UAE Visa Fees 2026: Tourist, Family and Student Costs
The UAE Government portal does not print a visa fee table. It says that visa charges are stated on each service card on the websites of two authorities: the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), and the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA Dubai). This guide lists the fees printed on the GDRFA Dubai service cards we read on 14 October 2026, card by card, with the deposits and add-ons that sit on top of the headline fee.
Quick answer
On GDRFA Dubai's service cards, a single-entry tourist visa costs AED 200 for 30 days or AED 300 for 60 days, plus 5% VAT. A multi-entry tourist visa costs AED 300 or AED 500. The 5-year multi-entry tourist visa totals AED 3,713, which includes a guarantee of AED 3000. A family or student residence permit has a fee of AED 200, plus listed extra charges. Overstaying is fined at AED 50 per day.
Tourist visa fees
| Visa | Fee | Security deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Single-entry tourist visa, 30 days | AED 200, plus 5% VAT | None on this type of visa |
| Single-entry tourist visa, 60 days | AED 300, plus 5% VAT | None on this type of visa |
| Multi-entry tourist visa, 30 days | AED 300, plus 5% VAT | None on this type of visa |
| Multi-entry tourist visa, 60 days | AED 500, plus 5% VAT | None on this type of visa |
| Multi-entry tourist visa, 5 years | Total AED 3,713 | Guarantee of AED 3000, included in the total |
- Who applies: for the 30-day and 60-day tourist visas, the sponsor or host is an establishment working in the field of tourism, and the card says only accredited tourism offices in the emirate can issue this kind of visa.
- Documents: one personal photo and a copy of the passport. The cards also ask for the identity card of the country of origin for some nationalities, naming Iraq, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.
- Conditions: a passport valid for at least six months, a ticket to leave the UAE, and medical insurance valid in the UAE.
- Timing: each card shows an expected completion time of 48 hours.
The 5-year tourist visa in detail
The 5-year visa needs no guarantor or host in the country. Its card lists the fee line by line:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | AED 100 |
| Issuance fee | AED 500 |
| Guarantee amount | AED 3000 |
| Warranty service fee | AED 21 |
| Fee for collection and return of the guarantee | AED 20 |
| Knowledge Dirham | AED 10 |
| Innovation Dirham | AED 10 |
| Service fee | AED 52.5 |
| Total | AED 3,713 |
Applicants must show a bank balance of $4,000 or the equivalent over the six months before applying, a six-month bank statement, health insurance and a round-trip ticket. The visa allows a continuous stay of no longer than 90 days, which may be extended for a similar period as long as the total in a year is at most 180 days.
Visit visa for a relative or friend
This single-entry visa is for visiting a relative or friend who is a citizen or resident of the UAE, for 30, 60 or 90 days.
| Item | 30 days | 60 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visit visa fee, plus 5% VAT | AED 200 | AED 300 | AED 400 |
| Medical insurance | AED 40 | AED 60 | AED 90 |
On top of these, the card lists a financial security deposit of AED 1000, a security deposit service fee of AED 20, and a security deposit collection and reimbursement fee of AED 40. The applicant must attach proof of relationship and justifications for the visit.
Family visa fees
Bringing family to live with you is a two-step process on the Dubai cards: an entry visa, then a residence permit.
| Step | Fee on the card | What the card says |
|---|---|---|
| Entry visa for residence, family sponsorship | AED 200, plus 5% VAT | The holder may remain for 60 days from entry until the requirements for issuing residency are satisfied |
| Residence permit for family members of a foreigner | AED 200 | Extra charges: Knowledge Dirham AED 10, Innovation Dirham AED 10, delivery AED 20 |
- Longer permits cost more: the issuance fee increases by AED 100 annually whenever the residency is over two years.
- Salary rule: the sponsor must have a minimum salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation.
- Who can be sponsored: a spouse, unmarried daughters, sons under 25 years old, and children with special needs.
- Children and medical tests: the residence permit card asks for a medical examination only for family members over 18.
Student residence permit fees
A foreign student enrolled at an accredited university, college or institute gets a residence permit with the institution as host and guarantor. The Dubai card lists:
- Residence permit fee: AED 200.
- Extra charges: Knowledge Dirham AED 10 and Innovation Dirham AED 10.
- Delivery: AED 20.
- The issuance fee increases by AED 100 annually whenever the residency is over two years.
The requirements are a photo, a passport copy, a medical examination, the ID receipt and health insurance. Details are in our UAE student visa guide.
Extra fees if you apply from inside the UAE
The 30-day and 60-day tourist visa cards, the visit visa card and the family entry visa card list additional fees if the sponsored person is already inside the UAE: a Knowledge Dirham of AED 10, an Innovation Dirham of AED 10, and a fee inside the country of AED 500. The student and family residence permit cards list the same three amounts as extra charges. Each card also carries a note that the total amount may vary depending on the circumstances of the sponsored person.
Visitors from GCC countries
GCC citizens do not need a visa to enter the UAE. Residents of GCC countries and their companions must apply online for an eVisa before arriving. The UAE Government portal lists these conditions:
- The entry permit is valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
- It allows a stay of 30 days from the date of entry, and is extendable once for 30 days.
- The GCC residency must be valid for at least 1 year from the arrival date, and the passport for at least 6 months.
- The applicant's profession must be on the approved list.
We did not read the fee on the GCC residents' service card, so we have not printed one.
Fees for Indian and Pakistani applicants
The GDRFA Dubai cards we read set one fee per visa and do not list different fees by nationality. They do ask Pakistani applicants, among four named nationalities, for the identity card of the country of origin. Fees are quoted in UAE dirhams. The authorities publish no rupee figure, so we have not converted the amounts.
Overstay fines and grace periods
- Overstaying: ICP has standardised overstay fines for visit, tourist and residence visas at AED 50 per day.
- After a residence permit ends: the Dubai student and family cards give a grace period of 60 days to stay in the country after the permit expires or is cancelled. The UAE Government portal says dependents are granted a 6-month grace period, and that grace periods reach up to 6 months according to resident category. Check which applies to you.
- Long absence: a residence visa is nullified automatically if the holder lives outside the UAE for more than 180 days continuously, with listed exceptions. Residents applying to re-enter after that pay a fine of AED 100 for every 30 days or less spent outside the country.
How to find the fee for your own case
- Work out which authority handles you. GDRFA Dubai handles Dubai, and ICP publishes its own service cards.
- Open the service card for your visa and read its "Fees" section.
- Add the deposit, if your visa has one, and the 5% VAT where the card says so.
- Add the inside-the-country fees if the person is already in the UAE.
- Check the note on the card, since the authority says the total may vary.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a UAE tourist visa?
On GDRFA Dubai's service cards, a single-entry tourist visa is AED 200 for 30 days and AED 300 for 60 days, and a multi-entry tourist visa is AED 300 for 30 days and AED 500 for 60 days, each plus 5% VAT.
How much is the 5-year UAE tourist visa?
The card totals AED 3,713. That includes a guarantee amount of AED 3000, an application fee of AED 100 and an issuance fee of AED 500. Applicants must show a bank balance of $4,000 or the equivalent.
How much is a UAE visa for Indians?
The Dubai service cards we read set one fee per visa type and do not list a different fee by nationality. A 30-day single-entry tourist visa is AED 200 plus 5% VAT. Fees are quoted in dirhams.
How much does a UAE family visa cost?
The Dubai cards list AED 200 plus 5% VAT for the family sponsorship entry visa, then AED 200 for the residence permit, with a Knowledge Dirham of AED 10, an Innovation Dirham of AED 10 and delivery of AED 20.
What salary do I need to sponsor my family in the UAE?
A minimum salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, according to the UAE Government portal.
What is the overstay fine in the UAE?
AED 50 per day for visit, tourist and residence visas, according to the UAE Government portal.
Is there a deposit for a UAE visit visa?
The visit visa for a relative or friend carries a financial security deposit of AED 1000. The 30-day and 60-day tourist visa cards state there is no security deposit on that type of visa.
Official sources
- UAE Government portal — Visa fees
- GDRFA Dubai — Services and service cards
- GDRFA Dubai — Issuance of a single-entry tourist visa
- GDRFA Dubai — Issuing a multi-entry tourist visa (5 years)
- GDRFA Dubai — Issuing a visit visa for a relative or friend for one entry
- GDRFA Dubai — Issuance of a residence permit for foreigner family members
- GDRFA Dubai — Issuing a residency permit to a student
- UAE Government portal — Tourist visa and eVisa for GCC residents
- UAE Government portal — Residence visa for families of employees
- UAE Government portal — General provisions for the residence visa
All fees verified against the official sources above on 14 October 2026. The fees are those printed on GDRFA Dubai service cards. Each card notes that the total may vary. Information, not legal advice.