The UAE offers four main visit options: a 30-day visa, a 60-day visa, a 5-year multiple-entry visa and a short transit visa. Which one fits depends on how long you stay and how often you visit, and fees differ by duration and channel, so confirm your exact fee on ICP Smart Services or GDRFA Dubai when you apply. This page is the route finder. For the full breakdown, the real duration options and the overstay rules most guides skip, see our UAE Tourist Visa 2026 guide.
The visa options side by side
| Visa | Stay | Extension | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-day tourist visa | 30 days per entry | Twice, 30 days each, inside the 120-day cap | 48 to 72 hours |
| 60-day tourist visa | 60 days per entry | Once, for 30 days | 48 to 72 hours |
| 5-year multiple-entry visa | 90 days per visit | An extension is available, so confirm the limit on ICP | 3 to 5 working days |
| Transit visa | 48 or 96 hours | Not extendable | Tied to your onward travel booking |
On a 30-day or 60-day visa, total continuous stay is capped at 120 days including extensions. After that you must leave and apply again. Extensions are done inside the UAE through the issuing authority, before the visa expires.
Which route fits which traveller
| Traveller | Usual option |
|---|---|
| Short holiday of up to a month | 30-day visa |
| Longer trip or visiting family for about two months | 60-day visa |
| Frequent visitor, self-sponsored | 5-year multiple-entry visa, applied for through ICP only |
| Connecting through the UAE | 48 or 96-hour transit visa |
Who can apply and where
- ICP Smart Services: most emirates. It is also the only route for the 5-year visa.
- GDRFA Dubai: visas issued in Dubai.
- Airlines: Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia can apply when you book a flight.
- Authorised hotels and travel agencies. Avoid third-party sites that charge a markup for a “guaranteed” visa.
Documents to prepare
- A passport valid for at least 6 months
- A recent passport photo on a white background
- Proof of onward or return travel
- Accommodation proof, such as a hotel booking or an invitation letter
- Proof of financial means for the stay
Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm yours on ICP or GDRFA Dubai. Tourist visas do not allow paid work. Some nationalities can enter on arrival, while others must apply in advance through an online channel or an authorised sponsor.
One rule that catches people out: there is no grace period
Unlike a residence visa, a tourist visa gets no grace period. The AED 50 daily overstay fine starts the day after your visa or last approved extension expires, and an overstay beyond 30 days needs an exit permit before you leave. See our overstay fine guide for how it is calculated and where to check and pay.
Frequently asked questions
Can I extend a UAE tourist visa?
Yes, inside the UAE and before it expires. A 30-day visa can be extended twice by 30 days, a 60-day visa once by 30 days, up to the 120-day cap.
Is a transit visa extendable?
No. The 48 or 96 hours cannot be extended.
Can I work on a tourist visa?
No. Tourist visas do not permit paid employment.
Where to go next
- UAE Tourist Visa 2026: the full guide
- UAE visit visa extension
- Dubai 5-year tourist visa
- UAE transit visa 2026
- Dubai visa on arrival rules
