UAE issues new entry rules, ends practice of visa-runs

STANDING IN LINE: The new rules are designed to boost tourism but also end the visa-run option. (Getty Images)

Visitors wishing to visit UAE must from now on apply for tourist visas, it was reported on Wednesday.

The new regulations replace the old 'visit' visa option available to citizens of 79 countries, including the sub-continent and most of the Middle East, the UAE daily Gulf News quoted Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al-Merri, Director General of Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) as saying.

People applying for a visa will have to pay a refundable deposit of 1,000 dirhams ($272) with separate visas issued for, for example, medical treatment or study, the report added.

"We will know why each person is coming here for and the sponsor will be responsible for the visitor. This will address the issue of illegal overstayers," Al-Merri said.

Additionally, the 34 nationalities who were previously able to obtain a free visit visa for 60 days upon arrival in the UAE will now have to pay 100 dirhams for a 30-day visa, according to the new rules, the report added.

The DNRD and the Economic Department met with representatives of hotels, tourist agencies, hospitals and educational institutions on Wednesday to brief them on the new federal visa changes and how they will be implemented.

Visa runs to Kish Island, Oman and other neighbouring countries have also been stopped. People wanting to change their visas must return to their home countries.

"Nobody can now go on these visa runs. We don't want people to get stuck [on these trips]," said Al-Merri.

Visa applicants coming back from any of the neighbouring countries of the UAE will have their applications rejected.

A visit visa will also not be converted into a work visa, Al-Merri said: "Applicants will have to go back to their home country and wait for the work visa, which will be authorised by the Ministry of Labour," he said.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Visit from GCC countries
Posted by Anwar, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Sunday 14 February 2010 at 15:55 UAE time
Edited by ArabianBusiness.com

'Visa applicants coming back from any of the neighbouring countries of the UAE will have their applications rejected'.
The above statement is not clear. Does that mean a resident from another GCC countries will not be able to visit their spouse/ friends in UAE.

Unfare visit Visa rule
Posted by shanaka, bur dubai, Dubai U.A.E on Wednesday 10 February 2010 at 17:00 UAE time


I'm from Sri lanka and i think its really unfare that most countries pay just 100 AED for th evist visa and from my country i have to pay almost 690 AED. and on top of that the new visa rule is really unfare because for a instant my mother vistis me and if i want to take her to bangkok and then come back to dubai if i have to obtain another visit visa that double the cost and i pay 690 AED per visa. This is really really unfare.

Visit Visa - Canadians
Posted by Beena Kapadia, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 21 October 2009 at 17:08 UAE time


We are Canadians and we live here. Being Canadians, our children usually get a visit visa on arrival. However, we plan to travel out of the UAE for 5 days and return back. Is the 30 day rule applicable to Canadians as well? Will they not be allowed to enter within 5 days of leaving the UAE??

Visit Visa Rules
Posted by gilbert, miami, united state of america on Monday 11 August 2008 at 16:34 UAE time


im not yet come to this country but many of my friends are affected by this new rules, some of them are always visiting this country because of business matters,.. but they are really disappointed.

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