The United Arab Emirates (UAE) immigration authorities have recently clarified the rules regarding the extension of transit visas. According to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), neither of the two types of transit visas issued by the UAE government can be extended or renewed.
The UAE offers two categories of transit visas. The first type, valid for 48 hours, is issued free of charge. The second type, valid for 96 hours, costs Dhs50. These visas are sponsored exclusively by UAE-based airlines and must be processed and approved before entering the emirate.
To apply for a transit visa, applicants must possess a passport or travel document with a minimum validity of three months. They also need to provide a photo against a white background and an onward ticket booking to a third destination, other than the one they are coming from.
The application process involves filling in the necessary details and attaching the required documents on the ICP’s official website or its smart application, ICAUAE. If the visa is approved, an entry permit will be sent to the applicant via email.
The authority has further clarified that no additional fees or amounts can be imposed by any federal, local, or private entity. However, a departure fee of Dhs30 is charged from every passenger passing through the UAE’s airports.
This clarification comes as a response to queries about the possibility of extending transit visas in the UAE. It is now clear that once the validity of a transit visa expires, it cannot be extended or renewed.
