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Updated February 2023
The extraordinary modern architecture, fascinating sprawls of deserts, and endless list of tourist attractions in the UAE are enough to make any visitor want to stay in the country for just a little longer. It’s not surprising that several travellers to the UAE end up considering an extension of their tourist visas.
Are you too thinking of extending your UAE visit visa? Here’s everything you need to know about the latest visa extension rules.
UAE visit visa extension latest rules
The UAE has recently been updating its tourist visa extension rules, taking them to the pre-COVID norms. Here are the latest changes introduced by the Emirati government in the visit visa system.
Health insurance mandatory
The United Arab Emirates Federal Authority for Identity, Nationality, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) has recently introduced a one-time 30-day visa extension facility for travellers visiting Dubai and the rest of the country on 90-day visit visas. They will be able to extend the visit visas of family members and friends on a single trip or multiple trips for a period of 30, 60 and 90 days, as well as the pre-entry validity of visas.
Extension allowed only after exit from the country
According to travel agents based in the United Arab Emirates, it is no longer possible to extend visit visas from within the country. Travellers will have to fly out from the UAE and then apply for a visa extension from abroad.
As of now, no official confirmation about the new visa extension rule has been provided by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), but visa extension applications made from within the country have reportedly started being rejected.
Compulsory extension or cancellation of unused visit visa
All international travellers to the UAE are now required to either extend or cancel their unused visit visa
If for some reason, travellers are not able to enter the UAE within the validity period of their visit visa, they can apply for an extension of the validity period by 60 days. This should be done through the immigration portal itself.
Unless the previous unused tourist visa is neither extended nor cancelled, the applicant will not be able to obtain a new visit visa to the UAE.
UAE visit visa extension cost
Extension of visit visa at the end of stay period
If you have exhausted the stay duration in the UAE permitted by your tourist visa, you will need to leave the country and then apply for an extension of 30 days. In such cases, the fee for the visa extension will be AED 600.
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Extension of unused visit visa
If you haven’t travelled to the UAE within the validity period of your visit visa, you’ll be able to get it extended for 60 days for a fee of AED 200.
However, there are additional charges that should be noted; AED 100 for the smart services, AED 50 for the application form and AED 50 for the Authority and the electronic services offered to customers.
This means that the grand total will come in at AED 400, which is still less than AED 600 fee that visitors who are already in Dubai have to pay when renewing their visa.
How to extend UAE visit visa online?
The visa extension service is completely online. It needs to be completed via the ICP website or its UAE PASS app (available on Google Play and App Store) from outside the UAE.
You’ll require a passport with a validity of more than 6 months. If the extension request satisfies all the conditions, the extended entry permit is issued electronically within 48 hours.
Check out budget-friendly ways to extend your Dubai & UAE visit visa after the exhaustion of permissible stay duration.
