UAE Visa on Arrival 2026: 6 New Nationalities Added — Who Actually Qualifies

From 24 June 2026, the UAE has expanded its visa-on-arrival programme to include nationals of six new countries: Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa. Eligible travellers can obtain a 14-day or 60-day visa on arrival at any UAE port of entry but there is one condition that matters more than your passport. To qualify, you must also hold a valid residence permit from one of nine specific countries. Your nationality alone is not enough.

The Six Nationalities Now Eligible

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) announced on 25 June 2026 that ordinary passport holders from the following six countries are now eligible for visa on arrival in the UAE:

• Indonesia
• Vietnam
• Thailand
• The Philippines
• Kenya
• South Africa

The change also covers accompanying family members travelling with the main passport holder, provided the family members meet the same conditions. India was already eligible for this facility under a previous expansion these six are the new additions that take effect from yesterday.

The Condition — You Must Hold a Qualifying Residence Permit

Being a national of one of those six countries is only the first part of the eligibility check. The second part is what many travellers miss when they read the headline: you must also hold a valid residence permit issued by one of the following nine countries or regions:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• European Union member states
• Canada
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Japan
• Singapore
• South Korea

You present both documents at the UAE port of entry your ordinary passport and your valid residence permit from one of these countries. Without a qualifying permit, you do not get visa on arrival regardless of your nationality. You would need to arrange a UAE visit visa in advance through a licensed platform such as govr.ae.

The logic behind this condition is straightforward: the UAE is extending the benefit to internationally mobile nationals who have already cleared immigration scrutiny in a high-trust country, rather than applying a blanket open-door policy.

How Long Can You Stay — 14 Days or 60 Days

Under the new rules, there are two visa options available on arrival:

14-day visa

• Fee: AED 100, paid at the port of entry
• Stay: up to 14 days from entry
• Extendable: yes, once, while you are still inside the UAE

60-day visa

• Fee: AED 250, paid at the port of entry
• Stay: up to 60 days from entry
• Extendable: no single stay, cannot be extended

Choose the duration that matches your trip before you travel. If you arrive on a 60-day and your plans change, you cannot extend it you would need to leave and re-enter on a new visa. Both options cover all seven UAE emirates, so you can travel between Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates freely during your stay.

What Happens If You Overstay

Whether you hold a 14-day or 60-day visa on arrival, the UAE’s standard overstay rule applies. An overstay fine of AED 50 per day is charged from the day after your permitted stay ends. Continued overstaying is recorded on the immigration system and can affect future UAE visa applications. Leave on or before your visa expiry date. For a full breakdown of how overstay fines work and how to avoid them, read our guide on UAE visa overstay fines.

Visa on Arrival vs a Pre-Arranged UAE Visit Visa

A visa on arrival means you do not apply before you travel you obtain the entry stamp at the UAE airport or port when you arrive, on the spot, provided you qualify. A pre-arranged UAE visit visa is applied for in advance, online, before your trip. It is approved and delivered to you before you fly, so you board knowing your entry is confirmed.

For eligible travellers who hold a qualifying residence permit, visa on arrival is convenient and straightforward. For everyone else including nationals of the six countries who do not hold one of the nine qualifying permits a pre-arranged visit visa is the right route. See the full UAE visit visa options and compare types and prices at our visa types page.

If You Don’t Qualify for Visa on Arrival

Not holding one of the nine qualifying residence permits does not mean you cannot visit the UAE. It means you apply for your visa in advance rather than on arrival. Most nationalities including Indonesians, Vietnamese, Thai, Filipino, Kenyan and South African passport holders without a qualifying permit can still apply online for a UAE visit visa before they travel.

govr.ae is a licensed UAE visa platform that processes applications through official UAE immigration channels. You can compare UAE visit visa types and prices, choose the right option for your trip, and apply entirely online. Standard processing takes 1 to 3 working days, so you board knowing your visa is confirmed and waiting.

Compliance notice: UAE visa rules, eligibility conditions are set by UAE immigration authorities and can change without notice. The information above reflects the official announcement made by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ICP on 25 June 2026. All applications and entry permissions are subject to government approval at the port of entry.