Saturday, November 23, 2024 Dubai has introduced significant changes to its tourist visa application process, requiring travelers to meet stricter documentation standards to ensure smoother processing and enhanced compliance. As part of these new rules, applicants must now provide hotel booking confirmations featuring QR codes and copies of their return tickets. These documents must be submitted online during the visa application stage, marking a major shift in procedure.
Travel agencies are the only entities authorized to apply for tourist visas and are now tasked with ensuring all required documents are in order. Visit visas, on the other hand, can still be processed by families, individuals, or trading companies, but the same mandatory documentation applies to both visa types under the updated regulations. In addition to the stricter documentation requirements, applicants must now demonstrate financial stability by showing proof of funds.
A minimum balance of 5,000 Dirhams is needed for a two-month visa, while a three-month visa requires at least 3,000 Dirhams. These measures aim to guarantee that visitors have the financial capacity to sustain themselves during their stay in Dubai. Previously, travelers were only asked to provide hotel bookings and return tickets at the discretion of emigration officers upon arrival.
Under the new system, these documents are mandatory for visa approval. The updated requirements, already implemented for travelers from Pakistan and select A.