts, not but's, no coconuts). This is why it's important to keep water with you.

Get A Snack Before Standing In Line

Imagine this; you just got off a long flight, didn't have much to eat, and now you must wait for your visa. This doesn't sound fun. So, to make sure that you don't get "hangry," make sure you get yourself a snack before you go get your visa.

Fortunately, there are several ways citizens of India can apply for a Dubai visa. Atlys has an in-depth guide on how an Indian national can apply for a tourist visa for Dubai from India.

Each Dubai visa type for Indians is issued for a specific reason. These are the different Dubai visa types for Indians:

    30/60-Day Tourist Visa, issued to people who wish to enter Dubai for leisure and tourism purposes. This Dubai visa type for Indians is valid for 58 days from the issue date; it grants the holder an entry permit of 30 days to visit Dubai.

    90-Day Tourist Visa or Dubai 5-Year Visa, issued for individuals who wish to travel to Dubai for leisure and tourism purposes. This multiple-entry visa for Indians is for a 90-day stay with a 5-year validity.

    Service/14-Day Visa, issued for people and their family members who are Company Representatives, Sales Managers, or people who want to visit UAE for Commercial purposes. This Dubai visa type for Indians is valid for 14 days.

    eVisa for Residents from GCC, GCC residents and their companions can apply for an electronic visa (EVisa). The eVisa is valid for 30 days.

    Transit Visa has a 48-hour transit visa and a 96-hour transit visa. This Dubai visa type for Indian visas must be sponsored by airlines that are sponsored by Dubai.

    Student Visa, issued to people who wish to study in Colleges and Universities in UAE. This Dubai visa type for an Indian visa is valid for one year, but you can apply for a visa extension.

All UAE visas must be formally cancelled through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs before issuing a new visa.

You can also check out the other UAE visas for Indians:

That Is Everything!

Now you can pack your bags, get on a flight, and have an epic Dubai adventure! You now know everything you need to know about how to get a Dubai visa.

You can also check out our FAQ section for any lingering questions!

Happy Traveling!

Fact-Checked Government Sites:

At Atlys, we take fact-checking seriously! We believe that providing credible information is essential to our readers' well-being, and we're committed to delivering just that. That's why we gather information from reliable government sources, such as:

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Indian citizens are not exempt from a UAE visa.

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