UK Visa from Dubai — Standard Visitor Visa & ETA for UAE Residents

It depends on your passport nationality, not your UAE residence. Most UAE residents — including Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Filipino, Egyptian and Nigerian passport holders — need a full UK Standard Visitor visa, applied for online with biometrics at VFS Global in Dubai. Emirati and other GCC nationals (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia), and passport holders from the US, EU, Canada and Australia, instead need only a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for online with no biometric appointment. OraVisa confirms the correct route for your specific nationality before you begin.

A UAE residence visa alone does not let you travel to the UK — the UK grants entry based on your passport nationality, not where you live. Your UAE residence simply means you apply through VFS Global in Dubai (or Abu Dhabi). If your nationality needs a visa, you must obtain a UK Standard Visitor visa first; if your nationality is visa-exempt, you need a UK ETA. OraVisa checks your nationality and advises the correct route.

The UK Standard Visitor visa fee is £135 (about AED 640) for a 6-month visit; long-term visitor visas are £506 for 2 years, £903 for 5 years and £1,128 for 10 years. A UK ETA, for visa-exempt nationalities, costs £20 (about AED 95). These are the UK government fees; OraVisa provides a full breakdown, including any VFS service charges, before you begin.

You complete the online application on the UK government website, pay the fee, then attend a biometric appointment at the VFS Global centre in Dubai to give fingerprints and a photo. Your supporting documents are submitted digitally and forwarded to UK Visas and Immigration for a decision. OraVisa handles the online form, prepares your document set, and books your VFS appointment.

The UK Home Office standard for a visit visa decision is about 3 weeks (15 working days) from your biometric appointment, though it can run faster or slower by season. A UK ETA is usually decided quickly — often within minutes and up to 3 working days. OraVisa tracks your application and keeps you updated throughout.

There is no fixed minimum bank balance for a UK visit visa. UK Visas and Immigration checks that you have sufficient, genuinely available funds to cover your trip and that your finances are consistent with your travel plans and ties to the UAE. OraVisa helps you present bank statements and income evidence that clearly support your application.

A UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is an online pre-clearance for visa-exempt nationalities — including Emirati and other GCC nationals. It costs £20 and is valid for 2 years, or until your passport expires (whichever is sooner), allowing multiple visits of up to 6 months each. There is no biometric appointment. For deeper detail, OraVisa maintains a full UK ETA guide for UAE residents.

Yes. Since 25 February 2026, UK visit visa decisions are issued digitally as an eVisa linked to your UKVI online account, rather than a vignette sticker in your passport. You receive the decision by email, your passport is returned to you, and airlines and UK Border Force verify your status digitally. OraVisa guides you through setting up and checking your UKVI account before you travel.

A UK Standard Visitor visa allows stays of up to 6 months per visit. You can also apply for long-term visitor visas (2-year, 5-year or 10-year) that allow multiple entries, with each individual stay still capped at 6 months. A UK ETA also permits stays of up to 6 months per visit.

Yes, OraVisa specialises in reapplications after refusals. We analyse your previous refusal reasons, strengthen your application, and address all concerns raised by the UK Home Office to improve your chances.