UAE Visa Requirements by Nationality 2026: What Your Passport Actually Gets You

Quick Answer: Your nationality affects your eligibility for entry to the UAE. Knowing these details can help you feel more confident and prepared for your journey.

How the UAE Visa Policy Actually Works

Let me be direct: the UAE does not treat all passports equally. This is not discrimination; it is a risk-based immigration policy used by every developed country. Your passport nationality places you in one of four categories, each with distinct rules, documentation, and approval processes.

Having processed thousands of visa applications across all nationality categories, I can tell you the single biggest mistake people make: assuming their friend’s experience applies to them. A British colleague arriving in Dubai with only a passport is irrelevant to a Pakistani applicant who needs sponsor letters, bank statements, and employment verification.

The UAE immigration system, administered by ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) and GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs), uses a case-by-case assessment model. They look at your travel history, documentation quality, sponsor credibility, and compliance record. Nationality is just the starting point.

Find Your Nationality Category

Before diving into country-specific details, identify which tier your passport falls into. This determines your entire application pathway.

South Asian Nationals: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

South Asian visa rules are complex and have evolved recently, which can feel overwhelming. Understanding these changes helps you feel more in control.

Indian Nationals

India has the most complex visa system because Indians can qualify for a visa-on-arrival under specific conditions, but most still require a visa sponsor. Here is how it actually works:

If you hold a valid visa or residence permit from these countries, you get a VOA:

Critical Requirements: Your qualifying visa must be valid for 6+ months from the date of arrival in the UAE and must have been used at least once. A fresh, unused US visa will not work. Immigration checks the stamps.

Indians without qualifying visas need sponsored tourist visas:

30-day tourist visa: AED 200 + processing fees through airline/hotel/agency

60-day tourist visa: AED 300 + processing fees

5-year multiple entry: AED 650 (requires USD 4,000 bank balance, no sponsor needed)

Pakistani Nationals

Good news came in April 2025: Pakistani passport holders can now obtain a 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa without a local sponsor. This was previously restricted. The catch? You need to show a minimum USD 4,000 bank balance maintained for six months.

For standard tourist visas, Pakistanis still need sponsorship from airlines (Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia), hotels, travel agencies, or UAE-based family members or friends. Additional documentation required: a copy of the National ID card (CNIC) alongside the passport.

Work and employment visas continue to be processed typically, but expect a thorough review of documentation. Having a clear travel history and a strong sponsor significantly improves approval chances.

Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Nationals

For Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals, thorough preparation of documents and understanding processing times can help you feel more confident in your application process.

Southeast Asian Nationals: Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam

Filipino Nationals

Filipinos are among the largest communities in the UAE, yet Philippine passports do not confer visa-on-arrival privileges. Every Filipino traveler must obtain a pre-arranged visa before boarding their flight.

The application process is straightforward if your documents are complete and accurate. Airlines like Emirates and Cebu Pacific offer visa assistance when you book flights. Travel agencies in both the Philippines and the UAE process applications daily. If you have family or friends in the UAE, they can sponsor your visit visa (subject to salary requirements discussed later).

Required documents:

Passport valid 6+ months with a clear scan of the bio page and cover

Passport-sized photo (white background, recent)

Confirmed return flight booking

Hotel reservation or sponsor accommodation letter

Travel insurance covering UAE stay

Indonesian and Vietnamese Nationals

Same rules as Filipinos: mandatory pre-arranged visas through sponsors. No shortcuts, no visa-on-arrival. Both nationalities have established expatriate communities in the UAE, making family sponsorship common for visit visas.

African Nationals: Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa

African passport holders face the most varied treatment. Some countries have smooth processing; others encounter significant scrutiny. Here is the reality for major African nationalities:

Nigerian Nationals

Let me be honest: Nigerian applications receive additional scrutiny. This is not a ban; it is a stricter review. The key difference? Nigerians must provide a hotel booking or accommodation address for their ENTIRE intended stay as mandatory documentation. This is not optional.

Approval outcomes vary significantly based on documentation quality and sponsor credibility. Strong applications with verifiable employment, clear travel history, and credible sponsors do get approved. Weak applications with gaps get rejected. There is no middle ground.

Egyptian Nationals

Egyptians require pre-arranged visas but generally face standard processing without the additional scrutiny applied to some other African nationalities. Strong applications process smoothly. UAE has a substantial Egyptian expatriate community, making family sponsorship common.

Kenyan Nationals

Pre-arranged visa required. Standard documentation applies. Kenya has growing business ties with the UAE, and applications from business travelers and tourists with a clear purpose generally process without issues.

South African Nationals

Although UAE citizens traveling to South Africa are visa-free, South African passport holders must obtain a pre-arranged UAE visa. This is not reciprocal. Applications process through standard channels: airlines, hotels, travel agencies, or individual sponsors.

Middle Eastern Nationals: Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq

Jordanian Nationals

Jordanians require pre-arranged visas despite geographic proximity. Diplomatic passport holders have different arrangements, while ordinary passport holders follow the standard sponsored visa process.

Lebanese Nationals

Lebanese applications have seen increased scrutiny in recent years. No official ban exists, but rejection rates have been higher than average. Strong documentation, verifiable employment, and credible sponsors significantly improve outcomes. Business travelers with UAE company invitations generally process more smoothly than tourist applications.

Iranian and Iraqi Nationals

Both nationalities require pre-arranged visas and additional documentation: a copy of a national ID card is mandatory, along with a passport. Transit visa eligibility is restricted: citizens of Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger, Syria, Somalia, and Yemen are not eligible for 96-hour transit visas at the airport; a complete tourist or visit visa is required for any UAE entry.

Chinese Nationals: Major 2025 Policy Changes

China received the most considerable visa upgrade in the UAE’s recent history. As of April 11, 2025, Chinese passport holders can stay for up to 90 days within any 180 days, up from the previous 30-day limit that had been in place since 2016.

What this means practically:

No visa application, no fees, no pre-registration required

Land at any UAE airport, get stamped, done

The 90 days can be used continuously or split across multiple visits

Applies to ordinary, diplomatic, and service passports

Overstay fine: AED 50 per day after your 90 days expire

Requirements at entry: Passport valid 6+ months, return or onward ticket, accommodation proof, and sufficient funds (AED 5,000 recommended). Cannot work, study, or conduct business requiring a license while on a visa-free entry.

Western Passport Holders: US, UK, EU, Australia

If you hold a passport from the US, the UK, EU/Schengen countries, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, or South Korea, your entry into the UAE is straightforward. You do not need to apply for anything. You do not need a sponsor. You do not need to pay any fees.

Land at any UAE airport. Walk to immigration—hand over your passport. Get stamped for 90 days (some nationalities get 30 days). Collect your bags. Leave the airport. That is the entire process.

The only requirements: a passport valid for 6+ months and no UAE immigration ban from previous visits. Return tickets are recommended but not always checked. Accommodation proof is rarely requested.

US diplomatic or official passport holders are the exception: they require visas arranged in advance of travel. Regular US passports enjoy visa-free entry.

Countries receiving 90-day visa-free entry:

All EU/Schengen states, the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Russia, Ukraine, and approximately 40 other countries. Complete list available at gdrfad.gov.ae.

Why Applications Get Rejected (Real Reasons)

After reviewing countless rejected applications, I can tell you the reasons are rarely mysterious. They follow predictable patterns that applicants can avoid:

Documentation Problems (Most Common):

Passport photos taken by phone (use professional pictures with a white background)

Blurry or cropped passport scans (need a full page, clear, color scan)

Missing passport cover page (required since September 2025)

Name mismatches between documents

Passport validity is less than 6 months

Sponsor Issues:

Sponsor salary below the required threshold for the relationship type

Sponsor has previous visa violations or complaints

Using fake or unverifiable sponsors

Company sponsor without a proper establishment card

Applicant History:

Previous UAE overstay (even one day creates a record)

Uncancelled previous visa (must be formally cancelled)

Outstanding fines or legal issues in UAE

Travel history inconsistent with stated purpose

Sponsorship Rules That Apply to Everyone

If your nationality requires a sponsored visa, you need to understand the 2025 salary thresholds. These apply regardless of your passport or your visitor’s passport:

Substantial: Your official labor contract salary is what counts, not cash-in-hand payments. If your contract states AED 4,000 and you receive AED 6,000 in practice, immigration will see AED 4,000. void departure delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Government Resources

Always verify visa eligibility and current requirements through official UAE government sources:

Helplines: ICP toll-free 600522222 | Amer service (Dubai) 800 5111

Disclaimer

Important: This guide is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Visa regulations, fees, and requirements are subject to change without prior notice. The information presented reflects publicly available data as of the publication date and may not reflect the most current policies.

Always verify current visa requirements directly with official UAE government sources, including ICP, GDRFA, UAE embassies and consulates, or authorized travel agents before making travel arrangements. Individual visa decisions are made solely by the UAE immigration authorities. Past approval does not guarantee future approval.

Last Updated: February, 2026

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