Choose a page

Visas and passports for Dubai

Visas are automatically issued on arrival in Dubai for travellers with a Swedish passport. You do not need to apply for a visa in advance if you are satisfied with a tourist visa valid for up to 30 days. Please note that your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the UAE and that provisional passports are not accepted.

Dubai visa and passport

Please note that if you live in Sweden, but do not have a Swedish passport, different visa rules may apply.

At the moment, in September 2016, the visa rules for the United Arab Emirates (which includes Dubai) are as follows:

Travellers with passports or ID cards from the neighbouring countries of the UAE within the GCC area - Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar - do not need a visa.

Passport entitling you to a visa for Dubai

Travellers with passports from the following countries will receive a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival in the UAE at no cost and without the need to apply in advance:

United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Monaco, Vatican City State, Iceland, Andorra, Malta, Cyprus, San Marino, Lichtenstein, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Hong Kong.

Visa and sponsor required

If you have a passport issued in a country other than those listed above, you will need to apply for a visa in advance and you will also need to have a 'sponsor' in Dubai to help you apply for the visa.

For ordinary tourists, such sponsors are usually the hotel you are staying at or a local tour operator. For those who are going to work or study, it could be a company or a school.

Keep in mind that the list of countries, and visa rules, changes from time to time. The latest official visa information is available at this page on the UAE website.


Tips! Book attractions and excursions in Dubai

Heading to Dubai? Don't forget to book tickets for sights and excursions. You do it safely, conveniently and with the lowest price guarantee through our partner GetYourGuide. Below are some suggestions and here you will find everything you can book in Dubai.


The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Stockholm does not issue visas, but has the this information on its website. The Embassy of Sweden in Abu Dhabi has a informative page on travel to Dubai and elsewhere, where you can read more about visa and passport rules.

If, despite this information, you are unsure whether you need a visa, one tip is to use the IATA's smart web service.

Fill in all the details about your destination, nationality, where your passport was issued, etc., and you'll get an instant answer about whether you need to arrange a visa before travelling. Remember that Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates, so you should select 'United Arab Emirates' from the menu.

Fines for over stay

If you stay longer than the visa allows, you will have to pay a fine of currently 100 dirhams per day plus a 100 dirham start-up fee.

Bear in mind that many flights depart Dubai after midnight, which means that visitors trying to maximise their visa-free stay sometimes accidentally go over the 30-day limit.

Temporary passports not allowed in Dubai

Also note that Dubai does not accept temporary passports. If you have forgotten your passport, or if you discover that it has expired or is not valid for at least six months from your date of entry, by the time you get to the airport to travel to Dubai - it's too late.

The temporary passport issued by the police at, for example, Arlanda Airport is not valid for entry into the UAE. Just return home.

Israeli stamps in the passport

Travellers with Israeli passports are not admitted. However, despite rumours to the contrary, if you have travelled to Israel and have Israeli stamps in your passport, there should be no problem.

If you have Israeli stamps in your passport and want to be absolutely sure what applies, contact Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Stockholm before you travel.


Footnote. All about Dubai cannot help you with visas. We also do not answer individual visa questions. The information on this page is kept up to date, but we cannot guarantee that it is always accurate, as UAE consular regulations change from time to time. If you need more information, please contact official sources such as the UAE embassy or consulate, or ask your airline or hotel for advice.

(Page updated 2018-11-20)

67 Comments

  1. Kev

    I wonder, can you get a work visa in Dubai or UAE if you are convicted of a crime?

    Reply
  2. M

    Hi, I have been to Israel and have a valid entry visa to Israel until 8/3-2019. I am leaving for Dubai on 23/3. Will this cause any problems?

    Reply
  3. Lotten Nilsson

    Hi! I'm going to Turkey for a few days, and then on to Dubai. I have a Swedish passport, but do I need a visa as I am travelling from Turkey?

    Reply
  4. Cecilia

    Hi,
    I'm staying in Dubai and have 6 hours until my next flight. Do I have time to go into town and see something in that time?
    If so, what should I see?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Göran Ingman

      Hi Cecilia!

      You should be able to make it, but it might be wise to stay on the same side of town as the airport. Or at least don't stray too far.

      Take a taxi to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. Or check out the fairly new Dubai Frame attraction - it's just 10-15 minutes from the airport by car. Dubai Creek and the city's charming old quarter along the bay can also be reached quickly from the airport.

      https://www.alltomdubai.se/burj-khalifa/
      https://www.alltomdubai.se/dubai-frame/

      Reply
  5. Göran Ingman

    Many of you are contacting us with questions about visas and passports for Dubai / United Arab Emirates. Please read the text above first.

    We don't answer that kind of question, it has to be handled by official sources.

    It is impossible for us to give individual advice depending on the country you come from, the visa and the type of passport you have.

    Please,
    Göran
    Editor of All about Dubai

    Reply
  6. Maruf

    Hi! I live in Sweden but I don't have a Swedish passport but I have a permanent residence permit, and I wonder if I can go to Dubai as a tourist with my Turkmen passport... What and where can I contact before I buy a plane ticket and book a hotel?
    Thanks for the answer!

    Reply
  7. Esea

    Hi my husband has a swedish residence permit card which is valid for 5 years but has a turkish passport.. can he go to dubai without applying for a visa?

    Reply
  8. Mia

    Hi, I'm going to Abu Dhabi on Thursday next week (11 October 2018) and my passport expires on 24 March 2019. Can I travel to Abu Dhabi with my passport???

    Reply
    • Gitt

      Hey did you have a good time with your passport ? I was planning to go next week and have 5 months left on my passport. Do you dare to go

      Reply
      • Göran Ingman

        Hi, Gitt,

        To enter the UAE, your passport must be valid for six months from the date of entry. I would NOT take a chance and travel with a passport that has a shorter validity period than that.

        Göran
        Editor of Allt om Dubai

        Reply
  9. Hirut

    Hi! I live in Sweden, have permanent residence permit, I have Ethiopian passport and want to go to Dubai for a week and .How can I a visa?

    Reply
  10. Jonas

    Hi
    I have a Swedish passport with an Israeli stamp. I'm just stopping over in Dubai. Is it possible or is it not possible with an Israeli stamp?

    Reply
    • All about Dubai

      Hi Jonas,

      The United Arab Emirates has become less strict in its treatment of travellers with Israeli stamps in their passports. Simply changing flights in Dubai should not be a problem, nor should entering the country. But if in doubt, you should check with the country's embassy in Stockholm: http://www.uaeembassy.se/index.htm

      Reply
  11. jokes

    hi
    I'm going to Dubai in a week and I was wondering if I need to apply for a visa. I am a Swedish citizen (born in Sweden and living in Sweden) but I am of foreign origin.

    Reply
    • All about Dubai

      Hi Narjes,

      If you are a Swedish citizen and holder of a Swedish passport, you do not need to apply for a visa.

      Reply
  12. Joseph

    Hello!

    I'm going to India, but I'll have a 24-hour layover in Dubai both on my way to India and back to Sweden. I am a Swedish citizen.

    Do I need to apply for a visa if I want to walk around the city in Dubai?

    Reply
    • zedonk

      Hi Joseph,

      No, you don't. Travellers with a Swedish passport automatically receive a 30-day visa on arrival in Dubai.

      Reply
  13. Kim

    Hi
    I am travelling from Stockholm to Vietnam with Emirates. It will stop over in Dubai and wait 10 hours before the flight goes on to Vietnam. I have received a permanent residence permit but I keep my Vietnamese passport. I don't want to go out of the transit area, just want to stay inside and wait for the next plane. Do I need to apply for a transit visa? I have asked airlines but they did not know.
    Thank you for answer
    Mvh
    Kim

    Reply
    • zedonk

      Hi Kim,

      If you fly with the same airline all the way, don't have to pick up and check in your bags again, and never pass through passport control at the airport, then you don't need to apply for a visa. You only do that if you're actually going to enter the country, but you'll be in the airport's immigration department the whole time.

      Reply
  14. Mime

    Hi do you need a visa to dubai if you only have a swedish residence permit?

    Reply
  15. Reza

    Hi!
    I'm going to Dubai. but I have an Afghan passport, how lände take it and get visa? and how to do it?

    Mvh
    Reza

    Reply
  16. Reza

    Hi!
    Me and my girlfriend will travel to dubai and be there for a week, but I have a foreigner passport, I wonder should I apply for a visa or what should I do so that it doesn't get wrong there? We have a son who is 1 year old too.

    I am grateful for answers!

    Reply
    • admin

      Hi Reza,

      According to the information we have, the Alien Pass is not valid for entry into Dubai.

      This is what the Swedish Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (which includes Dubai) says on its website:

      "Provisional passports and alien's passports are not accepted for entry into the UAE. Attempts to enter with such documents will result in direct deportation back to the original destination."

      We cannot answer whether you can apply for a visa when you have a foreigner's passport, you will have to ask the UAE Embassy in Stockholm. You can find contact details and information at: http: //www.uaeembassy.se/index.htm

      Reply
  17. diana

    Hi do you need a visa to dubai if you only have a swedish residence permit?

    Reply
  18. Tarabi

    Hi! I have foreign passport and want to travel to Djabouti but want to change the flight in dubai, do you need to have transit visa if not leaving the airport.

    Reply
  19. Nebojsa Nikolic

    Hi Göran .

    25 October 2014

    I wonder if you can go with Swedish Stranger Pass to Dubai . Do you need a visa? How do you go about it?

    Yours sincerely, . Angela

    Reply
    • admin

      Hi Angela,

      I don't know what the rules are for a foreign passport when travelling to Dubai, but there is a risk that the visa rules are stricter than for a normal Swedish passport.

      The Swedish Migration Agency writes about alien's passports: 'For some countries you may need a visa. Contact the embassy of the country in question before you travel for more information."

      So the best thing you can do is to ask the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Stockholm. Contact details are here:

      Visas Contact Information
      Tel: +46 (0) 8 440 03 20
      Fax: +46 (0) 8 411 12 45
      E-mail: consstockholm@mofa.gov.ae

      Reply
  20. admin

    Hi Ola,

    Provided you are travelling with a passport that grants a visa on arrival - such as a Swedish passport - you can leave the airport during your waiting time without any problems.

    Reply
  21. Ola

    I have a stopover in Dubai before flying on to India. I have a 13-hour wait between planes in the middle of the night. Can I leave the airport?

    Reply
  22. Veronica

    One of us is Swedish, the other has a Lithuanian passport, do we need a transit visa?

    Reply
    • admin

      Hi, Veronica,

      If you do not leave the airport, no visa is required. However, if you make a stopover and stay for a while in Dubai between flights, those of you with a Lithuanian passport will probably need to apply for a transit visa. Always check with the airline/travel agent what applies.

      Reply
  23. Mona

    Hi! It's like this that I have travel document and I want to travel to dubai , will I get visa or not ? Thanks

    Reply
  24. Mona

    Hi! I want to travel to Dubai and I have travel documents ,I wonder how can I get visa? Can I get visa in Dubai arrival? Or I have to apply here? Thanks

    Reply
  25. Marie Hjalmarsson

    Hello and thank you for your gratifying reply!
    I have found info about the first of may on some sites, one of them is:
    dubai city guide.se/facts.php
    Strange!

    Thanks for a great and informative site.
    mvh
    marie

    Reply
  26. Marie Hjalmarsson

    Hi,
    we are travelling to Dubai soon and have a question about May Day being a big holiday in Dubai. What does it mean? Are shops closed?
    mvh
    Marie

    Reply
  27. Josefin

    Hey!

    Will travel to Dubai in about 3 weeks. I have to renew my passport, because my old one has expired. Could there be a problem if I renew my passport so close to my trip?

    MVH

    Reply
  28. Jess

    Hi! Travelling to Dubai on Friday and have an Israeli stamp in my passport. I see that you wrote that it should not be a problem, where can I read more about this? Thanks for the answer! Mvh Jessica

    Reply
  29. Ism

    Hey!

    I'm thinking of going to Dubai but I have an Iraqi passport, I don't have a Swedish passport yet.How do I go about it before going there should I contact the hotel before going there or can the embassy get me a visa. THANKS

    Reply
  30. dawod

    Hi I wonder how can I travel to dubai with my temporary residence permit from italy ? should i apply for visa before or do i get visa on arrival in dubai ? taksama for answer

    Reply
  31. Lebanon now

    Hello me and my wife are planning to travel to Dubai I have Swedish passport,but my wife has alien passport or so called Alien passport what is valid for us please

    Reply
  32. Peter Persson

    Hi!
    Already got answers to my questions here, so I just wanted to thank you for all the great answers and tips!!
    Best regards, Peter

    Reply
  33. Maria Lilja

    Do you need a visa if you are only stopping over in Dubai?? My husband & his daughter have Thai passports! Mvh Maria

    Reply
  34. Robert Blom

    Hey!

    My wife and I are moving to Dubai and know that we need to apply for a longer visa but don't know how to go about it. If anyone can be of help on how to go about this it would be appreciated!

    Reply
  35. Lars

    My wife and I are planning to go to Dubai in November. We have to take a wheelchair with us, she can walk short distances but not on stairs. We always get help at airports but is there a problem with using a wheelchair in Dubai and at tourist attractions and restaurants?

    Reply
  36. Pia

    Hi.
    We have bought a trip from Stockholm to Australia with Emirates. On the way out we have booked a stop-over two nights in Dubai. Emirates gives the impression that you should book everything through them to get in and out of the country easily. Is this true or do you dare to book yourself?

    Reply
  37. Liz

    Hi I'm thinking of going to dubai and working as an au pai in a family there... Please correct me if I'm wrong, but if they apply for a visa from there then I have the right to stay "indefinitely"? Or do I have to have an exit ticket when I arrive?

    Reply
  38. Nevena

    Hi. My partner and I are travelling to Dubai on 23 September 2013, we have bought tickets and booked a hotel. We are Serbian citizens and have Serbian passports but we both have permanent residence permits. Do we need to get a visa before the trip or will we get it upon arrival in Dubai. Regards/Nevena

    Reply
  39. Joanna

    hi me and my husband we want to go to dubaj in november ,he is a polish citizen must he get a visa first= it is EU country???

    Reply
  40. hannah

    Hi
    I will be going to Dubai in Nov this year. I heard that if you buy admission to the Burj Al Arab online it is much cheaper than buying it on site!
    isfl if this is true does anyone have any tips on the website or any link to buy entry on!!
    Thanks on for hand

    Reply
    • admin

      Hi Hannah!
      Do you mean Burj al Arab (the hotel that looks like a sail) or Burj Khalifa (the skyscraper)?
      There's more info on both here on All About Dubai:
      Burj al Arab
      Burj Khalifa

      Reply
  41. Nori

    Hi my name is Nori Wali i will want to go to dubi i have alien passport.i have to apply for visa to dubi?

    Regards Nori

    Reply
  42. in

    Hello,,, I am wondering how to get a visa to dubie it is my first time to travel ,,, I live in sweden and I am an iraqi citizen ,,,hope you swedes ...

    Reply
  43. admin

    Hi Monika!

    If your partner does not have a Swedish passport, but one issued in Kosovo, he will unfortunately not automatically receive a tourist visa on arrival. You will need to arrange a "sponsor" who will arrange a visa in advance, which will be ready on entry, this could be the hotel you are staying at or a tour operator. The issue has been discussed before, so check further down this thread.

    Hope it works out!

    Göran, All about Dubai

    Reply
  44. monika

    Hi
    My partner and I are going to Dubai. I have a Swedish passport but he does not. He has a kosovo passport, but has a permanent residence permit in sweden.
    Now we wonder how does it work with visa for him. Need help we have no idea.

    Reply
  45. admin

    Katrin: Right, you can use something called Marhaba Services. They will meet you and make sure it goes through passport control faster.
    The service has different levels and prices, the cheapest is about 25 US dollars.

    Read more at:
    https://www.marhabaservices.com

    Greetings,
    Göran/All about Dubai

    Reply
  46. Katrin

    Have heard of long queues on arrival in the country, and that there is a "cream lane". How do you get to it at passport control? Do you pay?

    Katrin

    Reply
  47. Jonas

    Yes Ethan, you will receive your visa on arrival.

    Reply
  48. Ethan

    Hi

    I have plans to travel to Dubai.
    If I have understood correctly, does this mean that I, as a Swedish passport holder, can travel to Dubai without any problem? Will I get my visa at the airport when I arrive?

    Thankful for the answer

    Kind regards
    Ethan J

    Reply
  49. Selma

    Hi!

    I was wondering how to go about getting a visa if you plan to stay in Dubai for about 4 months?

    Thank you for your response.

    Reply
  50. admin

    More info on visas: if you are not an EU citizen, a "sponsor" is required in Dubai to help you arrange a visa. This could be a hotel or a tour operator.

    "In order to obtain the visitor visa, one must have a sponsor within Dubai. This sounds overwhelming at first and many may wonder how they can obtain a sponsor within the emirate when they are traveling there for the very first time. The good news is that obtaining a sponsor is much easier than it may sound. A sponsor can be the hotel or tour operator which is responsible for arranging your trip and/or handling accommodations. It can also be a UAE resident or business company which is involved with your travel to the area. The visa, depending on the type that it is, is usually good for 30 or 60 days from the time of entry into Dubai. If you obtain a special tourist visa from a company or hotel, the visa is usually only good for 14 days."

    Read more at:
    http://www.hotelsindubai.com/info/visa.htm

    Reply
  51. admin

    I am not sure, but probably both you Suad and Mubera have to apply for a visa. The 30-day visa that Swedes receive automatically on arrival in Dubai is only valid for citizens of EU countries. If you have a passport from a non-EU country, you will probably need to apply for a visa before you travel to Dubai.

    Göran, AlltomDubai.se

    Reply
    • Tedros

      Hey! Is it possible to travel to Dubai with a travel document ,I wonder how can I get a visa? Can you get visa in Dubai arrival? Or do you have to apply here? Thanks!

      Reply
  52. mubera dizdar

    Do the same rules apply to those who have a Bosnian passport with a Swedish visa, or do they have to apply for a visa for Dubai?

    Reply
  53. maheralburki

    hi
    yes i would like to know about how to do if you want to stay more than month in dubai

    Reply
  54. suad kalludra

    hi i was wondering how to get a visa to dubai.me and my family want to travel to dubai but i have a kosovo passport and need a visa, i was wondering where i should go to get this?hope you can help me with this have a good time.

    Reply

Please leave a comment!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *