Checked on 11 October 2026 against the UAE government portal, ICP announcements and recent reporting by Khaleej Times and The National.
Whether you need a visa before flying to the UAE depends on your passport. GCC citizens need no visa. Citizens of around 85 countries, including the UK, the US, most of Europe, China and Malaysia, can arrive and get entry at the airport. Most job seekers from South Asia and Africa, including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Nigeria, need a visit visa arranged before they travel. Some Indian nationals with a US, UK or EU residence document are the main exception.
Whichever group you fall into, a visit visa only lets you look for work. You cannot start a job until your employer gets your work permit and residence visa.
Which group is your passport in?
| Group | Examples | What happens at the airport |
|---|---|---|
| GCC citizens | Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman | No visa. Enter with a passport or national ID |
| 90-day entry on arrival | UK, USA, Canada, Australia, most EU countries, China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Russia | Up to 90 days in any 180-day period, no advance application |
| 30-day entry on arrival | Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Ireland, Hong Kong, Brunei, Mauritius | 30 days, with the option to extend |
| Indian passport with an eligible residence document | US visa or green card, or a residence permit from the UK, EU or a few other countries | Visa on arrival, usually for 14 days |
| Everyone else | Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Philippines and many more | Visit visa must be issued before you fly |
The examples come from the UAE government portal and the full country list published by Khaleej Times in June 2026. Lists change, so check your own passport on the official portal or with your airline before you book.
Visa on arrival for Indian nationals
An ordinary Indian passport does not qualify for visa on arrival on its own. According to the UAE government portal, Indian citizens can get a visa on arrival for up to 14 days if they hold a US visa or green card that is valid for at least six more months. Khaleej Times reported in June 2026 that eligibility now also covers residence permits from the UK, the EU, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, with a longer 60-day option in some cases.
If you don’t have one of these documents, you need a visit visa before you travel, the same as most job seekers from Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries that need a visa first
If your passport isn’t on the arrival lists, someone in the UAE has to sponsor your visit visa, or you apply through an approved channel. The common routes are:
- An airline: Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia arrange visit visas for their passengers.
- A licensed travel agency working with a UAE sponsor.
- A relative or friend living in the UAE. Since ICP’s update in September 2025, residents must earn at least AED 4,000 a month to sponsor parents, a spouse or children, AED 8,000 for siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts or cousins, and AED 15,000 for a friend. These thresholds were reported when ICP announced the changes.
- The job seeker visa, if you qualify (see below).
Applicants usually need a passport valid for at least six months, a photo, and sometimes a return ticket, a hotel booking and proof of funds. The airline or agent will tell you exactly what they need for your nationality.
Social media often shares “visa ban lists” for certain countries. The UAE does not publish a permanent public ban list, and individual applications can still be refused. Rely on what the airline, the ICP or GDRFA tell you, not on forwarded messages.
The job seeker visa: who it is really for
The UAE’s visit visa to explore job opportunities does not need a sponsor. It lasts 60, 90 or 120 days. It is limited to people in MOHRE skill levels 1 to 3 (managers, professionals and technicians) or graduates of one of the world’s top 500 universities within the last two years, and a bachelor’s degree is the minimum. The National reported the ICP fees as AED 1,555 for 60 days, AED 1,675 for 90 days and AED 1,795 for 120 days, each including a refundable AED 1,025 deposit.
That means most drivers, labourers, cleaners and other workers in skill levels 6 to 9 won’t qualify. Our UAE job seeker visa guide covers the application steps.
What changed in UAE visit visas recently
- September 2025: ICP added four new visit visa types: for artificial intelligence specialists, for entertainment, for events, and for cruise ships and leisure boats. The same update set the income thresholds for sponsoring relatives and friends listed above.
- June 2026: Indian visa-on-arrival eligibility was reported to cover more residence permits.
- Unified GCC tourist visa: the one-visa-for-six-countries scheme has been approved but had still not launched when Khaleej Times reported on 8 September 2026. No launch date or fee has been announced. Ignore any agent selling it.
Rules that apply whatever your nationality
- No work on a visit visa. You can attend interviews, but working before your permit is issued is illegal and can lead to fines or a ban. See how to change from a visit visa to a work visa once you are hired.
- Passport validity: at least six months from the date you enter.
- Overstaying is fined daily. Leave or change your status before your visa ends. If you lose a job, read about the UAE visa grace period.
- Medical tests: some employers ask workers from Pakistan and other countries for a pre-departure medical. Our Wafid (GAMCA) medical guide explains how to book it.
- Never pay for a “guaranteed” visa or job. Employers pay recruitment and visa costs. Read who pays recruitment fees and how to check a job offer first.
Visa on arrival and visit visas: questions from job seekers
Can I look for a job in the UAE on a tourist visa?
Yes. You can search and attend interviews, but you cannot start working until your employer’s work permit and your residence visa are approved.
Do Pakistani citizens get a UAE visa on arrival?
No. Pakistani passport holders need a visit visa issued before travel, through an airline, a licensed agency, a UAE sponsor or, if eligible, the job seeker visa.
How long can I stay on a 90-day visa on arrival?
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The days add up across trips.
Is there a list of banned nationalities?
No permanent public list is published. Applications are assessed individually, so check with your airline or the ICP before you pay for a ticket.
Where these rules come from
UAE government portal: do you need an entry permit or a visa?, Khaleej Times country list (June 2026), The National on the job seeker visa (October 2025), ICP visit visa changes (September 2025) and Khaleej Times on the GCC visa (September 2026). Visa rules change often. Confirm with ICP (600 522222), GDRFA Dubai (800 5111) or your airline before you travel. This is general information, not legal advice.
