Passport and visa regulations

Nationalities

	Passport required	visa required	Return ticket required
Switzerland	Yes	no	Yes
Austria	Yes	no	Yes
Germany	Yes	no	Yes
Turkey	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other EU countries	Yes	No/1	Yes

Passport information

Generally required, the passport must be valid for at least six months when entering the United Arab Emirates.

Note on the passport

Only regular, biometric passports can be used for visa-free entry. Entry is not possible with a temporary passport.

Note on the endorsement in the passport

Narcotics: Possession of drugs of any kind, even in small amounts of less than 0.1 g in luggage, clothing or on the body, is punishable by long prison sentences. Travelers and transit travelers are increasingly being checked for drugs at airports. Even the consumption of soft drugs, which may have been a few days ago, is determined by blood tests and severely punished.

Visa information

A visa is generally required. Citizens of the following countries listed in the table above will receive a free entry stamp upon arrival at the airport, valid for a tourist or business stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period and for multiple entries during this period: (a) Germany, Austria and other EU countries (Exception: [1] Ireland (Rep.). The visa for a stay of up to 30 days can be applied for free of charge by Irish nationals upon arrival.); (b) Switzerland. Attention: Citizens of Turkey must apply for a visa before traveling.

• Thembaprograms: Offers ultimate guide to duty-free shopping in United Arab Emirates. Also includes import and export regulations, as well as embassy and telecommunication information about this country.

Costs

Germans, Austrians and Swiss receive a free entry stamp for a stay of 90 days at the airport, which entitles them to multiple entries and is valid for 6 months. Visas are only issued by the embassy in exceptional cases.

Validity

Short-stay tourist visa: for a stay of up to 30 days, single entry, extendable. Short-stay tourist visa: Stay up to 30 days from first entry, multiple entries, extendable. Long-stay tourist visa: Stay up to 3 months, single entry, extendable. Long stay tourist visa: 3 months stay from first entry, multiple entries, extendable. 96-hour visa: valid for 14 days, for a maximum stay of 4 days, non-renewable.

Transit

Travelers who otherwise require a visa and who fly on with the next connection within 12 hours, have valid documents for the onward journey and do not leave the transit area do not require a transit visa. If the transit time is a minimum of 8 hours and a maximum of 96 hours, a 96-hour visa can be applied for on arrival if the flight is to Europe, the USA, Africa or Asia. With this visa you can leave the airport. Further information is available from the transporting airline. The consular representations only issue visas in exceptional cases. The visa is usually granted online or with the help of a sponsor. Authorized airlines such as Emirates, the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates and authorized agencies offer the online service. The visa can also be applied for through a sponsor. Sponsor can be a relative residing in the UAE or a hotel, tour operator or company. Visas must be obtained in good time (at least 1-2 weeks depending on the length of stay) by the hotel (at least 4 stars recommended)/ tour operator or be applied for by a resident of the United Arab Emirates at the Immigration Office. Business visas are issued by invitation only. Information can be obtained from the responsible consular representation.

Application required

(a) 2 application forms. (b) 2 passport photos. (c) Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the stay. (d) Fee. (e) Fax or letter from the host in the United Arab Emirates, to be sent directly to the Embassy. (f) If applicable, residence permit for Germany, Austria or Switzerland. (g) If applicable, a confirmed hotel booking and a confirmed return ticket. (i) Birth certificate for travelers under 21 years of age. Business visa additionally: (h) Company letter. If requested by post, a stamped, registered return envelope must be enclosed. Additional documents may be required. Documents for visa on arrival (a) passport, which is valid for at least 6 months beyond the stay. (b) Confirmed return/onward travel tickets. (c) 2 completed application forms. (d) 2 recent passport photos. (e) Visa Fee. (f) hotel booking, if applicable.

Processing time

Embassy visa: 3-5 days. It is recommended to submit the application in good time, but no earlier than 4 weeks before departure.

Extension of stay

It is possible to extend the 30-day free visa for a further 30 days at the immigration office for a fee of Dh850. The tourist visa for 30 or 90 days can also be extended.

Entry with children

German: Machine-readable children’s passport or your own passport (expressly recommended, especially for long-term, non-tourist stays), must be valid for at least 6 months after the planned departure. Austrians: Own passport. Swiss: Own passport. Turks: Own passport. Note: The same visa requirements apply to children as to their parents. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult legal guardian in order to be able to enter the country. Travelers requiring a visa must be at least 18 years of age to apply for an unaccompanied guardian travel visa. underage travelers, who have a different surname than the accompanying legal guardian must carry a birth certificate with them upon entry. Hotel check-in is often prohibited for young people under the age of 21 traveling alone. Details should be clarified with the respective hotel before the trip. Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.  Since June 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (including within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.

Entry with pets

A veterinary health certificate is required for cats, dogs (must be at least 16 weeks old) and birds. Dogs and cats must also be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. Only guide dogs are allowed in the cabin of an aircraft, with permission and under strict conditions. In all cases, however, prior approval must be obtained from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.