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Children and babies flying to Dubai need their own visa, on the same rules as an adult with that passport. A child on a visa-required passport gets an e-visa in its own name. The official GDRFA and ICP fee pages show no separate child fee, though some agencies publish child prices from AED 100. You add a birth certificate and the parents' passport copies.
Does your child need a visa at all
Start with the passport, not the age. Children follow the nationality rule of the passport they hold:
- Visa on arrival passport (UK, US, most of the EU, Malaysia and others): the child is stamped at the airport with you. See the UAE visa on arrival lists.
- Visa-required passport (India, the Philippines, Egypt and many more): the child needs an e-visa before the flight.
- Mixed family: if you hold a visa on arrival passport and your child holds a different one, the child's passport decides.
A parent's US visa or green card does not cover the child automatically. ICP's announcement of says family members can use the 60-day and 14-day visas for certain nationalities only if they meet the same conditions themselves.
Fees for a child's Dubai visa
GDRFA tourist visa fees, as published:
| Visa | Fee | With 5% VAT |
|---|---|---|
| 30 days single entry | AED 200 | AED 210 |
| 60 days single entry | AED 300 | AED 315 |
| 30 days multiple entry | AED 300 | AED 315 |
| 60 days multiple entry | AED 500 | AED 525 |
Source: GDRFA tourist visa service pages, checked . These pages, like the ICP pages, show no lower fee for children or infants.
If a relative in the UAE sponsors the trip instead of a tourism company, the child goes on the relative visit visa with its guarantee. That route is covered on our family visit visa page.
What Dubai agencies charge for children
Dubai visa agencies publish about AED 100 to AED 299 for a child's 30-day single entry visa (published prices of 2 Dubai agencies, checked ) and about AED 150 to AED 500 for a child's 60-day single entry visa (published prices of 2 Dubai agencies, checked ). Two agencies is a thin sample, so read it as a rough guide.
Documents for minors
- Child's passport scan, valid 6 months from arrival
- Recent photo on a white background, face fully visible
- Birth certificate copy in Arabic or English, which Emirates asks for when it sponsors minors
- Passport copies of both parents
- Health insurance valid in the UAE that names the child
- Return or onward ticket that includes the child
- Proof of relationship to the UAE host, if a relative sponsors the visit
One parent travelling alone with the child? The official visa pages we read set no written rule on consent letters. Do not guess. The adviser confirms for your child's nationality and airline whether a letter from the other parent is needed.
Photo rules for babies
ICP asks for an ICAO standard photo: recent, white background, clear face and eyes, no shadows, no hat. That is hard with a newborn. Lay the baby on a plain white sheet and shoot from straight above in daylight. No hands in the frame, no dummy, no toy. A shadow under the chin breaks the ICAO rule, and the file comes back for a new photo. More tips on our Dubai visa photo requirements page.
Steps that keep a family file together
- Check every passport, the child's included, for 6 months of validity.
- Decide the route: tourism company, airline or a relative's sponsorship.
- Prepare each person's photo and scans, named by person.
- Submit the children's applications in the same batch as the parents'.
- Check names, dates of birth and passport numbers on each e-visa the moment it arrives.
Processing time
GDRFA tourist visas take 48 hours and ICP visas 2 days, the same for children. A child's file with a weak photo or no birth certificate can hold up the whole family, so get those two right first.
Babies born in the UAE during a visit
A baby born in Dubai to parents on visit visas leaves on a departure permit. GDRFA charges AED 241, the father must attend in person, and you bring the baby's passport, photo, birth certificate and a ticket departing within 7 days. You leave within 7 days of issue. ICP's version is AED 200 plus AED 100 smart services, and a late exit costs AED 50 per day.
Common refusal and return reasons
- Child's photo with shadows, closed eyes or a parent's hand visible.
- Name spelled differently from the passport, common with new passports.
- Child's passport with less than 6 months left.
- No birth certificate where the route asks for one.
- Insurance policy that lists the parents but not the child.
How it works with us
Message us on WhatsApp, or use the form on this page, with every passport in the family and the travel dates. A visa adviser checks which visa each child needs, flags the photo or document that is likely to be sent back, and tells you whether a consent letter applies. You get one total price for the whole family before you pay. The team files the children with the parents and sends each e-visa as it is approved. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service. GDRFA or ICP decides every application, the children's included.
Government fees are not returned by the authorities after a refusal. Before payment, your adviser confirms in writing what share of our total, if any, comes back if a child's visa is refused.
Official sources
- GDRFA single-entry tourist visa: fees, insurance, passport rules.
- ICP FAQ: photo standard.
- ICP announcement on entry visas for certain nationalities: family members on the same conditions.
- GDRFA departure permit: newborn exit.
- ICP departure permit: fees and 7-day rule.
- Emirates UAE visa information: birth certificate for minors.
Checked . Confirm the details on the official page before you pay.
