Enjoying your stay in UAE? Do you plan to extend your stay? But your Visa expires soon! The picturesque of this country is stopping you from leaving the scenic beauty of UAE? Now relax and get your visit visa and UAE tourist visa extension in just a few easy steps. You can continue your stay and savor the luxuries of this country as long as you wish.
The UAE immigration has off lately made provisions for such tourists and enthusiasts to get their UAE visit visa extension and travel visa extension without any complicated documentation.
What is a Tourist Visa/Visit Visa?
Tourist visa/visit visa is for those tourists who are not eligible for visa on arrival and visa free entry in the UAE. Though tourists around the world can apply for a tourist visa to UAE, girls below the age of 18 years cannot apply for this visa. They are eligible in getting the tourist visa to the UAE when they are only travelling with parents.
For a smooth travel for kids and families in the UAE, a Cabinet resolution had been passed in July 2018 which stated that kids below 18 that are travelling in the company of adults will be eligible for the free visa from 15 July- 15 September each year.
Duration of Tourist/Visit Visa:
A tourist visa/visit visa to Dubai is issued between 30 days to 90 days, depending on the requirement of the tourists, or whether it is a single entry or a multiple entry.
Your Tourist Visa can be Applied By:
- Airlines: Any airline can apply for your tourist visa, provided tourists abide to their terms and conditions.
- Agencies and Hotels: Licensed travel agents and hotels in UAE are also eligible to apply for your visa. However, they have certain conditions like, the tourists have to make their travel plans through the concerned travel agency or make reservations in the hotel who apply for their visa.
Misconceptions:
The UAE Embassies do not issue visas. One can apply for UAE visas through UAE based airlines, agencies or hotels, who would then forward it to the official visa-issuing authorities. The authority to issue or reject the visa application rests on these officials.
Extending your Tourist/Visit Visa:
Any tourist or visit visa can be extended for a maximum period of 30 days twice, upon renewal, without having to leave the country. This means that a visitor can stay in UAE for 60 days Dubai Visa at a stretch without leaving the country. Moreover, one can extend their stay for another 30 days by applying for a second renewal. Tourists have to apply for the second renewal before the expiry of the first renewal at the cost of AED 600. Those failing to renew their tourist or visit visas can extend their stay with a fine of AED 100 per day that will be calculated from ten days after the visa expires.
However, the new rules for visa extension UAE visit visa are not applicable for:
- Those who are residents of GCC countries (countries from the Gulf Co-operation Council)
- Those accompanying GCC nationals
- Those on special entry permits
- Those on 96 hour permit for special mission
Where to Apply for Renewal of Tourist Visas:
Visit visa renewal UAE can be applied either online or offline. Entry permits or tourists visas can be applied through the website of Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) or General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affair (GDRFA), under the ministry. While GDRFA offers online and offline facility to apply for a tourist visa and renewal, ICA offers only online services to apply or renew the visa.
You can also contact your agencies for renewal of your tourist visa.
Renewing Visa through Online Channels:
ICA
Through this website, individual tourists can apply for either a new visa or renew their visa at least three days before their visa expires. You start the process by first registering yourself on the portal.
- Request information
- Attach documents
- Review Application
- Application fees
- GDRFA
- Through GDRFA, you can apply for renewals and fresh applications in each emirate. The GDRFA offers online visa renewals and applications for the following countries:
- Dubai
- Abu Dhabi
- Sharjah
- Ajman
- Ras Al Khaimah
- Fujairah
Offline Channels
The offline channels provided by GDFRA ask the visitors to apply through authorized typing centers where visa applications are typed and processed through the respective GDFRA emirate. After the approval the applicant gets a message followed by the original permit.
Individual Level:
If you do not wish to go to an agent or any online channel, you can directly visit the GDFRA office. You must visit the office 48 hours before your tourist visa or visit visa is about to expire. Submit your passport and payment at the visit visa renewal counter and your extension will be stamped immediately.
Through Travel Agents:
Contact your travel agent three days prior to the date of your visa expiry in order to process the renewal request. This service is available on all working days from Sundays to Thursdays.
Documents Needed:
- Copy of passport (First page and last page)
- Validity of the passport should be minimum six months
- Passport size photograph
- Copy of the original visit visa
- Renewal Fees
UAE Visa Extension- The Real Perks
Tourists can take advantage of a system that enables them to go to one of UAE’s neighbors as they wait for the new visas or change their visa status the same day. But regrettably, only a travel agent may submit an application for a same-day modification; airlines are unable to do so. Most likely, you are in Dubai on vacation, working as a foreigner, or visiting friends and relatives. However, things might change, forcing you to adjust your plans or prolong your vacation. The advantage of this particular visa service is applied in this situation.
2023 UAE Visa Extension Latest Rules
The UAE has halted the practice of allowing visitors to renew their visas from within the country.
- According to the new regulations, visitors may renew their 30-day and 60-day visit visas for extra 30-days from within the country.
- You may only stay in the nation for a total of 120 days in a calendar year, thus you cannot renew your visa beyond this time frame.
- You can extend your Dubai Visa on Arrival even if you stay inside the UAE.
- It is also feasible for tourists with 60-day tourist visas to extend their stays by an extra 60 days. Additionally, it is now possible to extend all types of tourist visas for an extra 30 days. The cost of a UAE visit visa extension is around AED 1100.
- The ICP has officially stated that people may now effortlessly renew or cancel their entrance permits using their individual online accounts, according to the UAE residency visa extension new regulations 2023. According to the following, different permits have varying validity periods: standard visas or green residence visa applications are only good for two months, whereas golden visa applications have a six-month validity period with numerous entries.
Conclusion
With visit visa extension Dubai or UAE being so easy, take every opportunity to cash this opportunity of visually savoring the picturesque landscape of UAE and have a hassle free stay with your loved ones. You can also opt for UAE visit visa extension without exit.