DUBAI TOURIST VISA PROCESS ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS
Indians love Dubai. Thousands of people throng to Dubai from India every year for leisure and business purposes. For instance, in 2017, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce released a report proclaiming that Indians are at the top of their list of inbound tourists, with 1478000 Indian travelers visiting the city in the first nine months of the year.
With tall and magnanimous skyscrapers, dazzling nightlife, romantic cruises along dhows coupled with rustic elements such as camel safari in the golden desert and historical hotspots, Dubai has become the go-to ‘vacay’ spot for a lot of Indians who want the ideal international getaway close to home. So if you are planning a Dubai travel in the near future, many things might be going through your mind. From visa application to flight tickets and curating a travel itinerary, you have to prepare it all.
Completing the A to Z of your upcoming Dubai trip can feel overwhelming, but a little assistance goes a long way. Therefore, the first part of your ensuing Dubai travelogue is sorting out the visa process eligibility and requirements, which is precisely what we will guide you through!
TYPES OF DUBAI TRAVEL VISAS FOR INDIAN CITIZENS: A BRIEF OVERVIEW
To execute your Dubai travel plan successfully, you must apply for one of the many UAE visa options available. Dubai has an electronic visa system that is processed online and sent to the applicants via email. It is paperless and not stamped on your passport. Dubai issues different types of visas – business visas, tourist visas, transit visas, and so forth to Indians with a single entry and multiple entry options, depending on the purpose of the visit. We have briefly explained some of them below –
- Visit Visa – It is a Visa sponsored by any tour operator, learning institution, hospital, or organization with business in Dubai. As per the latest norms, the Visit Visas for Indian citizens have a validity of 90 days, which can be extended twice. In addition, you should also remember that nowadays, your Dubai travel does not have to be complemented by a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or an on-site RTPCR test.
- Tourist Visa – It is the best Visa if you want to travel to Dubai multiple times in a year. You can apply for a Tourist Visa by visiting the official website of Dubai and completing the details. To be eligible for a Tourist Visa, your passport ought to be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in Dubai, with a minimum of two blank pages.
- Transit Visa – The third type of Dubai travel visa for Indians – the Transit Visa – is a single entry tourist Visa that you can use to transit or ‘pass’ through UAE airports. The Transit Visa for Indian passports is valid for only 96 hours (4 days) and is not extendable.
- E-Visa – Such visas are sponsored by tourism agencies, operators, hotels, and tourism companies with tie-ups with the Government of Dubai or local city business chambers. E-visas have a validity of 30 days, with a maximum extension of 90 days from the date of issuance.
Now that we know about the five types of Dubai travel visas for Indian nationals, let us quickly skim through their prices.
DUBAI VISA FEES FOR INDIAN CITIZENS
The Dubai travel visa fees depend upon the type of Visa you are applying for and the duration of your stay.
- Tourist Visa – INR 5690
- 48-hours Transit Visa – INR 820
- 96-hour Transit Visa – INR 2850
- 14 days Visa – INR 5690
- Express 48-hours Visa – INR 2440
- 90 Days Visa – INR 14100
- Express 14 days Visa – INR 7310
- Express Tourist Visa – INR 7310
- 90 Days Multi Entry Long Term Visa – INR 34300
- 30 Days Multi Entry Short Term Visa – INR 13580
DUBAI VISA AVERAGE PROCESSING TIME
- 48-hour Visa – 3 to 4 days of processing time for a Normal Visa and 24 hours for an Express visa
- 96-hour Visa – 3 to 4 days of processing time for a Normal Visa and 24 hours for an Express Visa
- 14-day Single Entry Short Term Visa – 3 to 4 of processing time for a Normal Visa and 36 hours for an Express Visa
- 30-day Single Entry Short Term Visa – 3 to 4 days of processing time for a Normal Visa and 36 hours for an Express Visa
- Multi Entry Long Term Visa – 3 to 4 days of processing time
- Multi Entry Short Term Visa – 3 to 4 days of processing time
DUBAI VISA ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIAN CITIZENS
To be eligible for a Dubai Visa as an Indian, you must fulfill the following criteria –
- You should have a valid Indian passport with a minimum validity of six months and at least two blank pages.
- You should possess your Dubai travel return flight tickets.
- You should have sufficient funds to cover your expenses during your Dubai stay.
- You cannot have any criminal background to qualify for a Dubai visa.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR A DUBAI TRAVEL VISA
When applying for a Dubai Visitor Visa, Transit Visa, or Tourism Visa, you need the following documents –
- Valid passport with six months of minimum validity
- Photocopy of filled visa application form
- A scanned copy of 2 colored passport-sized photos on a white background.
- Cover letter mentioning the purpose of your Dubai travel visit
- Valid flight tickets with proof of return ticket
- Accommodation booking proof for all days of your stay
- Photocopy of PAN card and IT Returns.
- Employment Certificate and Letter from Employer on the company’s letterhead
- Scanned copy of bank statements or your investment documents
- If you are a solo female traveler below 24 years of age, you must submit a NOC from your husband or father to be eligible for a Dubai Visa.
DUBAI TRAVEL VISA APPLICATION PROCESS
After a crisp overview of the various dimensions of a Dubai visa, let us wrap up the article by looking at the application steps.
- Check Your Passport Eligibility – The first step to applying for a Dubai travel visa is examining the eligibility of your Indian passport. You can do so by checking the name and nationality printed on the passport. In addition, it should have a minimum validity of six months with two blank pages for being stamped by the immigration authorities of UAE upon your landing in the city.
- Scan and Upload Passport Copies – The second step is to scan both pages of your valid Indian Passport and upload them on the official website of Dubaivisaonline.com. Thereafter, you will receive a unique barcode number against each scanned copy that you will have to enter at the end of the visa application process.
- Fill out the Visa Application Form – The third step is to fill out the visa application form through a site verified by the Government of Dubai and Emirates. The form requires you to fill in basic information, such as name, date, place of birth, etc. After filling out the form, you have to take a printout and carry the physical copy to a nearby Visa application center with the required documents.
- Upload Passport Copies and Visa Fee Receipt – To be eligible for a Dubai travel visa, the third step is to upload two passport photocopies along with the Visa fee receipt. You might also be required to enter your Credit card details and payment amount.
- Fill Up the Medical Form – The visa process to Dubai includes a medical form if you apply for an employment visa. Applications applying for a work visa to Dubai must submit basic details like name, place, date of birth, etc., and upload scanned copies of their passports. In addition, a medical questionnaire has to be filled out. Likewise, other ancillary steps, such as filling up the employer’s details, employer contact number, and so forth, are also necessary to apply for a Dubai work visa.
TIPS TO APPLY FOR DUBAI TRAVEL VISA IN 2022
Tip 1 – You should apply for the Visa one month prior to your Dubai travel date.
Tip 2 – It is best to choose the type of Visa suitable for your travel purpose and trip duration.
Tip 3 – A single entry visa is the most efficient and handy for tourists. If you are a frequent flyer or a business traveler, a multi-entry visa might also be a good option.
Tip 4 – Upon the successful approval of your visa application, the e-Visa is emailed to you. It is recommended to take a printout of the e-Visa and carry it at all times.
Tip 5 – You must acquire the OK to Board (OTB) clearance before booking your flight ticket to Dubai. An OTB is a message entered in the airline’s reservation system against your PNR, which means your paper-based Visa has been inspected and validated, and the airline check-in staff can issue you a boarding pass.
Tip 6 – Indians with a valid US Visa can obtain a Dubai travel visa upon their arrival at the Dubai international facility.
Tip 7 – Opting for an international travel card during your Dubai travel is an excellent way to ensure that your trip is enjoyable, memorable, and hassle-free.
So, there we have it, a comprehensive overview of the Dubai travel visa eligibility and application process.
