If you have been planning to bring your family or relatives for a vacation in UAE, then know that the process is nothing short of a breeze. Depending on the purpose of the visit, the UAE Government issues many types of visas and entry permits for visitors who wish to travel to the UAE for a short period.
The country has recently announced new types of visit visas that allow visitors to get free visas for kids. The UAE family visit visa is available for a 30 or 60-day duration, which can also be extended within the country.
Read on to know more about the ins and outs of this popular visit visa which has made travel a lot easier and affordable for families.
You might also like to read: GCC Visa for UAE Residents- A Comprehensive Guide (2024)
A Quick Look into the UAE Family Visit Visa Rules
If your family or loved ones are planning to visit you in UAE, then be pleased to know that they can apply for a family group visit visa. This visa allows visitors to travel in a group and pay no fees for children under 18 years of age.
Under this program, all children below the age of 18 years accompanied by parents will be granted free tourist visas. However, the parents will have to pay the usual visa charges.
To avail of a free visa for children, the applications for the whole family must be submitted together. A lot of visitors are applying for the visa to cut costs on their travel expenses and visit family and relatives with ease.
There is no limitation on the number of children who can apply for a free entry permit. Children traveling with solo parents are also eligible for the free visit visa.
This relatively new UAE family visit visa can be issued for a 30 or 60-day period which can also be extended without having to exit the country. The scheme was launched 2 years ago and since then a lot of visitors from across the globe have applied and availed of the offer.
Application Process for the UAE Family Visit Visa
To apply for the UAE family visit visa, follow the steps below:
- A family must submit photocopies of their valid passports and photographs to an authorized travel agency
- Pay the required fees.
- You wouldn’t need to pay for the children’s visa but have to pay the service charges and health insurance fees.
- The travel agency will process the application which takes a day or two to get approved.
- After the authorities approve the application, a 30 or 60-day visa will be issued.
Cost of the UAE Family Visit Visa
The visit visa fee for the family may vary depending on the travel agency.
- Usually, a 30-day visit visa for a parent costs around AED 350 to AED 500
- Service charges and health insurance fees for a child typically cost around AED 80 to AED 120.
- A 60-day visit visa usually costs around AED 500 to AED 650 and the service charges and health insurance for a child costs around AED 130 to AED 170.
Required Documents
- Valid passport copies (passport must be valid for at least 6 months)
- Passport-sized photographs with white background
UAE Family Group Visit Visa Extension Policy
The UAE family visit visa under the new scheme can be extended without leaving the country. However, to do so, one has to pay the full visit visa fees for children.
The extension while staying in the country is not free and you would have to pay full fees for each accompanying child. The visa can be extended for up to 120 days while staying inside the country.
The extension application must be made before the visa expires. Staying in the country after the visa expires may incur fines and penalties.
For more details on the application process, rules, and latest news, we recommend you visit the official website of GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs)