Dubai and the UAE, without the avoidable mistakes.
UAE rejections for Indian travellers are rare — and almost entirely mechanical. Wrong photo spec, mismatched name, unconfirmed booking. Which means they’re almost entirely preventable.
You might not need a visa at all.
Some Indian passport holders qualify for visa on arrival and can skip this process entirely. If that’s you, we’ll say so and charge you nothing. We’d rather lose the fee than sell you a visa you didn’t need.
Do you hold any of these?
Your qualifying document generally needs at least 6 months’ validity from your date of entry into the UAE.
Tourist visa types
UAE tourist visas are issued by federal ICP and, for Dubai, by GDRFA. Applications route through airlines, hotels or registered agents — individuals cannot always apply directly to the authority.
| Visa type | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 30-day single entry | Short holiday |
| 60-day single entry | Extended family stay |
| 30 / 60-day multiple entry | Repeat trips |
| 5-year multiple entry | Frequent travellers |
What you’ll need
- Passport valid at least 6 months from date of entry, with a clear bio-page scan
- Recent photograph meeting UAE specification — white background, specific dimensions
- Confirmed return or onward flight ticket
- Confirmed accommodation — hotel booking, or host details and address if staying with family
- Recent bank statements as financial evidence
- Sponsorship or invitation documents, if a UAE resident is hosting you
Why applications get rejected
UAE refusal rates for Indians are low — commonly cited at around 5–6% (an industry estimate, not an official published figure). The causes are almost entirely mechanical rather than judgemental.
Photo spec failures
The single most common cause. Wrong background, wrong dimensions, wrong crop, glasses or headwear issues.
Name mismatches
UAE systems are strict about name fields. Single-name passports with no surname, or names split differently across ticket and application, get flagged. This affects many South Indian applicants — we check it every time.
Passport & scan quality
Under six months’ validity, or a scan where the machine-readable zone can’t be read.
Unconfirmed bookings
A held reservation is not a confirmed booking. Officers can tell the difference.
Wrong visa category
Applying for a 30-day when the trip is 35 days. Simple, and entirely avoidable.
Prior overstay or record
If you or a namesake have an existing UAE immigration record, it needs handling before you apply — not after.
Timelines, and once it’s issued
Standard processing is typically a few working days, with express options usually available. We won’t print a guaranteed number — your quote shows the current estimate for your category and the honest cut-off for your travel date.
Check it the moment it arrives
Verify the spelling of your name and your passport number on the visa. Errors happen, and they are far easier to fix before you fly than at the airport.
Know your exact permitted stay
Note the start date and duration. UAE overstay fines accrue daily. Carry a printed copy plus your hotel confirmation and return ticket — immigration can ask.
Common questions
Do I even need a visa?
Possibly not. Indian passport holders with a valid US visa or Green Card, an EU/Schengen visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or Singapore may be eligible for visa on arrival. Use the free checker above — if you qualify, we’ll say so and charge you nothing.
I have a UK visa. Does that still work?
Reports in 2026 indicate a UK visa or UK residence permit alone no longer qualifies Indian nationals for UAE visa on arrival. Verify with ICP or GDRFA before booking — a lot of older guidance online is wrong on this point.
My passport has only one name and no surname. Is that a problem?
It needs careful handling. UAE systems are strict about name fields, and mismatches between passport, ticket and application are a leading rejection cause. We check this on every file we handle.
How much money should my bank statement show?
For a standard short tourist trip there’s no single published figure; commonly cited guidance suggests ₹50,000–₹1,00,000 available. The 5-year multiple-entry visa carries a stricter condition — reported at around USD 4,000 or equivalent maintained over six months. Confirm current thresholds with ICP.
How fast can I get it?
Standard is usually a few working days, with express options available. Your quote shows the current estimate for your category and the real cut-off for your travel date — we won’t promise a number we can’t control.
My visa arrived with my name misspelled.
Tell us immediately. Corrections before departure are far easier than problems at the airport.
What’s your fee, and do you mark up the government fee?
No markup, ever. You see three numbers before you pay: the government fee at cost, our service fee, and the total. We take no commission from airlines, hotels, insurers or forex providers — our only revenue is the service fee on this site.
Get a quote before you pay anything.
Send us your travel dates and passport details. Exact government fee and our fee, upfront.