The procedure for obtaining a UAE visit visa depends on your nationality. GCC citizens do not require a visa, while nationalities from 46 other countries  will obtain a 30-day visa on arrival. All other nationalities must apply for a visit visa in advance – this needs to be sponsored by a hotel or tour operator, or by someone who is resident in Abu Dhabi. 

If the latter, the visit visa can be applied for by either an individual or corporate sponsor, allowing the visitor to stay in Abu Dhabi for a short-term (30 days) or long-term (90 days) stay. It is usually issued to those who are on a business trip, plan to stay with a friend or relative, or those who have planned a holiday.

The visit visa permits one entry into Abu Dhabi within two months of the date of issue; if you remain in the UAE beyond your permitted period of stay, you will have to pay a fine of Dhs.100, plus Dhs.100 for each day you have overstayed. This fine must be paid before you are permitted to leave.

Prerequisites

• A family member can sponsor a visitor if he/she is resident in the UAE. His or her monthly salary must be a minimum of Dhs.4,000 (or Dhs.3,000 plus accommodation).
• A GCC resident can sponsor a visitor as long as he or she is a business person, company manager or representative or holds a professional post.
• A GCC resident is able to sponsor his wife as long as she has a valid residence visa in her husband’s GCC country and he resides in the UAE.
• Tourist visas (valid for 30, 40, or 60 days) can only be applied for through a licensed hotel, travel or tourism agency. See abudhabi.ae or visaprocess.ae for further information.
• Minimum six months validity on passport.

What to bring

• Visitor’s passport (copy).
• One passport-sized photo of the sponsored person.

• Dhs.500 for a 30-day visa or Dhs.1,010 for a 90-day visa.
• Additional Dhs.100 for urgent processing (optional).
• Dhs.1,000 refundable deposit.
• Two application forms typed in English or Arabic (downloaded from adnrd.gov.ae).
• A letter stating the reason and purpose of the visit (proof of relationship may be required).

Company sponsors must provide:

• Trade licence (copy)
• Establishment immigration card 
• Representative card (original and copy)
• Profession of the visitor as per the GDRFA codes (see adnrd.gov.ae)

Individual sponsors must provide:

• Two application forms in English and Arabic (typed).
• Sponsor’s employment contract (original and copy) to be attested by the GDRFA on payment (costs Dhs.130).
• Sponsor’s salary certificate (dated within the last three months).
• Sponsor’s tenancy contract (copy) – unless accommodation is provided by an employer – to be attested through Tawtheeq, the online system of Abu Dhabi Municipality.
• Attested marriage certificate if sponsoring spouse (from UAE embassy in home country and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in UAE).
• Attested birth certificate of child (from UAE embassy in home country and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in UAE).

Procedure

• General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
• Sponsor visits a typing centre with documents to complete the application form and pay the fees.
• Sponsor submits the documents to the visa section of the GDRFA.
• Pay the visa deposit fee at the bank counter.
• Collect the visa.
• Visa is faxed or emailed to the visitor; sponsor keeps a copy.
• Sponsor collects the original visa at the visa counter in the airport (next to the arrivals hall) at least two hours before you arrive, and has the copy stamped.
• Once you land in Abu Dhbai exchange your copy of the visa for the original at the immigration desk in the airport.
• Passport is stamped at passport control in the airport.
• All visitors who need to apply for a visit visa before arrival to Abu Dhabi must have an eye scan (retina scan) at passport control.
• The Dhs.1,000 deposit is refunded once you leave Abu Dhabi.