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A Sharjah visit visa is issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), not by Dubai's GDRFA. You can get it through a UAE resident sponsor, a tourism establishment, or at the airport if your passport qualifies. A relative visa takes about 2 days and needs a refundable guarantee.
Sharjah uses ICP, Dubai uses GDRFA
Every emirate except Dubai files visas through ICP. That includes Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah. The visa itself lets you enter the whole country. The difference shows up later, when you extend, pay a fine or cancel: those steps follow the office that issued the visa.
The practical point for visitors: if you are staying in Sharjah or arriving at Sharjah Airport, ask your host or agent which authority issued the permit. Extensions and fines for an ICP visa are paid on the ICP Smart Services website with a UAE Pass login. The Dubai GDRFA site will not show them.
The routes to a Sharjah visa
| Route | Who it fits | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Visa on arrival | Passports on the Sharjah Airport list | Passport only, free for 30 days, renewable once |
| Tourism establishment | Tourists from any other passport | Passport copy, photo, health insurance valid in the UAE |
| Resident sponsor | Family and friends of a UAE resident | Sponsor's papers, passport copy, photo, guarantee |
| Business multiple entry | Business visitors | Proof of a working relationship with a UAE company |
The Sharjah Airport visa page lists 44 countries for the free visa on arrival. It names the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore and most EU states. That page looks older than the lists from Emirates and the UAE government, so check your passport on the UAE visa on arrival page before you rely on it.
Tourists who do not qualify can apply through travel agencies or the hotel, for 30 or 90 days, renewable. Business visitors can apply for a multiple-entry visa valid six months with stays of up to 30 days each. They have to show a working relationship with a company based in the UAE.
Fees and the deposit
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Relative or friend visa, application | AED 100 | ICP |
| Issuance, single entry | AED 100 per month | ICP |
| Issuance, multiple entry | AED 200 per month | ICP |
| Smart services | AED 100 | ICP |
| Guarantee, single entry | AED 1,000, refundable | ICP and Sharjah Airport |
| Extension | AED 100 application plus AED 500 | ICP |
Source: ICP visit visa service and ICP extension service, checked .
The sponsor must show monthly income of AED 4,000 for first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second and third-degree relatives and AED 15,000 for friends. First degree means father, mother, spouse, son or daughter.
What Dubai agencies charge
Dubai visa agencies publish about AED 340 to AED 800 for a 30-day single entry tourist visa (published prices of 8 Dubai agencies, checked ). For a 60-day single entry visa the range is AED 535 to AED 1,200. That is the agency price on top of the government fee, and it is not our price.
Transit through Sharjah
ICP lists a 96-hour transit visa and a 48-hour transit visa, single entry and not extendable. The application goes through the airline, and you need an onward ticket and a passport valid for the next country. The Sharjah Airport page says the transit visa is currently not available and that transit passengers cannot leave the airport. Because the two official pages disagree, ask your airline before you plan a stop in the city. Our Dubai transit visa page has the fees.
Processing time
ICP lists 2 days for visit visa issuance and for extensions. A resident sponsor can apply on the ICP Smart Services website or app. You enter inside the entry window printed on the permit; ICP lists 60 days from issue for relative visas, and an extension of that window costs AED 50.
Common reasons a Sharjah visa stalls
- Passport validity under 6 months.
- A sponsor whose income or visa category does not meet the limit for that relationship.
- A photo with a coloured background.
- A name spelled differently on the passport and the application.
- No guarantee paid, or no UAE health insurance on a tourist file.
How it works with us
Send your passport copy and travel dates on WhatsApp or through the form on this page. A visa adviser checks which Sharjah route fits your passport and your host. You get one total price before you pay. Our team files the request on the ICP route, follows it until the permit is issued, and sends you the e-visa. We are a private visa service, not ICP or any government office. The authorities decide every application.
Government fees and the guarantee are paid to the authority. If a visa is refused, the authority does not refund its fees. Before you pay, your adviser tells you in writing what part of the total, if any, comes back.
FAQ and next steps
If your visa is about to end, read the Abu Dhabi visa extension page, which shows the ICP steps that also apply in Sharjah, and the UAE overstay fine rules. For a family visit see Dubai family visit visa. If you plan to live in Sharjah, the Sharjah residence visa page covers that.
Official sources
- ICP visit visa service: fees, guarantee, sponsor income.
- ICP visit visa extension: extension fees and limits.
- Sharjah Airport visa information: visa on arrival list, sponsored visa, transit note.
- ICP customer happiness centres: the Sharjah main centre is on Airport Street, Bridge No. 6, Al Rahmaniya.
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