uae 90 days visit visa news

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UAE Welcomes Visitors with Extended 90-Day Visit Visa

The UAE has re-introduced the three-month visit visa, Khaleej Times can reveal. The three-month or 90 days visa was scrapped at the end of last year and a long-term 60-day visa was introduced for visitors willing to visit the country for a longer duration.

A call centre executive at the Federal Authority For Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) said that people who are willing to visit the UAE for 90 days can make use of the opportunity. “They should consult their travel agents who will help them in issuing the 90-days visit visa,” said the called center executive.

According to industry experts, this was reintroduced by the end of May 2023, allowing visitors to stay in the UAE for up to 90 days. However the visa can be extendable within the country at an additional cost based on the service provider.

“There are two types of entry permits — a tourist visa or a leisure visa and a visit visa. A tourist visa is issued for 30 or 60 days. The visit visa is issued for 90 days,” said Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager for inbound and outbound operations at Regal Tours Worldwide, adding that this extended visit visa complements the existing tourist visa options, which includes a 30-day or 60-day stay, offering travellers greater flexibility in planning their itineraries.

The 30-day and the recently introduced 60-day tourist visas have long been popular among visitors seeking shorter stays in the UAE, providing ample time to explore the country's iconic landmarks and indulge in world-class shopping and dining experiences.

UAE visa reforms: Visitors can now stay in the country for 90 days

The UAE has re-introduced the three-month or 90 days visit visa, which was scrapped at the end of 2022 and a long-term 60-day visa was introduced instead for visitors willing to visit the Gulf country for a longer duration.

A call centre executive at the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) informed the Khaleej Times that visitors who are willing to stay in the country for 90 days can make use of the opportunity.

“They should consult their travel agents who will help them in issuing the 90-days visit visa,” said the official.

According to industry experts, the reform was reintroduced by the end of May 2023, allowing visitors to stay in the UAE for up to 90 days. However, the visa can now be extendable within the country at an additional cost based on the service provider.

“There are two types of entry permits — a tourist visa or a leisure visa and a visit visa. A tourist visa is issued for 30 or 60 days. The visit visa is issued for 90 days,” said Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager for inbound and outbound operations at Regal Tours Worldwide, adding further that this extended visit visa complements the existing tourist visa options, which includes a 30-day or 60-day stay, offering travellers greater flexibility in planning their itineraries.

The 30-day and the recently introduced 60-day tourist visas have long been popular among visitors seeking shorter stays in the UAE, which in turn provides them ample time to explore the Emirates’ iconic landmarks and indulge in world-class shopping and dining experiences.

Libin Varghese, Sales Director at Rooh Tourism LLC, said, “Residents are not aware of this three-month visa which has been reintroduced by the authorities.”

Industry experts also added that anyone can apply for this visa, which will be valid for Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

“Currently, we have not received much inquiry about it, and visitors who prefer this entry permit are their family members residing in the UAE, as they want to spend a longer time. Take for instance, if a child who is studying in his home country visits UAE during vacations or parents of a resident,” said Libin Varghese.

While talking to the media, Subair said that a few years ago, there were only two types of entry permits in the UAE, a leisure visa which was issued for three months, and a tourist visa which was issued for 30 days.

“But, recently, there were several changes that were introduced to visa procedures last year. The three-month visa could also be extended while staying within the country by paying the extension fee and it was very popular,” said the senior manager for inbound and outbound operations at Regal Tours Worldwide.

The fee for a 90-day-visit visa varies depending on the visitors’ issuing travel expert, with a starting price of Dh1,500 and the rate can go up to Dh2,000, which can even be extended further within the country.

“The exact details of the extension have not been announced as the visa was introduced a few days ago,” said Libin Varghese.

According to Subair, one must submit a set of documents if he/she is planning to apply for a long-term visit visa.

“Once a person applies for this newly introduced visa, it may take up to five working days. But we can even receive it in two days,” the official concluded.

The latest visa reform comes after the June 2023 news, where it came to light that the Gulf nation had decided to end a 10-day grace period policy for visitors who overstay the visas issued in Dubai.

The news also stated that these individuals would have to strictly adhere to the duration of their stay as prescribed in their UAE arrival visas.

Till 2023, whenever a visitor used to cross the duration mentioned in his/her visa, a 10-day grace period was granted automatically under which no fine was imposed for overstaying in the country.

However, the latest developments suggested that the travel agents were asked to inform their clients about the new rules.

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Uae changes entry rule for 90-day tourist visa holders.

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The UAE has changed the entry rule for 90-day tourist visa holders, allowing them to enter the country more than once.

The new entry rule for holders of the regular 90-day tourist visa was announced by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP).

Previously, holders of the regular 90-day tourist visa were allowed to enter the UAE only once.

According to the ICP, the updated system will be enforced starting October 3, and will also include updates to other visas, including multiple entry visas.

ALSO READ: 4 multiple entry visas to UAE  

Changing the entry rule for 90-day normal visit visa to allow the holder to enter more than once will be applied to all types of visas within the new updated system, according to the ICP.

The ICP pointed out, however, that some visas will only allow entry to the UAE once, which includes visit visa.

Multi-entry UAE visit visa

The authority also issues a multi-entry visit visa for the purpose of tourism, valid for a period of 5 years, without the requirement of a guarantor or host within the country. The applicant needs provide proof of a six-month bank balance of $4,000.

ALSO READ: Dubai starts issuing 5-year multiple entry visas

The ICP clarified that the multiple-entry tourist visa allows holder to stay in the country for a continuous period not exceeding 90 days, and can be extended for a similar period, provided that the entire stay period does not exceed 180 days in a year.

The updated entry visas provide new and multiple options for those wishing to visit the UAE with flexible and extendable periods of up to one year, without the requirement of a guarantor or host, according to the ICP. ICA/Expat Media

ALSO READ: New UAE visa rules

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Visa on arrival

30-day visa on arrival

Citizens of these countries do not require advance visa arrangements to enter the UAE and can obtain a visa upon arrival for 30 days with a 10-day grace period for extension.

90-day visa on arrival

Citizens of these countries do not require advance visa arrangements to enter the UAE and can obtain a visa upon arrival for 90 days:

Indian citizens

Indian citizens holding a normal passport and either

• a visit visa issued by the USA or
• a green card issued by the USA or
• a residence visa issued by the UK or
• a residence visa issued by the EU

can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 14 days provided that the visas or the green card is valid for at least six months from the date of arrival into the UAE.

Read about the UAE visa requirements for non-US citizens .

Note: Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into the UAE. Lists of countries eligible for visa on arrival may vary from time to time; therefore, please check with the  UAE embassy  in your country before travelling to the UAE.

For more information, please contact:

• The UAE Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Port Security
• General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai

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Dubai reintroduces 90-day visit visa, visitors can renew it without exiting UAE

Dubai: The United Arab Emirates has resumed issuing the ninety-day visit visas for the Dubai residents’ friends and family. Even though it is summer (off season) in the UAE, lots of people are visiting the Emirate on a daily basis.

The friends and family members of the residents and those who are looking for jobs mostly rely on the 90-day visit visa.

The most attractive part is that the visitors can now renew the visa for same duration without exiting the country. Dubai has also reintroduced the three-month-long visit visa that was cancelled last year.

UAE's popular multiple entry tourist visa allows stay up to 180 days

A multiple-entry UAE tourist visa with five-year validity: Here's how to get it

Visas are issued for forty eight hours, ninety four hours and for thirty, sixty and ninety days. Besides, there is a multiple entry tourist visa that is valid up to five years. These visas could be applied via GDRF website or mobile application or through Amer Centres. 

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1 week of Amnesty: 20,000 applications processed in Dubai

Uae government.

ICP says 88% of applicants in Abu Dhabi sought to legalise status, rest chose to leave UAE

Dubai: The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai has processed 19,785 applications during the first week of the launch of the Amnesty or grace period where visa violators can legalise their visa statius or leave the country without fines.

The authority on Monday said 98.96 per cent of these applications were processed within 48 hours, reflecting the efficiency of the digital services and work teams involved.

Ninety per cent of the applications were submitted through digital platforms.

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The main status adjustment centre at Al Awir, Dubai, received 2,393 visitors, representing 10.15 per cent of the total applicants in Dubai during the first week.

Sixty service platforms were earmarked to process the applications at the centre.

As many as 17,391 status modification requests were handled through 86 Amer centers and digital platforms, the authority said.

In collaboration with various foreign consulates in Dubai, specialised teams were deployed to assist applicants of different nationalities in getting their status legalised. Many consulates actively participated in the programme by conducting awareness sessions and providing multilingual guidance.

Major General Salah Al-Qamzi, Assistant Director General of Dubai’s Violators and Foreigners Tracking Sector, expressed pride in the initiative’s achievements so far.

“We are proud of the results achieved by this campaign, which reflect our commitment to offering the best services for residents in Dubai and ensuring that everyone lives in a safe and stable environment. The strong collaboration with the private sector, government entities, and consulates has greatly accelerated these tangible results in such a short time.”

He added: “Our goal at the General Directorate is to continue providing support to everyone in need, ensuring that all groups benefiting from this initiative receive the necessary assistance within the specified timeframe.”

Abu Dhabi applications

Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi, Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), announced that 88 per cent of the applicants during Amnesty sought to legalise their status, while the remaining chose to leave the country.

During the inspection tour conducted by the authority for the media today, he praised the keenness of the authority to process the applications promptly.

He explained that the strategic objectives of the campaign are to provide a flexible legal environment that contributes to enhancing social and economic security and stability, promoting the values of respect for the law, tolerance, compassion and social cohesion.

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UAE visa amnesty: Filipino man to finally meet daughters after 16 long years

The first batch of overstaying filipinos sought repatriation assistance from the philippine government and left dubai for manila on thursday evening.

Angel Tesorero

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Holding a passport in his right hand and a heart-shaped pink pillow in his left, Orly is contented that he can finally see his family in the Philippines after 16 long years. A few paces behind him is Joan, who is equally excited to go home with her three-month-old son.

Orly, 43, and Joan, 35, (and her baby Zayn) are part of the first batch of mass repatriation of Filipinos who availed of the ongoing UAE visa amnesty programme . A total of 64 overstaying Filipinos – 35 from Abu Dhabi and 29 from Dubai – sought repatriation assistance from the Philippine government, and left Dubai for Manila on Thursday evening via Philippine Airlines flight PR 659.

They will arrive in Manila Friday morning and Orly said the first thing he will do is to tightly embrace his two grown-up daughters when he sees them. “They were only eight and seven years old when I left to work in Dubai 16 years ago. Now, my eldest daughter LyCell, 24, is a teacher; and my second daughter, Mona, 23, finished college with a degree in business administration,” Orly told Khaleej Times at Dubai International Airport on Thursday.

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“All those years not seeing my daughters growing up seems nothing but a distant memory. I’m now at peace that finally I will be going home and will be with my family for good,” he added.

He said he was not able to visit home in Batangas for almost two decades because he had been jumping from one job and company to another. He first worked at a glass fabrication company in Dubai in 2008 then moved to Abu Dhabi. After finishing his contract, he moved to another company. His last official job was in Sharjah but unfortunately, he said, he and the other workers were not paid for some months.

That was in 2020 – at the height of the pandemic – when they lost their jobs and eventually their residency visa expired. Since then, Orly had been staying in the country illegally and had been doing odd jobs to continue sending money to his family back in the Philippines and to support his personal needs.

The last time he checked, Orly said his overstaying fines racked up to more than Dh60,000. “Thankfully, the UAE government announced amnesty and I was one of those who immediately applied for it,” he added.

But September 1 – the start of the amnesty programme – was a bittersweet day for Orly. Because it was also the day his 77-year-old mother passed away. “Internment was supposedly September 12 but I asked my family to postpone it until Sunday, September 15, so I can still see my mother one last time before she’s buried,” he shared.

After everything, Orly said he is content with the way his life in UAE turned out. “Yes, there were many sacrifices – I was away from my family; my wife also had to work as a domestic worker in Morocco – but I’m proud that I was able to provide for my family,” he highlighted, adding: “Both my daughters finished college and they are now employed. I also bought a tract of land, which I’m planning to develop as my retirement place.”

‘Amnesty is really a blessing’

Meanwhile, Joan, 35, is going home to raise her baby Zayn in the Philippines. She worked as a sales staff in Dubai but her company did not pay her salary for some months so she decided to work part time. This was discovered by her employer who filed an absconding case against her in June last year.

Because of the case and her overstaying fines piling up, Joan was not able to find employment. “The amnesty is really a blessing for us,” said Joan, noting: “My absconding case was lifted and I’m leaving the UAE with no fines.”

The amnesty programme covers all types of visas, including tourist and expired residency visas. Those who were born with no documents can also avail of the amnesty and have their status rectified. Those who ran away or absconded from their sponsors can also apply. However, those who entered the country illegally cannot apply for amnesty.

The best thing for those who applied for amnesty is that there is no re-entry ban that will be imposed on them. They can return to the UAE anytime but with the appropriate visa.

Joan said she might consider returning and working again in Dubai but only when her baby is old enough to be left with her family back home.

Expressing profound gratitude

Before leaving the UAE, Philippine officials spoke with the returning Filipinos. Philippine ambassador Alfonso Ver also “expressed his profound gratitude to the UAE government for its generosity in waiving fines and penalties; and for allowing Filipinos and other expatriates to leave the country with dignity and the option to re-enter the UAE in the future with an appropriate visa".

Consul-general Marford Angeles also said that majority of the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) “had previously absconded from their employers and were unable to secure permanent employment in the UAE. Notably, one of the repatriates from Dubai had overstayed in the UAE for 2,118 days. Additionally, another OFW, who departed prior to this batch, had overstayed for a total of 5,218 days in the UAE.”

Aside from the Philippine diplomatic staff, officials from the Migrant Workers Office in Abu Dhabi and Dubai – led by labour attachés Teresa Olgado and John Rio Bautista were also present at the airport to assist the 64 repatriates.

• UAE: Are visa violations committed after September 1 covered under amnesty scheme?
• UAE amnesty: Illegal expats hope to provide schooling, healthcare for children
• UAE: Over 2,000 Filipino overstayers seek visa amnesty assistance in 1 week
• UAE: 88% of visa violators who applied for amnesty opt to stay in country
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