30 Days Dubai Visa: Real Costs, Exact Documents & Zero Confusion Guide 2026
Planning a trip to Dubai? The visa part should not be complicated. This guide covers everything about the 30 days Dubai visa — real costs in AED, USD and INR, exact documents, processing time, extension rules, and the most common mistakes that get applications rejected. No guesswork, no outdated numbers.
What Is a 30 Days Dubai Visa?
A 30 days Dubai visa is a pre-approved entry permit that allows you to enter Dubai and stay for up to 30 continuous days. It covers all seven UAE emirates — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain. You do not need a separate visa for each emirate.
The visa is processed by two main UAE authorities — ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) and GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai). Both issue the same visa type. Fees may vary slightly between them.
Two numbers every applicant must understand:
The visa is valid for 60 days from the date it is approved — this is your window to enter UAE
Your actual stay inside UAE is 30 days — counted from the date you land at immigration
These are two completely separate numbers. Mixing them up is the most common validity mistake applicants make every year.
Who Needs to Apply in Advance?
Before spending time on an application, confirm you actually need one. Over 80 nationalities receive free visa on arrival at Dubai airport — no advance application, no fee.
Visa on arrival applies to:
USA, UK, EU countries, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand and 75+ others
These travelers get stamped at the airport and can stay 30 or 90 days depending on nationality
Pre-arranged visa is required for:
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Nigeria, Kenya, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Morocco and most of Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia
GCC residents — a rule most people miss:
If you live in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, or Qatar on a valid residence permit, you can get a visa stamp on arrival in Dubai
This applies even if your passport nationality would normally require a pre-arranged visa
Your GCC residence permit must be valid for at least 3 months from the date you enter UAE
This rule saves Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi workers based in GCC countries a full application process
30 Days Dubai Visa Cost 2026 — Actual Numbers
The cost has two layers. First is the government fee paid to ICP or GDRFA. Second is a service charge added by whoever processes your application. These together make up the total you pay.
Single Entry — Standard Processing:
Government fee: AED 300 to 350
Total including service charges: AED 450 to 650
In USD: approximately 122 to 177
In INR: approximately 10,200 to 14,800
Single Entry — Express Processing:
Total including express surcharge: AED 520 to 750
In USD: approximately 142 to 204
In INR: approximately 12,200 to 17,600
Multiple Entry — Standard Processing:
Total including service charges: AED 690 to 850
In USD: approximately 188 to 231
In INR: approximately 16,200 to 19,900
Multiple Entry — Express Processing:
Total including express surcharge: AED 780 to 950
In USD: approximately 212 to 259
In INR: approximately 18,300 to 22,300
What affects where your final bill lands:
Applying directly through ICP Smart Services is cheapest
Airlines like Emirates and Flydubai are mid-range
Licensed travel agencies charge more but offer faster support and error-checking
Express processing adds approximately AED 300 on top of standard fees
Some nationalities face additional screening or deposit requirements
Single Entry vs Multiple Entry — Which One to Pick
The difference is simple but the consequences of picking wrong are expensive.
Single Entry:
Allows one entry into UAE only
Once you exit Dubai for any reason — side trip, connecting flight, day trip to Oman — the visa is cancelled immediately
Days remaining on your visa do not matter once you exit
Costs AED 200 to 250 less than multiple entry
Multiple Entry:
Allows unlimited re-entries within the 60-day issue validity window
Total stay across all visits combined cannot exceed 30 days
Covers Oman day trips, Bahrain visits, or any exit and re-entry scenario
The decision rule:
If your entire trip is Dubai-only with zero planned exits, single entry saves you money
If there is even a small chance of leaving UAE once — pay the extra AED 200 and get multiple entry
Applying for a second single-entry visa from outside UAE costs as much as the multiple entry would have in the first place
Documents Required — Complete List
The document list is shorter than most people expect. But the quality of each document matters more than the quantity. A blurry scan or wrong photo background is enough to delay your application by 2 to 3 days.
Core documents required for all nationalities:
Passport copy of the bio page — minimum 6 months validity from entry date, scanned clearly, all four corners visible, no shadows or glare
Passport-size photo — white background only, full face visible, no glasses, no headwear except for religious reasons, taken within the last 6 months
Hotel booking confirmation — must cover the full stay duration, guest name must match passport exactly
Confirmed return flight ticket — shows entry into and exit from UAE within visa validity
Bank statement for the last 3 months — shows financial capacity, AED 3,000 to 5,000 equivalent is the practical minimum most agencies recommend
Travel insurance — mandatory requirement since 2024, must specifically cover medical expenses inside UAE
Additional documents for specific situations:
Visiting family or friends in UAE: sponsor's Emirates ID copy and their UAE residence visa copy
Self-employed or freelancers: trade license or business registration documents from home country
Students: university enrollment letter or student ID card
Indian applicants with a valid US, UK, or EU visa or residence permit: may qualify for simplified processing — check current rules at the time of application
Child Visa Rules — What Parents Must Know
Children are not covered under a parent's visa. Every traveler regardless of age needs their own individual visa at the same fee as adults.
Documents required for a child's visa:
Child's passport copy
White background passport-size photo
Birth certificate — required for all children under 18
Both parents' passport copies
Traveling with one parent:
A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the absent parent is strongly recommended
Without it, immigration at Dubai airport may ask questions that cause significant delays
Child traveling without parents:
Requires signed NOC from both parents plus complete guardian documentation at the destination
Not common for tourist visits and requires additional sponsor paperwork
Name Spelling — The Most Common Rejection Cause for South Asian Applicants
Name mismatches between your visa application and passport cause more delays and rejections than any other single issue for Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi applicants.
Why it happens:
Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi passports often have names transliterated in multiple ways
Mohammad, Muhammad, Mohammed — the system treats these as different names
Singh with a space vs without a space — both appear in Indian passports
Maiden name vs married name — passport may still carry the old name
South Indian passports with initials — full form may be required on the form
The rule:
Open your passport bio page
Type every character of your name exactly as it appears on that page — same spelling, same spacing, same order
Do not correct apparent misspellings
If your passport says Mohammd, submit Mohammd
Immigration matches your application to your passport, not to the conventionally correct spelling
How to Apply — Step by Step
Step 1 — Choose your application channel
ICP Smart Services online portal is the most cost-effective route. Emirates and Flydubai handle visa applications directly if you are flying with them. Licensed agencies like the team at Dubai Visits Visa offer full-service processing with document checking, faster query resolution, and express options for all nationalities.
Step 2 — Prepare all documents before opening the form
Have your passport scan, photo, hotel confirmation, flight ticket, bank statement, and travel insurance ready as clear digital files before you start filling anything. Starting the form and then scrambling for documents mid-session is the most common cause of errors and delays.
Step 3 — Fill the form and match your passport exactly
Name, date of birth, passport number, passport expiry — one character wrong flags the application. Use the exact date format specified, typically DD/MM/YYYY.
Step 4 — Pay by card
International debit and credit cards are accepted — Visa, Mastercard, and Amex.
Step 5 — Track and receive your visa
You will receive a reference number after submission. Track status via the ICP portal, GDRFA portal, or your agency dashboard. Your approved e-visa arrives by email. Save it on your phone or print a copy — show it at immigration when you land.
Apply minimum 7 to 10 working days before your flight for standard processing. During Eid, UAE National Day, or summer school holidays — add 3 to 5 extra working days on top of that.
Processing Time
Standard processing: 2 to 5 UAE working days from complete document submission
Express processing: 24 to 48 hours — adds approximately AED 300
Urgent same-day processing: 4 to 12 hours — adds approximately AED 500 to 600
Things most applicants do not know about processing time:
UAE working days run Sunday to Thursday — Friday and Saturday are weekends
If you submit on a Thursday, your application enters the queue on Sunday
The clock starts when complete documents are submitted — not when payment is made
Incomplete applications reset the queue entirely
Some nationalities require additional security screening that adds 3 to 7 extra working days beyond standard timelines
Express processing is not guaranteed for all nationalities — confirm with your agency before paying the surcharge
Peak periods when processing takes longer:
Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha — allow 4 to 7 working days minimum
UAE National Day (2 to 3 December) — allow extra time
Summer school holidays (mid-July to late August) — high volume period
Last two weeks of December — very high demand period
Ready to Apply
The application is fully online. Your approved e-visa is delivered to your email. All nationalities are supported and visa experts are available 7 days a week.
Apply for your 30 days single entry Dubai visa at dubaivisitsvisa.com/dubai-visa-types/30-days-single-entry-visa
Fast processing with standard and express options
All nationalities supported
WhatsApp support available: +971588850205
Free consultation with reply within 1 hour