No Visa Fee for Children with the UAE Family Group Tourist Visa
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an ideal destination for a family holiday. Family group visas can be applied for by parents and their minor children through approved travel agents.
Dubai Family Group Visa Simplified
This program waives the visa fee for children under 18 who are traveling with their parents. However, you may only take advantage of this special offer by booking through a participating travel agency, either within or outside the UAE.
Brigadier General Khalaf Al-Ghaith, Assistant Director General of the Entry and Residence Permits Sector, provided insights into this family-friendly visa option. He emphasized that it's available exclusively when applying for tourist visas through authorized travel agencies within and outside the country.
The family group visa is tailored for one-time applications for families traveling together, offering convenience for parents and their children. Travel agencies can now process applications for short-term tourist visas, which have a duration of 30 to 60 days, with the possibility of extension to a maximum of 120 days if needed. Visa extensions can be requested before the original visa expires.
key details:
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Tourist Visa Type: Short-term tourist visa, initially for 30–60 days and extendable to 120 days.
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Eligibility: family members applying through an authorized travel agency.
Application Steps
To apply for this visa, you'll need to provide the following documents to the travel agency:
- A copy of the passport, with a minimum validity of six months
- A passport-sized photograph.
- Comprehensive information and the required documents can be found on the GDFRA website (https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae).
Additionally, there is a simplified entry visa service for residents of GCC countries and their companions. This service enables foreigners residing in a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country to obtain an entry visa to the UAE for a maximum of 30 days, with the possibility of a single extension.
You can apply at any time, day or night, through any number of digital platforms, such as the website or a smart smartphone. A passport or other valid travel document, a copy of the residence permit, and a recent, color photo of the applicant on a white backdrop are all necessary.
The application process is straightforward.
- Log in to the website (https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae).
- Register as a user.
- Select the desired service.
- Complete the required data, ensuring accuracy.
- Pay the applicable fees.
- Once approved, the visa will be sent to the user's email.
Key conditions to note are that the residence permit must be valid for over three months, and the passport should have more than six months of validity. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
In the past, visitors to the UAE had to acquire a yellow card and undergo a visa application process that typically took an hour or two for approval. However, the UAE government's forward-thinking approach now allows travelers to apply for visas electronically, streamlining the process and enabling individuals to secure their visas within minutes, even if they are outside the country.
