Indian citizens holding a valid US green card or a UK or EU residence visa are eligible for a UAE visa on arrival — but that convenience now comes with a required first step: completing an online pre-approval application before travelling to Dubai. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai confirmed the change, which applies to Indians travelling on ordinary passports.
Who Is Eligible
Any Indian citizen holding an ordinary passport and a valid US green card, or a valid residence visa for the UK or any EU member country, may apply for a pre-approved visa on arrival for a UAE stay of up to 14 days. The visa can be renewed for one additional 14-day period only.
Previously, eligible Indian travellers could receive the visa sticker directly at UAE airport immigration counters on arrival. That process has been replaced by the mandatory online pre-application.
Requirements
The GDRFA has outlined the following requirements for the pre-approved UAE visa on arrival:
- A valid passport or recognised travel document with at least six months' remaining validity - A valid US green card or a valid UK or EU residence visa, each with at least six months' validity remaining - A recent passport-sized photograph with a plain white background
How to Apply Online
Eligible Indian travellers must apply through the GDRFA Dubai website at gdrfad.gov.ae before departing for the UAE. The steps are:
1. Log in or register for an account on the GDRFA portal 2. Navigate to "All Services" → "Port Services" → "Issuing visa via land, seaport or airport" 3. Select "Visa on arrival for citizens of India residing in (America, Britain, European Union countries)" 4. Enter personal details, complete the questionnaire, and upload required documents 5. Pay the application fee of AED 253
Once approved, the visa confirmation is sent to the applicant's registered email address. Processing typically takes two to three business days, so apply well in advance of travel.
Terms and Conditions
The GDRFA also outlined the following terms for the short-term visit visa:
- The traveller must not be subject to any conditions or restrictions barring entry to the UAE - The passport or travel document must have at least six months' validity - The US green card or UK/EU residence visa must each have at least six months' validity at the time of application
Emirates Airline Facility
Emirates Airline also offers a parallel pre-approved visa on arrival facility for eligible Indian passport holders flying with the airline. This is a 14-day single-entry visa that allows Emirates customers to bypass the standard immigration queue on arrival in Dubai.
Under the Emirates arrangement, applicants submit their documents to the Dubai Visa Processing Centre operated by VFS Global on behalf of the airline. Emirates has noted that all visa decisions remain solely with the GDRFA.
