Dubai is one of the most visited countries in the world. The ultra-modern city with its rich culture and heritage attracts millions of people from around the world. While people belonging to GCC countries can enter Dubai without a visa, citizens of several other countries are offered visa on arrival. However, there are several other countries whose citizens need to get a visa before visiting Dubai or anywhere else in UAE. If you are a citizen of one such country, here is a step-by-step guide that would give you all the information you need to apply for a tourist Dubai visa.
Choosing the Type of Visa
The first step is to decide the type of Dubai visa you need. Following are the different types of Dubai visa available:
Transit Visa: Transit visa is perfect for those who want to have a short holiday while going to a different country. Transit visas are available for 96 hours or 4 days.
Tourist Visa: Tourist visa is for those who are visiting Dubai for a holiday. Tourist visa can be applied through a Dubai based airline, hotel or travel company or agency (your sponsor for tourist visa). You would have to book your airline tickets, hotel or tour packages at the respective airline, hotel or travel company to avail this service. Tourist visas are available for 14 days, 30 days and 90 days. Both single entry and multiple entry are available for this type of visa.
Visit Visa: Visit visa is similar to tourist visa. The only difference is that it is sponsored by a relative or friend living or working in Dubai or UAE.
Dubai Visa Application Process
Once you have decided on the type of visa, the next step is to fill the application form. Depending on the sponsor you have chosen, you would have to fill different types of visa application form. Citizens of some countries can also apply online, in which case, they can download the form from the official website. Once the application is filled, it has to be submitted along with supporting documents. It takes around 3-4 business days for the visa application to be processed.
Dubai Tourist Visa Application – Documents
Submitting the right documents is extremely essential for the Dubai visa application process. A wrong document would lead to rejection of your UAE or Dubai visa. Here are the documents you need to get Dubai visa application.
Application Form: Your application form should be correctly filled and duly signed. Even a small mistake (factually or spelling error) may lead to rejection of application form. Hence, avoid any kind of mistake.
Passport: Passport with a validity of 6 months from the date of travel is extremely important. If you are submitting a soft copy of the passport, you need to submit a coloured one.
Photographs: Coloured passport size photographs have to be submitted. These photographs should be recent ones and should have a white background.
Cover Letter: You need to write a cover letter that states the reason as well as the duration of your visit.
Itinerary: Copies of your return air tickets have to be submitted along with the application form. Similarly, you would also have to submit the receipt of the hotel reservation.
Sponsor’s Documents: If your visa is sponsored by a friend or relative in Dubai, you need to submit his or her passport copy, resident visa copy and other such details.
Visa Fee: The last step of your application process is to submit the visa fee. The visa fee would depend on who is sponsoring your visa fee. Enquire with airline companies, hotels and travel agencies and go with the one that offers the best rate.
Once applied, you would receive your visa in 3-4 days. If your requirement is urgent, you can apply for an express visa at an additional cost. In this case, you would receive your Dubai visa within one day.
The process of applying for a Dubai visa is quite simple. Moreover, getting a visa for Dubai is also easy if you avoid the reasons for its rejection. If you are a law-abiding citizen of your country and have not gotten into any legal trouble in any of the countries you have visited, getting a Dubai visa would be extremely simple for you.