Indian citizens holding an ordinary passport and possessing a US green card or a residency visa in the UK or European Union must initiate an online application to obtain a pre-approved visa-on-arrival for entry into the UAE as visitors for 14 days. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai mentioned that the short-term visa can be prolonged once for an additional 14 days.
Over the years, eligible Indian travelers have been receiving visa-on-arrival at UAE airports, usually stamped at the immigration counter upon arrival. However, now, travelers to Dubai are required to apply for the service online through the GDRFA website.
The application process entails registering on the official GDRFA website, providing necessary details, meeting the requirements, and paying the applicable fees (Dh253). Upon approval, the visa is dispatched to the user via email, with an expected processing time of 48 hours.
Additionally, the GDRFA outlined specific requirements including a valid passport or travel document, a US green card, or a residency visa from the UK or European Union countries, and a personal photo with a white background.
Emirates customers who are Indian passport holders and have booked their travel with the airline were given the option of a pre-approved 14-day single entry visa, facilitating expedited processing upon arrival in Dubai. The application process for this facility is handled by the Dubai Visa Processing Center (DVPC) run by VFS Global, the facility authorized by Emirates Airline to process UAE visas. Emirates emphasized that the issuance of visas is at the absolute discretion of GDRFA.
