Dubai & UAE Visa Fees 2026: How Much Does It Cost to Get a Visa to the Emirates?

Last updated: Apr 29, 2026

Use this guide to estimate the total cost of a Dubai or UAE visa in 2026. Fees vary by visa type, emirate, and whether you apply inside or outside the country. Add-ons such as VAT, deposits, insurance, and service fees may apply. Always verify against an official source before paying.

Travellers heading to Dubai (DXB), Abu Dhabi (AUH), or Sharjah (SHJ) can compare options on Wego before booking flights and hotels in Dubai.

Table of Contents

How Pricing Works

VAT: A 5% VAT applies to most base visa fees. The scope of VAT on ancillary charges can vary.
Inside-UAE applications (Dubai): Knowledge Dirham AED 10 + Innovation Dirham AED 10, plus an inside-country processing fee of AED 500 where stated.
Deposits and insurance: Some visas include a refundable security deposit and mandatory insurance. Check each section.
Prices shown in USD: Some airlines and OTAs display visa fees in USD. The final amount in AED can vary slightly with the day’s exchange rate, your bank’s FX fees, and any service charges.

Tourist Visa: Single Entry

Who it’s for: Tourists applying through licensed UAE tourism establishments.

Government fees:

30-day tourist visa: AED 200 (+5% VAT).
60-day tourist visa: AED 300 (+5% VAT).
If applying inside the UAE: add AED 500 (inside-country fee) + AED 10 Knowledge Dirham + AED 10 Innovation Dirham.
Security deposit: not required.
Extensions: AED 600 (+5% VAT) per extension. Tourist and visit visa extensions are generally capped at a total stay not exceeding 120 days.

Stay options: 30 or 60 days. Indicative processing time is around 48 hours.

Tourist Visa: Multiple Entry

Who it’s for: Tourists using licensed UAE tourism establishments who need multiple entries during the stay window.

Government fees:

30-day multi-entry tourist visa: AED 300 (+5% VAT).
60-day multi-entry tourist visa: AED 500 (+5% VAT).
If applying inside the UAE: add AED 500 + AED 10 Knowledge Dirham + AED 10 Innovation Dirham.
Security deposit: not required.
Extensions: AED 600 (+5% VAT) per extension, subject to authority rules.

Indicative processing time: around 48 hours.

Visit Visa: Relative or Friend

Who it’s for: Self-sponsored visitors (no UAE host required) visiting relatives or friends in the UAE.

Stay options and government fees:

30 days: AED 200 (+5% VAT).
60 days: AED 300 (+5% VAT).
90 days: AED 400 (+5% VAT).
Refundable financial security deposit: AED 1,000 (+ AED 20 deposit service + AED 40 collection/refund fee).
If applying inside the UAE: add AED 500 + AED 10 Knowledge Dirham + AED 10 Innovation Dirham.
Medical insurance: approximately AED 40, AED 60, or AED 90 for 30-, 60-, or 90-day options.

Sponsor salary thresholds (introduced September 2025): AED 4,000 monthly to sponsor parents or spouse, AED 8,000 for siblings and extended family, and AED 15,000 to sponsor friends. Indicative processing time: around 48 hours.

Visit Visa: Business

Who it’s for: Applicants exploring investment or business setup; no UAE sponsor needed.

Government fees by stay:

60 days: AED 200 (+5% VAT).
90 days: AED 300 (+5% VAT).
120 days: AED 400 (+5% VAT).
Refundable financial security deposit: AED 1,000 (+ AED 20 service + AED 40 collection/refund).
If applying inside the UAE: add AED 500 + AED 10 Knowledge Dirham + AED 10 Innovation Dirham.

Indicative processing time: around 48 hours.

Visit Visa: Job Seeker

Who it’s for: Skilled professionals and job seekers; no UAE sponsor needed (education and occupation criteria apply).

Government fees by stay:

60 days: AED 200 (+5% VAT).
90 days: AED 300 (+5% VAT).
120 days: AED 400 (+5% VAT).
Refundable financial security deposit: AED 1,000 (+ AED 20 service + AED 40 collection/refund).
If applying inside the UAE: add AED 500 + AED 10 Knowledge Dirham + AED 10 Innovation Dirham.

Indicative processing time: around 48 hours.

5-Year Multi-Entry Tourist Visa

Who it’s for: Frequent visitors who want multiple trips over five years without a local sponsor.

Key inclusions and limits: Up to 90 days per visit, extendable to 180 days within a year, subject to rules. The application requires proof of bank balance and supporting documents.

Government fees (per service card):

Application: AED 100.
Issuance: AED 500.
Refundable security deposit: AED 3,000 (plus AED 21 warranty service + AED 20 collection/return).
Knowledge Dirham: AED 10.
Innovation Dirham: AED 10.
Service fee: AED 52.50.

The service card “total” of AED 3,713.50 includes the refundable deposit, so the actual net out-of-pocket cost is lower once the deposit is returned.

Transit Visas: 48-Hour and 96-Hour

Who it’s for: Air travellers transiting the UAE en route to a third country.

Fees and rules:

48-hour transit visa: free (government fee). Single entry, not extendable or renewable. Airline service charges may apply.
96-hour transit visa: AED 50 (government fee). Single entry, not extendable or renewable. Airline service charges typically apply.

Applications are handled by your operating airline. Emirates and Etihad both provide transit visa services for eligible passengers.

GCC Residents: Entry Permit (e-Visa)

Who it’s for: Valid residents of GCC countries and their companions.

Government fees (ICP service card):

Application: AED 100.
Issuance: AED 100.
Smart e-services fee: AED 100.

Airline or typing-centre fees may apply, plus VAT where applicable.

Family Residence Visa

Who it’s for: UAE residents sponsoring a spouse, children, or eligible dependents.

Government fees (per GDRFA service cards):

Residence permit fee: AED 200 (issuance/renewal per year).
Knowledge Dirham: AED 10.
Innovation Dirham: AED 10.
If applying inside the UAE: add AED 500.
Delivery: AED 20.

The issuance fee increases by AED 100 each year once residency exceeds two years. Medical exam and Emirates ID issuance fees are charged separately by the relevant authorities and vary by duration and service speed.

Work Entry and Green Visa (Skilled Worker)

Standard employment: Issued via the employer through MOHRE plus GDRFA or ICP flows. Fees vary by company category and contract duration.

Green Visa (Skilled Worker) entry step:

Work entry visa fee: AED 200 (+5% VAT).
If applying inside the UAE: add AED 500 + AED 10 Knowledge Dirham + AED 10 Innovation Dirham.
Eligibility: monthly salary of at least AED 15,000, plus a bachelor’s degree or specialised diploma.
Validity: five years, self-sponsored and renewable.

Total all-in cost (entry permit, residence stamping, Emirates ID, medical exam, and health insurance) typically runs between AED 6,000 and AED 9,000, depending on service speed and insurance plan.

Golden Visa

Who it’s for: Investors, exceptional talents, skilled professionals, and other eligible applicants under the long-term residency programme.

Indicative government cost ranges (2026):

Bank deposit route: approximately AED 4,600 to AED 4,650 (requires AED 2 million deposit; the deposit is not a fee).
Skilled professional route: approximately AED 5,500 to AED 7,000.
Property investor route: approximately AED 9,685 to AED 10,250 (includes Dubai Land Department charges).

Typical add-ons: Emirates ID (around AED 1,070 to AED 1,200), medical fitness test (around AED 400 to AED 1,000), and processing or administrative charges (around AED 500 to AED 1,500).

The 5-year multi-entry tourist visa (covered earlier) is sometimes confused with the Golden Visa, but the two are separate products with different fees and rules.

Study or Training Visit Visa

Who it’s for: Short-term study, training, or rehabilitation programmes hosted by a licensed UAE educational or research institution.

Government fees by stay:

30 days: AED 200 (+5% VAT).
60 days: AED 300 (+5% VAT).
180 days: AED 400 (+5% VAT).
Refundable financial security deposit: AED 1,000 (+ AED 20 service + AED 40 collection/refund).
If applying inside the UAE: add AED 500 + AED 10 Knowledge Dirham + AED 10 Innovation Dirham.

Indicative processing time: around 48 hours.

Costs and Rules That Can Change Your Total

Extensions: Tourist or visit visa extension AED 600 (+5% VAT) each time, with the overall cap set by the issuing authority.
Overstay fines: Unified at AED 50 per day across all emirates as of 11 February 2026. The previous 10-day grace period has been removed; fines accrue from Day 1 of overstay for tourist, visit, and residence visas. Cancelled residence visas typically keep a grace window of 30 to 180 days (depending on visa type, with Golden and Green Visa holders generally allowed up to 180 days) for the holder to exit or adjust status.
Inside-UAE applications: Most service cards add AED 500 + AED 10 Knowledge Dirham + AED 10 Innovation Dirham when the applicant is already inside the country.
Insurance: Basic medical insurance is required for most visit and tourist visas. Indicative figures appear on some service cards (for example, AED 40, AED 60, or AED 90 for 30-, 60-, or 90-day relative or friend visit visas).
Emirates ID and medical tests (residence visas): Charged separately by ICP and health authorities. Amounts vary by duration and priority service.

Where to Apply

Channel	Best For	Where
Dubai (GDRFA)	Most Dubai visa types, residence services	GDRFA portal / smart app / AMER centres
Federal (ICP)	Entry permits, GCC resident e-Visas, federal services	ICP Smart Services
Transit (48h / 96h)	Through your operating airline	Emirates, Etihad, and other carriers

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I extend my tourist or visit visa?

Yes. Extensions typically cost AED 600 (+5% VAT) each time, subject to the issuing authority’s overall cap (generally a total stay not exceeding 120 days for tourist and visit categories).

What happens if I overstay my UAE visa?

From 11 February 2026, overstay fines are unified at AED 50 per day across all emirates and apply to tourist, visit, and residence visas. The 10-day grace period has been removed, so fines start accruing from Day 1 of overstay. Cancelled residence visas keep a 30-day grace window before fines begin.

Is the 48-hour transit visa really free?

Yes. The 48-hour transit visa carries no government fee. The 96-hour transit visa costs AED 50. Both are applied for through your operating airline, and airline service charges may apply on top.

Do multi-entry tourist visas need a deposit?

Standard 30-day and 60-day multi-entry tourist visas do not require a deposit. The 5-year multi-entry tourist visa requires a refundable security deposit of AED 3,000, which is returned after the visa is used or cancelled per the rules.

What is the minimum salary to sponsor a UAE visit visa?

As of September 2025, sponsors must earn at least AED 4,000 monthly to bring parents or a spouse, AED 8,000 for siblings and extended family, and AED 15,000 to sponsor friends.

How much does the UAE Golden Visa cost?

Government costs typically range from AED 4,600 to AED 10,250 in 2026, depending on the route. The bank deposit pathway is the cheapest at around AED 4,600 (with a separate AED 2 million deposit that is not a fee), skilled professionals pay roughly AED 5,500 to AED 7,000, and property investors face the highest fees due to Dubai Land Department charges. Emirates ID, medical tests, and processing add a few thousand dirhams more.

Sources

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.