Dubai Visa For Indians

A Dubai visa enables you to legally travel to Dubai and stay there for a specified time. A Dubai visa for Indians allows Indian nationals to stay, work, live and study in Dubai. This visa is compulsory if you are an Indian national travelling to Dubai for any purpose. You can also transit from the international transit areas of the Dubai airport if you have a valid Dubai visa.

All Indians must obtain an E-visa before departing. A visa-on-arrival is not applicable to Indian citizens except when they meet a few eligibility criteria. To be eligible for a visa-on-arrival for Dubai, an Indian must possess a valid USA, UK or EU residence card or visa for specified months.

A visa-on-arrival is issued for 14 days or 60 days. The visa-on-arrival facility for Dubai is aimed at strengthening the ties between Dubai and India. Applications for E-visa can be submitted at various portals recognised by the Dubai visa authorities, which include VFS Global, Emirates and DVPC.

You may have to travel to Dubai for work, to meet your family or simply on holiday. Hence, even the visa issued will have to match your purpose of travel. With different types of Dubai visas available, you can select the one that best suits your reason for travelling to the city. Let’s take a look at the different Dubai visas and permits available:

● Study Visa:

As the name suggests, a study visa is meant to enable a non-UAE citizen to study or train in Dubai. If you are going to Dubai for further education or receive any educational or vocational training, a UAE-based university can sponsor the education and the visa on your behalf if needed.

● Service Visa:

A service visa allows people to visit the United Arab Emirates to carry out commercial activities in Dubai or offer their professional services to a business. These people may be sales managers, account auditors, etc., who need to visit the city for only work-related purposes for a fixed period of time.

● Visit Visa:

If you have family or relatives based out of Dubai and would like to visit them, a visit visa is ideal for this purpose, along with an international travel insurance plan. The family member you are visiting should have UAE citizenship since you cannot apply for your UAE visit visa. Alternatively, your UAE-based hotel, airline, or travel agency can apply for this visa.

● Transit Visa:

A transit visa will help if you are on a flight and you have a layover at the Dubai International Airport. This type of visa is useful if you have to board a connecting flight since it is necessary to have a visa even if you are only at the airport for a limited number of hours and are not entering the city.

● Work Permit:

A work permit is issued by the Labour Ministry in Dubai and is granted to those seeking employment. If you are joining a company in Dubai, then your firm has to apply for the permit and you should be at least above 18 years of age and below 60 years of age to be eligible for the same.

● Tourist Visa:

You need a Dubai tourist visa even if you are going there for a holiday. While the UAE Embassy is not involved in issuing this type of visa, the hotel, airline or travel agency you are associated with will have to apply for it. As an Indian tourist, you can have a short-term or long-term tourist visa.

● Medical Permit:

If you are sick and want to visit Dubai for medical treatment, you must have a medical treatment permit to be treated in a Dubai hospital. Hence, foreign nationals can access medical facilities in Dubai. Since some treatments can be long-term, the permit enables single and multiple entries.

Note: The visa fees may be increased or reduced at any time based on the decision of the visa-issuing authorities. Besides, the price of a visa extension is subject to fluctuating exchange rates.

Now that you know the various types of Dubai visas and the fees, let us tell you how to apply for a Dubai tourist visa or any other type of visa. There are two ways to apply for a Dubai visa:

• Through VFS Global

• Through Emirates Website

• Here are the steps to apply for a Dubai visa using different portals.

** VFS Global**

• Navigate to VFS Global’s official website.

• Begin by determining the type of visa you require. Click on Identify the Visa type and choose the right visa for your trip.

• Next, click on “Begin your application”. Here, you must download the visa application form from the link provided and fill it out with all the requested information.

• Take a printout of the form and preserve it.

• The next step is to gather all the necessary documents, such as your passport, financial proof, etc.

• Visit the VAC. (There is no need to book an appointment)

Note: The applicant or his representative can submit the visa application.

• Submit all the documents at the application centre and pay the fees based on the visa type.

• Collect the payment receipt/acknowledgement slip.

• Track your visa application to find out at what stage it is. This can be done using the reference number on the acknowledgement slip.

• After your verification is complete, the visa will be sent to you at your registered email address.

** Through the Emirates Website**

• Go to the Emirates.com website.Book your flight tickets to Dubai from the portal.

• Once you receive the PNR, click ‘Retrieve Your Booking’ under the ‘Manage’ tab.

• Click on the ‘Apply for a UAE Visa’ option under the ‘Additional Services’ tab.

• Read all the instructions carefully and click on the ‘Continue to visa application’ button.Fill out the visa application form.

• Provide all the document proofs as necessary.

• Pay the visa application fee using the payment options available.

• Your visa will be issued once the verification is completed. It may take a few days for the visa to arrive.

Useful Link: Dubai visa application form

All Indians who want to visit Dubai must apply for a Dubai visa for Indians before their departure from India. However, holders of US, UK or EU visas or residence permits can obtain a visa-on-arrival and need not apply for a pre-approved visa from India.

No matter what the purpose of your visit is, all Indian passport holders require a pre-approved Dubai visa. Adults, minors, students, businessmen, job-seekers, people seeking medical treatment in Dubai and all others mandatorily require a Dubai visa, whether their visit is short-term or long-term.

Useful Link: UAE Embassy in India

The application for a Dubai visa must be made a few days in advance so you may receive the visa before your departure date. A Dubai visa processing takes between a few hours and a few days, depending on the type of visa and the application service you choose.

A normal visa may be processed in 3-4 working days, whereas an express visa application may be processed in approximately 36 hours. While submitting a visa application, one must consider Saturday, Sunday and UAE holidays and make an application accordingly. It is also advisable to take note of the timings to submit the applications through VFS global, which is between 9.30 AM to 5.30 PM.

Here is the list of documents you will need if you are applying for a Dubai visa:

• Original passport with a validity of 6 months from the date of travel.

• Coloured copy of the passport’s first two pages, last two pages and observation page, if any.

• Recent passport-size colour photograph.

• The correctly and duly filled visa application form.

• Proof of investment or income proof of at least USD 8000 (income tax documents are accepted).

• Proof of residency visa (if your country of permanent residency is not the same as your nationality).

• Proof of sponsorship by a Dubai-based hotel, airline or tour agency.

• Confirmed flight and hotel bookings with the airline, hotel or agency that will apply for your visa.

• Female travellers who are travelling alone must also submit an NOC from their parents or husband and a photo ID of their parents and husband.

• Invitation letter, passport copy and residence visa of the immediate family member residing in UAE.

If you want to check your eligibility for a Dubai visa, you should fulfil these conditions as an Indian national.

• Be clear of any criminal record or background or legal cases.

• Have a valid Indian passport with at least 2 blank pages and a validity of 6 months.

• Show valid proof of sufficient funds that can cover your expenses during the trip.

• Have confirmed return journey flight tickets to India/your home country.

Submitting an invalid passport or a passport with insufficient validity.

• Providing an old photograph.

• Insufficient funds in the bank account.

• Not submitting a return ticket for your journey to and from Dubai.

• Having a history of legal cases or a criminal record.

• Submitting an incomplete application form or providing inaccurate details.

• Solo women traveller’s visas may be rejected if they do not submit an NOC from their parents or husband.

• If you previously applied for a Dubai visa and did not travel, your visa may be rejected unless you cancel the previous visa.

• Visa applications of unskilled professionals may be rejected.

• Submitting an application form with errors in the name, spelling, etc.

Now that the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, there are no mandatory requirements with respect to COVID-19 vaccination or other documents for entering Dubai. However, it is advisable to exercise general preventive measures to stay healthy and safe on your trip to Dubai.

Here are some of the things to follow:

• Stay hydrated and drink sufficient water, as the hot climate can lead to dehydration.

• One must wear sunscreen and use sunglasses outside.

• Avoid drinking and eating from unsafe or unhygienic places to avoid any kind of stomach problems.

• Eat light and do not overindulge in food, as it may lead to an upset stomach or gut issues.

• Drink only packaged water and avoid drinking water from taps and such sources to avoid waterborne infections.

Visiting Dubai is a dream for many Indians as they wish to experience its lively vibes, vibrant culture and vast number of attractions. However, your trip to Dubai can turn into a nightmare if you encounter a health or any other emergency, as it can lead to financial strain.

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Dubai is an amazing city when it comes to tourism or work opportunities. However, there are some strict rules and regulations in place when it comes to public conduct so that the authorities can maintain the peace and decorum of the city. Here are some of the important things to know when you are visiting Dubai –

• Book your flight and hotel well in advance, at least 6 months ahead.

• Dress modestly to avoid negative attention and out of respect for the culture.

• If you want to take pictures of people or government buildings, ask for permission. Tourist spots, on the other hand, are open to photography.

• Avoid eating, drinking and smoking in public during the Ramadan fasting hours.

• Behave appropriately in public and avoid disturbing others by talking loudly.

• Buy alcohol only from licensed places and do not drink in prohibited locations.

Dubai is full of tourist spots and attractions, and if you are wondering where you can go, you need not worry as there is something or the other for every kind of tourist. But to make things easier for you, here is a list of places that you must not miss out on when you go to Dubai –

-Dubai Miracle Garden: Standing true to its name, the Dubai Miracle Garden is truly a miracle of flowers in a desert. The garden has approximately 45 million flowers, spreading magic in different shapes and sizes.

The most favourable time to visit the garden is from October to April when the weather is pleasant in Dubai. The butterfly garden is also worth visiting, where you can witness 15,000 types of butterflies.

-Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo: Another interesting and charming attraction in Dubai is the Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. It is located in the Dubai Mall and houses more than 33,000 aquatic animals.

There are over 140 species of water animals, including sand tiger sharks, Giant Groupers, sharks and rays. One can also see crocodiles, penguins, UAE’s night creatures, etc.

-Palm Islands: They are the largest man-made islands in the world and are considered the eighth wonder. The islands are a very famous tourist destination and are artificially crafted in the shape of a palm tree. There are three islands:** Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, and Palm Deira.

-Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Architecture lovers will be stunned to witness the finest Islamic architecture at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It is a world-famous mosque that is composed of artwork that draws visitors from all over the globe.

The mosque consists of mosaic marble, gold leaf spires on the domes, crystal chandeliers and a lighting system that is connected to the lunar system. In Dubai, you must visit this grand mosque and witness the finest example of architectural excellence.

-Burj Khalifa: A Dubai trip is incomplete without visiting the iconic Burj Khalifa. It is the tallest building in the world, giving you a top view at 828 metres. From the Burj Khalifa, you can get a 360-degree bird’s eye view of Dubai.

It also consists of an outdoor terrace, which allows you to enjoy the surrounding views. Children and adults can enjoy the mesmerising view from the top of the building.