Dubai is a fantastic city with a lot to offer. It is home to some of the world’s finest modern architecture and man-made marvels. But the experience goes beyond city life; it is a place where you can escape to the Arabian deserts, the bustling streets of Dubai Souks, and the breezy Hatta wadi to escape the extravagant luxury lifestyle. A popular vacation destination for Indians, Dubai is only accessible with a Dubai visa if you want to experience its splendors. Here’s what you need to know if you want to apply for a Dubai visa from India.
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Is it necessary to get a visa for Dubai from India?
If you are traveling from India to Dubai, then you will need a pre-approved UAE visa. However, this only applies to Indian citizens in India. If you are only visiting India and have a different nationality, the rules of the UAE visa apply to you according to your nationality. In other words, depending on which country’s passport you hold, you will apply for a Dubai visa. An Indian who holds a specific travel permit, such as a USA visit visa, a USA green card, or an EU or UK residency permit, may obtain a 14-day visa on arrival at Dubai International Airport for a short visit which is extendable. Citizens of India who are not eligible for visa-on-arrival must apply for and obtain a UAE visa before arriving in Dubai.
Dubai visa requirements for Indians: 3 things to keep in mind
- In India, an Indian citizen cannot directly apply for a Dubai visa in a UAE consulate. An applicant must apply for a Dubai visa through a UAE-based sponsor. In other words, if you are an Indian applying for a Dubai visa from India, you must submit your documents to someone living in the UAE who will then forward the paperwork to the UAE embassy in Dubai on your behalf. Sponsors can be friends, family, employers, or acquaintances living in the UAE. Those who do not have sponsors can apply for visas via the airline that brings them to Dubai, the hotel where they are staying, or the travel agency they used to book their trip.
- Check the passport and ensure that your passport has a sufficient validity period. In order to enter Dubai, a visitor’s passport must have at least six months of validity remaining from the date of arrival in Dubai.
- The Indian tourists visiting Dubai must possess a confirmed flight ticket for their return flight home or an onward destination. This is an important document to provide as part of the visa application process since it signifies that the individual intends to leave the country once the purpose of the trip has been fulfilled. Dubai considers overstaying a visa a serious offense that can have severe consequences.
Process of getting a Dubai visa from India
The information you have just learned about how to go about applying for a visa to Dubai from India is now clear enough for you. So, let’s look at the process of applying for a Dubai visa and what is required for an efficient Dubai visa application.
First of all, make sure that you choose the right Dubai visa. Those who wish to visit Dubai for a leisure trip, then they have to apply for a Dubai Tourist Visa. It is important to understand that there are separate categories for work and study visas that are temporary residence permits. In terms of the way to apply for these types of visas and the accompanying documents, it differs slightly from the way to apply for a tourist visa for Dubai. Nevertheless, to apply for a tourist visa to Dubai, the following steps need to be followed.
- Complete the online visa application form for Dubai. You must double-check all the details before you submit the application to ensure that you have entered everything correctly.
- Collect all the documents that are required to support your visa application. You will need the following documents:
- The original and a copy of your passport. The validity of a passport should be at least six months from the date of arrival in Dubai. Handwritten passports are no longer accepted.
- Recent Passport size photographs in color as per the visa guidelines specifications.
- Financial details such as bank details, and salary slips to prove that you have enough funds to cover your expenses in Dubai during your stay.
- Confirmation of your return flight.
- A letter from your UAE sponsor with residential proof.
- Bookings and itinerary of your Dubai holiday.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Keep additional documents with you such as Covid-19 vaccination certificates, marriage certificates if you are traveling with your spouse, birth certificates if children are accompanying, and special prescriptions.
- Pay the visa fees and submit all required documentation to the visa consultant, airline, hotel, or UAE representative. The final step is to wait for your visa results once this step has been completed. A Dubai visa usually takes 5 to 7 working days to be approved. In any case, it is best not to wait until the last minute to apply for a Dubai visa. If you apply for your Dubai visa as soon as possible, you are more likely to have a hassle-free experience.
OK to Board – in a nutshell
Indian tourists who wish to visit Dubai must comply with one more formality apart from their visa formalities. An Indian passenger wishing to board a flight to Dubai must complete a mandatory verification procedure called ‘OK to Board’ before boarding a flight to Dubai. Ok to Board is simply an additional verification of a valid Dubai visa for travelers from certain countries. To prevent unnecessary complications, it can be viewed as an extra layer of security for your Dubai visa. A passenger will not be allowed to board a flight unless they have an ‘OK to Board’ tag. The OK to Board procedure is neither complicated nor expensive and the airline with which you are flying to Dubai will handle this process. The PNR number will display an “Ok to Board” label after the verification is complete. Upon presenting it at the boarding gate, you will be allowed to board your flight to Dubai. By following the “OK to Board” procedures, UAE consular officers are able to identify fake tourist visas and ensure that passengers are carrying genuine visas to enter Dubai.
Dubai visa rejections: How to avoid them
A Dubai visa can be denied for many reasons, which can seriously interrupt your Dubai vacation plans. To avoid such disappointment, keep the following tips in mind.
- In most cases, Dubai visa applications are rejected because the application forms are either incomplete or contain errors. Verify that there are no spelling errors and that all columns are filled out according to the guidelines.
- All the details of the documents you submit along with your Dubai visa application must match exactly. False or discrepancies in submitted documents can cause visa refusal.
- Dubai visa rejections can also occur if your passport is about to expire and does not have enough validity left. By default, the passport must remain valid for at least six months after arriving in Dubai. Otherwise, no visa will be granted.
Conclusion
The Dubai visa process can seem overwhelming, but with the right information and understanding, it is quite simple. If you feel uncertain about applying for a Dubai visa on your own, all you must do is learn about the visa and consult a competent visa expert. After you receive a Dubai visa, you’re good to go and experience one of the world’s most awe-inspiring cities.
