A five-year admission visa that permits visitors to Dubai to enter the United Arab Emirates numerous times annually and remain there for up to 180 days without a sponsor is available.
Through Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), you can submit a visa application. At the time of application, the visa is granted once a year for stays of 30, 60, or 90 days. According to the GDRFA website, “This period may be extended for a comparable length of time, provided that the total number of days spent there in a year is at most 180.”
So, if you regularly visit Dubai for work or to visit family, here is all you need to know about the process and requirements.
Qualifications for a five-year, multiple-entry tourist visa
According to the GDRFA, people can only apply for the multiple-entry permit if they meet the following criteria:
1. A six-month minimum-validity passport or other travel authorization.
2. A return ticket for travel.
3. In the UAE, legitimate health insurance.
4. Proof that you have a bank balance of $4,000 (Dh14,689) or its equivalent in other currencies for at least six months prior to submitting your application.
How long am I allowed to stay in the UAE using this visa?
The GDRFA states that holders of this visa are only permitted to stay in the UAE continuously for a total of 90 days each year. As long as the total number of days spent in the UAE in a year is no more than 180, this term may be extended for a comparable amount of time.
Documents required
- A personal photo.
- A passport copy, with the passport valid for at least six months.
- Six months’ bank statement.
- Health insurance details.
- Round-trip ticket
How to obtain a five-year, multiple-entry tourist visa for Dubai
Step 1: Open a profile on the GDRFA website:
• Go to the main page of the GDRFA’s website, gdrfad.gov.ae/en, and select the login link in the menu bar.
• After that, choose “Individuals” and press “Register now.”
• You must first register as a visitor by providing your email address before setting up a username and password.
• Please enter your full name, email address, and birthdate.
• ‘Send OTP’ should be clicked. A “One-Time Password” will then be issued to your registered email address.
• After entering the OTP, press the captcha verification button.
• You now have a GDRFA account that has been properly registered.
Step 2: Pick the service for a five-year, multiple-entry tourist visa.
• After that, you’ll be taken to the GDRFA Smart Services portal.
• On the dashboard, select “New Application.”
• Choose ‘New 5 Years Tourism Entry Permit’ from the drop-down menu to choose a new application.
• Press the ‘Apply’ button.
Step 3: Complete step an of the online application. Fill in the application information:
• You must submit your travel and personal information for this application stage.
• ‘Tourism’ should be chosen under ‘Purpose of Visit’.
• The GDRFA platform will automatically fill in the period (‘five years’) and type of entry permit (‘multiple’) once you choose the ‘tourist’ option.
b. Enter your passport details:
• Passport type
• Passport number
• Current and previous nationality.
c. Enter applicant details
For this part of the application, you must select if you are applying for this entry permit inside the UAE. If you are applying for the visa within the UAE, you will have to pay additional fees to change your visa status.
d. Enter the following personal details:
• Mother full name in English and Arabic. Once you enter the name in English, the platform will automatically enter it in Arabic.
• Select your marital status.
• Select religion and faith.
• Select your education level and current profession.
• Select your first language.
• Enter the country you will be departing from.
• Enter contact details: email address and mobile number.
• Select your preferred language for SMS updates.
e. Enter address details inside the UAE:
• Emirate
• City
• Area
• Street
• Select whether it is a building or villa
• Floor number
• Flat or villa number.
• You can also enter the ‘Makani’ number or nearest landmark. (
f. Enter address details outside the UAE
• Select the country.
• Enter the city and address.
• Enter your mobile number.
• Click on ‘Continue’
Step 4: Upload the necessary files.
• All candidates must upload the appropriate application materials, however additional materials may also be requested based on the information provided in the application form. Both PDF and JPEG file formats must be used for uploading the documents.
Step 4: Upload the necessary files.
• All candidates must upload the appropriate application materials, however additional materials may also be requested based on the information provided in the application form. Both PDF and JPEG file formats must be used for uploading the documents.
Step 6: Send your application in
Once the fees have been paid, submit the application. Following that, you will be given a reference number to monitor the status of your visa application. Click here to learn how to check the status of your visa application.
Step 7: Get your visa
Once your five-year multiple-entry tourist visa is completed and issued, you will receive notifications via SMS and email. A digital copy of the entry permit will be sent to you through email.
