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Afghan citizens need a UAE visa issued before they travel to Dubai. The tourist visa is filed by a Dubai tourism company with GDRFA and costs AED 210 for 30 days, usually in 48 hours. One extra document is required: a copy of your Tazkira, the Afghan national ID card. Without it, the file is incomplete. A relative in the UAE can also sponsor you.
The Tazkira rule
GDRFA's single and multiple entry tourist visa pages add one condition for some nationalities: an identity card from the country of origin. Afghanistan is on that list, by nationality. The Emirates airline page says the same in its own way, asking for the "National ID Card (Tazkira ID)" from visitors coming from Afghanistan.
What to send:
- A sharp colour scan of the Tazkira, the whole card, nothing cropped.
- A spelling and date of birth that match the passport. If they differ, fix it at home before you apply.
- A card you can still read. A worn or damaged card can cause the file to be sent back.
The two sources do not say exactly the same thing. GDRFA links the rule to your nationality. Emirates links it to your country of residence. So an Afghan living in Iran, Turkey or Europe should still expect GDRFA to ask for the Tazkira.
What the ban reports say
You may have seen headlines about a ban. Here is what we found when checking on :
- A circular, reported in the media, listed 13 countries for a pause on new visas, Afghanistan among them. The UAE never confirmed it.
- In some outlets reported a pause for nine countries, Afghanistan included, again from an internal circular. Some of the named countries' embassies denied it, and no official UAE notice appeared.
- The MOFA visa page lists Afghanistan as visa required. That means apply in advance, not banned.
Treat these reports as unconfirmed. In practice, ask the company filing your visa whether Afghan files are going through, before you pay.
Fees for Afghan applicants
| Visa | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist, 30 days, single entry | AED 210 | GDRFA, through a tourism company |
| Tourist, 60 days, single entry | AED 315 | GDRFA, VAT included |
| Tourist, 30 days, multiple entry | AED 315 | GDRFA |
| Tourist, 60 days, multiple entry | AED 525 | GDRFA |
| Visit visa from a relative | AED 100 application, AED 100 a month issuance, AED 100 smart services, AED 20 deposit fee | ICP, plus a refundable AED 1,000 guarantee |
Source: GDRFA tourist visa pages and ICP visit visa page, checked .
Published agency prices for the 30-day single entry tourist visa range from about AED 340 to AED 800 (8 Dubai agencies, checked ). These include the agency's own fee. They are not government prices.
Afghans living in a Gulf country
If you hold a residence permit in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain, GDRFA has a separate entry visa for GCC residents. It depends on the profession on your residence being on the approved list, and the permit must be valid for at least a year. See Dubai visa for GCC residents.
Work in the UAE
A tourist visa is for a visit. A job needs a UAE employer, who applies for the work permit and residence visa. Be wary of anyone offering an Afghan passport holder a "work visa" that is really a tourist visa. If something goes wrong, you carry the overstay fines (AED 50 a day) and the record.
Documents checklist
- Afghan passport, valid for at least 6 months from arrival.
- Tazkira copy.
- Photo on a white background, ICAO standard.
- Return or onward ticket.
- Health insurance valid in the UAE.
- For a family visa: the sponsor's residence, Emirates ID and salary proof.
The full list for all nationalities is on the Dubai visa requirements page.
Processing time
GDRFA gives 48 hours for a tourist visa and ICP gives 2 days for a visit visa, both counted from a complete file. If the Tazkira copy is missing or unreadable, the clock stops. GDRFA allows 30 days to send a missing document; after that the request is cancelled.
Why Afghan applications are refused
- No Tazkira copy, or one that does not match the passport.
- Passport with less than 6 months left.
- A sponsor whose salary is below the ICP level.
- A previous overstay or absconding case in the UAE.
More examples are on the visa rejection reasons page. Once the visa is issued, you can confirm it is genuine with a Dubai visa verification check.
How it works with us
Send the Afghan passport page and the Tazkira scan on WhatsApp, or through the form on this page, with your dates. A visa adviser checks both documents side by side, since a name mismatch holds a file up, and tells you which visa fits. You get one total price, confirmed on WhatsApp before you pay. The team files with GDRFA or ICP, answers any request for extra papers, and emails you the e-visa.
DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service. We are not GDRFA, ICP or any embassy, and the authorities alone approve or refuse a visa. After a refusal, the government fee is not refunded by the authorities. Before payment, your adviser states in writing what part of the total, if any, you would get back.
Official sources
- MOFA visa exemptions page: Afghanistan shown as visa required.
- GDRFA tourist visa documents: national ID card condition for some nationalities.
- GDRFA multiple entry tourist visa: fees and the same ID condition.
- Emirates UAE visa information: Tazkira named for visitors from Afghanistan.
- ICP visit visa: relative sponsor fees and salary levels.
