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Immigration & visas

Passport control & visas

Ensure visa eligibility before embarking on a trip to Dubai
Smart Gates chevron-down

Smart Gates are an advanced passport control system available at DXB and DWC. They allow guests arriving and departing the airport to pass through passport control swiftly, typically within seconds, thanks to their enhanced features and contactless process.

UAE and GCC nationals, UAE residents and visa-on-arrival guests with biometric passports can use the Smart Gates. First-time Smart Gates users are registered to use the Smart Gates when entering the passport control touchpoint upon arrival at DXB or DWC. If you’re registered for Smart Gates, you can pass through by simply looking at the green light without needing to scan a document. Remember to remove anything covering the face such as a masks, glasses, and hats and keep the passport and boarding pass ready in case they are needed.

People of Determination (individuals with disabilities or impairments) and guests with large strollers, families with children and guests under 1.2 meters in height are ineligible to use the Smart Gates.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) website allows guests to check eligibility to use the Smart Gate service.

Getting a visa for Dubai chevron-down

For citizens of countries not included in the above list, a visa is required to enter Dubai. Check the cost and procedure for applying for a UAE visa with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) or for details, call 800 5111 from Dubai or +9714313999 from overseas. 

Some visitors may also have to complete an eye scan when they reach passport control.

Visa rules are subject to change. Always confirm with respective airline, the GDRFA and The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs for updated information.

For questions about visas at the airport, visit the GDRFA visa office in Terminal 3 arrivals near Entrance 1. The center is open 24/7.


Leaving Dubai  

Check visa requirements as per the final destination. Guests may not be allowed to travel if they don't have the correct visa.

Visa on arrival chevron-down

Citizens of the following countries are eligible for a free visa on arrival

Flag of AustraliaAustralia
Flag of AustriaAustria
Flag of BelgiumBelgium
Flag of BruneiBrunei
Flag of BulgariaBulgaria
Flag of CanadaCanada
Flag of ChinaChina
Flag of CroatiaCroatia
Flag of CyprusCyprus
Flag of Czech RepublicCzech Republic
Flag of DenmarkDenmark
Flag of EstoniaEstonia
Flag of FinlandFinland
Flag of FranceFrance
Flag of GermanyGermany
Flag of GreeceGreece
Flag of Hong KongHong Kong
Flag of HungaryHungary
Flag of IcelandIceland
Flag of IrelandIreland
Flag of ItalyItaly
Flag of JapanJapan
Flag of LatviaLatvia
Flag of LiechtensteinLiechtenstein
Flag of LithuaniaLithuania
Flag of LuxembourgLuxembourg
Flag of MalaysiaMalaysia
Flag of MaltaMalta
Flag of MonacoMonaco
Flag of NetherlandsNetherlands
Flag of New ZealandNew Zealand
Flag of NorwayNorway
Flag of PolandPoland
Flag of PortugalPortugal
Flag of RomaniaRomania
Flag of RussiaRussia
Flag of San MarinoSan Marino
Flag of SingaporeSingapore
Flag of SlovakiaSlovakia
Flag of SloveniaSlovenia
Flag of South KoreaSouth Korea
Flag of SpainSpain
Flag of SwedenSweden
Flag of SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Flag of The VaticanThe Vatican
Flag of United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Flag of United States of AmericaUnited States of America
 
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizens chevron-down
Citizens of GCC countries do not require a visa, permit, or sponsorship by a national or resident in the UAE. They simply need to present their GCC passport or national ID card at the airport.

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