Quick Answer: UAE tourist visas range from AED 200 to AED 600, depending on the duration. Employment visas cost AED 3,000-7,000 total. Golden Visa processing fees range from AED 8,000 to AED 15,000, plus the investment amount. Overstay fine is AED 50/day for all visa types.

Planning a trip or relocating? Knowing the visa costs can seem overwhelming, but this guide aims to clarify all fees, helping you feel more confident and prepared for your journey.

I’ve put together this guide to break down all the visa costs you’ll encounter in 2026, whether you’re coming for a short holiday, taking up employment, or investing in property for long-term residency. Let’s dive in.

Tourist & Visit Visa Fees

Tourist visas are required for most visitors to Dubai and the UAE. The good news is they’re pretty straightforward—you pick your duration, pay the fee, and you’re set. Here’s what you’ll pay:

A few things worth noting here. Government fees are fixed, but the amount you actually pay depends on the agency that processes your visa. Airlines like Emirates and Etihad often offer competitive rates to encourage you to fly with them. Travel agencies charge more but handle all the paperwork, which can be worth it if you’re not comfortable with online applications.

The 5-Year Multiple Entry Visa

This one’s interesting if you visit the UAE regularly. For around AED 5,000, you get five years of hassle-free entry with stays up to 90 days at a time. For example, if you make 3-4 trips a year, this visa can save you money and time. You’ll need to show bank statements proving a minimum balance of USD 4,000, have a passport valid for more than 2 years, and pay a refundable deposit of about AED 3,000. Valid health insurance is also required.

Transit Visa Fees

Got a long layover in Dubai? You might not need to pay anything at all.

The free 48-hour transit visa offers a simple, cost-free way to explore Dubai during layovers, making your travel experience more enjoyable and stress-free.

Employment & Work Visa Fees

Here’s something important: if you’re getting a job in the UAE, your employer legally has to pay for your visa. This isn’t optional—it’s required under UAE law, per Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021. If any company asks you to pay visa fees, that’s a red flag.

That said, it helps to know what the process costs so you can understand what your employer is investing:

Why such a big range in work permit fees? It comes down to company classification. The UAE rates companies from Category 1 (excellent compliance, mostly skilled workers) to Category 3 (compliance issues). Category 1 companies pay as little as AED 300 or even get fees waived. Category 3 companies can pay up to AED 5,000 per employee. This system encourages companies to maintain good practices.

Free Zone vs Mainland

If you’re weighing job offers, here’s a quick comparison. Free zone visas typically cost AED 3,500-6,500 and are processed in 1-3 weeks. Mainland visas run AED 5,000-7,000 and take 2-4 weeks. Free zones are often faster because they’re more streamlined, but mainland visas give you more flexibility to work anywhere in the UAE.

Golden Visa: Fees & Investment Requirements

The Golden Visa has become hugely popular since the UAE expanded the program in 2022. It gives you 10 years of residency without needing an employer to sponsor you—basically, you sponsor yourself. But it’s not cheap.

What You’ll Pay in Processing Fees

Before we even talk about investment, here’s what the visa processing itself costs:

Investment Requirements

Now for the big numbers. There are several ways to qualify:

Real Estate (10-Year Visa): Buy property worth at least AED 2 million (about USD 545,000). You can take a mortgage, but you need at least 50% equity. Multiple properties can be combined to hit the threshold. This is the most popular route because you’re acquiring an asset rather than just spending money on a visa.

Bank Deposit (10-Year Visa): Park AED 2 million in a UAE bank for at least two years. You’ll earn approximately 4% interest, but if you withdraw early, you could lose your visa. Good option if you don’t want to deal with property but have liquid cash.

Professional Route: If you’re earning AED 30,000+ monthly in a skilled field (tech, medicine, engineering), you can qualify without any investment. Executives earning AED 50,000+ also qualify. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree and to be working in a ‘priority field.’

Entrepreneur (5-Year Visa): Own a tech or innovative project worth at least AED 500,000 with approvals from UAE business incubators. Harder to qualify but lower investment threshold.

Property (2-Year Visa): Can’t afford AED 2 million? Properties worth AED 750,000+ qualify for a shorter 2-year residence visa. Not a Golden Visa technically, but a decent stepping stone.

Green Visa Fees

Think of the Green Visa as the Golden Visa’s more accessible cousin. It’s a 5-year self-sponsored visa for freelancers, skilled workers, and smaller investors who don’t meet Golden Visa thresholds.

Much more affordable than the Golden Visa, right? The trade-off is it’s only 5 years instead of 10. To qualify, you’ll need one of these:

• Freelancer: MOHRE permit (costs AED 6,000-10,000 separately), bachelor’s degree, and proof of AED 360,000+ annual income
• Skilled Employee: UAE job with AED 15,000+ monthly salary in a skilled occupation
• Investor: Documented business investment with proper trade license

Family & Dependent Visa Fees

Once you’re settled with a residence visa, you can bring your family over. Here’s what that costs per person:

Salary Requirements for Sponsoring Family

You can’t just sponsor anyone—you need to prove you can support them:

• Spouse and children: Minimum AED 4,000/month salary (or AED 3,000 + company accommodation)
• Parents: AED 20,000/month salary plus a financial guarantee deposit
• Female sponsors: AED 8,000-10,000/month in approved professions

You can sponsor your spouse, children under 18 (or up to 25 if they’re students), unmarried daughters of any age, and parents. Remember, all dependent visas are tied to yours—if your visa gets cancelled, theirs do too.

Visa Extension & Renewal Fees

Tourist Visa Extensions

Need more time? You can extend most tourist visas without leaving the country:

• 30-day extension: AED 600-700 (can do this twice)
• 60-day extension: AED 900-1,100 (usually once only)
• Status change to employment: AED 500-600 extra processing

Apply before your visa expires—extensions take 2-3 days to process, and you don’t want to overstay while waiting accidentally.

Residence Visa Renewals

These need to happen before expiry to avoid complications:

• Employment visa renewal: AED 4,000-6,000
• Family visa renewal: AED 3,500-5,000 per person
• Golden Visa renewal: AED 5,000-10,000 (apply 1-2 months early)

Overstay Fines & Penalties

This is important: don’t overstay your visa. The UAE standardized fines in 2025, and they’re not cheap.

Here’s what catches people out: tourist visas have zero grace period. The day after your visa expires, you’re racking up AED 50 daily. A two-week overstay costs you AED 700 in fines alone, plus potential hassle at immigration. Longer overstays can mean detention, deportation, and entry bans. Just don’t risk it—extend your visa or leave on time.

Additional Mandatory Costs

Health Insurance

Since 2025, health insurance has been mandatory for all UAE visas. What you’ll pay depends on coverage:

• Basic plans: AED 600-1,200/year (minimum compliance)
• Standard plans: AED 1,500-3,000/year (better coverage)
• Comprehensive: AED 3,000-20,000/year (full coverage, international options)

Employers provide insurance for employees. If you’re on a Golden or Green Visa, you’ll need to arrange your own.

Other Fees You’ll Encounter

Airport departure fee: AED 30 per person (usually included in your ticket).

Document attestation: AED 150-500 per document for official certification.

Typing center services: AED 100-300 for application processing.

Express processing: AED 200-1,000 extra for 24-48 hour turnaround.

Visa-Free & Visa-On-Arrival Entry

Good news if you hold a passport from certain countries—you might not need a visa at all.

90-Day Free Visa on Arrival

Citizens from these regions get stamped in for free:

• All EU/EEA countries, the UK, and Switzerland
• USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
• Japan, South Korea, Singapore
• GCC countries (unlimited stay)

Special Arrangements

Indian passport holders with valid US, UK, EU, or GCC residency visas can obtain a 14-day visa on arrival for AED 100, extendable once for AED 250. This has made travel much easier for the vast Indian community in the Gulf.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Resources

Always double-check current fees with official sources before applying:

ICP: icp.gov.ae  Main portal for residence visas, Emirates ID, Golden/Green Visa

GDRFA Dubai: gdrfad.gov.ae  Dubai-specific immigration services

MOHRE: mohre.gov.ae  Employment visas and work permits

UAE Government Portal: u.ae  Comprehensive visa information

Disclaimer: Visa fees change periodically. This guide reflects 2026 rates; always verify with official UAE government sources before submitting applications. Costs vary by emirate, service provider, and individual circumstances.

Last Updated: February 2026