“A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.”
Jawaharlal Nehru, “Tryst with Destiny”, Constituent Assembly of India, 14 August 1947
For a great many Indian families, Dubai is the first foreign city anyone visits. A brother works there, a cousin married there, a holiday was promised years ago. Getting a visit visa is simpler than most people fear, and it is also easy to get wrong in small ways that cost a trip. This guide covers the whole process for an Indian passport holder: which visa, how to apply, what it costs, what to carry, and what a visit visa does not allow.
Sources: General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai, tourist visa and visa on arrival service pages; UAE government portal u.ae, types of visas. Checked September 2026. Fees exclude any airline or agent service charge.
Which visit visa you need
Most Indian visitors need a tourist visa applied for before travel. The main options differ in how long you can stay and who they suit.
| Visa | Stay | Government fee | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-day tourist | 30 days, single entry | AED 210 | Holidays and short family visits |
| 60-day tourist | 60 days | AED 315 | Longer family stays |
| Visa on arrival | 14 days, extendable once | AED 253 | Only Indians who hold qualifying foreign visas or residence |
| Job seeker visa | 60, 90 or 120 days | Confirm with ICP or GDRFA | Graduates and skilled professionals looking for work in person |
The visa on arrival is the one people most often misunderstand. An ordinary Indian passport on its own does not qualify. It is open to Indians who hold certain documents, such as a US green card or a residence permit from the United Kingdom or a European Union country, and since February 2025 residence permits from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. If you do not hold one of these, apply before you fly. GDRFA Dubai publishes the current list.
For frequent visitors there is also a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, which asks for stronger proof of funds. The job seeker visa is a separate category for people who want to look for work, and we cover it in its own guide.
How to apply, step by step
No Indian government office issues a UAE visit visa. Every visa is applied for through a UAE sponsor, which sounds formal but usually just means the airline or hotel you are using.
- Choose who applies. UAE airlines such as Emirates, flydubai, Air Arabia and Etihad apply for visas for their passengers. So do UAE hotels, licensed travel agents, and a relative living in the UAE who can sponsor you. Individuals can also use the ICP or GDRFA smart services directly.
- Gather the documents listed below, and check that your name is spelled identically on every one.
- Apply and pay. Processing usually takes three to five working days, and express options can be quicker. Apply at least two weeks before you travel.
- Receive the e-visa by email, check every detail against your passport, and print it.
- Check your airline's rules. Some airlines require an OK to Board clearance for Indians travelling on visit visas. flydubai does. Confirm with your own carrier.
The documents
- Passport valid for at least six months from your date of travel.
- A recent photograph on a white background.
- A confirmed return ticket within the visa's validity.
- Where you will stay: a hotel booking, or an invitation from your host with a copy of their Emirates ID.
- Proof of funds may be asked for, particularly for longer and multiple-entry visas.
- Travel insurance is sensible for any trip and required for some visa types.
What it really costs
The government fee is AED 210 for 30 days and AED 315 for 60 days. Airlines and agents add their own charge, and all told a 30-day visa typically costs somewhere around ₹7,500 to ₹9,500, and a 60-day visa around ₹14,700 to ₹18,000. The difference between those figures and the government fee is the sponsor's service, which is legitimate. What is not legitimate is paying an unknown agent many times the usual amount for a visa that turns out not to exist, which is one of the patterns in our article on Dubai job and visa fraud.
Where visitors run into trouble
Most visits go smoothly. The ones that do not tend to fail at the same few points, each of which has its own guide.
- At the airport. A one-way ticket, no hotel booking, or a trip that looks like a work trip can get a traveller offloaded in India or refused entry in Dubai. Our guide to being offloaded covers the questions and how to prepare.
- At the end of the visa. Staying past the expiry date costs AED 50 a day from the first day. Our guide to overstay fines explains the way out.
- On a job hunt. People who go to look for work often underestimate the cost and the time. Our breakdown of what a job hunt costs puts numbers on it, and our guide to finding a job there lawfully covers the search.
Where Disha fits, honestly
We do not arrange visit visas, and we are not the people to ask about a family holiday. Any UAE airline, hotel or licensed travel agent will do that well.
Where we come in is work. If the reason you are thinking about Dubai is a job, the right visa is not a visit visa at all. On the route we recruit through, the employer arranges a work permit before you travel, and you land already employed. The UAE roles we recruit for are listed with the employer's terms, and applying takes a few minutes.
Going to Dubai for work, not a holiday?
Tell us your trade and experience. We will tell you which UAE openings fit and how the lawful route works.
Frequently asked questions
How can an Indian get a Dubai visit visa?
Through a UAE sponsor: a UAE airline such as Emirates or flydubai, a UAE hotel, a licensed travel agent, or a relative living in the UAE. Individuals can also apply through the ICP or GDRFA smart services. No Indian government office issues it.
How much does a Dubai visit visa cost for Indians?
The government fee is AED 210 for a 30-day tourist visa and AED 315 for 60 days, VAT included. Airlines and agents add a service charge, so a 30-day visa typically costs around ₹7,500 to ₹9,500 in total.
Can Indians get a visa on arrival in Dubai?
Only Indians who hold certain other documents, such as a US green card or residence in the UK or an EU country, and since February 2025 residence permits from a few other countries. It is for 14 days, extendable once. Everyone else must apply before travelling.
How long does a Dubai visit visa take to process?
Usually three to five working days, with faster express options through some sponsors. Apply at least two weeks before your flight, and check the e-visa's details against your passport as soon as it arrives.
Can I work or look for a job on a Dubai visit visa?
You cannot work on a visit visa; the UAE treats that as an offence with fines and legal liability. For looking for work in person, the UAE has a separate job seeker visa, and our guide to it explains who qualifies.
This article reflects visa rules and fees as they stood on 25 September 2026 and is general information, not legal advice. UAE visa rules, fees and eligibility change. Confirm them with GDRFA Dubai, ICP or your airline before you apply.