Travel requirements for United Arab Emirates

You can get a visitor or tourist visa issued free of charge when you arrive in the UAE. You do not need to apply in advance of travel. Your passport will be stamped with the visa as you go through immigration. It will be valid for up to 90 days over a 180-day period, which will begin from the date of first entry into the UAE. The stay can either be continuous or divided across multiple visits, provided the total duration does not exceed 90 days within the 180-day timeframe. 

You could face fines for exceeding your authorised stay which may accumulate for each day of overstay. If you want to extend your stay, contact: 

• for Dubai: General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs 

• for the rest of the UAE: Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship

Living and working in the UAE 

If you entered Dubai on a visit visa and want to work, you must get a probationary work permit valid for up to 3 months from the Ministry of Labour. If you are caught working on a visit visa, you could get a fine or a prison sentence, and you risk deportation. 

You risk arrest if you have lived or worked in the UAE and return when:

• your previous visa is not in order - for example if you did not cancel your work visa
• you have outstanding debts
• you have an unresolved legal issue

If you have any doubt about your status, get advice before returning from a local lawyer. 

If you have questions about your visa’s validity or expiration date, or about how to work or stay in the UAE, contact UAE Immigration directly: 

• for Dubai: General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs 
• for the rest of the UAE: Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship
• from the UK: UAE Embassy in the UK 

Residence visas

If you apply for a residence visa, you will have to take a blood test. If you test positive for any communicable diseases like HIV, hepatitis or tuberculosis, you may be detained and then deported, without appeal. Check the health and fitness requirements on the UAE government portal.

When applying for a UAE residence visa, it is common practice for your sponsor’s representative to give their details as the contact information on your application. When your residence visa is issued, update these details using ICP Smart System services. The UAE authorities use these details when they contact you.

Previous travel to Israel 

If you have a valid or expired Israeli visa or stamp in your passport, you should not face difficulties entering the UAE as long as you do not plan to work. If you plan to work, further checks may be needed and there is a risk you may be refused entry.

If you are a British-Israeli dual national and have any concerns about entering the UAE, contact the UAE Embassy in the UK.

Leaving the UAE 

If you are subject to a travel ban, involved in legal proceedings, have unpaid debt or are a child subject to a custody dispute, you may be prevented from leaving the UAE.