UAE, situated in the eastern end of the Arabian peninsula, is an elective monarchy comprised of 7 emirates. It had been a part of the United Kingdom and the Trucial States before its independence. In 1971 it gained its independence and ever since regulating the country by its laws. UAE is a multiculturalist country. An interesting fact about UAE, in 2013, out of 9.2 million population, only 1.4 million were Emirati citizens. The rest of the population was comprised of expatriates. Nowadays, there are many different ethnic groups such as Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, etc. This multiculturalist environment makes the country unique and attractive for visitors. As you guess, UAE is rich in oil and natural gas reserves, so it has immense wealth. And the majority of its income was expended on infrastructure to boost the quality of life and tourism. Many innovations were applied in UAE. Every year new skyscrapers were added to its big cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, etc. This modern and dynamic country fascinates visitors with its rich culture and luxurious resorts. Speaking of luxury, we have to mention Burj Khalifa as it is embodied version of luxury. View from the world's tallest standing structure is absolutely incredible. It is so overwhelming you could spend hours just standing there. You will Marvel at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi once you see it. It is one of the largest mosques in the world and is a true gem for all visitors to Abu Dhabi. Reasons to visit UAE are many. What if someone does not get enough time to discover the UAE fully? Can we get an extended visa in UAE? How to extend visit visa in UAE? How to extend visit visa in Dubai? How to extend tourist visa? In this article, we will try to cover all the aspects of extending a visa in the UAE and answer related questions. But first, let's learn our ABC on UAE visa policy.
UAE visa policy
UAE visa policy is shaped based on its relations with other countries. Countries can be divided into different groups based on their visa statuses. The categories are visa-free, e-visa, visa on arrival and visa-required countries. Only nationals of Georgia, Moldova, and Sierra Leone need to apply for a visa.
Nationals of some countries are granted visa-free entrances. These countries are:
Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kuwait, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay.
As for visa types, they can be gathered in different groups. These groups are:
E-visa, which is a visa granted online. The second group is short-term visas which can be seen from the name they are for short stays. UAE residence visas is a long-term visa. Types of residence visas are employment visas, study visas, family visas, and investor visas. These visas are only issued by a local UAE sponsor. Feeling confused? Do not be; it is not that complicated. A local sponsor can be a legal entity that is registered in the UAE or a UAE citizen/resident. If you are working for a company in UAE and intend to get a residence visa, then that company (registered in UAE) can get your residence visa on your behalf. If you have been admitted by an educational institution in UAE, your visa will be sponsored by that educational institution. If one of your close family members is a citizen or a resident of UAE, then that family member will sponsor your visa and process it on your behalf. Bear in mind that all these will be processed in the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
Visa extension
Normally tourist visas are issued for 30 days or 90 days depending on entry types (multiple or single). In some cases, some visa types can be extended, which include tourist visas as well. "How many times we can extend visit visa in UAE?" - you might ask. Visitor visas can be extended twice for 30 days, and this can be done using different methods. The same applies to tourist visas as well. This process can only be done twice. One and most convenient way is to do it without leaving the country. Before looking at that, let's learn about all options. Extensions are also acceptable for on-arrival 30-day nations. It can be extended by immigration officers for 30 days. However, you will have to pay the fee of 270 USD (900-1000 AED). Another option is available for on-arrival nations, but this includes getting a visa or entering another country. First, you have to first apply for an Oman visa. Once your visa application is done, go to the border and enter Oman. At the border, you will get an exit stamp which is essential. Then re-enter UAE and enjoy an extended visa in UAE. One of the main pros of this method is that it will only take 3-4 hours as Oman is right next to UAE. But be aware, avoid the holidays since during holidays too many people travel between Oman and UAE. You can also get an airport to airport visa change ticket if you want. You will renew your visa by flight which will cost around 500-1000 AED. After you leave the country, simply take a flight back to the UAE. There is a service called "Visa run". You can apply it in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, etc. In this case, you will have to leave and then re-enter the country.
What is UAE extend tourist visa and how to extend tourist visa?
These are the questions asked most regarding the topic. As we mentioned earlier, tourist visas can be extended twice. To apply for UAE extend tourist visa, you have to apply one of the following channels:
- the eChannels portal
- the website of GDRFA - Dubai
But in the first place, how to apply for a tourist visa?
To apply for a tourist visa, you have to meet certain requirements and present the requested documents:
- The passport should remain valid for 6 months after you leave UAE. It should bear the signature of the applicant. The passport should not be older or issued more than 10 years. It should have one or two available pages to be processed.
- Two photos that are taken not more than 6 months ago. The size of the photo should be 3x4. A frontal view of the face should cover 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo. A uniform and white background is needed, and the person must show no facial expression.
- Air ticket or pass to UAE. It should be a round trip
- Insurance for the travel. It should cover possible medical expenses during your travel UAE
Extending visa without exiting the country
How to extend tourist visa in UAE? How to extend visit visa in Dubai? Visitor visas can also be extended. One way to do that is UAE inside country visa. You can renew your visa two times in this case. If you leave the application to extend your visa last day, then you will have to pay visit visa extend fee UAE worth 100 AED. Hence you better hurry up and not leave the application to the last day. People from some countries can only extend their visitor visas once. These countries are given below:
Austria, Australia, Andorra, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Greece, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Republic of Korea, Singapore, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Spain, USA, UK, Sweeden, Vatican.
A quick recap
Those who want to take advantage of an extended visa have to pay a visit visa extend fee UAE which is worth 500 AED. In the past, the application process was much harder. But thanks to new advances in technology, it is a lot easier now. You can change your visa by applying airport to airport change visa change. It is advised to comply with applications to avoid any violations. There are several ways to extend your visitor visas.
For example, attending the DRND office to renew or extend your visa without leaving the country. Visit the Department of Naturalization and Residency and present the required fee amount, which is 500 AED. If you are asking how many times we can extend visit visa in UAE? You can benefit from this service twice.
