Travelling abroad requires a lot of preparation, from arranging the trip to fit your schedule and saving up for the upcoming travel, to visa application. If you have a long-haul flight and wish to stopover in the UAE, a transit visa is what you need. Instead of sitting idly at the airport, a transit visa lets you explore the country and enjoy it in small doses. Here’s how you can get a transit visa:
To get a transit visa, you must have a passport with a minimum validity of three months, a photo against a white background, and a ticket booking to a third destination other than the one you are coming from. These days, travel scams are rampant and busy travellers are easy, susceptible targets. As a traveller, you have to remember that only the UAE-based airlines you’re travelling with can arrange your transit visa before your trip.
If you are thinking of getting a transit visa to the UAE, make sure to communicate this to your airline. If you booked your trip through a travel agency, the agency can help you get the visa. Your agency and airline agents will sort everything out for you, but it’s always best to follow up and verify with them. Since only UAE-based airlines can apply for a transit visa on your behalf, make sure that you buy your plane tickets only from airlines that are based in the country.
Your transit visa is valid for 48 hours or for 96 hours. However, if you’ve been issued a 48-hour transit visa, you cannot request to have it extended to 96 hours. Transit visas for 48 hours are free and valid for 48 hours from entry into the UAE. For a 96-hour transit visa, you need to pay Dh50, and it is valid for 96 hours from entry into the country. No additional fees will be collected from you before leaving the country, only a departure fee of Dh300 is required.
A transit visa is not for everyone. Passport holders of certain countries are eligible for a multiple entry 90-day visit visa that’s valid for 6 months, while others are entitled to apply for a pre-arranged visit visa. If you’re a passport holder of the listed countries, you can stay in the UAE for up to 30 days without a transit visa. Plan your trip accordingly, follow the guidelines, and enjoy your stopover in the UAE hassle-free.
