Do citizens from all countries require an Emirates Visa for entering the UAE?
If you are planning a trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), you should first consult the Visa-free or Free Visa on Arrival list of the UAE, since, much like most other countries the world over, there are as many as 44 Emirates Visa-Free Countries whose citizens do not require an Emirates visa to travel to the UAE on Tourist basis.
To help you with finding out whether your country qualifies for a Visa-free entry to the Emirates, we have compiled a list of all the countries whose citizens are eligible for the same.
Out of the many countries which are exempted from the visa requirements of the UAE, different countries fall in different categories. These are briefly described below:
Category I (Freedom of Movement): Citizens from these countries or territories are free to enter the UAE at any time, and for any number of days. These countries are the original Emirates Visa-Free Countries, and are eligible for entering the Emirates in a manner which is truly Visa-free. The countries falling in this category are:
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
READ ALSO: Emirates transit visa
Category II (180-Days): Citizens of these countries are eligible for obtaining a free multiple-entry Visa on Arrival for 180-Days (6 months), upon their entry into the Emirates. This visa is granted to tourists on a long-term basis, for 180 days (6 months) from the date of issue. This allows the holder to make any number of visits to the UAE during a period of 6 months from the date of issue, and to stay in the country for a total duration of 180 days. Currently, there is only country that falls in this category:
- Mexico
Category III (90-Days within any 180-Day period): Like Mexico in Category II, citizens of the countries and territories in Category III are eligible for getting a free multiple-entry Visa on Arrival, when they arrive in the UAE. However, the major difference is that for countries in this category, the visa is much like the 90-Days multiple-entry pre-arranged visa. This means that the visa is valid for a period of 180-Days (6 months), and allows the holder to remain in the country for a total duration of 90 days. Many countries belong to this category, including:
- Argentina
- Austria
- Bahamas Islands
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- Columbia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Kiribati
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Maldives
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Uruguay
Among the above-stated countries, citizens from the European countries are eligible for applying for pre-arranged visas if their 90-Days Visa on Arrival has been utilised.
Category IV (30-Days): People from the following countries and territories can obtain a free Visa on Arrival for a thirty (30)-day period, upon their landing in the United Arab Emirates:
- Andorra
- Australia
- Brunei
- Canada
- China
- Hong Kong, China
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Macau, China
- Malaysia
- Mauritius
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- Republic of Ireland
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
- United States of America
- Vatican City
READ ALSO: Booking Emirates transit visa online
Why is it important to know about the Visa-Free List of the United Arab Emirates?
The Emirates have become one of the largest commercial and economic hub of the world, with millions of people flocking to the UAE every year. Keeping this in mind, it is very important that you know whether your country is eligible for a Visa-Free trip to the UAE, since it can save you a lot of time, hassle, and money. If you are eligible under the Emirates Visa-Free Country or the Free Visa on Arrival List, then the next step is to know which category your country belongs to. This helps you keep track of what kind of Visa on Arrival you need to seek, upon your arrival in the UAE, and this will help you plan the duration of your stay accordingly.
Conclusion:
There are several countries which have been included in the Emirates Visa-Free and Emirates Free Visa on Arrival List by the United Arab Emirates government, and knowing whether or not their country is eligible for the same is important for applicants looking to enter the UAE on a tourist basis. The countries which have been exempted from the normal visa requirements fall in four major categories. Category I includes the countries whose citizens do not require any visa to enter the UAE, and have complete freedom of movement. These are the Emirates Visa-Free countries. Category II includes those countries, whose citizens are eligible for obtaining a free multiple-entry 180-Days Visa on Arrival. Free multiple-entry 90-Days Visa on Arrival can be availed by applicants who are citizens of Category III countries. Finally, Category IV countries are eligible for a 30-Days Visa on Arrival, when they land in the UAE.
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