DUBAI: The UAE’s General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has clarified the eligibility criteria for its visa-on-arrival service, allowing citizens of selected countries to obtain 14-day or 60-day visas upon arrival in the United Arab Emirates.
According to the GDRFA, eligible citizens of India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa, along with their accompanying eligible family members, may benefit from the facility provided they hold an ordinary passport and a valid residence permit issued by an approved country.
Applicants must possess a passport valid for at least six months, a recent colour photograph with a white background, and a valid residence permit issued by the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea or Singapore.
The authority said the 14-day visa-on-arrival can be extended once for an additional 14 days, while the 60-day visa is non-extendable.
Applications can be submitted through the GDRFA’s official website or smart application. Once approved, the visa is sent to the applicant’s registered email address, with applications typically processed within 48 hours.
The fee for the 14-day visa-on-arrival has been set at AED172.50, while the 60-day visa costs AED422.50.
The GDRFA said the initiative aims to simplify travel procedures, promote tourism and attract more international visitors.
According to the authority, 73,551 visas were issued under the programme during the first half of 2026, reflecting the growing popularity of the service.
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