Last updated
Visas from Dubai depend on your passport first and your UAE residence second. Your nationality decides if you need a visa. Your residence decides where you apply, often at VFS Global or BLS in Dubai, and how long it must stay valid. A few places, like Georgia, let residents in without a visa. Agency prices run from under AED 100 for Oman to AED 1,800 for the UK.
Five things that apply almost everywhere
1. The passport decides. An Emirati, a British expat and an Indian expat in the same office need different things for the same trip. Read every rule with your own nationality in mind, and be careful with "visa free for UAE residents" lists, which often mix passports up.
2. You apply where you live. The EU rule is to apply at the consulate responsible for the country where you are legally resident. For a UAE expat that means filing in the UAE, not flying home to apply. Some posts split by emirate. Germany sends Dubai and Northern Emirates residents to VFS Dubai and Abu Dhabi and Al Ain residents to VFS Abu Dhabi.
3. Your residence has to outlast the trip. Each embassy sets its own margin:
| Destination | UAE residence must be valid |
|---|---|
| Germany | 3 months beyond departure from Schengen |
| Austria | 3 months after the visa expires |
| Switzerland | 1 month after your return, Emirates ID too |
| South Korea (consulate) | At least 6 months |
| Qatar A2 | 6 months from arrival |
| Armenia waiver | 6 months from entry |
If your residence is due for renewal, renew first and apply after.
4. Paperwork about your job and money. Germany's checklist is typical: a letter from your sponsor with your position, salary and approved leave dates, and personal bank statements for at least the last 3 months. Expect something similar for most long-haul and Schengen visas.
5. Appointment timing. For Schengen you may apply from 6 months to 15 days before you travel. The UK opens 3 months before. Japan's centre in Dubai takes files within 90 days of travel. Slots at busy centres go first, so book the appointment before the flights.
Destinations compared
| Destination | What a typical UAE expat needs | Official fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen | Schengen visa C, up to 90 days in 180 | EUR 90 adult | VFS Global or BLS, by country |
| United Kingdom | Standard Visitor visa (or ETA for exempt passports) | GBP 135 | Online, then VFS |
| United States | B1/B2 visa with interview | See the State Department | US mission in the UAE, see ae.usembassy.gov |
| Canada | Visitor visa plus biometrics (or eTA) | CAD 100 plus CAD 85 | Online, biometrics at VFS |
| Australia | Visitor visa subclass 600 | See Home Affairs | ImmiAccount, biometrics at VFS |
| New Zealand | Visitor visa (or NZeTA) | From NZD 441 | Online |
| Japan | Visa or eVISA, UAE residents only | AED 80 plus AED 100 VFS fee | VFS Global Japan centre |
| China | Visa, unless your passport is on the 30-day list | Not confirmed | Chinese Visa Service Center, WAFI Mall |
| South Korea | K-ETA if eligible, else consulate visa | USD 40 single | Korean Consulate General Dubai |
| Singapore | Visa for listed passports | S$30 plus AED 65 | Visa agents appointed by Singapore |
| Thailand | e-Visa, unless on the 30-day exemption | AED 400 single tourist | thaievisa.go.th |
| Turkey | Visa or conditional e-Visa, UAE residence does not count | Shown in the e-Visa form | evisa.gov.tr or the mission |
| Georgia | Nothing, with a UAE visa or residence permit | None | Entry at the border |
| Armenia | Nothing, for 111 nationalities with 6 months of residence | None | Entry at the border |
| Azerbaijan | ASAN e-visa | Not confirmed | evisa.gov.az |
| Russia | Unified e-visa, by passport | Not shown publicly | evisa.kdmid.ru |
| Egypt | e-Visa for listed passports | USD 30 single | visa2egypt.gov.eg |
| Oman | GCC Resident Visa, profession on the list | Not on the public page | Royal Oman Police eVisa |
| Saudi Arabia | Tourist eVisa for GCC residents | Not stated officially | visa.visitsaudi.com |
| Qatar | GCC Resident Visa A2 | QAR 100 | Hayya |
| Kuwait | Tourist visa, single entry | By nationality, in the form | Kuwait MOI visa portal |
| Bahrain | eVisa or visa on arrival for listed passports | Shown after applying | evisa.gov.bh |
Sources: the embassy, ministry and portal pages listed on each destination page, checked . Fees change and many depend on nationality. Use the country page for detail.
What agencies charge, and why it varies
Dubai visa agencies publish very different prices. For Oman they start at about AED 91.50 to AED 350 (6 agencies). For the UK they run about AED 845 to AED 1,800 (5 agencies), and for New Zealand about AED 1,050 to AED 1,800 (4 agencies). All checked .
The spread has plain causes. Some agencies show a service fee only. Some fold in the embassy and visa centre fees. Some list a cheaper product, such as a UK ETA, as if it were a visa. Before you compare two quotes, ask each what the total includes: visa fee, visa centre fee, insurance, appointment booking.
When you need an agency, and when you do not
You can file most of these yourself. Georgia and Armenia need nothing for many residents. Russia, Azerbaijan, Egypt and Thailand run online systems. Help is most useful for Schengen and UK files, where the appointment, the cover letter and the bank statements decide the outcome, and for families with several nationalities on one trip.
Official starting points
- European Commission, applying for a Schengen visa: fees, filing window, where residents apply.
- German missions in the UAE: residence validity, bank statements, employer letter.
- GOV.UK, Standard Visitor visa: UK fee and timing.
- VFS Global, Japan in Dubai: residents-only rule and fees.
- Consulate General of Korea in Dubai: residence rule and fees.
For the visa-free side, read visa-free countries for UAE residents. For Europe, start at Schengen visa from Dubai or the UK visa from Dubai page. Heading east, see the Japan visa for UAE residents page.
