Dubai: The United Arab Emirates has expanded its visa-on-arrival program to include nationals of six countries and their accompanying family members. This new decision, effective from July 25th, allows nationals of the Republic of Indonesia, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Kenya, and the Republic of South Africa holding ordinary passports, and their accompanying family members, to obtain a 14-day or 60-day visa on arrival. Eligibility requires holding a valid residence permit issued by the United States, a European Union member state, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Singapore, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada.
According to Emirates News Agency, the initiative is part of the UAE's flexible entry and residency framework, emphasizing its commitment to facilitating travel and providing a seamless experience for visitors. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that this expansion reflects the UAE's dedication to strengthening bilateral relations with friendly countries and fostering economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties. The initiative offers greater opportunities for nationals of these countries to explore the UAE's cultural landscape, tourism, economy, and business environment. The Ministry also highlighted ongoing coordination efforts with national authorities to streamline consular procedures and reinforce the UAE's position as a global destination for business and talent.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security (ICP) emphasized that the amendments enhance the UAE's visa framework and align services with global best practices in travel and tourism. The decision also supports the UAE's competitiveness in global residency, tourism, and travel indicators. The ICP explained that eligibility for the visa-on-arrival scheme requires applicants and their family members to be nationals of one of the six countries and hold a valid residence permit from specified countries. The visa options include a 14-day or a 60-day stay.
The ICP further detailed that the 14-day visa can be extended once while in the UAE, whereas the 60-day visa is for a single non-extendable stay. Visa holders must depart the UAE upon expiry, with a daily overstay fine of AED50 applying to those who remain beyond the permitted period. The issuance fee for the 14-day visa is AED 100, while the 60-day visa costs AED 250.