Dubai Visa Guide: Everything You Must Know Before Applying

Traveling to Dubai is on the bucket list of many people who want to visit for a holiday, work-related, or to celebrate an occasion. 

The country has maintained positive international relations and is a hub for organizing important tech fests, award ceremonies, and fiestas for art and culture. 

To fulfill your dream of visiting this place, all valid identity documents are required to complete the Dubai visa process. 

According to its official tourist portal, foreign nationals are allowed a set number of days to stay. 

Depending on the purpose of your visit, you have to opt for the one among various types of UAE visas. 

This article is here to provide detailed information on the Dubai visa for Indians and the complete approval procedure.

What Types of UAE Visas are Available?

As we mentioned before, your purpose of visit determines the type of travel authorization to opt for. 

If you are a student, the validity of your visa will be according to the number of months or years at the university. 

Here are the following types of Dubai visas that you may require:

• A tourist visa is for travel in Dubai only.
• Business visas are for well-known entrepreneurs starting businesses or investing.
• Golden Visa is for working professionals, eminent personalities, and students.
• A transit visa is for travelers who need to transit through international airports in Dubai.
• A student visa is for students who are staying in a university to study. 
• Freelance visas are for part-time jobs or business professionals. 
• A dependent visa is for family members of the main applicant. 
• A work visa is for applicants who are in for long-term work. 
• eVisa is the visa that the airline itself provides. 
• A visit visa permits family members or friends to enter the city and meet the main applicant. 

Things You Need to Know Before Applying for the Dubai Visa

Applying for a Dubai visa can be hassle-free if you know these things before going through the procedure: 

• As per your travel purpose, opt for the appropriate type of tourist authorization. 
• Several factors, such as trip duration, nationality, etc., impact your passport selection significantly. 
• It is mandatory to enter and exit through Dubai Airport only. 
• Currently, the tourist and transit visas are valid for 60 and 30 days, respectively. 
• To furnish authorization to the immigration officer, Indians mandatorily have to carry an electronic visa (e-visa). 
• Applicants must apply for a Dubai travel visa before their travel date. 
• Applicants should update their health information with the COVID-19 guidelines and current rules and regulations. 
• Carry copies of all relevant credentials such as passport photos, confirmed return tickets, etc. 

DO YOU KNOW?
You can enter and exit Dubai as many times as you like as long as your stay does not exceed 180 days in total in a given year.

How to Apply for a Dubai Visa? 

To apply for a Dubai visa, regardless of the type you want, you need to fill out the same form. Here are the steps you have to follow for the travel application: 

• Step 1: Visit the official portal of The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.
• Step 2: Select the visa type according to your visit purpose.
• Step 3: Enter your details, such as name, passport number, and travel dates.
• Step 4: Upload all the necessary details, like passport-sized photographs, passport and PAN card.
• Step 5: Pay the fees to complete your visa application process.

Once the officials verify your application, they will send the visa to your specified email address. 

What are the Basic Documents Necessary for a Dubai Visa?

The following documents are necessary to get a Dubai visa: 

• Copy of your Indian passport (with a minimum of six months validity) 
• At the back of the copy, there should be your traveler’s signature 
• Coloured recent passport-sized photo (white backdrop)
• Copy of the photographs with the name on the back 
• Dubai visa application form 
• Address proof
• Letter from your sponsor (a relative or friend staying in Dubai)

THINGS TO CONSIDER
You can apply for your Dubai visa online two months before your travel to this luxurious city. 

What are the Supporting Documents Necessary for a Dubai Visa? 

To help process your information your sponsor will need more documents. Here is a list of these supporting documents: 

• Copy of the filled-out application form 
• Two passport-size photographs
• A cover letter with all the required details about your itinerary
• Proof of flight and hotel bookings
• Copy of tour ticket 
• Copy of the PAN card
• Copy of income tax returns
• An investment amounting to INR 5 lakhs or above as a fixed deposit.

It is worth mentioning that a female traveling solo will require a NOC from a father or husband.

UAE Visa Processing Time

Follow the pointers below to get a general idea of how much time tourist visas take to process: 

• A regular tourist visa is valid for 60 days from the issue date and generally takes 5 to 6 working days to process. 
• An express tourist visa has a validity period of 60 days and generally takes 2 to 3 working days to process. 
• A regular visa with a validity of 60 days usually takes 5 to 6 working days to process. 

STATISTICS
The graph shows visitors from India, Saudi Arabia, and Russia are the top 3 countries that are issued the most Dubai visas. 

Reasons Why Your Dubai Visa Could Get Rejected 

Here are several factors that could lead to the rejection or delay of your Dubai visa application:

• Incomplete application submissions, including false or inconsistent information, can result in rejection.
• Failure to apply for an extension and overstaying during a previous visit may lead to rejection.
• Authorities no longer accept handwritten passports.
• Errors on the application form, such as spelling mistakes, false names, or incorrect dates of birth, can cause rejection.
• Not utilizing a previous visa may affect the outcome of your current application.
• Blurry photographs or photos with specific marks may result in rejection or delay.
• Avoid giving the impression that you are an unskilled professional, as it impacts the approval chances. However, you should not provide inaccurate information. 
• UAE would not accept application forms from individuals with a criminal history. 
• Dubai requires applicants to possess travel insurance for Dubai when traveling internationally. 

The Bottom Line 

An individual must adhere to specific guidelines and pay attention to detail to apply for a Dubai visa. 

A clear understanding of passport types, the steps for the application, and the list of necessary documents would increase the chances of obtaining a Dubai visa for Indians. 

Moreover, being aware of the reasons for rejection or delay of approval and taking necessary precautions can ensure a hassle-free visa application process.