UAE Expands Visa-on-Arrival to Nationals of Six Countries Living Abroad

On 25 June 2026, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the country had expanded its visa-on-arrival programme to nationals of six more countries who reside outside their home countries. Under the decision, holders of ordinary passports from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa — together with their accompanying family members — can be issued a visa on arrival, provided they hold a valid residence permit from a designated country. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) said the move broadens the scope of beneficiaries and aligns the UAE’s visa framework with global best practice.

These are UAE government visa fees set by the immigration authorities, not service charges. The visa on arrival is issued at the UAE port of entry after standard immigration checks. Once either visa expires, the holder must leave the country; an overstay fine of AED 50 per day applies to anyone who remains beyond the permitted period.

The qualifying residence permit is the key condition: the scheme is designed for nationals of these six countries who already live in one of the nine designated countries and want to visit the UAE without arranging an entry visa in advance. Travellers should present their passport and the valid residence permit at the UAE port of entry, where immigration officers issue the visa on arrival.

The UAE is home to large communities from several of these countries — Filipinos in particular are among the Emirates’ biggest expatriate groups. For UAE residents, the most practical effect is on visiting relatives and friends: a family member who is a national of one of the six countries and who lives in the US, the UK, the EU, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada can now travel to the UAE on a visa on arrival, rather than applying for an entry visa first.

It is worth being clear about who this does not cover. The facility depends on holding a qualifying residence permit, so a national of one of the six countries who lives in their home country, or anywhere outside the nine designated countries, is not covered and would still need a UAE visit visa. In those cases, a sponsor in the UAE can arrange a standard visit visa on the traveller’s behalf.

1. 1Confirm the traveller is a national of one of the six countries — Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya or South Africa — on an ordinary passport.
2. 2Check that they hold a valid residence permit from the United States, an EU member state, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada, valid at the time of entry.
3. 3Choose the right option before travelling — a 14-day stay (AED 100, extendable once for AED 250) or a 60-day stay (AED 250, non-extendable).
4. 4Carry the passport and the qualifying residence permit together, as both must be presented at the UAE port of entry.
5. 5If the traveller does not qualify, arrange a standard UAE visit visa in advance. OraVisa can sponsor and process UAE visit visas, extensions and status changes from start to finish.

This update is based on the announcement by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), published on 25 June 2026. The expanded visa-on-arrival programme applies to nationals of the six listed countries who hold a qualifying residence permit. This analysis is provided for informational purposes to help UAE residents understand the change. It does not constitute legal advice. For the latest official information, always refer to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mofa.gov.ae) and the ICP (icp.gov.ae).