What the June 2026 update changed
On 25 June 2026, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security announced expanded eligibility for the UAE Entry Visa for Nationals of Certain Countries. The update covers the existing 14-day and 60-day categories and adds six nationalities and six residence jurisdictions.
This is not a general visa-on-arrival promise or a route based only on where a person lives. Eligibility requires both an included nationality and a valid residence permit issued by an included jurisdiction. The applicant must still apply and receive a decision before relying on travel permission.
Nationality requirement
The listed nationalities are India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa. India was already included; the other six were added in the June announcement.
A passport or citizenship outside that list does not become eligible merely because the traveler lives in a qualifying country. Travelers with dual nationality should apply using the passport and identity details accepted by the current ICP service and ensure all bookings match the approved document.
Foreign residence-permit requirement
An eligible national must also hold a valid residence permit issued by the United States, an EU member state, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada. “European Union” refers to a permit from an EU member state, not residence anywhere in geographic Europe.
The official announcement does not say that employment title, income or a particular residence category alone guarantees approval. Use ICP Smart Services to review the live form, document fields and validity checks before paying or making a non-refundable booking.
Rules for accompanying family members
The ICP announcement states that applicants and their accompanying family members must be nationals of an eligible country and hold a valid residence permit from a listed jurisdiction. Do not assume that one principal traveler’s status automatically makes every accompanying relative eligible.
Check each traveler individually, including children, and use the passport and residence-permit details requested by the service. If one family member does not meet both tests, obtain case-specific guidance from ICP rather than submitting altered or incomplete information.
Compare the 14-day and 60-day options
The 14-day visa has an announced fee of AED100 and may be extended once during the holder’s stay for a further 14 days. The 60-day visa has an announced fee of AED250, is single-entry and is not extendable under the announcement.
Choose based on the real travel plan rather than the lower fee alone. A traveler expecting more than 28 days should not assume repeated extension of the 14-day category, and a 60-day holder should not assume the visa permits departure and re-entry. Fees quoted by ICP cover the visa category described in the announcement and do not represent airline, insurance or other travel costs.
How to prepare and apply
Start through ICP Smart Services or another channel explicitly authorized for the application. Prepare the passport and qualifying foreign residence permit, ensure personal details match, and follow the live document prompts. Do not upload edited evidence or pay a person who promises guaranteed approval.
Save the application number, payment receipt and decision. Wait for an approved visa or official entry authorization before travelling. Airline boarding requirements and border admission checks remain separate practical steps, so carry the documents supporting the application.
- 1
Check both eligibility tests
Confirm the traveler’s nationality and the issuing jurisdiction of the valid foreign residence permit.
- 2
Select the correct stay
Compare the 14-day extendable category with the 60-day single-entry, non-extendable category.
- 3
Apply through an official channel
Use ICP Smart Services or a channel identified by ICP and keep the application and payment references.
- 4
Verify approval before travel
Confirm the issued document, permitted stay and traveler details before making final arrangements.
Stay calculation and overstay precautions
The announcement sets an overstay fine of AED50 per day and requires departure before the authorized stay expires. Read the issued visa and the official entry record to identify the dates that govern the stay; do not calculate from the date a flight was booked or from a screenshot shared by another traveler.
For the 14-day category, request any permitted extension early enough for an official decision before the original stay ends. The 60-day category is described as non-extendable. If circumstances change, contact ICP before expiry rather than relying on an intermediary’s verbal assurance.
Eligibility is not approval
Appearing in both eligibility lists allows a person to apply under the announced criteria; it does not compel ICP to issue a visa. A mismatch, expired permit, incomplete document, security or immigration issue, or a changed service rule may affect the outcome.
Check the live ICP service immediately before applying because visa products and operational requirements can change. This guide explains the 25 June 2026 announcement and is not a guarantee of admission or legal advice for an individual case.