Visitors advised to check visa rules

Visitors to the UAE must carefully study the rules that apply to the different visa categories before coming to the country, a senior immigration official at Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) said.

Tourists coming to the UAE are also advised to check with their travel agent or nearest UAE embassy before travelling for any changes in the visa rules, he added.

"All visitors who wish to stay longer than 14 days in the UAE must obtain a visit visa in advance through a sponsor," said the official.

"The sponsor can be a travel agency, a hotel, a company or department, or an individual resident in the UAE who can obtain a visa for a relative or friend," he said.

Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are exempted and they do not require a visa. There are also some nationalities that are automatically entitled to visit visas upon entry. They will be granted a visit visa free of charge upon arrival. They can also obtain the e-gate card from Dubai International Airport.

"This includes citizens from the UK, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong," he said.

The official explained that their passports will be stamped with the visit visa as they pass through the immigration counter at any airport in the UAE.

He said their visa may be stamped for 30 days but it entitles them to stay in the country for 60 days and may be renewed once for an additional period of 30 days for a fee of Dh500.

"This visit visa can be picked up on arrival at the airport, but there is a fee of Dh100 plus a Dh10 delivery charge for this service.

"However, the sponsor will require to offer the immigration office at the airport the date of arrival, flight details, and a photocopy of the first few pages of the visitors passport, which should be valid for at least three months," he said.

"Overstaying in the country without permission will result in detention and a fine of Dh100 per day of overstaying."

The tourist visa fee is Dh100, with an additional Dh10 for delivery. This kind of visa is only available for individual tourists from East and West Europe who are not entitled to be issued with a visa on arrival, as well as visitors from Thailand, South Africa and China.

The tourist visa must be sponsored by hotels and tour agencies, and it is valid for a 30-day stay and it is non-renewable.

On the other hand, the entry service permit, which is valid for 14 days from the date of issue, is only given to businessmen sponsored by a company or commercial establishment, and for tourists sponsored by a hotel. It is non-renewable.

The fee is Dh120 plus Dh10 delivery charge for obtaining an entry service permit.

"Flying to or from Europe or the United States, to Asia or Africa and passing through UAE airports, one can obtain a special 96-hour transit visa sponsored by an airline operating in the UAE. The travel documents will be stamped with an entry seal," he said.

"However, businessmen who have ties with a reputable company in the UAE can obtain a six-month visa, valid from the date of issue. Each visit must not exceed 30 days in total," he said.

The official noted that all these rules are subject to change, according to the needs of the country and its relations with other countries.