How to Apply for a Dubai Tourist Visa Before You Fly

Quick answer: To apply for a Dubai tourist visa before you fly, choose your visa (30, 60 or 90 days), upload a clear passport copy and a passport-size photo with a white background, pay the fee online, and wait for your e-visa by email. A standard visa usually takes 2–4 working days, and an express visa can come through in 24–48 hours. You don't need to visit an embassy or send your physical passport.

Last updated: October 2026. UAE visa rules can change without notice, so check your nationality's requirements on our Dubai visa page before you book.

Do You Need a Dubai Tourist Visa?

Whether you need to apply before you travel depends on your passport:

• GCC citizens (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman) don't need a visa to enter the UAE.

• Visa on arrival: citizens of many countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and most EU/Schengen states, get a free entry stamp at the airport.

• Indian passport holders can get a visa on arrival only if they hold a valid US visa or green card, or a UK or EU residence permit or visa. Everyone else needs a pre-approved e-visa. See our Dubai visa guide for Indians.

• Everyone else (for example, citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nigeria, Egypt and many other countries) must get a tourist visa before boarding the flight. Airlines check this at check-in.

Not sure which group you're in? Message us on WhatsApp with your nationality and country of residence, and we'll confirm it for free.

Dubai Tourist Visa Types at a Glance

*Next-day approval is our service timeline for complete files, not a government guarantee. Prices include government fees and our service charge. Single-entry and multiple-entry options are available. Visit the visa page for live pricing for your nationality.

Documents Required for a Dubai Tourist Visa

For most nationalities, you only need two documents:

1. Passport copy: a clear colour scan of the bio page, with the passport valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date. Both lines of code at the bottom (the MRZ) must be readable.

2. Passport-size photo: a recent colour photo with a plain white background, face centred, no glasses and no shadows. See the exact Dubai visa photo size and specifications.

Depending on your nationality or profile, you may also be asked for:

• A confirmed return or onward flight ticket

• A hotel booking or the address where you'll stay in the UAE

• A copy of your national ID or residence permit (if you're applying from a country other than your passport country)

• A copy of your previous UAE visa or entry stamp

The online form only asks for the documents your nationality needs, so you won't have to guess.

How to Apply for a Dubai Tourist Visa Online: Step by Step

1. Open the Dubai visa page. Select United Arab Emirates as your destination.

2. Enter your nationality and country of residence. These are often different, for example an Indian citizen living in Saudi Arabia. Both affect which visas you can apply for.

3. Choose your visa: 30-day, 60-day or 90-day, single or multiple entry, standard or express.

4. Fill in each traveller's details exactly as shown on their passport. Each traveller needs their own application, including children and infants.

5. Upload the passport copy and photo, plus any extra documents the form asks for.

6. Pay securely online. You'll get an application reference number by email.

7. Track your application on the Track Visa page using that reference.

8. Get your e-visa by email as a PDF. Print a copy and keep one on your phone for check-in and immigration.

Travelling as a family or group? Mention it in the remarks field so we can process all the visas together and the dates match.

How Long Does a Dubai Tourist Visa Take?

• Standard processing: 2–4 working days after we receive a complete application.

• Express processing: 24–48 hours. Choose this if you're flying within the week.

• Busy seasons (Eid, Christmas, New Year and the Dubai Shopping Festival) can add 1–2 days.

We recommend applying at least 7–10 days before your flight. Most delays come from blurry passport scans, the wrong photo background, or slow replies to correction requests, not from the immigration authority itself.

Dubai Tourist Visa Fees

The total cost of a Dubai tourist visa is made up of:

• The government visa fee, set by UAE immigration

• Insurance and processing charges, which are included in the visa price

• The agency service fee, for document checks, filing and support

Our prices on the visa page are all-inclusive, with no hidden charges after you pay. Express processing and multiple-entry visas cost more than standard single-entry visas. If an application is rejected, the government fee is generally non-refundable. See our refund policy for details.

Common Reasons Dubai Visa Applications Get Delayed or Rejected

• Passport valid for less than 6 months from the arrival date

• A low-quality scan: cropped edges, glare, or an unreadable MRZ

• Wrong photo: a coloured background, a selfie, or glasses on

• The name doesn't match the passport: typing a nickname, or the names in the wrong order

• A previous overstay or absconding case in the UAE that wasn't settled

• Duplicate applications: filing a second application while the first is still in progress

• Applying for the wrong product: a tourist visa doesn't allow you to work. If you plan to work or settle, you need an employment or residence visa.

Before You Fly: Final Checklist

• The name, passport number and dates on the e-visa match your passport exactly

• You're travelling on the same passport you applied with (if you renewed it, tell us before you travel)

• You have a printed and a digital copy of the e-visa

• Your return or onward ticket is confirmed (book flights with our flight search)

• Your hotel booking falls within your visa's validity (search Dubai hotels)

• You've booked your airport transfer to the right airport: Dubai International (DXB) or Al Maktoum (DWC)

Can You Extend a Dubai Tourist Visa?

Yes. Most 30-day and 60-day tourist visas can be extended once from inside the UAE without leaving the country, as long as you apply before the current visa expires. Overstaying results in daily fines, so contact us at least 5 days before your visa ends if you want to stay longer.

Why Apply With Kite Star Tourism?

• A DTCM-licensed travel agency based in Dubai: Office 1609, Musalla Tower (Sharaf DG Metro, Exit 4)

• Every document is checked by a person before submission, which cuts down on rejections and delays

• Support on WhatsApp and phone at +971 54 548 4000, and by email at support@kitestartourism.com

• Your visa, flights, hotel, airport transfer, desert safari and holiday packages all in one place

Ready to apply? Start your application on the Dubai visa page. It takes about 5 minutes. If you have questions first, contact our visa desk for a free consultation.