Dubai Five-Year Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa: Requirements and Fees
A practical guide to eligibility, the official Dubai application route, fees and the important difference between five-year validity and permitted days in the UAE.
The Dubai five-year multiple-entry tourist visa is a self-sponsored visitor visa: GDRFA Dubai says it is valid for five years from issue and does not require a guarantor or host in the UAE. It suits frequent visits, but it is not a five-year residence permit and does not allow an uninterrupted five-year stay.
Who can apply and what must you prove?
GDRFA’s live service is for a foreign visitor travelling for tourism. The required-document list includes a personal photo, a passport copy with at least six months’ validity, a six-month bank statement, UAE-valid health insurance and a round-trip or onward ticket. The applicant must also show a bank balance of at least US$4,000, or the equivalent in another currency, during the six months before applying.
Use statements issued by the bank and make sure the account holder’s name matches the application. If the balance fluctuates, do not assume briefly reaching the threshold is enough: the authority assesses the evidence. A travel agent cannot waive the financial, passport or insurance conditions.
How long can you stay?
The visa’s five-year validity and the allowed stay are separate limits. GDRFA states that a holder may stay for up to 90 days in any one year, continuously or across several trips. The stay may be extended for a similar period, but total presence must not exceed 180 days in any one year. The year is calculated from the date of first entry, and unused days do not roll into the next year.
GDRFA also says the first entry must be made within two months of issue, with a possible two-month extension. Read the issued visa and entry record rather than calculating only from flight bookings. The authority recommends requesting a travel report when necessary to reconcile entry and exit movements with the remaining allowance.
Current GDRFA fees
As reviewed on 26 October 2026, GDRFA lists an AED 100 application fee, AED 500 issuance fee, AED 3,000 guarantee, AED 21 guarantee-service fee, AED 20 guarantee collection-and-return fee, AED 10 Knowledge Dirham, AED 10 Innovation Dirham and AED 52.50 service fee. The page displays a total of AED 3,713. GDRFA warns that the final amount can vary with the applicant’s circumstances, so the amount shown in checkout controls.
The AED 3,000 is described as a guarantee, not the visa’s base issuance price. Keep payment and guarantee records because any later return is easier to trace with the original reference. GDRFA says violations can lead to fines at departure and forfeiture of the financial security.
Application steps
- Prepare the evidence. Check passport validity, photo, bank statements, insurance and ticket details.
- Use the official channel. Start from the GDRFA service and sign in to the smart system with UAE Pass or a username. GDRFA also lists Customer Happiness and Amer centres.
- Review the form. Match names, passport numbers and dates exactly. Pay only after checking the application and calculated fees.
- Save the reference. GDRFA lists an expected completion time of 48 hours, but that is a service target, not a guaranteed decision time.
- Check every trip. Keep entry and exit dates and do not use the five-year expiry date as the stay deadline.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing this tourist visa with residence, work permission or a Golden Visa.
- Buying non-refundable travel before issuance.
- Using edited statements or insurance that is not valid in the UAE.
- Assuming 90 days renew automatically or unused days carry forward.
- Paying an agent who promises approval or asks for an OTP.
Compare the Dubai visit visa for a relative or friend or the job-exploration visa if your purpose differs. After applying, check a Dubai visa through GDRFA; applications issued through ICP can be followed with our ICP tracking guide.
This guide cannot assess an individual application or guarantee approval. Never share an OTP, banking password or unrestricted UAE Pass approval.
Official sources and review note
Dubai Daily Guide reviewed this article on 26 October 2026 against GDRFA Dubai’s five-year multiple-entry tourist visa service ↗ and the UAE Government’s tourist visa overview ↗. Check the live form before paying because rules and charges can change.