Dubai A Dubai-based private tour operator has introduced a new service in India to issue hassle-free express visas for tourists coming to the UAE. It is being extended to Pakistan, Russia, China and other countries as well.
“Residents can call their family and friends on this visa which will be issued to them either here or in the home country as per their convenience. The application process is simple and hassle-free. It entails minimum documentation and we do not ask for any deposit except in some cases,” Kulwant Singh Lama, Managing Director of Lama Tours, told XPRESS.
Independent visas
The express visas are not necessarily linked to any hotel, tour or airline packages. But Lama said applicants can opt for these additional services. “They can get our airline group fare benefits or our discounted tour and hotel packages if they wish.”
He said: “All that a resident needs to do is call our office here (800LAMA) or visit our website www:lamadubai.com, to find out the most convenient location where the visitor’s visa application can be submitted. It could be here or in their home country. In India, we have offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.”
The documentation for visa applications includes the visitor’s passport and photograph, provided all legal requirements are met. In some cases, documentation like employment letters or bank statements may be required.
Lama said: “We provide the visas electronically within two-three days of the application. We can also provide the M-Visa whereby a barcode sent on a mobile phone can be shown on arrival at immigration here for scanning.”
Lama said the fee is Dh350 for a 14-day visa, Dh650 for a 30-day visa and Dh1,550 for a 60-day visa. If the visitor wants the original (pink) copy, it will cost an additional Dh150.
He said the service, launched as a pilot project during the Dubai Shopping Festival, received over 180 applications in one month. “In full steam now, we are targeting around 25,000 visas in a year.”
Last year, Lama Tours issued 150,000 visas to tourists through hotel and tour packages.
