The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has revamped its online visa process, aiming to simplify visitation and travel for tourists. However, India is notably absent from the list of visa-exempted nations.
Visa on Arrival: Who’s Eligible?
Citizens from a wide range of countries can avail themselves of the ‘visa on arrival’ facility to visit the UAE. This includes nations such as Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Barbados, Brazil, Belarus, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Honduras, Hungary, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Bahamas, The Netherlands, UK, US, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vatican, Hellenic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia, Fiji, and Kosovo. India has been removed from this list.
What are the eligibility criteria for Indian citizens to access the visa on arrival facility?
Indian citizens holding passports, US visit visas, green cards, UK or EU residence visas valid for at least six months are eligible to obtain a visa on arrival. This visa allows them to stay in the country for 14 days initially, with the option to extend for another 14 days if needed.
The move comes as part of the UAE’s efforts to attract more tourists and streamline its visa policies. Interested individuals can check the updated list of visa-exempted nations on the official website of the UAE’s ministry of foreign affairs. They can also contact the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Ports Security, and Customs for additional information.
Additionally, citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries do not require a visa or sponsorship to enter the UAE. They can present a passport issued by a GCC state or an identity card upon arrival at the UAE ports of entry, according to the UAE Digital Government.
