This article lists the standard documents needed for a UAE visit/tourist visa application submitted through us. Depending on your nationality, the visa type, and whether your trip is sponsored, a few extra documents may be requested — our visa team will tell you if anything additional is needed for your case.
Standard documents — all applicants
- Passport — clear, full-colour scan of the photo (bio-data) page. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of arrival and have at least two blank pages.
- Photograph — a recent (within the last 6 months) colour photo on a plain white background, full face, neutral expression, eyes open, no sunglasses (clear prescription glasses without glare are acceptable), and no headwear except worn for religious reasons with the face fully visible. The common print size is 35 × 45 mm; the exact size and digital file/pixel specification depend on the portal you submit through, so use the spec for that channel.
- Confirmed return / round-trip flight booking.
- Proof of accommodation — a confirmed hotel booking for the full stay, or the host's details and address if you are staying with family or friends.
- Proof of funds(usually required) — a personal bank statement for the last 3–6 months showing sufficient balance, or equivalent proof of financial means.
- Travel / medical insurance(when required for the visa type or stay).
If your visit is sponsored by a UAE resident
- Sponsor's passport and residence visa / Emirates ID copy.
- Sponsor's salary certificate or tenancy contract (Ejari). Minimum monthly salary thresholds typically apply: AED 4,000 for first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second- and third-degree relatives, and AED 15,000 when sponsoring friends. (Confirm current thresholds at the time of application.)
- Proof of relationship for sponsored family members (e.g. marriage/birth certificate).
Document quality — the top causes of rejection
- Scans must be fully legible, in colour, complete (all four edges visible), and uncropped.
- The photo must meet the white-background / neutral-expression rules — blurred, filtered, or wrong-background photos are rejected.
- The passport must have 6+ months validity, and your name must match across passport, photo, and booking documents.
Processing & validity
- Processing time and the visa's validity/duration depend on the visa type selected at booking.
- Visa-free or visa-on-arrival eligibility depends on your nationality — if you qualify, you may not need this visa. Our team will confirm.
Note: UAE visa requirements are set by the federal ICP and, in Dubai, by GDRFA, and can change. This checklist is for guidance; your visa agent confirms the exact set for your application.