If you are planning a visit to the United Arab Emirates, you cannot be unaware of the recently imposed visa restrictions. While a single-entry visa is generally valid for 60 days, the country has expanded this to 90 days. As a result, many people must plan and apply for multiple entry visas to stay longer in the country. However, if you are planning a visit of a longer duration in UAE, chances are high that you will face a visa restriction. And the good news is there is a way around it! In this blog post, we shall tell you how to extend visit visa in UAE and how it differs from standard visa extensions.
Can We Extend Visit Visa in UAE?
It is no longer possible to extend or renew a UAE visa inside the country as of December 22, 2022.
As a tourist in the country, travellers would have to apply for a visa extension before the visa validity period ends. However, tourists can extend their visas for up to 30 days twice without leaving the country.
UAE tourist visas have different validity, ranging from 30 to 90 days. In addition, a visa’s validity depends on the visa type and the passport used for the visa application.
Visa extension or visa change is possible for tourists already in the UAE. However, before applying for a passport or visa extension in the UAE, travellers must be aware of the rules and regulations.
UAE Visit Visa Extension New Rules 2023
As the new visa extension reforms in UAE have taken effect, visitors in the country will no longer be able to extend or renew a visit visa. Instead, they must opt for airport-to-airport packages or an Oman visa run.
As per the new rules, nationals of the country are granted a visa valid for 60 days upon arriving at a national airport. After the expiry of this period, the visa is extended for another 30 days at the cost of 1090 AED. However, individuals whose visas were cancelled by their sponsors or employers in UAE can now get a tourist visa without exiting the country.
They can apply for a new visa at any passport office in the country and pay a fee of 1090 AED and the applicable government tax.
Besides, nationals whose tourist visa has expired can also extend it by 30 days at the cost of 1090 AED. However, as per the UAE visa extension reforms, visitors must follow specific guidelines and regulations while extending their stay in the country.
How to Apply for Visit Visa in UAE?
Applicants can apply for a visit visa to enter the UAE. To apply for a visit visa, you must travel to the UAE on a visa endorsed by an authorized passport or travel document issued by a national government.
If you are applying online, you can use these online channels to apply for a visit VISA,
- The eChannels portal
- The website of GDRFA – Dubai
- Using ICP App on Google Play and App Store
- Dubai Now on Google Play and App Store
Offline services like ICP-accredited typing centres and GDRFA-accredited typing centres may be used to apply for a visa. A visa application is processed and completed through the GDRFA of the respective emirate. Upon approval, the sponsor will receive a notification that their original entry permit has been granted.
Visit visa holders are allowed to extend their stay beyond the validity of their visa if they leave the country. For extension, visit the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security website (ICP). You can make extension requests multiple times depending on the type of entry permit issued.
ICP must approve any extension request made online before it can be processed. After making a request, you will receive a confirmation email from ICP with additional details about the extension process. Once your request is approved, it will take a few days for ICP to issue a letter of approval and a new visa stamp on your passport.
How to Check Visit Visa Status?
Here are the steps to check your visit VISA status online,
- Step 1: Go to https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/fileValidity
- Step 2: Select the ‘Passport Information’ button
- Step 3: Select the ‘visa’ button
- Step 4: Enter passport number and passport expiry date
- Step 5: You may select a nationality from the dropdown on the right. On the left-hand side of the box, a corresponding number will appear.
- Step 6: Click on search after you’ve checked the captcha check box. Your visa information, as well as the date of expiration, will be displayed on this page.
How to Extend Visit Visa in UAE?
You can extend your visit VISA online by visiting the https://icp.gov.ae/en/service/extend-entry-permit/ webpage.
Other easy steps to extend your tourist VISA are,
1. Renewing UAE tourist visa – Twice
It’s a sponsored prepaid tourist visa that can be extended twice for 30 days if you’ve obtained one from an airline or tour operator, and we’ll update this new reform as soon as it’s clarified.
2. Dubai Visa Run to Oman
Using this self-drive technique to leave the UAE via Oman borders and reenter the UAE with an on-arrival or prepaid visa, nationals eligible for one may use this extension technique. By completing this visa run and spending 90 days in the country, 30 days on arrival, citizens are granted another free visa.
3. Airport-to-airport visa change
Prepaid visa holders who want to go to the closest Middle Eastern airport and return to the UAE may choose this option.
Note: Visitors and tourists may apply for a second AED 600 renewal before the first expires. 90-day visit visa holders can only apply for a 30-day extension once, so please keep this in mind when applying for one.
How to Extend Visit Visa in UAE Without Exit?
Extension of the visa validity is a common request from travellers, and it is possible to extend the visit visa in UAE without the need to exit the country. The immigration portal on its website allows travellers to apply for an extension of the validity period of their visit visa by up to 60 days for a fee of AED 200. To complete the application, travellers must upload a copy of their renewal passport and visa or residence card. To extend the visit visa, travellers must fly out from the UAE and apply for a visa extension at a local consulate outside the country.
While extending the visa validity in UAE without exiting, it is no longer possible to do so inside the country. This new rule has been introduced as part of a series of reforms aimed at streamlining the visa process in the country. To facilitate this, Seaman Tours has introduced a new visa extension package that allows tourist/visa holders to extend their visas without leaving home.
Conclusion
The situation is quite simple regarding visa extension in the UAE. If you are a tourist visiting the country for less than six months, visa extensions are allowed in most cases. However, if you want to extend your visit visa, it is best to take a visa application at the nearest passport office or travel agency. You can apply by email or fax if you are away from the passport office. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued new visa extension requirements as mentioned above. Therefore, it is always advisable to follow the developments in visa extension and travel visa laws of a country with utmost care and attention.
FAQ – How to Extend Visit Visa in UAE?
Can 3 months visit visa be extended in UAE?
Yes, a tourist visa in the UAE can be extended up to twice with a validity of 30 days. In addition, visa extensions or visa changes can be done without exiting the country.
30 Days Dubai Tourist Visa, 30 Days Sharjah Tourist Visa, and 30 Days Abu Dhabi Tourist Visa can be extended with the UAE Visa Extension Package. On arrival, nationals can extend their 30 days free on-arrival visa for another 30 days with a paid extension of 1090 AED.
How much does it cost to extend a visit visa in UAE?
The visa extension process in the UAE is quite straightforward and costs just AED 1060. To extend your tourist visa, you must visit the nearest visa office with a valid passport and visa and complete the visa extension request form. The form will ask for your passport number, national ID card number, and visa type (tourist or business).
After submitting the form, the visa extension fee of AED 1060 will be charged by the visa office. If the visa office cannot find the required documents in your passport, a fee of AED 200 will be imposed. In addition, in case the visa application has any mistakes, the applicant can be charged a penalty of AED 100 per day for each day the visa is invalid.
Renewing your tourist visa in the UAE will cost about 600 AED. The renewal fee will be automatically billed to your credit card once your visa is approved. In addition, if you fail to renew your visa within the prescribed timeframe, an overstay fine of AED 100 per day will be charged starting from the day after the visa expires.
How many days can I stay in UAE for visit visa expiry?
Depending on your visa type, your stay in UAE can last anywhere from 30 to 90 days. For example, a tourist visa valid for two months will allow you to stay in UAE for 60 days, while a multiple-entry visa can be extended twice for 30 days (for a total of 90 days in the country).
Additionally, UAE has also introduced a visa pre-extension at the cost of 200AED (US$54.45) that allows passengers to remain in the country for more than 30 days. This is excellent news if you’re planning on spending a more extended period in the country.
However, before you arrive in UAE, comply with the applications and transactions before the visa’s expiry date. If you don’t, you may face violations or be refused entry into the country.
What happens if UAE visit visa expires?
If your UAE tourist visa expires, you’ll no longer be able to extend or renew it inside the country. However, if you want to stay in the country for longer, you’ll need to switch to a new visa package.
Depending on your visa type, you’re limited to a visa validity of either 30 or 90 days. If you’ve already exceeded the visa validity limit, then the only option is to exit the country.
However, switching your visa inside the country is possible via new packages the UAE government currently offers. First, you’ll need to visit a government office and complete the paperwork to get the new visa. Afterwards, you’ll be able to stay in the UAE as long as your new visa is valid.
What are the valid reasons to extend a tourist visa?
There are valid reasons to extend a tourist visa. Some of these reasons are the following:
- Travel is planned, and there are still some unresolved issues that need to be dealt with
- You have a medical condition that requires further treatment in the country you are visiting
- You have a family member living in the country that you are visiting, and they cannot take care of you while you are in the country
- You have a job invitation in the country you are visiting, and you cannot leave the country to attend the job interview
- The visa extension process is simple, fast, and inexpensive
The visa extension process typically requires the payment of a fee of AED 1060. However, there is a grace period in which the fee can be waived. Additionally, visa extensions can be done twice for 30 days each time. However, there is a visa fine of AED 100 for extending the visa on the last day.
How many times can we extend a visit visa in UAE?
The maximum validity of a visa issued to a national of a country visiting the UAE is six months. This visa can be extended for a maximum of 2 times, for a total of 4 months, in the UAE. Nationals of eligible countries can also visit the UAE for 90 days without a visa, provided they hold a tourist visa valid for five years.
On arrival in the UAE, nationals can extend their 30-day visas free of charge for another 30 days. The visa extension procedure is straightforward and requires only a passport and a passport-sized photograph. The total validity of the tourist visa in the UAE can be extended for up to 6 months.
How many days visit visa can be extended?
Tourists visiting the United Arab Emirates can extend their visit visa for up to 30 days or 90 days twice. The cost of a 30-day extension is approximately 1090 AED. Multiple entry visas have a validity of 60 days and a duration of 30 days. Extending a tourist visa costs about 600 AED for each renewal. A fine of AED 100 per day is applicable for not renewing the passport or visa after the expiry date.
