3rd EAGE/SPE Geosteering Workshop

UAE Visa Information

Before you travel to the UAE, please check your visa requirements and make sure you have a valid visa if needed, and that you passport is valid for a minimum of six (6) months. It is also advised to ensure you have at least two (2) blank pages in your passport visa pages. Holders of non-standard passports and travel documents may also have different entry requirements: find out if you need to apply for a visa and other passport requirements.

As of 1 May 2017, Indian nationals holding a normal passport valid for a minimum of six months from the arrival date, and a visit visa or green card issued by the USA which is valid for a minimum of six months, can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 14 days for a charge of AED120 (subject to change). They can apply to extend their stay for an additional 14 days for AED250 (subject to change).

The kind of visa that you require for entry into the UAE depends on several different factors such as your nationality, the purpose of your planned visit and its planned duration. Please read the following notes carefully. Regulations do change from time to time and, whilst we do endeavour to keep up to date with these notes, please do not rely upon them for complete accuracy. You should also check with your airline and regional UAE embassy or consulate.

GCC National

If you are a national citizen of a GCC country you do not require a visa to visit the UAE. You will simply need to produce your GCC country passport or ID card upon arrival at the point of entry into the UAE.

Visa on arrival

If you are a passport holder of the below country or territory, your passport will be stamped with a multiple entry 90-days visit visa that's valid for 6 months from the date of issue, and for a stay of 90 days in total.

1. Sweden	2. Austria	3. Malta	4. Poland
5. The Netherlands	6. Portugal	7. Norway	8. Lithuania
9. Germany	10. Switzerland	11. Hungary	12. Latvia
13. Italy	14. France	15. Denmark	16. Slovakia
17. Spain	18. Greece	19. Estonia	20. Croatia
21. Luxembourg	22. Belgium	23. Finland	24. Iceland
25. Slovenia	26. Romania	27. Bulgaria	28. Cyprus
29. Czech	30. Liechtenstein

If you are a passport holder of the below country or territory, no advance visa arrangements are required to visit the UAE. Simply disembark your flight at Dubai International Airport and proceed to Immigration, where your passport will be stamped with a 30-days visit visa free of charge.

1. United States of America	2. Australia	3. New Zealand	4. United Kingdom
5. Monaco	6. Singapore	7. Malaysia	8. Brunei
9. San Marino	10. Canada	11. Japan	12. Korea
13. Vatican	14. Andorra	15. Hong Kong	16. China

Pre-arranged entry permits

Anyone who does not fall into any of the above categories will require an entry permit prior to arrival into the UAE and someone to sponsor it.

What kind of entry permit do you need?

The entry permit you need depends on the purpose of your visit. It could be for:

tourism
visit
transit
work.

Requirements for an entry permit

These are the requirements for an entry permit:

You need a sponsor to apply for your entry permit. The sponsor could be:

an Emirati citizen
an expatriate resident with valid residency permit in the UAE
a UAE-based airline
a UAE-based hotel or tour agent
a government entity
companies in the private sector or free zones.

2. Prospective visitors seeking entry permits are required to have a genuine passport, valid for at least six months.

3. A visa ban prohibits a person from entering the country or taking up a new job. Prospective visitors must not have been deported or be banned from entering the UAE in which case, he needs to obtain special permission to re-enter.

4. Visitors who come to the UAE with an entry permit to work in the UAE are required to undergo medical tests at government approved health centres in the UAE. They will be tested for communicable diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis (TB). Those found to be HIV positive or having TB will be deported.

Who can apply for your entry permit?

The UAE-based airlines

The UAE-based airlines can apply for an entry permit on your behalf to the visa-issuing authorities in the UAE. Each airline has some general or specific conditions, which must be met in order for your permit to be arranged by them. One of these conditions is flying with them.

For more updated and specific information, check with the following UAE-based airlines for types, terms and conditions for entry permit. Also, enquire about documents you need to provide them.

Visa services of Etihad Airways-Etihad Airways
Visa services offered by Emirates Airline-Emirates Airline
Visa services of Fly Dubai-Fly Dubai
Visa services of Air Arabia-Air Arabia

Agencies and hotels

Licensed travel agents and hotels in the UAE can arrange an entry permit if you purchase the air ticket through them and maintain hotel reservation with the specific hotel.

You may also contact travel agencies in your country for tourism packages to the UAE who can arrange an entry permit in collaboration with a tour operator in the UAE.

It is important to check the authenticity of travel agents you are dealing with and refrain from paying or sending copies of your official documents until after you are 100 per cent sure that the tourist operator is genuine. You may seek the help of the UAE embassy in your country for verification.

As per the website of GDRFA, hotels and tourist companies can apply for an entry permit on your behalf which will entitle you to a

30-day tourist visa extendable to 40 days
14-day service visa
30-day visit visa extendable to 30 days.

Private companies

Private companies on the mainland and free zones can obtain entry permits for their prospective employees. The entry permit allows the employee to enter the country within 2 months from the issuance date and to stay for a maximum period of 30 days from the date of entry. Employers must change the status of their employees into residence visa within 30 days from the employee’s entry into the UAE.

Companies must submit the following documents to the respective GDRFA:

initial work permit issued by Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
copy of the sponsored person’s passport
copy of the company’s valid trade licence
copy of the establishment card
copy of the card of the Public Relations Officer.

Read more on ‘Getting a work and residency permit’.

Validity of entry permits

The validity of entry permits and the time-frame within which the visitor should enter the country depends on the type of permit issued. The validity permit for visit visas, tourist visas and/or employment visas is 60 days from the issue date. However, the validity of entry permits for GCC residents is 30 days from the issue date.

96-hours transit visas are valid only for 14 days from the issuance day. Different validity duration applies for multiple entry visas and temporary work permits. Check with Ministry of Interior and/or the local General Directorates of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) about visa validity.

It is illegal to work on a visit or tourist visa

Visitors and tourists should be aware that it is illegal to work in the UAE with or without pay while being on a visit or tourist visa. According to the UAE's labour and residency laws, a person cannot work if he has not been issued a work permit and employment visa. Violators may be liable to fines and deportation.

Visa invitation letter

If you require an official visa invitation letter in order to apply for a UAE visa, please email Ms. Maliha (Event Manager EAGE) mai@eage.org.