Chapter 04 of 11 · sources checked 16 October 2026

Arriving and getting residence

Visit visas for Indian passport holders, then the medical test, Emirates ID and residence steps, with the deadlines that apply.

60 days

A foreigner who enters on an entry permit must finish the residence issuance procedures within 60 days of entry, or overstay fines apply.

2 sourcesS34 ICPS55 ICP

180 days

A residence visa is automatically cancelled if the holder stays outside the UAE for more than 180 days continuously; the person then needs a new entry permit to return.

2 sourcesS51 u.aeS44 ICP

AED 50 per day

Overstaying a visit or residence permit beyond the permitted period or grace period attracts a fine of AED 50 per day.

3 sourcesS47 ICPS57 ICPS51 u.ae

Entering on a visit visa

  1. Indian ordinary-passport holders with a valid visa, residence permit or US Green Card from the US, EU or UK, or a valid residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand, can get a UAE visa for 60 days (ICP service) or the shorter 14-day visa on arrival.

    4 sourcesS45 ICPS46 MEAS47 ICPS48 GDRFA Dubai

  2. Indian nationals holding a valid US visa (not only a residence permit) can use the entry visa scheme for nationals of certain countries.

    1 source onlyS48 GDRFA Dubai

  3. The visa comes in 14-day and 60-day versions: the 14-day visa can be extended once for the same period, and the 60-day visa is single-entry and cannot be extended.

    2 sourcesS47 ICPS48 GDRFA Dubai

  4. ICP lists the fee for the 14-day visa as AED 100 and the 60-day visa as AED 250; ICP's 60-day service page separately lists an issuance fee of AED 250 and a smart services fee of AED 100.

    2 sourcesS47 ICPS45 ICP

  5. The passport must be valid for at least six months to use the visa-on-arrival route for Indians.

    2 sourcesS45 ICPS46 MEA

  6. The 60-day visa must be used within 30 days of issuance (pre-entry validity), and the stay counts from the date of entry.

    2 sourcesS45 ICPS48 GDRFA Dubai

  7. The UAE tourist visa is for people not eligible for visa on arrival or visa-free entry; it can be applied for through ICP or GDRFA Dubai, airlines, licensed travel agents or hotels, including a 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa (90 days per visit) that needs a bank balance of USD 4,000 over the last six months.

    2 sourcesS49 u.aeS50 ICP

Medical test and Emirates ID

  1. A UAE residence visa requires applicants aged 18 and over to pass a medical fitness test, a security check, and to apply for an Emirates ID.

    2 sourcesS51 u.aeS52 MOHAP

  2. The medical fitness examination is meant to show the applicant is free from communicable and infectious diseases. The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) service card, which covers MOHAP's own public health and medical examination centres, gives about 40 minutes for the examination and 1 to 2 days to issue the report and result.

    1 source onlyS52 MOHAP

  3. A new Emirates ID for a resident is linked to the residence application and needs a medical examination with a 'Fit' result; the ID card is delivered by courier after residence is issued.

    2 sourcesS53 ICPS34 ICP

  4. People aged 15 and over must complete fingerprint and signature registration for an Emirates ID at an ICP service centre.

    2 sourcesS53 ICPS54 u.ae

  5. The Emirates ID is mandatory: all UAE citizens and residents must apply for one, and residents must carry it at all times. It expires when the residence visa expires.

    2 sourcesS54 u.aeS51 u.ae

Deadlines and status changes

  1. A foreigner who enters on an entry permit must finish the residence issuance procedures within 60 days of entry, or overstay fines apply.

    2 sourcesS34 ICPS55 ICP

  2. A person already in the UAE on another status can file a Change of Status request inside the country for AED 500 to complete residency without leaving, after cancelling the previous permit.

    2 sourcesS34 ICPS56 GDRFA Dubai

  3. Overstaying a visit or residence permit beyond the permitted period or grace period attracts a fine of AED 50 per day.

    3 sourcesS47 ICPS57 ICPS51 u.ae

Staying away and leaving

  1. A residence visa is automatically cancelled if the holder stays outside the UAE for more than 180 days continuously; the person then needs a new entry permit to return.

    2 sourcesS51 u.aeS44 ICP

  2. Residents who stayed abroad more than six months for study, work or treatment can apply (from outside the UAE) for a permit to return, with a valid reason and a fine of AED 100 for every 30 days or less spent outside; entry must be completed within 30 days of approval. The ICP service says it does not apply to residents of the Emirate of Dubai, who should check with GDRFA Dubai.

    2 sourcesS51 u.aeS44 ICP

  3. The remaining validity on the residence must be more than 30 days when applying for the permit to stay outside the UAE for more than six months.

    1 source onlyS44 ICP

  4. After a residence permit expires or is cancelled, ICP lists a 180-day grace period for Golden, Green and Blue Residence holders and their family members, 90 days for skilled workers in levels 1-3 and property owners, 60 days for residences issued with a guarantor or host, and 30 days for all other categories.

    2 sourcesS57 ICPS58 ICP

  5. For the Dubai self-employment Green permit, GDRFA states the grace period to stay inside the country after expiry or cancellation of the residence permit is 180 days; ICP's FAQ describes a flexible grace period of up to 6 months for Green Residency.

    2 sourcesS3 GDRFA DubaiS50 ICP

  6. Dubai GDRFA's general cancellation service for residence permits states a 60-day grace period after cancellation or expiry, which differs from ICP's category-based grace periods.

    2 sourcesS59 GDRFA DubaiS58 ICP

Check yourself

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Information only, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Every statement comes from an official UAE or Indian government page, checked on 16 October 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the authority before you act.