Dubai visa & passport guide
Everything Indian passport holders need to visit Dubai — visa type, fees, processing time, documents, and the step-by-step application process.
Dubai Visa for Indian Passport Holders
Indian passport holders need a visa for Dubai in advance, usually a UAE eVisa arranged through the airline, a hotel, or an approved travel agent such as Tourgrids. The one exception is visa on arrival, which is granted only if you hold a valid US visa, US green card, or UK/EU residence permit with at least six months validity. Standard tourist eVisas come in 30-day and 60-day versions, single or multiple entry, and are e-mailed to you as a PDF that you carry along with your passport.
Visa Type
eVisa (pre-arranged UAE tourist visa). Visa on arrival for 14 days, extendable once, only for Indians holding a valid US visa, US green card, or UK/EU residence permit
Visa Fee
30-day single entry: roughly ₹6,500 to ₹8,500 including agent and service charges. 60-day single entry: roughly ₹13,000 to ₹16,000. Multiple entry versions cost more. Visa on arrival for eligible US/UK/EU visa holders: AED 100 (about ₹2,400) at the counter, plus around AED 250 if you extend by another 14 days
Processing Time
3 to 5 working days for a standard eVisa; express processing in 24 to 48 hours is often available at extra cost. Visa on arrival is issued at the immigration counter in Dubai
Stay Duration
30 days or 60 days from the date of entry, depending on the visa taken. Visa on arrival gives 14 days, extendable once by 14 days
Passport Validity
Minimum 6 months validity from the date of arrival, with at least 2 blank pages
Documents Required
- Clear colour scan of the passport first and last pages
- Recent passport-size photograph with white background, matte finish, face clearly visible
- Confirmed return or onward air ticket
- Confirmed hotel booking or host details if staying with family in the UAE
- Copy of the valid US visa, US green card, or UK/EU residence permit if claiming visa on arrival
- Bank statement of the last 3 to 6 months, useful if immigration asks for proof of funds
- PAN card or employment/business proof, sometimes asked for by the processing agent
How to Apply
- 1Decide the visa duration (30 or 60 days) and entry type based on your travel dates, keeping a buffer of a few days on either side.
- 2Submit scans of your passport and photograph to your airline, hotel, or travel agent handling the UAE eVisa, and pay the fee.
- 3Wait for processing, typically 3 to 5 working days. Check the PDF carefully for spelling of your name and the visa validity window.
- 4Note that most UAE tourist visas must be used within 60 days of issue, so do not apply too early.
- 5Carry a printout of the eVisa along with your return ticket and hotel confirmation for airline check-in in India and for immigration at Dubai airport.
Good to Know
- The UAE visa validity date and the permitted stay are different things. A visa issued on 1 March with 60 days validity does not mean you can stay till 30 April; the 30 or 60 day clock starts the day you land.
- Overstaying attracts a daily fine and can affect future UAE entry. Extensions must be applied for through the GDRFA before the visa expires.
- Immigration officers at Dubai airport occasionally ask for proof of funds, usually a credit card or around AED 3,000 in cash equivalent, along with your hotel booking and return ticket. Keep printouts, not just phone screenshots.
- Dubai has a strict list of banned items. Poppy seeds (khus khus), certain Ayurvedic and CBD-based products, and some prescription medicines are restricted. Carry a doctor's prescription for any regular medication.
- Ramadan dates shift each year. Eating and drinking in public during daylight hours is restricted, though hotel restaurants stay open. Trip costs are usually lower in this period.
- May to September temperatures cross 45 degrees Celsius. November to March is the comfortable window and also the peak season for Dubai Shopping Festival and Global Village, so book flights and hotels well ahead.
- Single women, first-time travellers, and applicants with blank passports are sometimes asked additional questions. Having a confirmed package booking and clear itinerary helps at both check-in and immigration.
- If you hold a valid US or UK visa, compare the visa on arrival cost against a pre-arranged eVisa. VoA is cheaper but gives only 14 days and involves queueing at the airport.
Visa rules and fees change — verify with the official embassy or immigration website before booking travel.
