This week, we will talk about how long it takes to process your visa in Dubai. Some say five days, some say seven days, but what is fact is that it can take up to 30 days!
The length of time needed for processing depends on two main things: The country you are applying from and the type of visit you have.
If you are coming for a short stay (less than six months) then there is an automatic 90 day entry into the UAE permit which allows you to enter and leave the country. This also includes re-entry after you left. For most people this works fine and they do not need a visa.
But if you are planning longer stays or even studying here, then you may need a visa. And these visas can take much longer than the 90 days.
We will go through all the different types of visits here so you know what to expect!
Update – We have updated our article with more information as well as links to other articles/websites.
While some may think that applying for your UAE visa online is the best option, this is not always the case. Some countries can’t process certain documents (like proof of residency) or require you to go into an embassy location to complete the process, which takes more time.
In fact, depending on where you live and how fast your visa processing schedule goes, it could be easier to just visit one of their local offices and apply there!
Most major international airlines have frequent flights to Dubai, making it easy to travel here for a few days. Plus, many people find that visiting an office close to home allows for faster visa processing because they’re familiar with the system.
But what if you’re already traveling when your visa expires? Or what if you need to stay longer than three months but don’t want to risk having your passport seized while you’re away?
We have some great news: most visas allow extensions! Depending on what country you’re from and whether you’ve overstayed before, you might be able to extend your trip until early September.
Finding your nearest UAE visa processing centre can sometimes feel like trying to find the right restaurant close by or searching for your favorite movie at the theatre.
There are several different websites which offer this information, but not all of them use up too much valuable time and bandwidth when looking up info.
We have gathered some helpful tips here for you to consider!
1) Make sure you know where your destination is
2) Know what kind of visa you need and when
3) Find out how long it will take to get your visa
4) Pick a day that works best for you
5) Check if there are any special arrangements or discounts available at these centers
6) If possible, do one-day visas instead of multiple days
7) Don’t overdo it – only visit the given list of facilities once per week
8) For times outside of working hours, try using an online service such as VISA SIM (https://visasim.
It is very important to fill out all of the needed information properly as there could be more than one day spent processing your visa. For example, if you need to go into work, it would not make sense to only include half of that in your application!
It’s also worth noting that some of the documents required can be picked up at any UAE embassy or consulate, so even if you are running late, you don’t have to rush to get them before coming back later.
There is an initial quick check online, but many times this doesn’t fully verify everything, such as employment records which show proof of health coverage. This can sometimes take longer as these must first be verified manually and then checked for authenticity.
After arriving at the UAE visa headquarters, you will be given an appointment time to meet with a member of the visa team. During this meeting, they will go over all of your documents and ask you some questions about the trip.
The members of the visa team will also do a quick check to see if there are any red flags in your paperwork. They may make copies of some documents or even request that you bring in additional proof. This is totally normal!
After verifying everything, the staff will give you their final decision as to whether or not you have enough evidence to prove that you intend to return from your vacation. If so, then you’re good to go! You can now pack up and head back home!
If for whatever reason you were denied a visa, you will likely be informed of this immediately after leaving the office. Unfortunately, there is nothing more we (as tourists) can do but hope you have enough support back home to help carry you through this difficult period.
After you have gathered all of your documents, met with potential visa consultants, and determined that you want to apply for the visa, it is time to pay the fees!
Most embassies and consulates require an upfront payment or application fee. This is typically not more than $100-150 and can be paid via credit card or direct deposit. Some may even accept wire transfers but these are much more expensive!
Some points about embassy and consulate applications:
They usually take longer than one week – this is because they need to process your medical records and make sure you will return home after your stay
You do not get your passport until AFTER the visa has been issued so make sure you leave enough time to re-enter the country afterwards!
There is no set timing as to when you should expect to receive your passport; however, if you don’t within two weeks, you can start the application again without any problems!
What happens next?
Once everything is finished and you have received your passport, you must RETURN HOME! Depending on what type of visa you have applied for, there may be additional requirements, such as returning flight tickets etc. Make sure you know what is expected of you before you go through the departure formalities.
After submitting your application, the next step is to wait for it to be processed. This could take anywhere from one day to several weeks depending on how quickly UAE immigration processes applications.
It’s important to remember that there are no guarantees when it comes to getting a visa in the UAE. The timing of visa processing can vary greatly as well, so keep checking back with us!
We update this article frequently to ensure you have all the most up-to-date information.
If you have already visited the United Arab Emirates and are waiting for your visa, it is time to do something! You can now start looking into how long it will take for your visas to process at home.
Many times, in-country processing times are not updated online and there is no way of knowing when they update their site. Some days are longer than others so there is no real pattern that people use to estimate how long it takes to receive your visa.
That being said, we have some helpful information for you here!
We gathered all the important info about visa processing times from several sources and put it together to make it easy to find.
So what can you expect during the visa processing period?
You can usually expect to wait one day outside of the country to be approved for entry. This is due to time taken by the nationalities office outside of the country to review and approve your documents before granting entry.
After arriving at the airport, you will need to head back to where your car is parked or to wherever you are staying to pick up belongings. Then you must find a way to get back home!
If you have already visited the UAE before and left with an entry visa, then returning should be much easier as long as it’s within 30 days. All foreign embassies keep a close eye on visits in their country so there isn’t too much of a chance that someone would mistake you for a national worker.
However, if this is your first time visiting the UAE, waiting around until you have a visa can take quite some time. This is especially true if you don’t live in the area and have no one who does.
There is a solution though, and it’s by coming back into town every day for two weeks. By doing this, not only will they see that you have a valid reason for being in the country, but it also gives yourself more time to look for work while you are here.
