All UAE Visa Types and Entry Permits You Should Know

The United Arab Emirates has become a hub for talents, innovators, and investors over the past few years. The government makes sure to support residents and citizens with updated laws and regulations to ease their stay in the country. The government issues several types of UAE visas based on the purpose of the visit and type stay. They range from business visa, to tourist visa, transit visa, student visa, retirement visa, eVisa for GCC residents as well as Green Visa, and Golden Visa an others.

Here are the different types of UAE visas.

Tourist visa

Depending on your plan, tourist visas to the UAE can be issued for 30 days or 90 days for single or multiple entries. Tourist visas can be extended for 30 days twice, without the need to leave the country.

eVisa for GCC residents

GCC residents and their companions need to apply online for a visa to enter the UAE. The visa is valid for 30 days and is extendable once for 30 days.

Transit visa

The UAE issues two types of transit visas: one for 48 hours which is free of charge, and another for 96 hours for AED 50 only. Transit visas are sponsored only by the UAE-based airlines and must be processed and approved before entering the UAE. Both types of transit visas are not extendable

Retirement visa for UAE residents

Retired residents over the age of 55 can get a long-term residence visa for a period of 5 years. The visa may be renewed if the eligibility criteria is met.

Student visa

A student visa is issued to expatriate students who are over 18 years and residing in the UAE. Outstanding students can get a long-term visa of 5 years. 

Remote work visas

A remote work visa allows you to live in the UAE while you continue to work for your existing employer, outside the UAE. The visa is valid for one year . Read about the other terms and conditions relating to the remote work visa.

Sponsoring family residency visa by expatriates

Both, employers and employees with a valid UAE residence visa can sponsor residence visas for their families. Unlike before, employees can sponsor their families regardless of their job titles if they earn a minimum salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. Clearing medical fitness examination applies to all newcomers who have completed the age of 18.

Green Visa

The UAE’s Green visa is a type of residence visa, that allows its holder to sponsor himself/herself for 5 years, eliminating the need of a UAE national or employer to sponsor his/her visa.

Golden visa

The Golden visa is a long-term residence visa which enables foreign talents to live, and work or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits. Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes are amongst those eligible for the Golden visa. Read about the benefits of the Golden visa and find digital services to apply for it.

Business visa

A business visa is part of the Golden Visa system under which foreigners can obtain a long-term visa for themselves and their dependents. An eligible entrepreneur is anyone who has set up a business of his own at some point of time in his career, and wishes to do so again in the UAE.

Entry Permit

An entry permit is a document that allows the foreigners to enter and stay in the UAE legally for a certain period of time. The document may be in a physical or an electronic form.

The party sponsoring the person who wants to enter the UAE will handle the entry permit transaction through GDRFA’s online and offline channels. The sponsor could be a company from the private sector, a public entity, a relative, a UAE-based airline or a hotel and so on.

There are various types of entry permits. Some of them are:

• entry permit - employment
• entry permit - family visit
• entry permit - tourism/transit
• entry permit - treatment
• entry permit - mission
• entry permit - attending conferences.