FLASH NEWSUAE Transit Visa: 48 or 96 Hours, Fees and How to Apply

If your passport is not eligible for visa-free entry or visa on arrival, you need a transit visa to leave the airport on a UAE layover. There are two options, 48 hours or 96 hours. Both are single-entry, must be used within 30 days of issue, and cannot be extended or renewed.

Fees

A separate AED 30 departure fee is also reported. Airline prices change, so check with your carrier when you book.

Who Needs One

You likely need a transit visa if your nationality does not qualify for visa-free entry or visa on arrival, you are not a citizen of an exempt GCC country, and your onward flight leaves within 48 or 96 hours. If you arrive without one, you stay in the airport transit area for the layover.

How to Apply

1. Check your nationality’s status before booking any stopover plans.
2. Apply through a UAE-based airline, such as Etihad or Emirates. A travel agent can help, but the application still goes through the airline, which sends it to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).
3. Prepare a passport valid for at least six months, a coloured passport copy, white-background photos and a confirmed onward ticket.
4. If your layover is longer than 24 hours, add a confirmed hotel booking or proof of where you will stay with friends or family.
5. Allow about three to four working days for processing, and get approval before you travel.

Some reports say travellers routing through Dubai can also apply through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai (GDRFA). The airline route is the standard one, so confirm with your airline first.

When the Clock Starts

The 48 or 96 hours start when the visa is stamped at airport immigration, not when the visa is issued. Because it cannot be extended, leave enough margin if your onward flight might be delayed. For other ways to enter, see our UAE tourist visa guide.