Dubai is a popular destination for tourists, families and business travellers who visit the UAE regularly. For frequent visitors, applying for a new visa every single time can get inconvenient, especially when several trips are planned throughout the year.
Dubai offers a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa that gives eligible travellers a lot more flexibility. This self-sponsored visa lets visitors enter and leave the UAE multiple times during its validity, without needing a local sponsor or host.
What Is Dubai’s Five-Year Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa?
The five-year multiple-entry tourist visa is issued through the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai (GDRFA Dubai). It is available to travellers of any nationality, as long as they meet the required eligibility conditions.
The visa stays valid for five years and lets holders make multiple trips to the UAE during that period. Travellers can stay for up to 90 days on each visit, with the option to extend for another 90 days.
There is one important limit worth understanding, though. The total time spent in the UAE cannot go beyond 180 days in a calendar or applicable one-year period under the visa conditions.
Who Can Apply for the Five-Year Tourist Visa?
This visa is built for people who travel to the UAE regularly and want a longer-term visit option. It works well for frequent tourists, family visitors and business travellers who need to make repeated trips.
Unlike some visit visa categories, this one is self-sponsored, meaning eligible applicants do not need a UAE-based person or company to sponsor their visit.
The visa is open to applicants from any nationality, but meeting the documentation and financial requirements is essential. GDRFA Dubai may also ask for additional information depending on the specific application.
Documents Required for the Dubai Five-Year Visa
Applicants need to prepare a handful of documents before submitting their application. A valid passport is required, with at least six months of validity remaining.
A recent personal photograph, valid health insurance and a round-trip flight ticket round out the basic document requirements. Applicants must also provide bank statements covering the previous six months.
These bank statements need to be in the applicant’s name and attested. Applicants have to show a maintained bank balance of at least $4,000 (Dh14,690), or its equivalent in another currency, over the six months before applying.
GDRFA Dubai may ask for additional documents or information depending on the details of an individual application, so applicants should make sure everything they submit is accurate and up to date.
How Much Does Dubai’s Five-Year Tourist Visa Cost?
The total cost of the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa comes to around Dh3,713, according to GDRFA Dubai. That figure includes the visa charges, service fees and a refundable financial guarantee.
The estimated fee structure includes an application fee of Dh100 and an issuance fee of Dh500. A refundable guarantee of Dh3,000 is also part of the total, along with a few other service and government charges.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | Dh100 |
| Issuance fee | Dh500 |
| Guarantee amount | Dh3,000 |
| Warranty service fee | Dh21 |
| Guarantee collection and return fee | Dh20 |
| Knowledge Dirham | Dh10 |
| Innovation Dirham | Dh10 |
| Service fee | Dh52.50 |
| Estimated total | Dh3,713 |
This works out to an estimated total of Dh3,713. The final amount can shift depending on the applicant’s circumstances and whether any additional charges or requirements apply.
Applicants already inside the UAE may also need to pay extra fees if they need to change their current visa status.
How Long Can You Stay in Dubai With This Visa?
One of the biggest perks of the five-year visa is being able to make repeated visits, but travellers still need to keep a close eye on their permitted stay.
A visitor can stay for up to 90 days per visit and can extend for another 90 days before racking up an overstay fine. The total permitted stay cannot go beyond 180 days during the relevant one-year period.
Unused days do not carry over to the next year. That means any leftover days from one period, including days remaining after an extension, cannot simply be added on to the following year’s allowance.
Travellers are responsible for keeping track of their own entry and exit dates. Anyone unsure about their travel history can request an entry and exit report to check exactly how many days they have spent in the UAE.
When Does the Entry Period Start?
There is also an important difference between the visa’s validity and the permitted stay in the UAE. The visa itself is valid for entry within two months of the date it is issued.
This entry period can be extended for another two months. Once the traveller makes their first entry into the UAE, the one year used to calculate the permitted stay kicks in.
Keeping a record of travel dates can go a long way in helping visa holders avoid accidentally overstaying.
How to Apply for Dubai’s Five-Year Tourist Visa
Applications can be submitted through GDRFA Dubai’s online services. Applicants need to create an account and provide their personal, passport and travel information before submitting the required documents.
Step 1: Create a GDRFA Dubai Account
Visit the GDRFA Dubai website and select the login option. Choose “Individuals” and then select “Register now” to create an account.
Applicants need to enter details such as their name, email address and date of birth. The email address gets verified using a one-time password before the account is created.
Step 2: Select the Five-Year Tourist Visa
After logging into GDRFA Smart Services, select “New Application.” From the available options, choose “New 5 Years Tourism Entry Permit” and proceed with the application.
Applicants should double-check that they have selected the correct visa category before moving on to the next stage.
Step 3: Fill in the Application Form
The next step involves entering passport, personal, contact and travel information. The purpose of the visit should be selected as “Tourism.”
Applicants who are already inside the UAE should also check whether additional charges apply for changing their visa status.
Step 4: Upload the Required Documents
Applicants must upload the required supporting documents along with the application. These include the passport, recent photograph, health insurance, round-trip ticket and six months of bank statements.
The documents need to meet the required conditions, particularly around passport validity, insurance coverage and financial proof. GDRFA Dubai may ask for additional documents if needed.
Step 5: Pay the Fees and Submit
Once the application form and documents are complete, applicants can pay the applicable fees online using a debit or credit card.
After submitting the application, the applicant receives a reference number, which can be used to track the progress of the visa application.
Step 6: Receive the Visa
If the application gets approved, the applicant is notified by SMS and email. A digital copy of the entry permit is also sent to the registered email address.
Travellers should check the visa details once they receive it and make sure their personal information and permitted dates are all correct.
Also Read: 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant Is Moving to Dubai Creek Harbour This Q4
How to Avoid Overstaying
With a multiple-entry visa, keeping track of travel dates matters a lot, especially since frequent travellers may make several trips to the UAE within the same year.
An entry and exit travel report can help visitors check their previous movements and calculate exactly how many days they have spent in the country. This is especially handy for people who enter and leave the UAE often.
Travellers should also remember that extending a 90-day stay does not remove the overall stay limit. The extension still counts toward the maximum permitted period.
What Frequent Travellers Should Keep in Mind
The five-year multiple-entry tourist visa can make repeated UAE visits a lot easier, since travellers do not need to apply for a new tourist visa every single trip, as long as their existing visa stays valid and they continue meeting the applicable conditions.
That said, the visa does not mean a visitor can stay in Dubai continuously for five years straight. The five-year period refers to how long the visa itself remains valid, while separate rules govern how long the holder can actually stay in the UAE during each visit and within the applicable annual period.
Applicants should also keep in mind that the listed Dh3,713 amount is an estimated total, and individual circumstances can affect the final cost. GDRFA Dubai may request additional documents or information during the application process.
For specific questions about an application, applicants can contact GDRFA Dubai on 800 5111 from within the UAE or +971 4 313 9999 from outside the country.