Key takeaways
- Most Indians need a UAE visit visa before travelling; visa on arrival is only for Indians holding certain residence permits.
- A tourist visa is 30 or 60 days, single or multiple entry, and must be sponsored by an airline, a licensed travel agency or a hotel.
- Your passport needs at least six months’ validity. You also need a photo, a return ticket and health insurance valid in the UAE.
- Dubai’s immigration department (GDRFA) lists processing as about 48 hours. Apply at least a week before you fly.
A UAE visit visa for an Indian passport holder in Kerala is usually a 30- or 60-day tourist visa, applied for before travel through an airline, a licensed travel agency or a hotel. You need a passport valid for at least six months, a photo, a return ticket and UAE-valid health insurance. Processing is listed at about 48 hours.
This guide explains the visa types, the documents, the current government fees and the steps, based on the official UAE government and Dubai immigration websites (checked 22 September 2026). Rules change, so we always confirm the latest requirements when we apply for you.
Which UAE visit visa do you need?
| Visa | Stay | Who applies | Government fee (GDRFA Dubai) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa, single entry | 30 or 60 days | Airline, licensed travel agency or hotel | AED 200 (30 days) / AED 300 (60 days) + 5% VAT |
| Tourist visa, multiple entry | 30 or 60 days | Airline, licensed travel agency or hotel | AED 300 (30 days) / AED 500 (60 days) + 5% VAT |
| Family or friend visit visa | 30, 60 or 90 days | A UAE resident who sponsors you | AED 200 / 300 / 400 + AED 1,000 refundable deposit |
| 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa | Up to 90 days per visit (extendable once by 90 days) | You, with proof of funds | See u.ae |
| Visa on arrival (eligible Indians only) | 14 days (extendable once) or 60 days | Issued at the airport | AED 100 (14 days) / AED 250 (60 days) |
Fees are government fees as listed on the GDRFA Dubai and ICP websites in September 2026. Service charges from the airline, hotel or agency are extra.
Documents you need for a UAE tourist visa
- Passport copy — the passport must be valid for at least six months from your travel date
- A recent colour passport-size photograph
- Confirmed return or onward ticket
- Health insurance valid in the UAE for your stay
Since late 2024, travellers have reported being asked for a hotel booking or proof of funds at the airport. The official visa pages do not list these, but we recommend carrying your hotel booking or your host’s address, and a recent bank statement.
Can a relative in the UAE sponsor your visit visa?
Yes. A UAE resident can sponsor a family visit visa for relatives or friends for 30, 60 or 90 days. The sponsor pays a refundable AED 1,000 deposit and shows proof of the relationship and a salary certificate. The UAE sets a minimum monthly salary for sponsors: AED 4,000 for first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second- or third-degree relatives, and AED 15,000 for friends.
Who can get a UAE visa on arrival?
Only some Indians. The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) allows a visa on arrival for Indian nationals who hold a residence permit from the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada. You can choose 14 days (AED 100, extendable once) or 60 days (AED 250). Your passport and the residence permit must each be valid for at least six months.
An older UAE embassy notice also mentions ordinary US visa holders, while the newer ICP announcement mentions residence permits. If you hold only a US visitor visa, ask us to confirm before you fly.
Step by step: applying with Albah Holidays in Kozhikode
- Send us your passport copy, photo and travel dates on WhatsApp, or visit our office at EPM Tower, Eranhipalam.
- We check your passport validity and documents, and tell you which visa suits your trip.
- We apply through a licensed channel and share the visa copy as soon as it is issued — typically within two working days.
- We book your flight from Calicut (CCJ), Kannur or Kochi, and travel insurance if you need it.
- You travel with a printed visa copy, return ticket, insurance and hotel or host details.
Mistakes that delay a UAE visa
- A passport with less than six months’ validity left
- The name on the ticket not matching the passport exactly
- A photo that does not meet the photo specifications
- Booking non-refundable flights before the visa is issued
- Staying beyond the visa’s end date — overstaying brings fines and can affect future visas
Frequently asked questions
Can Indians get a UAE visa on arrival?
Only Indians who hold a residence permit from the US, EU, UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada. Everyone else needs a visa before travelling.
How long does a UAE tourist visa take?
Dubai’s immigration department lists about 48 hours for a tourist visa. We suggest applying at least a week before your flight to leave time for any document corrections.
Can my brother working in Dubai sponsor my visit visa?
Yes, if he meets the salary rule for his relationship to you (AED 4,000 a month for first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second or third degree) and pays the refundable AED 1,000 deposit.
Do I need a hotel booking for a UAE visit visa?
It is required when a hotel sponsors your visa. For other visas it is not on the official list, but carrying a hotel booking or your host’s address is sensible because immigration may ask.
Visa rules and fees change. This guide reflects official UAE sources checked on 22 September 2026. Albah Holidays confirms the current requirements for every application.
Sources
- u.ae — Tourist visa (UAE government portal, updated 10 Aug 2026)
- GDRFA Dubai — Tourist visa, single entry
- GDRFA Dubai — Tourist visa, multiple entry
- GDRFA Dubai — Visit visa for relatives and friends
- ICP — Visit visa categories and sponsor conditions (29 Sep 2025)
- ICP — Visa on arrival eligibility expanded (25 Jun 2026)
