Millions of people travel to Dubai or UAE every year for variety of reasons. While most visit UAE for a holiday, there are several who visit to find a job in the Emirates city. Most of the visiting visas are valid for 30-90 days. However, if your purpose of visiting Dubai or UAE is not done, you need to get Dubai Visa Change before it expires. You may wonder whether you have to return to your home country to renew the visa. Since the outbreak of the pandemic began, it has been possible to extend the visa without leaving the UAE. Recently, however, a new policy has been issued that revised this condition to state that UAE visa extensions not allowed inside the country. With Visa Run Dubai and other visa changing options, you can get your UAE visa renewed without going back to your country. If you are planning to extend your stay in Dubai, here is everything you need to know about the process of Visa Run Dubai and other visa change options.
Here is all you must know about visa run Dubai.
1. Visa Run Dubai
Hatta border visa change
This visa change applies to travelers who intend to travel to Hatta to extend or renew their existing tourist or employment visa. This visa change type is used extensively by Indian and Filipino citizens. This visa has to be applied before your visa expires to accommodate the visa change processing timeline. This visa change can be done for a 30-day and 60-day UAE visa.
Visa Run Dubai is the most popular way of renewing UAE or Dubai Visa. For this, you have to visit a neighbour country, usually Oman, Bahrain or Kish Island. The Hatta Border crossing that leads to Oman is surely the most used path for Visa Run Dubai. If you are using this option, here is the process that you would have to follow to get your visa extended.
- Check the Oman Hatta Border crossing opening times before you start your journey.
- On the way to Oman Border, you would come across various checkpoints where you may have to show your passport.
- Before you reach the UAE exit, you would have to go through customs checkpoint where your vehicle will be checked and issued a customs ticket. This ticket would have to be submitted at the time of processing your passport.
- The next stop is the UAE border. Here, you would have to get down from your vehicle, go to the UAE immigration window where your passport would be stamped for UAE exit. This is where you would have to pay fine if you have overstayed even after your visa expired. You would have to pay an exit fee .
- Once this is done, you enter Oman and drive 10 km till you reach a dome shaped building to get your new UAE visa. Here, you would be stamped for Oman entry and exit. U.A.E visa agencies provide this service for stamping at very reasonable price (Prices vary this usually depends on the day) to get your visa stamped.
- It is important to get your vehicle customs ticket stamped before you start your journey back to UAE. (If you are traveling by a private vehicle, you need to have the vehicle’s original registration document. Also, you need to have proof that you are the owner of the vehicle or a written permission from the owner of the vehicle to cross the border)
- Once you reach Oman-UAE border, you again need to visit the UAE immigration window to get your new visa and entry stamp. The new extended visa would be for 30 or 60 days.
2. Airport to Airport Visa Change
Another option for UAE or Dubai visit visa renewal is Airport to Airport Visa Change. This is probably the easiest way of getting your visa renewed. In this case, you fly to a neighbouring country to get your visa renewed. You can travel to Bahrain, Oman or Kuwait for this purpose. While you may have to spend 24-48 hours at the other airport for your visa renewal, in some cases, you can travel to UAE in the same flight. Depending on whether you travel from Sharjah or Dubai, there can be slight changes in the visa change process. Here is what you need to know if you choose to renew your visa through the airport to airport visa change process.
- You need to reach the airport (both Dubai International Airport and Sharjah International Airport) at least three hours before the flight.
- You need to make the required payment and get your ticket stamped with ‘Visa Change’ and ‘Ok to Accept Pax’.
- After you get your boarding pass, you need to get the UAE Exit seal on your passport. It is extremely important to send this to your visa service provider.
- When you land in Bahrain or Oman from Sharjah, you have to get down the plane to complete all the necessary procedures and then take a flight back to Sharjah. Once back, you would have to wait at the airport (you can book a room at the airport hotel or wait at the waiting section) for your UAE or Dubai visit visa approval. This would take anywhere between 24 and 48 hours.
- In case you are travelling to Kuwait from Sharjah, you do not need to get down from your plane. You can wait inside the plane and fly back to Sharjah. However, you need to wait at the Sharjah Airport for your visa approval.
- In case you are travelling from Dubai International Airport to Oman, you need to wait at the waiting section in the airport in Oman till you are notified that your UAE visa is approved. This would also take somewhere between 24-48 hours. Once this is done, you can take a flight back to Dubai.
- Before you exit Sharjah or Dubai Airport, you have to clear the immigration procedures and get the Entry seal on your passport.
For More Information Related to Dubai Airport Immigration Visit Here.
3. Khasab same day visa change
This visa change applies to travelers who wish to travel to Khasab, a neighboring small town in Oman placed along the UAE borders. Applicants here travel to Khasab by bus and return to the UAE on the same day with a new UAE tourist visa. This visa change must be applied before your visa expiry to accommodate the visa change processing timeline. The border charges for transportation to Oman and stays in Oman are additional costs. This visa change is applicable for a 30-day and 60-day UAE tourist visa.
4. Tips for Successful Dubai Visa Change
Whatever option you choose for your Dubai visa change, here are some tips that would make it easy and less stressful.
- It is important to carry all the documents while flying out of UAE for renewing your visa. The documents you require are passport and visa copies, documents of your guarantor (residence visa, Emirates ID, passport), passport size photo with white background, visa fee and cash deposit.
- If you outstay your visa validity, you would have to pay a fine for each extra day. To avoid this, apply for a visa change well in advance.
- Be polite and respectful while interacting with border officials. They have the power to speed-up as well as slow down your visa change process.
- If you are taking a rental vehicle while driving to Oman, make sure that the vehicle has car insurance.
- Make sure everyone in your group who is applying for the visa run have a minimum of six months validity on their passport for stamping purposes
- If you are traveling with children, but both parents are not present, it is better to have a permission letter from the other parent or guardian.
Check About: International Airports in UAE
The process is simple and usually does not take more than a day or two. While it is possible to go for Visa Run Dubai on your own, it would be best to approach an agency that offers visa services. This would ensure that the process happens smoothly, without any glitches. Go for a reputed agency that has years of experience in Dubai Visa Change, especially if you are opting for Airport to Airport Visa Change.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is it possible to get the extension or renewal of my tourist visa without exit?
2. Define the new rule applicable to the 60-day UAE visa?
3. Can the visa be extended or renewed if I have overstayed for a few days?
4. Can on-arrival visa applicants also request a visa change?
5. What is the average visa change or extension timeline?
6. Please define what a visa status change is?
7. Is there a limit defined for the number of times a traveler can apply for an Airport to Airport visa change?
1. Is it possible to get the extension or renewal of my tourist visa without exit?
Yes. Applicants cannot get their tourist visa renewed or extended without exiting the country.
2. Define the new rule applicable to the 60-day UAE visa?
The UAE government has introduced extending, renewing, or changing the UAE visa by exiting the country. This rule has already been enacted in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
3. Can the visa be extended or renewed if I have overstayed for a few days?
3. Can the visa be extended or renewed if I have overstayed for a few days?
4. Can on-arrival visa applicants also request a visa change?
Yes. All on-arrival applicants can apply or request a visa change to a tourist visa.
5. What is the average visa change or extension timeline?
On average, the visa extension or change process can be processed in 3-4 working days. Express services are also available at an additional premium cost.
6. Please define what a visa status change is?
A visa status change is a change from an old tourist visa to a new one. From a documentation standpoint, you need to maintain your old tourist visa, irrespective of the issuance of your newly issued visa.
7. Is there a limit defined for the number of times a traveler can apply for an Airport to Airport visa change?
The UAE Immigration authorities have not defined limits on how often a traveler can apply for an Airport to Airport visa change.