UAE is indeed one of the top countries where you will find an array of destinations to enjoy with your family and friends. Every individual who has applied for a UAE visa must know how many days before the visa expires can one travel to the UAE as a tourist. The UAE government issues different types of visas for individuals arriving in the country. Due to this, the question of how many days before the visa expires can one travel to the UAE depends on the visa type issued to the person.
Understanding Visa Validity:
When discussing UAE visa validity, we must consider the type of UAE visa. The validity period varies between different types of government-issued visas.
Types of Visa Issued by UAE and Validity:
The UAE government issues different types of visas depending on the time and reason for travel in the country. Every visa issued by the UAE has a validity period, within which the traveler must enter the country.
- Transit Visa: A transit visa is issued to those traveling from Dubai to another country and taking another flight to reach their destination. Generally, transit visas are issued by the airlines you travel to. No extension is provided for a Transit visa in the UAE. To apply for a Transit Visa, you must have a 6-month passport and a confirmed ticket for your next destination, and your connecting flight from the UAE must be at least eight hours from when you landed in the UAE. The validity of a transit visa is 30 days in UAE from the date of issue.
- Tourist Visa in UAE: A Tourist visa in the UAE is issued for 14 days, 30 days, 60 days, and even 90 days. Anyone who is traveling to the UAE as a tourist can obtain a tourist visa. The applicant visiting the UAE must submit essential documents like a 6-monthly valid passport, return ticket, accommodation, availability, insurance, copy, medical fitness certificate, and bank statement as proof of financial stability. The minimum validity of any tourist visa is 60 days. However, the person must enter the country on or before the 58th day of the visa validity.
- Work Visa: A working professional can enter the UAE with a valid work visa. A work visa is generally granted for 2 years, but in some parts of the country, it is given for 3 years. You must get approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Emiratization to obtain a work visa. After entering the country and going through a few of the procedures, c, the person with a work visa can apply for a residency visa. One thing that must be noted by someone holding a work visa is once you have left the country, and if you do not return within the 6-month period, your work visa will automatically get canceled.
- Green Visa: Green visas are issued for highly skilled professionals like chartered accountants, lawyers, doctors, and other entrepreneurs willing to invest in the country. Green visa holders in the UAE can sponsor their family, which includes their spouse, children, and first-level blood relatives.
- Golden Visa: Golden visa holders are people with high net worth who are provided a golden visa in the UAE. A person holding a golden visa can enter and exit the country multiple times and can reside in the country for 10 years.
How to Extend Your UAE Tourist Visa:
If you are in the UAE on tour to witness an amazing destination in the country on a 30-60 90 days UAE visa and you still want to continue your trip in the UAE, you can extend your tourist visa by applying for an extension of your visa. You can apply for an extension of your tourist visa through the GDRFA official website, Amer service center, ICP App, or the Rayna Tours facility center. Any Dubai tourist visa can be extended twice for 30 days before the UAE visa expiry.
Grace Period for Visas:
The grace period is the number of days allotted to any individual having a UAE visa who applies for an extension of his visa. The grace period allowed for visa renewal depends on the type of visa the person is holding. Now, let’s dive into the number of grace days allowed for different types of visas.
- Tourist Visa of 30-60 or 90 Days: Any individual having a tourist visa in the UAE for 30-60 days can get a grace period of 10 days to apply for an extension of the visa. Anyone traveling in the UAE for 90 days on a UAE visa is not eligible for grace days. In any situation where the person stays a few days extra, he will have to pay the overstay fine.
- Work Visa: A work visa is typically granted to people who want to explore or pursue work-related opportunities in the country. People working in the UAE are granted a 30-day grace period for renewing their visas.
- Students Visa: Students who arrive in the UAE for higher education can apply for a student visa. Foreign immigrant students who are there for higher education are eligible for a grace period of 30 days from the date of visa expiry.
- Green Visa: Green visas are issued for highly skilled professionals like chartered accountants, lawyers, doctors, and other entrepreneurs willing to invest in the country. Green visa holders in the UAE can get a 90-day grace period. During the grace period, people with green visas can apply for a renewal of their visa, get a new job, or leave the country.
- Residency Visa: UAE residency visa holders can stay in the country for 3 to 10 years, depending upon the original visa they used to arrive. However, the number of grace days given to the person for renewing his visa is 30 days from the date of expiration of the visa.
- Golden Visa: Golden visa holders have a relatively higher capital income than others. They are granted Golden visas so that they can invest in the country. The grace period given for a golden visa holder is 90 days, when they can renew their visa.
New rules for Dubai Tourist Visa:
According to recent amendments made in February 2025, while applying for a tour Dubai tourist visa, you must ensure that you are fulfilling the following rules that have been updated recently. According to the recent amendment, you must provide accommodation availability in Dubai and bank statements as proof of financial stability. For people who are visiting Dubai for 30 days, you need to have a minimum bank balance of 3000 AED, and for people who are arriving in Dubai for 60 days as a tourist, they must have a bank balance of 5000 AED.
Checking Visa Status Online:
Anyone on a visa in the UAE can check his visa status online by going to the GDRFA official website or the ICP app. The online facility is available to every individual on a visa in the UAE.