How to get UAE or Dubai Visa on Arrival with Indian passport and US visa

UAE or Dubai Visa on Arrival is available for Indian nationals with a valid US visa, US green card or a residence permit from the UK and any EU country.

The UAE government has introduced a 14-day UAE or Dubai Visa on Arrival for Indian nationals with valid US visas in 2017. Later that year, US green cards and residence permits from the UK and EU were also added to the list of visas that can be used by Indian nationals. 

UAE or Dubai Visa on Arrival is a much better option if planning to spend less than 14 days in the UAE compared to a UAE 30-day tourist visa. The fee for UAE Visa on Arrival is almost 1/3rd the fee of a 30-day single-entry tourist visa. 

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Who is eligible for a 14-day UAE Visa on Arrival?

Currently, only Indian nationals are eligible to obtain a 14-day UAE Visa on Arrival with a valid US visa, US green card or a residence permit from the UK or any EU country. The Visa on Arrival fee is 100 AED. Extendable once for another 14 days for a fee of 250 AED. 

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What visas can be used?

Indian nationals can use the following visas to obtain UAE or Dubai Visa on Arrival at international airports and seaports in UAE. 

• US multiple-entry visa (any multiple-entry US visa such as B1, B2, B1/B2, L1, H1, F1, J1, etc. except transit visas such as C1) 
• US green card 
• UK residence permit (ILR, BRP or spouse visas)
• EU residence permit (any type of residence permit from any EU country)

IMPORTANT
The above visas must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in the UAE. 

RELATED: How to travel 45 countries VISA-FREE with US visa in 2022

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Visa on Arrival fee

The Visa on Arrival fee is 100 AED. But depending on the airport, the fee may vary from 105 to 140 AED. 

You will have to pay the visa fee at a third-party agency before going to the immigration. These third-party agencies charge their own service charge and hence the fee paid is higher than the official fee of 100 AED.

The visa fee is also subject to change, so the fee changes from time to time.

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Visa on Arrival processing time

Third party agencies are assigned with the task of verifying the documents, accepting the Visa on Arrival fee and issuing the Visa on Arrival. The process to fill out the form, getting the documents verified and paying the fee depends on how busy the third-party agency is. But usually it takes about 5 to 15 minutes. 

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Visa on Arrival validity

UAE or Dubai Visa on Arrival is valid for 14 days. 

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Visa on Arrival entries

UAE or Dubai Visa on Arrival is single-entry only. If you leave the UAE and come back, you will have to get a fresh Visa on Arrival again. 

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Visa on Arrival extension

The UAE or Dubai Visa on Arrival can be extended once for another 14-days at any AMER center in UAE. The fee is 250 AED plus VAT and service charges. 

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IMPORTANT: Account for additional time at the departing airport

Depending on the airport, an agent is assigned the task of verifying the documents and accepting the Visa on Arrival fee. The airline would need to send over your passport and ticket information to the agent in UAE for approval to board the flight to UAE. The approval usually takes anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. 

Once the airline receives approval from the agency, you will be given the boarding pass. Make sure to account for this additional time and try to arrive at the airport early.

PERSONAL OPINION
It’s a pain to wait for the approval but the Visa on Arrival is about 1/3 rd the price of a 30-day single-entry UAE visa. If you don’t plan on staying more than 14 days in the UAE, you could save a lot of money by obtaining Visa on Arrival. So the wait at the departure airport is worth it. 

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Procedure to get UAE or Dubai Visa on Arrival at Sharjah Airport

Step 1: Approval prior to departure

Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA) is the agency that’s responsible for verifying your documents, accepting the Visa on Arrival fee and issuing Visa on Arrival at Sharjah International Airport (SHJ). Your airline will send over your info to SATA at the time of check-in. They will ask you to wait for approval from SATA. 

Approval from SATA is fairly quick, usually about 5-10 minutes. Once the airline staff receives the approval from SATA, they will accept your check-in bags and give you the boarding pass. 

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Step 2: Visa on Arrival document check and fee payment

After exiting your flight in Sharjah, walk towards passport control and baggage claim. 

Find the Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA) desk. It’s right next to the information desk. If you can’t find it, ask any staff at the airport and they will guide you to the SATA desk. 

SATA is a travel agency owned by the Sharjah Government. They are responsible for verifying your information, taking the payment and issuing your Visa on Arrival. 

At the SATA desk, tell them that you would like to get Visa on Arrival. They will give you a form to fill out. Fill out the form. Hand over your completed form and passport to them. 

Pay Visa on Arrival fee of 140 AED. Even though the actual Visa on Arrival fee by the UAE government is 100 AED, SATA will charge 140 AED which includes VAT and service charges. You can pay the fee in AED, USD or using a credit card. They accept all credit cards. They will issue a receipt for your payment. 

Hold on to this receipt. You will need to present this receipt at the immigration check.

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Step 3: Immigration check

When you arrive at the immigration counter, present your passport, boarding pass and SATA Visa on Arrival fee receipt. 

You may be asked a few questions such as how long you will stay in UAE, is it your first time in UAE, what do you plan to do in the UAE, etc. 

Answer the questions, move over to the camera area when asked, take your passport and exit the immigration area. 

Quickly check your entry stamp to make sure everything is looking good. 

IMPORTANT
A visa is generated and saved in their systems. Neither a visa sticker nor a visa print is issued. No visa number is mentioned on your entry stamp. The allowed number of days will not be marked on your entry stamp either. But as per visa rules, you can stay up to 14 days. 

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Procedure to get UAE or Dubai Visa on Arrival at Dubai Airport

Step 1: Approval prior to departure

Marhaba Services is the agency that’s responsible for verifying your documents and accepting the UAE Visa on Arrival fee at the Dubai International Airport (DXB). Your airline will send over your info to Marhaba at the time of check-in. They will ask you to wait for approval from Marhaba. 

Approval from Marhaba can take up to 45 minutes. After the airline staff receives the approval from Marhaba, they will accept your check-in bags and give you the boarding pass.

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Step 2: Visa on Arrival document check and fee payment

After exiting your flight in Dubai, walk towards passport control and baggage claim. 

Find the Marhaba Services desk. The desk is right before the immigration check, just left to the escalators. If you can’t find it, ask any airport staff. They will guide you to the Marhaba Services desk. 

Marhaba Services is an agency that operates meet and greet services and lounges in Dubai airport. They are responsible for verifying your information, receiving the visa fee and issuing your Dubai Visa on Arrival. 

At the Marhaba Services desk, tell them that you would like to get Visa on Arrival. Hand over passport and boarding pass to them. No need for any photos or to fill out any forms. 

Pay Dubai Visa on Arrival fee of 125 AED. Even though the actual Visa on Arrival fee by the UAE government is 100 AED, Marhaba will charge 125 AED which includes VAT and service charges. You can pay the fee in AED, USD or using a credit card. They accept all credit cards. They will issue a receipt for your payment. 

Hold on to this receipt. You will need to present this receipt at the immigration check.

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Step 3: Immigration check

When you arrive at the immigration counter, present your passport, boarding pass and Marhaba Visa on Arrival fee receipt. 

You may be asked a few questions such as how long you will stay in UAE, is it your first time in UAE, what do you plan to do in the UAE, etc. 

Answer the questions, move over to the camera area when asked, take your passport and exit the immigration area. 

Quickly check your entry stamp to make sure everything is looking good. 

IMPORTANT
A visa is generated and saved in their systems. Neither a visa sticker nor a visa print is issued. No visa number is mentioned on your entry stamp. The allowed number of days will not be marked on your entry stamp either. But as per visa rules, you can stay up to 14 days. 

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Procedure to get UAE or Dubai Visa on Arrival at Abu Dhabi Airport

Step 1: Approval prior to departure

Unlike Dubai or Sharjah airports, the document verification and payment are handled by the immigration themselves at Abu Dhabi airport. So no prior approval is necessary at the time of departure. 

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Step 2: Visa on Arrival document check and fee payment

Since the UAE immigration themselves verify the documents and accept the visa fee payment, there are no intermediary steps. Head straight to the immigration.

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Step 3: Immigration check

When you arrive at the immigration counter, present your passport and boarding pass. If you have a residence permit in the form of a card, present that too. 

You will be charged a Visa on Arrival fee of 105 AED. Even though the actual Visa on Arrival fee by the UAE government is 100 AED, Abu Dhabi immigration will charge 105 AED which includes VAT and e-commerce fees. You can only pay the fee using a credit card. They accept all credit cards. 

You may be asked a few questions such as how long you will stay in UAE, is it your first time in UAE, what do you plan to do in the UAE, etc. 

Answer the questions, move over to the camera area when asked, take your passport and exit the immigration area. 

Quickly check your entry stamp to make sure everything is looking good. 

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Conclusion

The 14-day UAE or Dubai Visa on Arrival is only available to Indian nationals with a US visa, US green card or a residence permit from the UK or any EU country. 

UAE Visa on Arrival is a much better option for Indian nationals with above visas if planning to spend less than 14 days in the UAE compared to a 30-day tourist visa. The fee for UAE Visa on Arrival is almost 1/3rd the fee of a 30-day tourist visa.