Published: 25 July 2026
Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has published clearer official details on a 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa that lets visitors from any nationality enter the UAE repeatedly over five years, without a UAE sponsor, host, or local guarantor.
The visa itself is not brand new; it traces back to a Cabinet decision from 2021. What changed in mid-July 2026 is that GDRFA Dubai issued its clearest official word yet on eligibility, the exact stay limits, the real fees, and how it is meant to be used, which is why it is generating fresh attention now.
If you split your time between the UAE and another country, host family regularly, or simply do not want to apply for a new visit visa every few months, this is worth understanding properly before you assume it works like the shorter visit visas you may already know.
Who Can Apply
The headline feature is that this visa is open to all nationalities, and unlike a standard visit visa, it does not require a UAE-based sponsor or host to apply on your behalf. To qualify, you generally need:
- A valid passport or travel document with at least six months of remaining validity.
- A bank statement covering the past six months showing a minimum balance of USD 4,000 (or the equivalent in another currency).
- Valid health insurance covering your stay in the UAE.
- A round-trip flight ticket, or confirmed onward travel.
This is a genuine tourist visa: it does not grant the right to work in the UAE. If your plans change and you want to convert it to a work visa or Golden Visa later, that conversion can typically be done without leaving the country, subject to meeting the conditions of whichever visa you are converting to.
Stay Limits: The Part Most People Get Wrong
This is the detail that trips people up, because “5-year visa” makes it sound like you can simply live in the UAE continuously for five years. That is not how it works.
- Each visit allows a stay of up to 90 days.
- You can extend that stay once, for a further 90 days, within the same visit.
- Your total stay across a single year must not exceed 180 days.
- Unused days do not carry forward to the next year; if you only stay 60 days this year, you do not get 240 days next year.
In practice, this means you can enter and exit multiple times over the five-year validity period, but GDRFA expects you to track your own cumulative days within any 12-month window and stay under the 180-day cap. Overstaying is treated seriously, and GDRFA has specifically advised visa holders to periodically pull their own “Travel Movement Report” through the official smart immigration portals to check their entry and exit history rather than relying on memory.
What It Actually Costs
Fee figures vary slightly depending on which official channel you apply through (GDRFA Dubai directly versus ICP federally), and on any adjustments made after this article’s publish date, so always confirm the current figure on the official portal before paying. As reported around the time of GDRFA’s July 2026 clarification, the total cost through GDRFA Dubai runs to roughly AED 3,713.50, broken down approximately as:
| Fee component | Approximate amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Application fee | 100 |
| Issuance fee | 500 |
| Refundable security deposit | 3,000 |
| Knowledge Dirham | 10 |
| Innovation Dirham | 10 |
| Service and warranty fees | roughly 93.5 combined |
The AED 3,000 component is a refundable guarantee deposit, not a fee you lose permanently. It is returned when the visa is cancelled or no longer needed, processed back through whichever channel (GDRFA or ICP) originally issued it, minus a small collection/return handling fee of around AED 20.
Applying through ICP’s federal channel instead of GDRFA Dubai directly may bring the total to a slightly different figure, reported around AED 3,775 in some sources. Treat any number here as an estimate to plan around, and verify the exact current fee directly on GDRFA’s or ICP’s official site before submitting payment, since government fees are periodically adjusted.
How to Apply
You have two main official channels:
Through GDRFA Dubai directly:
1. Register on the GDRFA Smart Services platform (gdrfad.gov.ae) with your email and verify via OTP.
2. Select the 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa service.
3. Enter your passport, personal, and address details, and upload the required supporting documents (bank statement, insurance, passport copy) in PDF or JPEG format.
4. Pay the fee online by card.
5. Track your application using the reference number issued after submission.
Through ICP (federal channel):
1. Log in to ICP Smart Services (smartservices.icp.gov.ae) using UAE Pass, or use the ICP UAE mobile app.
2. Search for the multiple-entry long-term tourist visa service.
3. Upload the same category of supporting documents and pay the applicable fee.
Processing typically takes two to five working days through GDRFA, with some sources citing up to 48 hours through in-person channels like customer happiness centres and typing centres if you prefer not to apply fully online. The approved visa is issued digitally by email and SMS; no physical stamping appointment is required before you travel. Note that your first entry must generally occur within a set window (commonly cited as two months) of the visa’s issuance date, so do not apply significantly before you actually plan to travel.
How This Compares to Other UAE Visit Visas
| Visa type | Sponsor needed | Validity | Stay per visit | Annual cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa | No | 5 years | Up to 90 days, extendable once by 90 days | 180 days per year |
| Standard 30/60/90-day multi-entry visit visa | Usually yes (airline, hotel, or sponsor-arranged) | Single visa, shorter window | Matches visa type (30/60/90 days) | N/A, tied to visa validity |
| Visa-on-arrival (eligible nationalities only) | No, based on passport eligibility | Short, single or limited entries | Typically 30-90 days depending on nationality | N/A |
| Standard tourist visa (single/multiple entry) | Often yes | 60 days to a few months | Varies by visa category | N/A |
The core distinction is that the 5-year visa trades a higher upfront cost and a refundable deposit for long-term flexibility, repeat entries over five years without reapplying each time, rather than being cheaper or faster for a single short trip. If you are visiting once for a few weeks, a standard visit visa or visa-on-arrival (if your nationality qualifies) will usually be simpler and cheaper. If you expect to be in and out of the UAE regularly over several years, for business scouting, family visits, or property matters, the 5-year visa avoids repeat applications.
For a broader comparison of visit visa categories and the current rules around each, see our visit visa rules guide. If your nationality may already qualify for a simpler visa-on-arrival, check our visa-on-arrival eligibility guide before applying for the longer-term option. And if you are already in the UAE on a shorter visit visa and considering extending, our tourist visa extension guide covers the fines that apply if you overstay a shorter visa’s limit.
What Happens If You Exceed the 180-Day Cap
GDRFA has been explicit that responsibility for tracking your cumulative stay sits with the visa holder, not the authority. If you exceed the 180-day annual limit:
- The visa may become invalid for further use within that period.
- No refund is issued for the portion of validity lost.
- Standard UAE overstay fines can apply on top, calculated per day past your permitted stay.
Given that the visa itself does not track this for you automatically in a way you can see without checking, periodically generating your own Travel Movement Report through the GDRFA or ICP smart portals is the practical way to stay ahead of the limit rather than estimating from memory.
Who This Visa Actually Suits (and Who It Doesn’t)
Because the fees are higher upfront than a standard visit visa, and the refundable deposit ties up AED 3,000 for as long as you hold the visa, this is not automatically the best option for everyone. It tends to make sense for:
- Frequent visitors who come to the UAE several times a year for business meetings, property viewings, or family visits, and are tired of applying for a new visit visa each time.
- People weighing up a longer-term move to the UAE (setting up a company, exploring residency options) who want the flexibility to come and go freely while they decide, without needing a sponsor lined up first.
- Families with relatives based outside the UAE who visit regularly and want one visa that covers repeat trips over several years.
It tends to make less sense for:
- A one-off single trip of a few weeks, where a standard visit visa or an eligible visa-on-arrival will be simpler and considerably cheaper.
- Anyone planning to stay in the UAE continuously beyond 180 days in a year, since this visa does not permit that regardless of its five-year validity; a residence visa route would be the correct fit instead.
Renewing, Extending, and Cancelling
The single 90-day extension within a visit is applied for through the same GDRFA or ICP channel used for the original application, and should be requested before the initial 90-day stay expires rather than after. The visa itself does not need “renewing” year to year within its five-year validity, since it is designed for repeat use, but your cumulative 180-day annual cap resets each 12-month period from your first use, not from the calendar year, so track your own dates carefully rather than assuming it aligns with January to December.
If you decide you no longer need the visa before its five years are up, cancelling it through the issuing channel (GDRFA or ICP) triggers the refund process for your AED 3,000 security deposit, minus the small handling fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I live in the UAE continuously for five years on this visa?
No. The visa’s five-year validity only means you can use it repeatedly over that period; each stay is capped at 90 days per visit (extendable once by 90 days), and your total stay in any single year cannot exceed 180 days.
Do I need a UAE sponsor or host to apply?
No. This is the visa’s main advantage over a standard visit visa: it does not require a UAE-based sponsor, host, or local guarantor to submit the application.
Can I work in the UAE on this visa?
No. It is a tourist visa and does not grant work rights. If your circumstances change, you may be able to convert to a work visa or Golden Visa later without leaving the UAE, subject to meeting that visa’s own conditions.
Is the AED 3,000 deposit a fee I lose?
No. It is a refundable security deposit, returned when you cancel the visa or no longer need it, through the same channel (GDRFA or ICP) that issued it, minus a small handling fee.
What documents do I need to apply?
A passport valid for at least six months, a six-month bank statement showing a minimum balance around USD 4,000 or its equivalent, valid UAE health insurance, and a round-trip flight ticket or confirmed onward travel.
Do unused days carry forward to the next year?
No. If you only use 60 of your 180 allowed days this year, you do not get extra days added to next year’s cap. Each 12-month period resets independently.
How long does approval take?
Commonly two to five working days through GDRFA’s online channel, with some in-person channels citing up to 48 hours. The approved visa is issued digitally by email and SMS, with no physical stamping visit required beforehand.
Which is cheaper, applying through GDRFA or ICP?
Reported figures are close (around AED 3,713.50 via GDRFA versus roughly AED 3,775 via ICP in some sources), and fees can be updated periodically, so confirm the current amount on whichever official portal you plan to use before applying.
What happens if I overstay the 180-day annual limit?
The visa can become invalid for further use in that period, with no refund for lost validity, and standard UAE overstay fines apply on top based on the number of days over the permitted stay.
Is this the same as a standard 90-day multiple-entry visit visa?
No. A standard 90-day multi-entry visit visa is typically a single visa tied to a shorter overall window and often needs a sponsor. This 5-year visa is sponsor-free, valid for five years, and specifically capped at 180 total days of stay per year across multiple entries.
Related Reading
- UAE Visit Visa New Rules 2026
- UAE Visa-on-Arrival 2026: New Eligible Countries, Requirements, Fees
- UAE Tourist Visa Extension 2026
Thinking About Setting Up a Free Zone Business While You’re Here?
If repeat visits on the 5-year visa turn into a real plan to set up shop, note that Free Zone companies distributing goods through a Designated Zone now face a new FTA audit requirement (Decision No. 6 of 2026) worth knowing about before you register.
Planning a Longer-Term Move to the UAE?
If repeat visits eventually turn into setting up a business in a UAE free zone, our team at Yalah Dubai can guide you through the visa and company setup process together, so your visit visa strategy lines up with your actual plans instead of working against them.
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