As the tourist season approaches, many domestic travelers begin preparations. According to agency statistics, the United Arab Emirates is among the top 5 resorts in popularity among residents of the CIS. Before traveling, many people wonder whether Russians need a visa to the UAE in 2017. After all, the legislation of countries in the field of tourism and immigration is subject to constant changes.

In 2017, Russians began to be issued a free visa upon arrival valid for 30 days. There is also the possibility of extending it within the country. It remains possible to obtain 3-month single-use and multiple-entry visas. Citizens of Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan still need a visa.

If you prefer to apply for a visa at a visa center, we recommend doing it online at the Online Visa Center (link to the website page http://onlinevc.ru/visa/oae.html)

Panoramic view of Dubai

The United Arab Emirates is not a member of the European Union, so Schengen is not valid for entry into the state. For Ukrainians, Belarusians and Kazakhstanis, you will need to obtain a national visa. It is issued independently through service centers on the territory of the Russian Federation. You can shift your worries to the tour operator, air transportation company and hotels. This can also be done through visa centers of Asian countries.

Ukrainians cannot apply for a visa on their own in all cases, since there are no official representative offices of the UAE on the territory of Ukraine. For citizens of countries such as Croatia, Estonia, Cyprus, England, Switzerland and several others, there is a visa-free regime.

Girls under 30 years of age are granted a visa only if they are accompanied by a male person or if they are presented with permission from their legal representatives, certified in advance by a notary. Because they are afraid that the girls will stay and not return home.

This is what an e-visa to the UAE looks like

Alternatively, the Emirates immigration service may request a deposit of 1,500 USD in case the tourist does not leave the country. If you have a reservation at a high-class hotel - 4 or 5 stars, no deposit is required. There are no such requirements for representatives of the stronger half.

The UAE Migration Service considers applications from persons under 30 years of age, regardless of both gender characteristics, more carefully.

Electronic visa to the Emirates. It is not recorded in the entry passport. The tourist is given an A4 printout. You can only receive the original at the airport upon arrival. The passport only contains entry or exit stamps.

Tourist visa

To obtain a holiday visa, you can contact your hotel in the UAE. But you should check the availability of such a service.
The following documents must be provided:

The passport must be valid for at least six months after returning to your home country. Sometimes they require you to present original airline tickets and receipts for paying for a hotel room.

Since the end of March 2014, the authorities of the United Arab Emirates have introduced a tourist tax for accommodation. It is added separately to the room rate per night.

On average, the fee is up to $6/day, depending on the star rating of the hotel and the type of room.

A tourist visa is canceled if the tourist does not check into the hotel room that he booked in advance. This is regarded as a violation of the regime. In the future, obtaining a visa to the UAE will take more time.

This is what a UAE visa looks like

Work and residence visas

For the official one you will need a work visa. It is impossible to obtain it on your own. Concerns about the procedure lie entirely with the employer. The company also collects a package of documents. The future employee must provide a copy of his international passport and a higher education diploma.

A work visa is valid for 60 days for concluding an employment contract and a card. During this time, a resident visa is also issued. Property owners can also obtain a residence visa. In this case, it is issued by the selling companies for 2-3 years.

Transit visa

Flights from America to Asia or from Asia to Africa quite often have transfers at UAE airports. In order to leave the transit zone while waiting for the next flight, you must apply for a special visa. This is a great opportunity to shop in the best boutiques in the world and admire the famous Arab attractions. gives the right to stay in the territory for 96 hours. The entry window is 58 days.

When traveling on a cruise, the responsibility for obtaining a visa lies with the tour organizer. You can obtain transit either in advance (at least 4 working days) from the carrier company, or at the airport in the Emirates in a special department. Its employees will request a ticket for an onward flight to the destination country.

student visa

The United Arab Emirates is famous for the excellent quality of training at universities. Diplomas are valued all over the world, including in the European Union.

American University building in Dubai

Young people will need a student visa to study.
Prospective students must submit a number of documents:

  • A color copy of all pages of the international passport and for a minor - birth certificate;
  • Certificate of vaccinations.

When transferring to study from your home university to one located in the UAE, you will need a transcript with grades and a certificate in the established format confirming the transfer procedure. When entering, you must have 16 photographs with you for registration of documents. In some cases, legalization of documents by the embassy is requested.

Only educational institutions licensed by the Ministry of Education can invite parties to study in the UAE.

Visitor visa

A visitor visa will be required when traveling to visit family members living in the Emirates. Its design lies with the receiving party. The period for possible entry is 60 days, but you can only stay on the territory of the state for 29 days with the right to extend.

Visa for young travelers

It is almost impossible to obtain a visa for a child traveling unaccompanied by legal guardians. There is also a high probability of refusal if a minor comes with one mother. You will need consent to leave from your legal guardians, translated into English and certified by a notary.
The package of documents must be accompanied by a birth certificate and a page where the information entered about the child is displayed.

Due to changes in the rules in 2017, a child needs a personal passport to visit the UAE. Entry into the country is prohibited with an entry in the parent’s passport. Failure to comply with the rules may result in deportation.

Photo requirements

To obtain an electronic visa for Ukrainians and Russians, you will need to attach a scanned copy of a photograph that meets the official parameters:

  • Image resolution 240 by 320 pixels;
  • Absence of hats and other accessories that cover the applicant’s face in the absence of valid reasons for wearing them;
  • File size maximum 60 KB;
  • jpeg format;
  • Clear color image on a light background.

UAE Representative Office

The UAE Embassy in Moscow issues visas only to citizens of Russia and Ukraine who possess official and diplomatic documents. It is located at the address: Moscow, st. Olof Palme 4.
For everyone else, entry permits are issued by the Emirates Migration Authorities. There is no need to contact the embassy.

Visa processing time

Typically, the processing time for a visa, with the exception of a transit visa, is 2–4 days, excluding weekends and holidays. In rare cases, the procedure may take up to 7 days. Some travel companies are ready to issue a permit urgently within 24 hours. But it is worth considering that UAE representative offices consider Friday and Saturday as days off.

The UAE Migration Service may delay the deadline if the applicant has a common or Arabic-like surname.

Visa centers

An electronic visa to the UAE can be obtained independently with the help of the Sharjah VC directly through the website, as well as during a personal visit.

  • Go to the Sharjah Visa Application Center website http://uaevc.ru/
  • Start filling out the form, this can be done around the clock.
  • Attach the necessary documents to the application form via a special form on the website.
  • Pay for the visa. This can be done by bank card, transfer or cash. Online payment is available if you have a VISA or MasterCard card. If you are making a bank transfer, please include your name and account number in the transfer purpose.
  • In 3-4 working days after payment you will receive a completed visa. After that, you need to download and print it on any printer.

If you would like to submit your documents in person, please contact the Sharjah Visa Application Center office at:

  • Moscow, st. Maroseyka, 7/8, office 206 (metro Kitay-Gorod). Tel: Moscow +7 (495) 973-65-58;
  • St. Petersburg, Nevsky pr., 24, office M. Tel: +7 (812) 715-20-91;
  • Toll-free number for all cities 8 (800) 700-97-88.

Only persons who have visited the European Union, America, Japan or Canada over the past 5 years can obtain a visa to the UAE through service centers.
If there are no travel stamps for such countries, you must confirm your financial viability with an income of 400,000 (about 10 thousand dollars) or more rubles per year. The centers accept applications in any form. The visa is issued electronically, so the location of the applicant does not affect the procedure.

Abu Dhabi Visa Application Center

If you register independently through this representative office, some difficulties may arise, since the site menu is entirely in English. The Abu Dhabi Visa Application Center processes visas for Etihad Airways passengers. Once submitted, the applicant can check the implementation status.
The visa center accepts applications on the website: https://www.ttsuaevisas.com

Dubai Emirate Visa Application Center

The website of the representative office provides detailed instructions and a form for resolving controversial issues. The Dubai Visa Application Center prepares visas for those flying with Emirates.

Applications are submitted online: http://www.dubaivisa.net/

Asian Visa Application Center

The service center of Asian countries provides services to citizens of CIS countries. It can be used to obtain a permit only for a tourist trip and for the purpose of leaving the airport in Dubai between flights. The transit visa is valid only in this emirate.
Official web resource: asiavc.ru

Price

The fee is about $65 for a tourist trip and $45 for transit. The longer the visa is valid, the higher the fee. For a stay of 90 days you will have to pay $186. The cost of the intermediary's services must be added to the fee.

If a visa is refused, funds will not be returned to the applicant. Total processing costs can range from $150 to $300. The cost of a visitor visa is $400–500.

Example of a transit visa to the UAE

Transit - in general it will cost 110–135 dollars. How much a visa to the UAE costs with all fees must be checked with the organization that will help with this.

If the child is listed in the parents' passport, obtaining a visa is completely free. If he has his own document, the cost is paid in full with all fees.