UAE Visit Visa Extension: Fees, Rules, How to Apply and the Alternatives

The short answer: Yes, most UAE visit visas, also called tourist visas, can be extended from inside the country, before they expire. The standard visit visa, the kind a travel agency, airline or hotel sponsors (this is the visa Holidayys sells), is extended through GDRFA Dubai (gdrfad.gov.ae, the GDRFA smart app, Dubai Now or an Amer centre) if it was issued in Dubai, or through ICP (smartservices.icp.gov.ae or the UAEICP app) if it was issued in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or one of the northern emirates. GDRFA's own page prices this extension at AED 600 plus 5% VAT, with more to pay if the visitor is already inside the UAE when the request is filed, and it is normally the sponsoring agency, airline or hotel who applies, not the visitor directly. GDRFA's page caps the total stay, original visa plus extension, at 120 days. A visa sponsored by a resident relative or friend works differently and can run to 180 days in total. If extending is not possible, the usual alternative is a visa change: leaving the UAE briefly, commonly by bus to Oman or a short flight, and returning on a freshly issued visa, which Holidayys also arranges. Overstay the current visa without doing either, and ICP's own fine page sets the penalty at AED 50 a day.

People ask about extending a visit visa for all sorts of reasons: a holiday that is going well, a flight home that got rebooked, a family occasion that ran long, or simply wanting more time before deciding what to do next. The rules differ by where the visa was issued, who sponsored it, and what kind of visit it covers, so the right first question is not "can I extend" but "which authority issued my visa, and who is supposed to ask them."

UAE visit visa extension at a glance

Question	Answer (October 2026)
Can a UAE visit visa be extended inside the country	Yes, for most categories, while the current visa is still valid
Who applies for the standard (agency, airline or hotel) visit visa	Normally the sponsor, since GDRFA's page says only accredited tourism offices issue this visa
How long each extension runs	The same length as the current visa, GDRFA's pages state
Maximum total stay, standard tourist visit visa (GDRFA Dubai)	120 days in total, including the original visa, GDRFA's page states
Maximum total stay, relative or friend visit visa (GDRFA Dubai)	180 days in total, GDRFA's page states
Where Dubai-issued visas are extended	gdrfad.gov.ae, the GDRFA smart app, Dubai Now, or an Amer centre
Where visas issued in the other emirates are extended	smartservices.icp.gov.ae or the UAEICP app
GDRFA Dubai extension fee	AED 600 plus 5% VAT, and a further AED 520 if the visitor is already inside the UAE
Processing time	48 hours, both authorities' pages state
Overstay fine	AED 50 a day, ICP's fine-payment page states
Indian nationals on the visa on arrival (US, UK or EU document)	A separate GDRFA extension gives 14 days from approval; GDRFA's two pages for it list different fees
If you cannot or do not want to extend	A visa change (exit and re-enter), or, for some cases, an in-country status change

Can you extend a UAE visit visa?

Mostly yes, and the UAE runs this as two parallel systems rather than one. GDRFA, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, handles visas issued in Dubai. ICP, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, handles visas issued in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. It is the emirate that issued the visa that decides which authority you deal with, not where the visitor happens to be staying on any given day.

Both authorities also split the service by what kind of visit the visa covers. GDRFA Dubai alone lists separate extension services for a standard tourist visit, a relative or friend visit, a business visit, exploring job opportunities, exploring business opportunities, study or training, a medical visit, and a visa issued on arrival to certain Indian nationals. Each has its own service page, and, as the sections below show, they do not all cap the total stay the same way.

Extend the visit visa Holidayys and other agencies sell

This is the one most visitors hold: a visit visa sponsored by a licensed travel agency, airline or hotel, issued for 14, 30, 60 or 90 days. GDRFA Dubai's own page for this service, "Extending a tourist visa for a single or multiple trips", describes it plainly: it extends the visa "for one or more trips for the same period", and notes that only accredited tourism offices in the emirate can issue this kind of visa in the first place. In practice, that means the extension is normally requested by the same agency, airline or hotel that sponsored the original visa, rather than filed by the visitor alone.

If the visa was issued in Dubai: GDRFA

GDRFA's page lists the fee, read in October 2026, as an AED 600 visa extension fee, plus 5% VAT. If the visitor is already inside the UAE when the request is filed, which is the usual case, three more charges apply: an AED 500 fee inside the country, plus an AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and an AED 10 Innovation Dirham, for AED 520 on top. GDRFA's page adds that the total can vary with the visitor's circumstances, so treat these as the published base figures rather than a guaranteed final bill. The page states a processing time of 48 hours, and the one document it lists is a passport copy. Crucially, the same page caps the total stay, the original visa plus every extension, at not exceeding 120 days in total.

If the visa was issued in another emirate: ICP

ICP's own service page for this, "Extend Entry Permit" (service code 377-05-001-006), is short on detail: it says the extension applies to visitors, UAE residents, GCC residents, GCC nationals and UAE nationals, and that "the extension period depends on the type of entry permit issued in terms of duration and the number of times the extension request can be submitted." It does not publish a fee table or a day cap on the page we read, last updated 18 March 2024. UAE media outlets, citing ICP, have reported a similar total near AED 600 (an AED 100 request fee, an AED 500 issuance fee and an AED 10 e-services fee) and a 120-day overall cap, matching GDRFA's figure for the same visa type, but we could not confirm either figure directly on icp.gov.ae. Check the current fee and cap on the service card at smartservices.icp.gov.ae or in the UAEICP app before relying on them.

90-day multiple-entry visas

GDRFA's tourist extension service covers "a single or multiple trips", so a 90-day multiple-entry visit visa is extended the same way and against the same 120-day total. There is no separate service or fee listed for the multiple-entry version.

Extend a visa sponsored by a relative or friend

A visit visa sponsored by a UAE resident, rather than by an agency, runs on a more generous cap. GDRFA Dubai's page, "Extend friend or relative's visit visa", lists the same fee structure as the tourist visa above, AED 600 plus 5% VAT, with the same AED 520 in extra charges if the visitor is already inside the country, and the same 48-hour processing time. The difference is the ceiling: the page states the visa "may be extended one or more times for a total of no more than 180 days", a full 60 days more than the tourist visa's cap. The sponsor, not the visitor, files this one. For the full picture on sponsoring a parent or relative, including ICP's rules for residents outside Dubai, see our guide to UAE visas for parents.

The Indian visa-on-arrival extension

There is a narrower, separate extension for a specific group: Indian nationals who entered on a UAE visa on arrival because they already hold a valid US visa, a US green card, or a UK or EU residence permit. GDRFA Dubai's page, "Extending a visitor visa (upon arrival)", limits eligibility to exactly this group, with the qualifying document valid for at least six months. That page lists the same fee as the other visit visa extensions, AED 600 plus 5% VAT plus the AED 520 in-country charges where they apply. A second GDRFA page for the same group, "Extending visas for Indians residing in (US, UK, EU)", lists AED 250 plus 5% VAT and two AED 10 charges instead. We read both on 9 October 2026, so ask GDRFA which applies, or check the amount the portal shows before paying. Both state 48 hours to process. The difference is the extension's own length: the page states the visitor may then stay in the UAE for 14 days from the date the extension is approved, rather than a further 30, 60 or 90 days. We did not find an equivalent published service for the same group through ICP for emirates outside Dubai; if that applies to you, check directly with ICP.

If it lapses: overstay fines

ICP's own fine-payment service page, read in October 2026, lists the charge for "expiry of the permitted stay period for the foreigner in the State" as AED 50 per day. The same page lists a much larger AED 2,000 charge for misuse of smart services, and a routine AED 100 smart services fee, which are separate matters. GDRFA Dubai's own fine pages, the fines-inquiry service and the fine-collection service for violators of residency law, do not publish a daily figure themselves; they only let you look up what is owed on your own file, by passport number, file number, Emirates ID or Unified Number, and point you to pay once a figure is shown. Neither authority's page we read states a grace period, so do not assume one applies to a visit visa; UAE news coverage describes anything from no grace period to several days depending on the source, and none of it comes from ICP or GDRFA directly. The UAE government's own "Visa fees and fines" page on u.ae, updated 13 July 2026, is equally plain: it says only that "there is a fine on overstaying" and sends you to ICP's and GDRFA's own fine pages for the figure, rather than quoting one itself.

ICP's fine page also states a condition worth noting: paying the fine does not end the matter by itself. The page's own wording is that "the status must be adjusted, or the individual must leave the UAE" after the fine is paid. In practice, that means settling an overstay fine and then either extending, changing the visa, or exiting the country, not simply paying and carrying on. File any extension before the current visa expires; none of the official pages we read describe extending a visa that has already lapsed, so treat the expiry date as the deadline rather than the start of a grace window. If you booked the original visit through an agency rather than sponsoring it yourself, tell the agency as soon as a return or extension looks in doubt. You can check a visa's expiry date at any time, with reminders, through our free UAE visa status check.

The alternative: a visa change by bus or flight

Where an extension is not available, has run out, or simply costs more than starting again, many visitors choose a visa change instead: leave the UAE for a short trip, commonly by bus across the land border to Oman or by a short flight to a nearby country, then return and enter on a freshly issued visit visa. This resets the visa from scratch rather than adding to the one already issued, which can suit a visitor who wants a clean new 30 or 60 days rather than whatever remains under the 120-day cap. Holidayys arranges this as a package: the exit and return travel, and the new visa, booked together. See our visa change services by bus for 30 days, by bus for 60 days, by flight for 30 days, or by flight for 60 days. We cannot guarantee or speed up the new visa's approval, and the requirements for the fresh visa, passport validity, a return ticket, a clear photo, are the same as for a first-time application.

Changing status without leaving: GDRFA's Status Amendment

There is a third route, for a narrower case: moving from a visit visa to a different category, such as a residence or employment visa, while staying inside the UAE. GDRFA Dubai's page for this, "Status Amendment", describes it as a way to change "the sponsored person's status within the country". It sets two conditions: the visitor needs a new entry permit already approved for the new category, and the previous entry or residence permit must be cancelled. The listed fee is a AED 500 registration charge, plus an AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and an AED 10 Innovation Dirham, with a separate note of AED 15 for an individual filing or AED 50 for an establishment, and GDRFA's page does not add these into a single total. Processing is stated at 48 hours. The page does not say whether the visitor must physically exit and re-enter the country as part of this, only that a new, already-approved entry permit and a cancelled old one are required; UAE media reports on this point have gone back and forth over the years. This is a different service from the visa changes Holidayys arranges, and it depends on having a new sponsor and category already lined up, so confirm the current position, and whether any exit is required, directly with GDRFA or ICP before counting on it.

Frequently asked questions

How do I extend my UAE visit visa?

Through the authority that covers where the visa was issued: GDRFA Dubai (gdrfad.gov.ae, the GDRFA smart app, Dubai Now or an Amer centre) for Dubai-issued visas, or ICP (smartservices.icp.gov.ae or the UAEICP app) for visas issued elsewhere. For the standard agency, airline or hotel visit visa, the request is normally filed by that sponsor rather than by the visitor alone.

How much does a UAE visit visa extension cost?

GDRFA Dubai's page prices it at AED 600 plus 5% VAT, with a further AED 500 in-country fee plus two AED 10 Knowledge and Innovation Dirham charges if the visitor is already inside the UAE, as read on GDRFA's page in October 2026. ICP's own page for other emirates does not publish a fee table; media reports citing ICP give a similar total, but confirm the current figure on ICP's service card.

How many days can I extend a UAE visit visa for?

Each extension runs for the same length as the current visa. For the standard tourist visit visa, GDRFA's page caps the total of the original visa plus every extension at 120 days. A visa sponsored by a relative or friend can run to 180 days in total under GDRFA's page for that service.

Can I extend my visit visa after it has already expired?

None of the official GDRFA or ICP pages we read describe extending a visa that has already lapsed. Apply before the current visa expires, and if that is not possible, expect to deal with an overstay fine and either an exit or a status change instead.

What is the fine for overstaying a UAE visit visa?

ICP's fine-payment page states AED 50 a day for the expiry of the permitted stay period. GDRFA Dubai's own fine pages do not publish a daily figure; they let you look up the amount owed on your specific file instead. Neither page states a grace period, so do not assume you have one.

Is it cheaper to extend my visa or leave and come back?

It depends on the visa type, how many days are left under the cap, and the cost of travelling out and back. An extension keeps the visitor in the UAE throughout; a visa change (commonly by bus to Oman or a short flight) resets the visa and gives a fresh 30 or 60 days. Compare both against your actual dates before deciding, since neither route has a fixed advantage in every case.

Planning the extra time

Whether you extend, change the visa, or switch status, it helps to sort the paperwork and the travel together, since an extension, a visa change and a fresh booking all ask for the same basic details: passport validity, dates, and where the visitor is staying. Browse our UAE visa services for the current visit visa and visa change options, check an existing visa's expiry with reminders on UAE visa status check, or talk to us about which route fits your dates.

Related guides

• UAE visa guide: types, rules and status check
• UAE visa for parents: routes, fees and documents
• UAE transit visa: 48 and 96 hour permits
• Dubai to Oman by bus or car

Last checked 9 October 2026 against GDRFA Dubai's service pages for extending a tourist, relative or friend, and visitor-upon-arrival visit visa, its Status Amendment and fine-lookup pages, ICP's Extend Entry Permit and fine-payment pages, and the UAE government's Visa fees and fines page on u.ae. This guide is general information, not immigration advice. Confirm the current requirements with GDRFA, ICP or our team before you travel.