In late 2023, the UAE authorities introduced several significant updates to the visa mechanism, with changes covering such aspects of it as family sponsorship, visa validity duration, entry and exit rules, visa extension, and more. As such, if you are planning to visit and spend time in Dubai in 2024, you are highly recommended to get familiar with the implemented changes, as they provide not only new options for extending your visa but also new regulations associated with them. In this guide, we will explore the new Dubai visit visa extension rules to provide you with all the information you may need.

Updates to Visit Visa Extension Rules in 2024

Globally known for its unique tourist attractions, skyscraper skyline, man-made islands, and luxury waterfront lifestyle, Dubai has recently revised its visa extension policies to simplify the process for tourists. From 2024, travelers coming to the city on a visit visa will have the option to extend their stay, allowing them to take full advantage of Dubai’s numerous offered opportunities for an extended time without the fear of getting in trouble with the authorities. Here are the key changes with regard to the visit visa extension.

Under the new rules, the validity period of a UAE visit visa can currently be prolonged for an extra 30 days, with the option to do so twice every 30 days. As such, visitors can now extend their stay in Dubai for up to 4 months (120 days) within a calendar year. On the one hand, this is the largest possible duration you can extend a visit visa to, on the other hand, it allows for quite a considerable amount of time added to achieve your visit goals.
The UAE continues to increase the country’s attractiveness to foreign visitors, and a big part of this effort is the strive for the digitization of public services, including those related to visa governance. The new online visa management system created under this effort provides a great tool for all operations involving visas. Using a personal online account, you can manage your visas and entry permits from wherever you are.
At the same time, not all the recent changes are aimed at tourist convenience. For example, under the newly introduced regulations, a tourist visa can only extended after exiting the country. This mandates visa holders to leave UAE’s territory for at least a day in order to be eligible for visa renewal. Fortunately, this process can be simplified by using airport-to-airport (A2A) services. Additionally, holders of a visit visa with a 90-day validity period can also extend it for another 90 days.

Guide to Extending Your Dubai Visit Visa

Although the online and offline procedures of Dubai visa extension differ in some aspects, they also involve several common steps that are necessary for achieving success.

1. Ensuring Eligibility

This step is vital because none of the following ones are relevant if you’re not eligible for a visa extension in the first place. The key eligibility factors to check for are:

Having a passport with a minimum 6-month validity period after the expiry of your first visa extension
Holding citizenship of one of the countries eligible for visa extension
Having a return ticket purchased in advance
Having the financial capacity sufficient to stay in the Emirates for an extended period

2. Preparing the Required Paperwork

Once you’ve confirmed that you’re eligible for extending your visit visa, the next step is to prepare and gather all the documents necessary for the extension process.

Valid passport
Copy of the biodata and UAE visa pages of your passport
Recently made passport-size photo
Copy of your purchased entry and return tickets
Confirmation of adequate funds (bank statement, sponsor letter, etc.)
Filled-out application form (for offline procedure)

Online Visa Extension Method and Procedures

If you’ve completed the first two steps and choose to extend your visit visa online, the next steps are as follows:

Visit the online platform of Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) and log in.
Find the “Visa Extension” section.
Select the option matching your goals and travel documents.
Retrieve your visa data by entering your passport details.
Enter all the information required in the application form.
Upload and attach the necessary documents to the application.
Pay the service fees online using your bank card (visa extension fee and additional fees, if applicable).
Submit the application.
Wait for the application to be processed. The estimated time is 2-5 workdays.
Get your extended visa from the designated place, such as a visa service center.

Offline Visa Extension Method and Procedures

In the case of choosing to extend your visa offline, the next steps are as follows:

Find the nearest GDRFA office (or the most preferable in terms of convenience) and visit it with all the documents you’ve prepared beforehand.
Submit the completed application form along with the said documents.
Follow any other instructions provided by the GDRFA employees.
Pay the relevant service fees.
Wait for the application to be processed. The estimated time is 2-5 workdays.
Get your extended visa from the designated place specified by the GDRFA employees.

By using this guide, you should have no problems extending your visa and your visit to Dubai, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria and have all the necessary papers in order.

Visa Expiry Fines and Penalties

Recently, the UAE immigration authorities have discarded the 10-day grace period option for extended visitor visas. The overstaying fine is AED 50 per day, and you will also have to pay an additional AED 250-350 upon exiting the country. On top of that, as failing to comply with the visa regulations is against the law, you may face legal consequences, such as:

Being marked in the UAE visa system. This may affect both your future visits to the UAE and to other countries, as the relevant authorities may deem you unreliable and be reluctant to grant you entry or residency permits.
Being blacklisted. If you overstay your visit to a certain degree, you can get banned from entering the Emirates ever again.
Being deported. In a really bad overstaying case, you can get sent back to your home country. Both this and the previous cases can heavily impact your ability to obtain visas to other countries and drastically limit your traveling options.

In order to prevent the said consequences and to avoid overstaying, adhere to the following guidelines:

Take precautions such as learning the exact day of your visa expiry.
Keep track of the days you have left under your visit visa.
Make sure you have enough time on your hands to complete the planned activities and prepare for your leave.
Be cautious not to schedule any trips or vacations for the last couple of days of your stay.

Remember that each day of overstaying will not only cost you more money but also increase the possibility of more severe legal consequences. As such, if you happen to fail to leave the UAE in due time, you should act upon it promptly and take the necessary actions.

Conclusion

This guide should help you stay informed about the latest changes in the UAE’s visa extension rules and take the appropriate steps to comply with the current regulations when planning your stay in Dubai. If you plan on extending your visit visa, research your eligibility for this option, prepare the documents as mandated by the authorities, and remember not to overstay your welcome in order to avoid legal and financial consequences.

Visit Visa Extension Dubai