UAE's 3-month visit visas discontinued

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Travel agents confirmed the development to Khaleej Times. They said the option to request a three-month visit visa is unavailable on the portal they use to issue permits.

The issuance of three-month visit visas in the UAE has been discontinued, Khaleej Times can reveal. A Federal Authority For Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) call centre executive said the three-month visas are no longer available.

The call centre executive informed, “The three-month entry permit was available a few months ago, but not anymore. Visitors to the UAE can come on a 30- or 60-day visa." The executive added, “Travel agencies can issue them".

The three-month visit visa was discontinued during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a 60-day one introduced instead. However, the three-month scheme was made available again as a leisure visa in May.

In Dubai, the 90-day visa is being issued to visitors who are first-degree relatives of residents. A call centre executive at Amer confirmed this, saying residents can bring their parents or relatives on the three-month scheme.

Several agents have reported that the three-month visit visas have been temporarily suspended. “As per the information we have received, the issuance of long-term leisure visas has been stopped temporarily. The demand for this visa was slightly increasing due to the winter months ahead,” said Firoz Maliyakkal, founder and CEO of Tahira Tours and Travels.

Long-term visas:
Visitors have several options to enter the country and stay for an extended period.

Job exploration visa
The UAE offers a range of visa options for individuals seeking employment opportunities in the country. These visas enable holders to enter the UAE and search for work that aligns with their skills and expertise.

The job exploration visa is available in three options without requiring a guarantor or a host. According to the ICP website, the visa is available for 60, 90 and 120 days with a single-entry permit.

Fees for job exploration visa

The fee for a job exploration visa for 60 days is Dh200, for 90 days is Dh300, and the fee for 120 days is Dh400. The visitor will also have to provide a financial guarantee of a security deposit of Dh1,000.

This visa can be applied via digital channels like the official website or smart application of GDRFA and ICP. The service is also available at Amer centres in the country.

5-year multiple entry visa
The 5-year multiple-entry visa enables visitors to enter the UAE multiple times through self-sponsorship, allowing a 90-day stay during each visit. Visa holders can extend their stay for an additional 90 days without leaving the country. This visa facilitates families from abroad to spend extended periods with their loved ones in the UAE.
The Green Visa is issued for three categories: Investor/partner, high-level skilled worker and self-employment.

Applicants for the multiple entry visa must submit supporting documents, including a six-month bank statement.

People wanting to issue the Green visa can apply via digital channels (website/smart application), customer happiness centre or at Amer Service Centre with the required documents.

Search for investment opportunities visa (single entry):
The search for investment opportunities visa helps investors discover business opportunities and potentially find new partners or clients in the UAE and is available for 60,90 and 120 days.

This entry permit enables the issuance of a single-entry visa without requiring a guarantor or host. The visa can be applied on the official portal of ICP

culled from Khaleej Times