A UAE visit visa for Pakistan passport holders is a 30-day or 60-day tourist visa that you must arrange before you fly, because Pakistanis do not get a visa on arrival. In Dubai the official fee is AED 200 for 30 days and AED 300 for 60 days, plus 5% VAT, and GDRFA Dubai says processing takes about 48 hours. In practice almost every Pakistani applicant goes through a registered travel agent or an airline such as Emirates, and the UAE has been checking Pakistani applications more strictly since 2024.
Last checked: 19 October 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
UAE visit visa for Pakistan passport holders: the short version
Pakistan is not on the UAE’s visa-on-arrival list, so you need an approved e-visa in hand before boarding. Emirates’ UAE visa page lists the countries that get a visa on arrival, and Pakistan is not among them.
A UAE visa from Pakistan is issued by one of two federal and emirate bodies: the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai for visas sponsored in Dubai, and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) for Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates. You do not apply to them directly as a Pakistani tourist. A sponsor applies for you: a licensed travel agency, an airline, a hotel, or a relative living in the UAE.
Types of UAE visit visa open to Pakistanis
The UAE government portal u.ae says a visit visa (also called an entry permit) can be single entry or multiple entry, and covers tourism, visiting family or friends, medical treatment, study, job hunting and transit. These are the options a Pakistani visitor will actually come across.
| Visa | Stay | Who applies | Official fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry tourist visa (Dubai) | 30 or 60 days | Accredited Dubai tourism company | AED 200 / AED 300 + 5% VAT |
| Visit visa for a relative or friend (Dubai) | 30, 60 or 90 days | UAE resident sponsor | AED 200 / 300 / 400 + VAT, insurance and AED 1,000 refundable deposit |
| Emirates prearranged tourist visa | 30 or 60 days, single or multiple entry | Emirates, for its own passengers | US$90 to US$231 |
| 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa | Up to 90 days per visit, 180 days a year | Applicant via GDRFA | AED 3,713 including AED 3,000 guarantee |
| 48 or 96-hour transit visa | 48 or 96 hours | Airline (Emirates) | US$10 / US$49 |
Fees above come from the GDRFA single-entry tourist visa page, the GDRFA relative or friend visit visa page, the GDRFA 5-year multi-entry tourist visa page and the Emirates visa page. For the rupee breakdown and agent prices, see our Dubai visa price in Pakistan guide.
30-day and 60-day tourist visa
This is the visa most Pakistanis mean when they search “Dubai visit visa”. GDRFA’s page is clear that “only accredited tourism offices in the emirate can issue this kind of visa”, which is why Pakistani travel agents work with a Dubai partner company. There is no security deposit for this visa type.
Family visit visa
If a parent, spouse, child or sibling lives in the UAE, they can sponsor you. ICP sets minimum sponsor salaries on its visa issuance service page: AED 4,000 a month for first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second and third-degree relatives, and AED 15,000 for friends. Emirates lists slightly different thresholds for visas it arranges (AED 4,000 for spouse, children or parents, AED 5,500 for siblings, AED 10,000 for friends). Arab News reported in August 2026 that family applications were being approved more smoothly than individual ones.
5-year multiple-entry tourist visa
GDRFA offers a 5-year multi-entry tourist visa with no sponsor required. The conditions are strict: a bank balance of US$4,000 or equivalent over the last six months, a six-month bank statement, UAE health insurance and a return ticket. The fee is about AED 713 plus a refundable AED 3,000 guarantee. You can stay up to 90 days per visit and no more than 180 days in a year. In March 2025, Pakistan’s Foreign Office told the National Assembly that the UAE Embassy had confirmed this policy for Pakistanis, with round-trip tickets, hotel bookings and the AED 3,000 deposit required, as reported on 13 March 2025. Approval for Pakistani applicants is not guaranteed.
Dubai visit visa from Pakistan: what changed in 2025 and 2026
Pakistani applicants have faced more rejections and delays than most nationalities. Here is the timeline from reputable reporting.
- November 2024: the UAE made a police character certificate mandatory for Pakistani work visas, according to Overseas Employment Promoters quoted by Aaj News. This does not apply to visit visas.
- March 2025: the Foreign Office said there was “no official visa ban” but admitted scrutiny had increased because of fake documents, overstays and criminal cases.
- November 2025: an Additional Interior Secretary told a Senate committee that the UAE had unofficially stopped issuing visas to ordinary passport holders, as reported by Dawn and carried by ANI.
- February 2026: Pakistan’s ambassador in Abu Dhabi denied social media claims that 48 and 96-hour transit visas had been suspended, telling Dawn “It’s not true” (Daily Times).
- August 2026: Arab News reported that visit visas had eased for Pakistanis applying through registered travel agents, with a UAE embassy official saying visas are “open through travel agents for ordinary passports”. Daily Dubai-bound passengers rose from about 170 to about 400 by late July, still well below the roughly 1,000 a day of two years earlier.
The Dubai visa is open for Pakistani applicants as of October 2026, through registered agents and family sponsors, but it needs complete paperwork and faces more checks than before.
Documents required for a UAE visa from Pakistan
GDRFA’s official list is short, but agents and airlines ask for more because they carry the risk if you overstay.
| Document | Official requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Valid at least 6 months | Machine-readable only; Emirates rejects handwritten passports |
| Photo | Personal photo | White or light background, no glasses |
| CNIC copy | Required for Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan | Listed on GDRFA’s page by nationality |
| Return or onward ticket | Required | Emirates wants an Emirates ticket starting “176” |
| Health insurance | Valid in the UAE | Usually bundled by the agent |
| Hotel booking | Emirates and agents | Dates must match the ticket |
| Bank statement | For the 5-year visa (US$4,000) | Many agents ask for it for 30/60-day visas too |
| Proof of relationship | For family visas | Marriage certificate, birth certificate or NADRA FRC |
For a family visa, a NADRA Family Registration Certificate is the quickest way to prove the relationship. Our guide on getting an FRC from NADRA explains the process, and children travelling for the first time will need a B-Form before their passport.
Police verification is often mentioned in WhatsApp groups. The official visit visa pages from GDRFA and ICP do not list a police character certificate for tourists. The confirmed requirement is for employment visas.
How to apply: step by step
- Choose the route. A registered travel agent for a standard tourist visa, Emirates if you are flying Emirates both ways, or a relative in the UAE for a family visa.
- Book your ticket and hotel. Keep them refundable if possible. The dates must match.
- Scan documents in colour. Passport bio page, CNIC front and back, photo, ticket, hotel booking and, if asked, a recent bank statement.
- Submit and pay. The agent or sponsor applies on the GDRFA or ICP system. Emirates applications need at least four working days before arrival.
- Wait for approval. GDRFA and ICP both quote about 48 hours, but Pakistani files often take longer during busy periods.
- Check and print the e-visa. Confirm your name and passport number match exactly, and carry a printed copy with your return ticket and hotel booking.
Processing time
GDRFA lists 48 hours for both the single-entry tourist visa and the 5-year visa. ICP lists 2 days. Emirates says sponsored visas take about 2 to 4 working days. Add a few working days of buffer for Pakistani applications, and do not book non-refundable travel until the visa is issued.
Common rejection reasons for Pakistani applicants
Official bodies do not publish reasons for individual refusals. The causes below are the ones Pakistan’s Foreign Office cited to parliament and the ones agents report.
- Fake or edited documents, including degrees, bank statements and hotel bookings.
- A previous overstay, absconding case or fine in the UAE.
- Single young men applying alone with no travel history. Agents say family applications get through more easily.
- Name mismatches between passport, CNIC and ticket.
- Hotel and ticket dates that do not match.
- Applying through an unregistered agent whose Dubai partner has been blocked.
Aaj News also reported in November 2024 that visit visa applicants from 30 Pakistani cities faced extra restrictions, quoting an overseas employment association. No official UAE list has been published, so treat this as unconfirmed.
Staying legally once you arrive
ICP charges AED 50 for every day you overstay. A tourist visa can be extended once from inside the country through GDRFA, but extensions cost more than a fresh visa from Pakistan. If you plan to visit Qatar or the Maldives on the same trip, read our guides on Qatar entry for Pakistanis and the Maldives visa.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Dubai visa open for Pakistani citizens in 2026?
Yes. Arab News reported in August 2026 that visit visas are being issued to ordinary passport holders who apply through registered travel agents, and family applications are being processed more smoothly.
Can Pakistanis get a UAE visa on arrival?
No. Pakistan is not on the UAE visa-on-arrival list, so the e-visa must be approved before you fly.
How much is a Dubai visit visa from Pakistan?
The official GDRFA fee is AED 200 for 30 days and AED 300 for 60 days, plus 5% VAT. Agents add insurance and service charges, so see our fee table for the full rupee cost.
How long does a UAE visit visa take for Pakistanis?
GDRFA quotes 48 hours. Plan for 3 to 5 working days through an agent, and four working days minimum through Emirates.
Do I need a bank statement for a Dubai visit visa?
Officially only the 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa requires one (US$4,000 over six months). Many agents ask for a recent statement for 30 and 60-day visas as well.
Do Pakistanis need a police character certificate for a UAE visit visa?
Not according to the official GDRFA and ICP visit visa pages. The police certificate requirement reported since November 2024 applies to work visas.
Can I convert a UAE visit visa into a work visa?
A job offer while on a visit visa is handled by the employer through MOHRE and ICP or GDRFA. Rules change often, so confirm with the employer before you travel on a visit visa for job hunting.
