This article is reviewed regularly by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.
Updated July 2024
The UAE provides multiple options when it comes to obtaining a visa. If you are not from a visa-exempt country, you can apply for a visa online. The UAE also issues an e-Visa, an official document that is electronically linked to your passport and permits travel to and from the United Arab Emirates.
Read on as Wego provides you with a guide on how to check your visa validity and status, followed by the renewal process.
Please note: The UAE authority now permits holders of a visit visa to extend the validity of their visas from within the country. Those who wish to extend their visit visas can get in touch with their travel agent or sponsor.
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UAE visa renewal 2024
The process for renewing a visa in the UAE can vary depending on the type of visa you have and the reason for your extension. The process for renewing or extending a visa will typically involve submitting an application and required documents, paying any necessary fees, and waiting for a decision on your application.
In case applications are returned due to missing information or incomplete documents will be electronically rejected after a period of 30 days. If the application is rejected three times, it will be permanently rejected. Additionally, in case of rejection, the refund will only cover the issuance fees and any financial guarantees provided.
Moreover, the refunds are processed within six months of the application date through credit card payments or through a check or bank transfer (for UAE-based banks) within a maximum of five years.
UAE visit visa extension
The UAE authority has continued granting visit visa extensions from within the country. Visitors holding a visit visa no longer need to exit the UAE to extend the validity of their visas.
Each application allows visitors to extend their visit visas for an additional 30 days. Within a year, visit visa holders can stay for a maximum of 120 days, meaning they have the option to extend their visa multiple times as long as they stay within the permitted duration.
Both 30-day and 60-day visit visas are eligible for this extension program. Individuals seeking to extend their visit visas can reach out to their travel agent or sponsor for assistance.
UAE tourist visa extension
All forms of visit and tourist visas can be renewed for another 30 days once they have been applied for and approved by the competent authority. Before the initial renewal expires, visitors and tourists can apply for a second renewal. Please keep in mind that this regulation does not apply to 90-day visit visa holders since they are only allowed to request a 30-day visa extension once.
The cost of each renewal is as follows:
- AED 610 for an extension of 30 days (Request fee 100AED, Issuance fee 500 AED, E-Services Fee 10 AED)
- for a visa extension from Dubai, you have to pay a visa extension fee of AED 600 in addition to the value-added tax (5%).
However, the new rule for an extension does not apply to the following categories:
- visitors and tourists who are residents of GCC countries
- residents accompanying GCC nationals
- visitors on special entry permits
- visitors on 96-hour permits for special missions
Additionally, it is now possible to renew a family or friend’s visit visa for single and multiple entries for periods of 30, 60, and 90 days in the individual’s account.
You can initiate the visa renewal from the UAE ICP portal or the GDRFA portal if you are in Dubai.
We’ve gathered all you need to know about Dubai and the UAE tourist visas in our dedicated article.
UAE residence visa renewal
As announced by the ICP, the renewal of a resident visa with a validity period of more than six months is currently prohibited. The grace period after the residence visa expiry or cancellation in the UAE for expats has been extended from 30 days to 6 months. Therefore, expats now have 6 months to either amend their status and get another residence visa or leave the country. Fines do not apply during the grace period.
If you need to renew it sooner (one to six months) for travel purposes, you must first obtain special authorization and approval from the appropriate General Directorate of Residency and Foreigner’s Affairs in the emirate where your visa was granted. It is also important to note that you cannot travel out of UAE while your residency visa is being processed.
Furthermore, a medical fitness certificate is one of the major requirements for renewing a residence visa. To get a certificate, expats must undergo a medical test, which was previously done in allocated centers. But, as per the recent announcement, VFS Global and AMH have launched the “Medical Examination Doorstep Service,” facilitating the process. This service is only available for ‘Category A’ visa holders.
This service can be booked both online and offline. Expats can book it by visiting the VFS Global website. The requirements for this service are a valid passport copy, a valid residence permit/visa copy, 1 passport-size photograph with a white background (the photograph cannot be more than 3 months old) and a valid Emirates ID copy. The total charges for this service are AED 850.01. For more information, please visit the VFS Global website.
In order to initiate the process of renewing your residence visa, visit the UAE ICP portal’s Renew Residency page.
UAE overstay fee charge
The overstay fees for the visit, tourist and residence visas have been standardized at AED 50 per day. There will also be an additional cost of AED 300 to issue an exit permit that must be paid by the overstayers.
UAE visa renewal status check
Dubai
You will need to visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) website to check your visa status and validity period.
For visas issued in Dubai, you can contact Amer service at the toll-free number 800 5111 if you live in the UAE. If you live in a country outside the UAE, call Amer at the toll-free number +9714-230-0500
You can check your Dubai visa status through the GDRFA Dubai mobile app (Android or iOS) and upload your details on the app as required.
All other emirates
Once you apply for an entry permit or residence visa to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, you can check the status and validity period of your visa on the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship website.
You can also contact the ICP at their toll-free number 600522222 for any inquiry regarding visa issuance, types and validity period.
For a detailed overview of the visa validity status-checking process in the UAE. You can refer to our dedicated article on the subject.
UAE entry permit extension
It is now possible to obtain an entry permission extension online via the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customers, and Ports Security’s (ICP) website or the Smart App through their personal accounts, government establishment accounts, or typing center accounts. Those who meet all requirements and circumstances may be given an extension within 48 hours. Furthermore, the length of the extension is determined by the type of entry permit issued.
The process is simple and can be completed by following these straightforward steps.
Through personal account & government establishment account
- visit the official website of ICP for the Extend entry permit service, then click “Start Service”
- log in to your account or create a new one
- submit a request to extend an entry permit and attach the service requirements
- pay the fees and financial guarantees, if any, and send the application
You will then receive the notification of approval and print the electronic entry permit in case of an approval request
Through typing center account
- visit one of the approved printing offices
- submit a request to extend an entry permit and attach the service requirements
- pay the fees and financial guarantees, if any, and send the application
You will then receive the notification of approval and print the electronic entry permit in case of an approval request.
However, the sponsored person’s passport must be valid for at least 6 months, and the application for tourist entry permits should be handled by the relevant tourism firm.
A 30-day extension is allowed to be issued twice and costs AED 600. For GCC residents, the required application costs Dh260 and must be accompanied by a passport copy. If the permits fall into one of the following categories, the extension may be for more than a month:
- health care entry permits, which could be extended to 90 days for AED 510.
- the entry permit of those who accompany GCC citizens could be extended for 60 days for AED 260
- study permits, which could be extended for 90 days for AED 610.
The new regulations also specified the length of stay for visit entrance permits. The period shall be determined based on the objective of the visitor’s visit and at the discretion of the authority, and it must not exceed one year.
If there is a serious basis for the request and all costs are paid, the head of the authority might extend the visit entry permit.
Cancellation and extension of unused UAE visit visas
All international travelers to the UAE are now required to either cancel or extend their unused visit visas.
If, for some reason, travelers are not able to enter the UAE within the validity period of their visit visas, they can apply for an extension of the validity period of 60 days. This should be done through the immigration portal itself and will cost AED 200.
If travelers who have not used their visit visa do not wish to get it extended, they will have to cancel it through the immigration portal. The immigration system has stopped automatically deleting old visa requests and now does it only upon the applicant’s request. Therefore, unless the previous, unused visit visa is canceled, travelers will not be allowed to apply for a new UAE visit visa.
According to travel agents, canceling a UAE visit visa can cost between AED 160 and AED 300.
