UAE Visit Visa Extension 2026: Complete Guide Requirements, Fees and Process
For qualified visit and tourist entrance permits, a UAE visit visa extension is available; however, the type of permission and the issuing authority will determine whether, how long, and how much it will cost. Visas issued in Dubai are handled by GDRFA Dubai. Visas issued elsewhere in the UAE are handled by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Tourist visas are arranged through airlines, hotels and licensed travel agents, so an extension is typically requested through the same party, and the issuing authority makes the decision.
For a broader overview of visa categories before you plan a longer stay, see the UAE visa guide for 2026.
Is a UAE Visit Visa Extension Possible in 2026?
Yes, for eligible categories. Both authorities publish an extension service for visit and tourist entry permits, and neither lists a guarantee of approval.
The limit that matters most is the total length of stay allowed for your category:
- Tourist or visit (tourism) permits: up to 120 days in total.
- Visiting a relative or friend: up to 180 days in total.
- Exploring job opportunities or setting up a business: up to 180 days in total (ICP).
These totals apply to the permit’s whole stay, so a 30-day visa does not become a 30-day visa plus 120 more days. GDRFA Dubai’s service descriptions refer to extending a visa for the same period as the one granted, so the length offered usually follows the visa you already hold. Confirm the period shown on the portal when the request is made.
The 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa and the GCC resident entry permit follow separate rules, listed in the limits table below. Some permits cannot be extended at all, so read the category rules before you plan around an extension.
UAE Visit Visa Extension Requirements
Since the sponsor or agency already has the majority of the documentation, the formal requirements are minimal.
- ICP: Passport, a personal photo, and the same documents that were submitted when the visa was issued, depending on the visa type. The system retrieves data automatically, and documents are attached only if retrieval fails.
- GDRFA Dubai: A passport copy.
Who applies matters as much as what is submitted. The u.ae portal explains that tourist visas are arranged through airlines, licensed travel agents and hotels, which apply to the visa-issuing authorities on the visitor’s behalf. GDRFA’s tourist extension page adds that only accredited tourism offices in the emirate can issue this kind of visa. For that reason, the agency, airline or hotel that arranged your visa typically files the extension.
If a relative or friend sponsored you, the sponsor typically applies. The official pages for relative or friend visits do not describe who files the extension, so confirm with your sponsor. If you are unsure who your sponsor is, check the visa document or booking confirmation.
UAE Visit Visa Extension Fees in 2026
Fees depend on which authority issued the visa.
| ICP (emirates outside Dubai) | GDRFA Dubai | |
| Application fee | AED 100 (listed for all types of visa extension) | Not listed separately |
| Extension fee | AED 500 | AED 600, plus 5% VAT |
| Extra lines if the visitor is inside the UAE | Not listed separately | Innovation Dirham AED 10, Knowledge Dirham AED 10, and in-country fee AED 500 |
| Listed service time | 2 days | 48 hours |
No official page combines these lines into a single total, so the table keeps them separate. GDRFA states that the final total can vary with the circumstances of the sponsored person, and ICP groups its fee lines by service category, so the amount on the payment screen is the one that counts.
Other ICP fee lines apply to specific cases: AED 250 for extending certain 14-day visas, AED 1,000 for extending the 6-month multiple-entry permit used to complete Golden or Blue Residency procedures, and AED 50 to extend the validity of an entry permit before arrival.
The listed service times describe how long the service itself is expected to take. They are not a promise that your extension will be approved or completed by a set time.
How to Extend a UAE Visit Visa
- Find out who issued your visa. A Dubai visa goes through GDRFA Dubai. ICP handles visas from other emirates.
- Contact your sponsor or agency. This is the travel agency, airline, hotel or host that arranged your visa. They submit the request.
- Use the official channel. The appropriate service is used to submit the request:
- ICP: the ICP Smart App or the ICP Smart Services website, with UAE Pass login.
- GDRFA Dubai: the GDRFA smart services portal (UAE Pass or username), or an Amer service centre. The login page may open in Arabic, and an English option is available at the top of the page.
- Both digital channels are listed as available 24/7. Customer Happiness Centers (ICP) and Amer centres (GDRFA) work during their normal working hours.
- Review the data and pay. Check the retrieved details, attach documents if the system asks for them, and pay the fees.
- Wait for the electronic notification. ICP states that you receive an electronic notification of the extension.
The official pages do not state a minimum lead time, so apply well before your permit is about to expire.
Is it possible to extend your UAE visitor visa without leaving the country?
Both authorities offer the extension through digital channels, and GDRFA’s fee list includes lines that apply when the sponsored person is inside the country. That points to an in-country application.
No official page states that leaving the UAE is never necessary. Some permits cannot be extended, and each request is decided by the issuing authority. If your category is not extendable, or the request is refused, you will need to leave before your permitted stay ends.
ICP also lists a separate service for extending the validity of an entry permit before the visitor arrives in the UAE, once and for an equivalent period. That is different from extending a stay that has already started.
UAE Visit Visa Extension Duration and Limits
| Entry permit | Extension rule |
| Visit or tourism | Once or multiple times, up to a total of 120 days |
| Visiting a relative or friend | Once or multiple times, up to a total of 180 days |
| Exploring job opportunities or establishing a business | Once or several times, for a total of 180 days |
| Medical treatment | Once or several times, for a total of 180 days |
| Study or training | Once or several times, for a total of 180 days |
| Work mission (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation approval) | Once only, subject to the Ministry’s approval |
| Certain 14-day visas for nationals residing outside their country of nationality | Once, for the same period |
| Certain 60-day visas for nationals residing outside their country of nationality | Not extendable |
| 6-month multiple-entry permit for Golden or Blue Residency procedures | Once, for an equivalent period only |
| Entry permit validity before arrival in the UAE | Once, for an equivalent period |
| Permits for border areas, truck drivers, and employees of pleasure boats and tourist ships | Not extendable |
| GCC resident entry permit | 30 days of stay, extendable once for 30 days |
| 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa | 90 days per visit, extendable once for a further 90 days, with a total stay of 180 days |
The last two rows come from the u.ae tourist visa page and the ICP service page for the 5-year visa, not from the ICP extension service page. The 5-year visa is held on self-sponsorship, and the u.ae page does not list an extension fee for either permit, so confirm the fee and the applicable authority on the service screen.
For Dubai-issued visas, GDRFA’s published terms state totals of 120 days for tourist visas and 180 days for friend or relative visits, with extensions decided by the issuing authority. GDRFA also lists separate Dubai extension services for work mission visit visas, business exploration visits and study, training or qualification visits. The work mission extension requires Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation approval, is granted for the same amount of time as the visa, and shows the same fee lines as the tourist extension (AED 600 plus 5% VAT, with the inside-country lines) and a listed time of 48 hours.
Some travel sites describe extensions as “two periods of 30 days” or add an annual 180-day cap. No official ICP or GDRFA extension service page states those figures, so they are not repeated here. The period shown when the request is made is the one that counts.
What Takes Place If Your Visit Visa for the UAE Expires?
An overstay is not the same as an extension. An extension modifies your allowed stay prior to its expiration. Time spent in the UAE after the allotted stay or entry visa has expired is known as an overstay.
ICP’s service website does not specify a grace period, and it includes a fine of AED 50 per day for the expiration of the entry visa or permissible stay. See the UAE overstay fine guide for information on the 2026 revisions, the fine timeframe, and how to check and pay online.
The official ICP and GDRFA service pages do not say whether an extension can still be filed once a visa has already expired. Treat that as unconfirmed and contact your sponsor or the issuing authority immediately instead of waiting.
An extension also keeps you in visitor status.It’s not a way to get home. If your plans have changed and you intend to live or work in the UAE, see the UAE residence visa guide instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I extend my UAE visitor visa online?
Yes, in the sense that both authorities offer digital channels: the ICP Smart App and website, and the GDRFA smart services portal for Dubai. The request is typically submitted by the sponsor or the agency that arranged your visa, not by the visitor.
How much does it cost to extend a visa for a visit to the UAE?
An application fee of AED 100 and an extension charge of AED 500 are listed by ICP. GDRFA Dubai lists AED 600 plus 5% VAT, with additional lines when the visitor is inside the UAE. GDRFA states that the final total can vary, so check the amount shown at payment.
How many times may a UAE visit visa be extended?
ICP and GDRFA describe extending once or several times, within totals of 120 days for tourist or visit permits and 180 days for relative or friend visits. ICP also lists 180 days for job exploration, business establishment, medical treatment and study. Some permissions can only be renewed once or not at all.
Can I extend my Dubai tourist visa without exit?
GDRFA offers extension services for tourist visas and for friend or relative visits, and its fees include in-country lines. That points to an in-country process. It does not guarantee approval for every permit.
After my visa expires, may I request for an extension?
The official ICP and GDRFA service pages do not say. Fines of AED 50 per day apply from expiry, so contact your sponsor or the issuing authority at once.
How long does an extension take?
ICP lists a service completion time of 2 days and GDRFA lists 48 hours. These are the services’ listed times, not guarantees.
Is a UAE visit visa extension guaranteed?
No. The issuing authority decides, and the totals above are ceilings, not entitlements.
Can a 5-year tourist visa or a GCC resident visa be extended?
According to the ICP service page for the 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa, the 90-day stay can be extended once for a similar period, with a total stay of 180 days. The u.ae portal says the GCC resident entry permit is extendable once for 30 days. Confirm the process and fee for your permit on the relevant service screen.
Note: Portal menus and service names can change. If a service appears under a different name, search for “Visa Extension” on ICP or “Extending a tourist visa” on GDRFA Dubai. Fees, limits and procedures can change without notice. Confirm the details with ICP, GDRFA Dubai or your sponsor before you apply.
