UAE Visit Visa Documents Checklist for Pakistan Passport Holders

The UAE Government portal says a tourist visa "is for those who are not eligible for visa on arrival or a visa-free entry to the UAE." Pakistan is not on the visa-on-arrival list, so Pakistani passport holders need a permit before they fly. The portal lists four ways to get one:

• online through ICP (federal, all emirates);
• online through GDRFA Dubai (mainly Dubai sponsors and entries);
• through a UAE-based airline you are flying with (the portal names Emirates, Etihad Airways and flydubai, each with its own conditions);
• through a licensed UAE travel agent or hotel, provided you buy the ticket through them and keep a reservation with that hotel.

UAE embassies do not sell tourist visas. The portal advises you to check that any agent is genuine before you pay or send copies of your documents, and says the UAE embassy in your country can help verify them.

Checklist:

• [ ] Pakistani passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. The u.ae entry-permit page states: "Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into the UAE."
• [ ] Clear colour scan of the passport bio page. Upload exactly what the portal asks for; blurred or cropped scans are a common reason for a portal to send an application back.
• [ ] Recent passport-style photo meeting the specifications shown on the ICP, GDRFA or airline form.
• [ ] Return or onward air ticket. Airline-arranged visas are tied to a ticket on that airline, and the 5-year visa needs a ticket showing a continuing or return journey.
• [ ] Hotel booking or the address of your host in the UAE. Hotel-arranged visas need a reservation at that hotel.
• [ ] Payment card for the fee shown on the portal at checkout.

The u.ae portal describes a multiple-entry 5-year tourist visa that lets you enter many times on self-sponsorship and stay 90 days on each visit, extendable for another 90 days. It "can be issued for all nationalities", so Pakistanis can apply through ICP or GDRFA Dubai. The portal says the applicant must have:

• [ ] a bank balance of USD 4,000 (or the equivalent in foreign currencies) during the last six months;
• [ ] valid health insurance that applies in the UAE, valid for 180 days;
• [ ] a ticket showing a continuing or return journey from the UAE.

That USD 4,000 figure is the only bank-balance figure the UAE Government publishes for tourist visas, and it applies only to the 5-year visa. u.ae does not publish a bank minimum for single-trip visas arranged through airlines, hotels or agents, so be careful with any fixed "required balance" you see elsewhere.

If a UAE resident or company applies for you, the sponsor submits the application through ICP or GDRFA Dubai. The checklist is shown inside the service and usually covers:

• [ ] the sponsor's Emirates ID and residence details (or a trade licence for a company);
• [ ] proof of relationship for family visits, for example a nikah nama or birth certificate. Documents not in Arabic or English may need a legal translation;
• [ ] your passport scan and photo as in section 1.

Ask your sponsor to read the live service page because requirements such as minimum sponsor salary are set per service and are not published on the u.ae overview page.

Pakistanis who live in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain may qualify for the eVisa for GCC residents instead. u.ae lists these conditions:

• [ ] GCC residency valid for at least 1 year from the arrival date;
• [ ] passport valid for at least 6 months from the arrival date;
• [ ] your profession must be on the approved list, subject to evaluation.

The portal says this visa allows a stay of 30 days from the date of entry and can be extended once for 30 days.

Children need their own passport (valid for 6 months) and their own visa. Family applications through ICP include a family/group multiple-entry long-term tourist visa. Bring birth certificates or a Form-B copy to prove the relationship if the portal or the airline asks.

Fee: not published as a single figure. u.ae does not list a fixed tourist-visa fee for Pakistanis. ICP, GDRFA Dubai, the airline or the agent shows the price at checkout, and it depends on the visa length, entries and channel. Pay only through those official or licensed channels. Compare other destinations on our Pakistan visa fees guide.

Processing time: not published on u.ae for these visas. The issuing channel shows it. Apply well before your flight and do not travel until the visa has been issued and the details match your passport.

Carry a printed copy of the issued visa, your return ticket, hotel booking or host address, and your health insurance if your visa requires it. Airlines check passport validity and the visa before boarding.

• Assuming visa on arrival: Pakistan is not on the visa-on-arrival list.
• Using a passport with less than 6 months of validity left.
• Paying an unverified "agent" that has no UAE licence: u.ae warns about this directly.
• Booking an airline-arranged visa and then flying on a different airline.
• Mismatched spelling between the visa and the passport.