UAE Visit Visa Extension: Who Can Extend, Fees and Day Limits
Want to stay longer in the UAE? Tourist permits can be extended up to 120 days in total and some visit permits up to 180. Here is who applies, what it costs and what to avoid.
By Vadim Kouznetsov, published
Visitors in the UAE can extend an eligible visit or tourist visa without leaving the country, but the total stay is capped at 120 days for tourists and 180 days for most other visit permits, according to Gulf News. The extension has to be filed by your sponsor, and the fee depends on the visa type and which authority issued it.
Here is whether you qualify and what to sort out before your permit runs out.
How long can you extend a UAE visit visa?
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) allows extensions once or several times, within a total cap that depends on the permit:
- Tourist entry 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.
- Not extendable: border-area entry permits, and permits for truck drivers and workers on tourist ships and pleasure boats.
In Dubai, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) handles extensions under the same rules, for single and multiple-entry tourist visas and visits to relatives or friends.
Job hunting? See How to Apply for a UAE Job Seeker Visa in 2025 (No Sponsor Needed).
Who applies for the extension?
The sponsor must apply, not the visitor.
- Tourist visa: the travel agency or tourism company that issued the visa submits the request.
- Visit visa sponsored by a family member or another person: that sponsor submits the request.
Depending on the visa and application, you may be asked for:
- Your passport
- A personal photograph
- The documents submitted when the original visa was issued
Contact your sponsor or agency well before your permit expires.
How much does a UAE visit visa extension cost?
Fees vary by visa type and issuing authority. ICP's listed fees include:
| ICP item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application fee | AED 100 |
| Extension fee | AED 500 |
| Extension of certain 14-day visas | AED 250 |
| Extension of certain multiple-entry visas for Golden or Blue Residency procedures | AED 1,000 |
| Request to extend entry permit validity before arrival | AED 50 |
For Dubai-issued visas, GDRFA lists an AED 600 extension fee plus 5 per cent VAT. If the sponsored person is inside the UAE, extra charges can include:
- Knowledge Dirham: AED 10
- Innovation Dirham: AED 10
- Inside-country fee: AED 500
The final amount depends on your circumstances and visa category, so confirm it before your sponsor submits.
The overstay risk: no automatic grace period
Do not assume you get free days after expiry. ICP lists an overstay fine of AED 50 per day beyond the permitted stay or entry visa validity, and the UAE Government portal confirms overstayers are fined.
For wider risks, see 7 UAE Visa Violations That Could Lead to Jail and Deportation.
A simple plan:
- Check your exact expiry date with How to Check Your UAE Visa Status and Expiry Date Online in 2026.
- Work out how many days you have used against the 120 or 180-day cap.
- Ask your sponsor or agency to apply before the expiry date, not after.
- Confirm the total fee, including VAT and any in-country charges.
Key takeaway
Most UAE visit and tourist visas can be extended from inside the country, up to 120 days in total for tourists and 180 days for family, friends and job-search visits. Your sponsor or travel agency must apply, and every day of overstay costs AED 50, so act before the permit runs out.
FAQ
Can I extend my UAE tourist visa without leaving the country?
Yes, if your permit is eligible. ICP allows tourist entry permits to be extended once or several times, as long as the total stay does not exceed 120 days.
Can I extend my visa myself?
Usually not. The travel agency or tourism company that issued a tourist visa must apply, and for a visit visa sponsored by a relative or friend, that sponsor submits the request.
How much is a visa extension in Dubai?
GDRFA lists an AED 600 extension fee plus 5 per cent VAT. If you are inside the UAE, add charges such as the AED 500 inside-country fee and AED 10 each for the Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams.
Is there a grace period after a UAE visit visa expires?
You should not assume there is one. ICP lists an overstay fine of AED 50 per day for staying beyond your permitted period.
Further reading
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