If you are Indian and planning Dubai, check which list you are reading. The rule on the Dubai immigration authority's own service page is narrow: visa on arrival for Indian passport holders requires a US green card, or a UK or EU residence visa — 14 days, AED 253. The longer "nine countries" lists circulating on travel sites are not what the official page says.
In this guide2 sections
What GDRFA actually publishes#
The service is titled "Visa on arrival for citizens of the Republic of India residing in (America, Britain, European Union countries)". Its description is specific: it applies to Indian citizens who hold an ordinary passport and "have a permanent resident card (green card) issued by the United States of America or a residence visa in the United Kingdom or European Union countries", granting "an entry visa to UAE as a visitor for a period of 14 days, which can be extended for a similar period for one time only."
The conditions add a validity floor: the green card or residence visa must have "a validity period of no less than 6 months". The listed fee is 253.
| Fee | Stay | Status | Extension | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AED 253 | 14 days | Confirmed on the GDRFA Dubai service page | Once, for a similar period | Indian passport holder with a US permanent resident card (green card) |
| AED 253 | 14 days | Confirmed on the GDRFA Dubai service page | Once, for a similar period | Indian passport holder with a UK residence visa |
| AED 253 | 14 days | Confirmed on the GDRFA Dubai service page | Once, for a similar period | Indian passport holder with an EU-country residence visa |
| — | — | Not eligible: apply for a UAE visa before travel | — | Indian passport holder resident in India, no third-country visa or green card |
| — | — | Not eligible: the document must have at least 6 months validity | — | Holder of a US/UK/EU document with under 6 months validity left |
Updated 18 Aug 2026 · Source: GDRFA Dubai — visa on arrival for citizens of India residing in America, Britain or EU countries (checked 18 Aug 2026)
Why the confusion is expensive#
Aggregator pages have been listing Canada, Japan, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand and South Korea residence documents as qualifying for Indian passport holders. A traveller who books a flight on that basis and arrives without a UAE visa is refused boarding or turned back at the counter — the airline checks the document before the immigration officer ever sees it. The cost is the ticket, not a form.
Two practical notes. Emirate matters: GDRFA Dubai administers entry through Dubai, while other emirates fall under the federal ICP — check the authority for your arrival airport. And a visa on arrival is not a Dubai visa in general: most Indian travellers resident in India still apply beforehand, which is the route described in our Dubai visa guide for Indians and the UAE photo requirements page.
VisaGyan is an independent journal, not affiliated with GDRFA, ICP or any visa service. Verify eligibility on the official page before booking.
Frequently asked questions
- Who can get a UAE visa on arrival with an Indian passport?
- On the GDRFA Dubai service page, an Indian ordinary-passport holder qualifies with a US permanent resident card (green card) or a residence visa issued by the United Kingdom or an EU country. Each must have at least six months validity left.
- How long is the visa on arrival and what does it cost?
- Fourteen days, extendable once for a similar period. The fee listed on the GDRFA service page is AED 253.
- I live in India with no US, UK or EU document. Can I get a visa on arrival?
- No. An Indian passport holder without one of those documents needs a UAE visa arranged before travel, normally through an airline, hotel or licensed travel agent.