Dubai Transit Visa: 48-Hour and 96-Hour 

Have a stopover in Dubai and want to leave the airport? Depending on your passport and itinerary, you may need a UAE transit visa before passing through immigration. MC Travel UAE can help review your travel details, explain the document checklist and guide you toward the appropriate application channel.

The UAE offers single-entry transit visas for stays of up to 48 or 96 hours. Requirements, available application channels and charges can depend on the airline and visa route. Check the conditions on your issued permit before travelling.

Quick answer: If you need permission to enter the UAE during a Dubai layover, a transit visa may be an option. You generally need a confirmed onward ticket, a passport valid for at least six months, and an approved visa before entering. Some travellers may not need to apply because their passport qualifies for visa-free entry or a visa on arrival.

Need help checking your route? Contact MC Travel UAE with your passport nationality, airline, flight itinerary, and layover length. We can help you understand what to check before applying. Visa approval is decided by the relevant UAE authority, not by MC Travel UAE.

What is a Dubai transit visa?

A Dubai transit visa is a short-stay, single-entry UAE permit for eligible passengers travelling onward through a UAE airport. Dubai’s GDRFA describes its transit visa service as allowing a passenger transiting through the country’s airports to enter as a visitor and remain for no more than 48 or 96 hours.

A transit visa is intended for a short stop between international journeys—not a substitute for a tourist, visit or residence visa. If your planned stay is longer than 96 hours, ask about an appropriate visa category instead.

Want to stay longer?

Here are the visa options available for longer stays:

Do I need a visa to leave Dubai airport during a layover?

You may need an entry visa if you plan to pass immigration and leave the airport, unless your passport allows you visa-free entry or a visa on arrival. The UAE government advises eligible visa-on-arrival or visa-free travellers that they do not need to apply for a separate transit visa. Check your nationality’s current entry rules before travel.

If you remain in the airport’s transit area and continue to your connecting flight, you may not need to enter the UAE—but check with your airline. Separate tickets, baggage collection, changing terminals, or checking in again can affect what you need to do. Airlines warn that some transfers may require passengers to exit the airport and pass immigration.

48-hour or 96-hour transit visa: which should I choose?

Both options are single-entry, and airline guidance states that transit visas are non-extendable. Choose a duration that covers your complete stay—not just the time between scheduled flights—and check the exact conditions on your permit.

Who can apply?

You may be able to apply if:

• You are travelling through a UAE airport to another destination.
• You have a confirmed ticket for onward travel.
• You need a UAE entry visa to leave the airport.
• Your passport and circumstances meet the relevant authority’s and application channel’s requirements.

Some nationalities may already be eligible for visa-free entry or a visa on arrival, so a pre-arranged transit visa may not be needed. Eligibility is determined by your travel document and current rules, not simply by your country of residence.

Transit visa applications are handled through approved channels, typically involving the airline or its designated visa service. Dubai GDRFA says applications should be submitted through approved airlines. Airline-specific ticket and route conditions can apply, so confirm the correct channel for your itinerary before paying or applying.

Unsure which application channel applies to your flight? MC Travel UAE can help you review the itinerary and identify what to confirm with the airline or approved service provider.

Documents commonly required

Dubai GDRFA lists these requirements for its 48/96-hour transit visa service:

• A recent colour passport-style photograph with a white background.
• A copy of your passport or travel document, including its cover, valid for at least six months.
• A flight ticket confirming onward travel.

The airline or visa channel may request further documents. Check its current checklist and file-format requirements before submitting anything.

How to apply for a Dubai transit visa?

1. Check whether you need a visa. Confirm whether your passport qualifies for visa-free entry or a visa on arrival if you plan to leave the airport.
2. Review your full itinerary. Check the airport, airline, layover duration, onward ticket, and whether you need to collect baggage or change terminals.
3. Confirm the right application channel. Transit visas are processed through approved channels, and airline-specific conditions may apply.
4. Prepare the required documents. Make sure the passport copy, photograph and onward-ticket details are clear and match your booking.
5. Get the current fee and processing estimate. Confirm what is included and whether the airline or intermediary charges a separate service fee.
6. Check the issued visa carefully. Verify the passport details, entry deadline, entry type, and permitted stay before travel.

Apply well ahead of your journey. Do not assume that a visa will be issued in time simply because your layover is approaching.

How long does processing take?

Dubai GDRFA currently lists an expected completion time of 48 hours for its transit visa service. This is an estimate, not a guarantee; the time shown by an airline or other application channel may differ. Apply as early as possible and allow extra time for requests for additional documents or other checks.

How much does a Dubai transit visa cost?

There is not one universal price for every airline and application route. Dubai GDRFA’s current service page lists a fee of AED 50, plus the fees charged by the intermediary service, such as an airline. The total you pay through an airline or service provider may therefore differ. Ask for the current, itemized price before applying.

MC Travel UAE can confirm its current assistance charges on request. Any quoted agency or intermediary charge should be distinguished from the authority’s fee.

How long is the visa valid?

There are two dates to check:

• Deadline to enter: Emirates and Etihad state that their 48-hour and 96-hour transit visas must be used within 30 days of issue.
• Permitted stay after entry: The 48-hour permit allows up to 48 hours, and the 96-hour permit allows up to 96 hours, subject to the conditions printed on your visa. 

Your issued permit controls. Check its exact dates and conditions rather than relying only on a general website description.

Can I extend a UAE transit visa or change it inside the UAE?

Official guidance from the UAE government and airline channels describes transit visas as non-extendable. Do not assume you can extend a transit visa or change it to a tourist or residence visa while in the UAE. If your plans change or you need to stay longer, contact the relevant authority or visa channel before your permitted stay ends and ask what options, if any, apply to your case. 

What happens if my transit visa expires?

Staying in the UAE after your visa expires may result in overstay fines. ICP currently lists a fine of AED 50 for each day after a visa expires or is cancelled. Confirm the rule and any steps that apply to your specific permit with the issuing authority.

If a flight disruption changes your itinerary, contact your airline and the relevant UAE authority immediately. Do not assume that a cancelled or delayed flight automatically extends your visa.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying for a transit visa when your passport may already qualify for visa-free entry or a visa on arrival.
• Assuming you can leave the airport without meeting UAE entry requirements.
• Choosing 48 hours when your actual stopover could exceed that limit.
• Applying through a channel that does not match your airline or ticket.
• Providing unclear passport scans or incorrect ticket details.
• Treating the transit visa as extendable or as permission to work.
• Waiting until the last minute to apply or to ask about a flight disruption.

Ready to apply for your Dubai Transit Visa? 

Send us your nationality, flight itinerary, and layover duration. MC Travel UAE can help you with your 48 or 96 hours Dubai transit visa.

WhatsApp:  +971 54 53 123 83

Call our office: +971 67049833 

Email: info@mctraveluae.com

Office hours: Monday–Saturday, 9:00 AM–8:00 PM