UAE Visa FAQ
Complete answers to all your questions about UAE visa applications, requirements, fees, processing times, and procedures for Pakistani citizens traveling to the United Arab Emirates.
Find Answers Quickly
Jump to the category that best matches your question about UAE visa.
Processing Time
Normal processing: 5-7 days
Express processing: 24-48 hours
Visa Fees (PKR)
Tourist visa: PKR 18,000-50,000
Transit visa: PKR 8,000-10,000
Validity Required
Passport must have 6+ months validity
At least 2 blank pages required
General Questions
Basic information about UAE visa for Pakistani citizens
- 30-day single entry: Valid for 30 days from entry date
- 60-day single entry: Valid for 60 days from entry date
- 90-day multiple entry: Valid for 90 days with multiple entries allowed
- Heavy fines (AED 50,000 or more)
- Immediate deportation
- Travel ban from UAE (1-5 years or permanent)
- Criminal record affecting future visa applications
Visa Types
Understanding different types of UAE visas available for Pakistanis
- Tourist Visa: 30, 60, or 90 days for leisure/tourism (PKR 18,000-50,000)
- Visit Visa: Sponsored by UAE residents for visiting family/friends
- Transit Visa: 96 hours for airport layovers (PKR 8,000-10,000)
- Work Visa: Employment visa sponsored by UAE company (PKR 50,000-100,000)
- Residence Visa: Long-term stay with residence permit (2-3 years)
- Student Visa: For UAE university enrollment
- Golden Visa: 5-10 year residency for investors/professionals (PKR 120,000+)
- Applied through travel agencies, hotels, or visa centers
- No UAE sponsor required
- Costs PKR 18,000-50,000 depending on duration
- Available in 30, 60, or 90-day options
- Suitable for independent travelers
- Sponsored by UAE resident (family member, friend, or company)
- Sponsor handles application and costs
- Usually 30 or 90 days duration
- Sponsor is legally responsible for visitor
- Often cheaper as sponsor may cover costs
- You have a layover longer than 8 hours
- You want to leave the airport during your layover
- You're transiting through Dubai or Abu Dhabi to another country
- You have two separate tickets (not on same booking)
Processing: 1-2 working days
Note: If your layover is under 8 hours and you don't leave the airport, no visa is required.
- Investors: Real estate investment of AED 2 million+ or business investment
- Entrepreneurs: Business project with capital of AED 500,000+
- Specialized Talents: Doctors, scientists, researchers, artists
- Outstanding Students: GPA 3.75+ from recognized universities
- Professionals: Executives, specialists in vital sectors
Cost: PKR 120,000+ (processing fees, medical tests, Emirates ID)
- A confirmed job offer from a UAE-registered company
- Company must be willing to sponsor your work visa
- You must have at least 30 days remaining on your tourist visa
- Complete medical fitness test and Emirates ID registration
- Submit all required documents to UAE immigration
- Pay conversion fees (approximately AED 5,000-8,000)
Note: The company sponsor handles most of the conversion process. Some free zones may have different procedures.
Requirements & Documents
What documents you need for UAE visa application
- Original Passport: Valid for at least 6 months, with minimum 2 blank pages
- Passport Copy: Clear color scan of bio-data page
- Photographs: 2 recent passport-sized photos (35mm x 45mm, white background)
- CNIC Copy: Both sides of Pakistani National ID card
- Bank Statement: Last 6 months showing PKR 150,000+ balance
- Flight Booking: Confirmed return air ticket
- Hotel Reservation: Confirmed booking or invitation letter from UAE host
- Application Form: Completed and signed UAE visa application
- Employment Proof: Job letter or business registration (if applicable)
- At least 2 blank pages for visa stamps
- Passport should be in good condition (not damaged or torn)
- Bio-data page must be clearly readable
- If your passport expires in less than 6 months, renew it before applying
- Hotel Reservation: Confirmed booking for your entire stay period
- Hotel Sponsor Letter: Some UAE hotels can sponsor your visa directly
- Friend/Family Invitation: If staying with UAE residents, provide their invitation letter + Emirates ID copy
- Many travelers book refundable hotels on Booking.com for visa purposes
- Ensure hotel name and address are clearly visible
- Booking should cover your entire visa duration
- Some visa agencies include dummy hotel bookings in their package
- Duration: Last 6 months bank statement
- Minimum Balance: PKR 150,000+ maintained balance recommended
- Format: Original bank stamped statement or certified printout
- Currency: Can be in PKR, USD, or AED
- Account Type: Savings or current account
Note: If someone else is sponsoring your trip, their bank statement + sponsorship letter is acceptable. For business/work visas, company financials may be required instead.
- Size: 35mm x 45mm (passport size)
- Background: Pure white or off-white
- Face Coverage: 70-80% of photo area
- Recency: Taken within last 6 months
- Head Position: Straight, facing camera directly
- Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open
- Glasses: Not allowed (remove for photo)
- Headwear: Not allowed (except religious reasons, face must be fully visible)
- Quality: High resolution, no blur or shadows
Physical: 2 printed copies on photo paper
Visa Fees & Payment
Complete breakdown of UAE visa costs in Pakistani Rupees
| Visa Type | Normal Processing | Express Processing |
|---|---|---|
| 30-Day Tourist Visa | PKR 18,000 - 22,000 | PKR 35,000 - 42,000 |
| 60-Day Tourist Visa | PKR 28,000 - 32,000 | PKR 52,000 - 60,000 |
| 90-Day Multi-Entry | PKR 45,000 - 50,000 | PKR 85,000 - 95,000 |
| 96-Hour Transit | PKR 8,000 - 10,000 | PKR 15,000 - 18,000 |
- UAE Government Fees: Official visa processing charges
- Service Charges: Visa center/agency handling fees
- Processing Fees: Document verification and submission
- VFS/Typing Charges: Application preparation
- Flight tickets
- Hotel bookings
- Travel insurance
- Airport transportation
- Visa extension fees (if needed later)
- Medical test (for work/residence visas)
- Bank Transfer: Direct transfer to visa center account
- Credit/Debit Card: Online payment on visa center portals
- Cash Payment: At VFS Global or authorized centers
- Demand Draft: In favor of visa service provider
- Online Banking: Through JazzCash, Easypaisa, or bank apps
- Keep payment receipt for application tracking
- Payment is usually non-refundable after submission
- Some agencies require full payment upfront
- Online payments may have additional transaction fees (2-3%)
- UAE Government Fees: Sometimes refundable (50-70%) if visa rejected
- Service Charges: Usually NON-refundable
- Processing Fees: NON-refundable
- Express Charges: Completely NON-refundable
- Normal visa rejected: 30-50% partial refund possible
- Express visa rejected: Only government portion may be refunded
- Withdrawal before processing: 50-70% refund possible
- Withdrawal after submission: Usually no refund
- Extension Fee: AED 600-850 (PKR 50,000-70,000)
- Typing Charges: AED 100-150 (PKR 8,000-12,000)
- Service Fee: AED 200-300 (PKR 16,000-25,000)
- Total Cost: Approximately PKR 75,000-110,000
- Apply before your current visa expires
- Visit typing center or travel agency in UAE
- Processing takes 2-3 working days
- Can only extend once - no multiple extensions
- Must leave UAE after extended period expires
Processing Time & Tracking
How long it takes and how to track your UAE visa application
- Tourist Visa (Normal): 5-7 working days
- Tourist Visa (Express): 24-48 hours
- Transit Visa: 1-2 working days
- Visit Visa: 3-5 working days
- Work Visa: 7-10 working days
- Residence Visa: 10-15 working days
- Golden Visa: 20-25 working days
- Peak season delays (Ramadan, Eid, December)
- Document completeness and accuracy
- Security clearance requirements
- UAE public holidays (Friday-Saturday weekend)
- Application volume at visa centers
- Login to VFS Global website with application reference number
- Gerry's Visa tracking portal with receipt number
- Travel agency tracking system
- Visit: smartservices.ica.gov.ae
- Enter your passport number and application number
- Check approval status and download e-visa
- Automatic updates sent by visa center
- Express processing includes real-time SMS alerts
- Working Days: Sunday to Thursday
- Weekend: Friday and Saturday (UAE official weekend)
- Working Hours: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (UAE time)
- Only processes during UAE working days
- Applications submitted Thursday-Saturday start processing Sunday
- Public holidays cause additional delays
- Some express services operate 24/7
- Weekend applications possible with express option
- Visa agencies work on Pakistani weekends but depend on UAE processing
- Processing Time: 24-48 hours (instead of 5-7 days)
- Priority Handling: Your application jumps the queue
- Dedicated Support: Direct phone/WhatsApp assistance
- Real-time Updates: SMS and email alerts at each stage
- Weekend Processing: Available even on holidays
- Express costs almost double normal processing
- 30-day tourist: PKR 35,000-42,000 (vs PKR 18,000-22,000 normal)
- Worth it for urgent travel or non-refundable bookings
- Contact your visa agency/center immediately
- Check application status on UAE immigration portal
- Request escalation to supervisor/manager
- Ask for official delay reason in writing
- Security clearance taking longer (common for certain profiles)
- Document verification issues
- Peak season backlog
- UAE public holidays
- Technical issues with immigration system
- Previous UAE overstay on record
- Request daily status updates
- Partial refund may be possible if unreasonably delayed
- Lodge complaint with visa center management
- Consider express processing upgrade if critically urgent
Application Process
Step-by-step guide to applying for UAE visa from Pakistan
- Determine your purpose: tourism, visit, work, or transit
- Select duration: 30, 60, or 90 days
- VFS Global centers (Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad)
- Gerry's Visa Services
- Authorized travel agencies
- Online visa portals
- Passport (6+ months validity)
- Photos, CNIC, bank statement
- Flight and hotel bookings
- Submit documents online or in-person
- Pay visa fees (PKR 18,000-50,000)
- Receive application reference number
- Track status online
- Receive e-visa via email (5-7 days)
- Print visa for travel
- Karachi: Bahria Complex II, MT Khan Road | +92-21-3568-3130
- Lahore: 40-C, Main Gulberg | +92-42-3575-7879
- Islamabad: Safa Gold Mall, F-7 Markaz | +92-51-835-9999
- Islamabad: Diplomatic Enclave, Sector G-4 | +92-51-227-0406
- Multiple locations nationwide | +92-21-3566-555
- VFS Global Pakistan website
- Authorized travel agency portals
- UAE hotel sponsor websites
- Visit VFS Global Pakistan website or authorized agency portal
- Create account and fill online application form
- Upload scanned documents (passport, photos, CNIC, bank statement)
- Pay visa fees online (credit/debit card or online banking)
- Receive application confirmation via email
- Track status online
- Receive e-visa via email (print for travel)
- Passport bio-page (color scan, 300 DPI+)
- Passport-sized photo (JPEG, white background)
- CNIC front and back
- Bank statement PDF
- Flight booking confirmation
- Hotel reservation
- Medical emergencies are expensive in UAE (no free healthcare)
- Hospital visit can cost AED 500-2000 (PKR 40,000-160,000)
- Surgery/hospitalization can exceed AED 50,000 (PKR 4 million+)
- Covers flight cancellations, lost baggage, trip delays
- May improve visa approval chances (shows preparedness)
- Basic travel insurance: PKR 2,000-5,000 for 30 days
- Comprehensive coverage: PKR 8,000-15,000
- Pakistani insurance companies (Adamjee, EFU, IGI)
- Online platforms (Allianz, World Nomads)
- Travel agencies (often bundled with visa package)
- Strong Financial Proof: Show bank balance of PKR 200,000+ (higher than usual)
- Employment Proof: Provide job letter or business documents showing stable income
- Property Documents: Include property ownership papers if available
- Family Ties: Show marriage certificate, children's documents (proof of returning)
- Detailed Itinerary: Provide clear travel plans and hotel bookings
- Purpose Letter: Write explanation of why you're visiting UAE
- Apply through reputable agency (VFS Global, Gerry's)
- Consider hotel-sponsored visa (hotels have interest in approval)
- Apply with family members (group applications look more genuine)
- Have UAE resident sponsor your visit visa
Rejection & Appeals
What to do if your UAE visa is rejected
- Passport with less than 6 months validity
- Poor quality passport scans or photos
- Incomplete or missing documents
- Information mismatch between documents
- Insufficient bank balance
- Recent large deposits (appears suspicious)
- No clear source of income
- Previous UAE overstay
- Previous visa violations
- Deportation record from UAE or other countries
- Blank passport (no travel history)
- Name matching with watchlist
- Criminal record
- Security clearance issues
- Unemployed/no clear profession
- Young single applicants (especially women under 30, men under 25)
- Weak ties to home country
- No official mandatory waiting period
- Recommended: Wait 30-60 days before reapplying
- Use this time to strengthen your application
- Identify the Issue: Consult with visa agency about likely rejection reason
- Fix Problems: Update passport, improve bank balance, gather missing documents
- Strengthen Profile: Add property documents, employment proof, family ties
- Consider Different Visa Type: If tourist failed, try visit visa with UAE sponsor
- Apply through different agency/channel
- Use hotel sponsorship instead of tour operator
- Apply with family members (group application)
- Provide detailed cover letter explaining previous rejection
- Show improved financial status
- UAE immigration decisions are final
- No legal right to UAE entry as a foreign national
- Rejection reasons are rarely disclosed
- Appeal system doesn't exist for tourist visas
- Request Review: Ask visa agency to request review from UAE immigration (rarely successful)
- Reapply Fresh: Submit new application after fixing issues (most common option)
- Try Different Visa: Apply for different visa type (e.g., visit instead of tourist)
- Contact Embassy: UAE Embassy in Islamabad (+92-51-227-0406) - they may provide guidance
- Get UAE resident to sponsor your visit visa
- Apply through hotel sponsorship
- Use professional visa consultant service
- Record Maintained: Rejection is permanently recorded in UAE immigration system
- Increased Scrutiny: Future applications will face more detailed review
- Higher Standards: Need stronger documents and financial proof
- Multiple Rejections: 2-3 rejections significantly reduce future approval chances
- Minor Impact: Most countries assess applications independently
- Disclosure Required: Must mention UAE rejection in visa forms asking about previous rejections
- Not Automatic Rejection: Other countries won't automatically reject due to UAE refusal
- Schengen/US/UK: They may ask for explanation letter
- Build strong travel history to other countries first
- Improve financial profile significantly
- Wait 6-12 months before reapplying to UAE
- Use professional immigration consultant
- Consider visit visa with strong UAE sponsor
- All documents complete, clear, and legible
- No missing information or blank fields
- Consistent information across all documents
- Bank balance PKR 150,000+ (6 months statement)
- Regular income/salary credits visible
- No sudden large deposits
- 6+ months validity from travel date
- At least 2 blank pages
- Good physical condition
- Job letter on company letterhead
- Business registration if self-employed
- Professional occupation shown
- Confirmed flight bookings
- Hotel reservations for entire stay
- Detailed itinerary
- Property ownership documents
- Family ties (marriage certificate, children)
- Ongoing employment/business
- Meet exact specifications (35x45mm, white background)
- Recent and professional quality
- Use VFS Global or Gerry's
- Avoid unknown small agencies
- Apply 2-3 weeks before travel
- Avoid peak season if possible
- No previous UAE violations
- No overstays in any country
Travel & Entry to UAE
Important information about traveling to UAE with your visa
- Passport: Original with 6+ months validity
- UAE Visa: Printed copy of e-visa (color print recommended)
- Boarding Pass: For your flight
- Return Ticket: Confirmed booking proof
- Hotel Booking: Confirmed reservation printout
- Travel Insurance: Policy document
- Financial Proof: Credit cards, traveler's cheques, or cash
- Contact Details: Hotel address and UAE contact number
- Sponsor Documents: If visiting someone, their Emirates ID copy
- Company invitation letter
- Business card
- Meeting appointment confirmations
- Dubai International Airport (DXB): Most popular for Pakistanis
- Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH): Capital city
- Sharjah International Airport (SHJ): Nearest to Dubai
- Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC): Dubai South
- Ras Al Khaimah Airport (RKT)
- Fujairah Airport (FJR)
- UAE-Oman border crossings (if coming from Oman)
- UAE-Saudi Arabia border (Ghuwafat, Al Batha)
- Dubai Cruise Terminal
- Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal
- "What is the purpose of your visit?" Answer: Tourism/visiting friends/business meeting
- "How long will you stay?" Answer: Your actual planned duration (e.g., "10 days")
- "Where will you stay?" Answer: Hotel name and location
- "What is your occupation?" Answer: Your current job/profession
- "Have you visited UAE before?" Answer: Yes/No (be honest)
- "Do you have return ticket?" Answer: Yes (show if asked)
- "Who is sponsoring your trip?" (If visit visa)
- "How much money are you carrying?"
- "What do you do in Pakistan?"
- "Do you know anyone in UAE?"
- Be confident but polite
- Answer truthfully and concisely
- Don't volunteer extra information
- Have hotel address ready
- Show return ticket if asked
- Dress modestly and professionally
- Passport Issues: Damaged passport, less than 6 months validity, missing pages
- Suspicious Purpose: Immigration doubts your stated purpose of visit
- Previous Violations: Past overstay, visa abuse, or deportation record
- Inadequate Funds: Cannot prove sufficient money for stay
- No Return Ticket: No proof of onward/return travel
- No Hotel Booking: Cannot provide accommodation details
- Security Concerns: Name matches watchlist or criminal records
- Work Suspicion: Officer believes you'll work illegally
- Conflicting Information: Answers don't match visa application
- You'll be held at airport immigration area
- Passport stamped with entry denial
- Sent back on next available flight to Pakistan
- Airline responsible for return transportation
- May face UAE entry ban (temporary or permanent)
- Carry all supporting documents (hotel, return ticket, etc.)
- Be honest during immigration questioning
- Dress appropriately and maintain good appearance
- Have sufficient cash/credit cards
- Know your hotel address and itinerary
- For 7-10 days: AED 3,000-5,000 (PKR 250,000-410,000)
- For 2-3 weeks: AED 6,000-8,000 (PKR 490,000-650,000)
- For 1 month: AED 10,000-15,000 (PKR 820,000-1.2 million)
- Cash (USD/AED): USD 500-1,000 for emergencies
- Credit Cards: Visa/Mastercard (primary payment method)
- Debit Cards: International debit card with enough balance
- Traveler's Cheques: Less common but acceptable
- Carrying over AED 100,000 (PKR 8.2 million) requires customs declaration
- Carrying over USD 10,000 requires declaration form
- Failure to declare can result in confiscation and fines
- Budget stay: AED 200-300/day (PKR 16,000-25,000)
- Mid-range: AED 500-800/day (PKR 41,000-65,000)
- Luxury: AED 1,500+/day (PKR 123,000+)
Need Help with Your UAE Visa?
Contact authorized UAE visa centers in Pakistan for assistance with applications, tracking, and inquiries.
Ready to Apply for Your UAE Visa?
Get started with your UAE visa application today through authorized centers. Have more questions? Contact our recommended visa partners.
