The UAE Just Opened Its Doors Wider: Who Qualifies for the New Special Entry Visas — and the Paperwork Nobody Mentions
UAE news · Visas & documents · 29 October 2026
If you left Dubai a couple of years ago and have been wondering how easy it would be to come back — this week’s news is for you.
If you live in Barcelona on a Spanish residence card, or in Berlin, London or New York on a permit from those countries — it may be for you too.
And if you’re a Thai, Filipino or Vietnamese professional living in Europe or the US, you just gained a visa route that didn’t exist for your passport a week ago.
Most news coverage stops at the headline. We went further: who exactly qualifies, what it costs, what the rest of the UAE’s 2025–2026 visa reforms add, and — because this is our job — which documents you’ll actually need translated and attested when the visit turns into something more.
Key takeaways
- Four groups can now apply for special entry visas: US/UK/EU residents, former UAE residents (visa expired ≤ 5 years ago), first-degree relatives of Emiratis, and Green/Golden Visa holders.
- The 14-day and 60-day scheme, previously open only to Indian nationals, now covers six more nationalities with qualifying residence permits.
- 14 days costs AED 100 (extendable once); 60 days costs AED 250 (single entry, no extension); overstays cost AED 50 a day.
- The visa itself rarely needs translated documents — but proving family ties, returning to work or setting up a company usually does.
- The UAE does not accept apostilles alone. Plan for consular attestation.
What changed on 25 October 2026
ICP made two separate announcements that are easy to blur together. Here they are side by side:
1. Four groups eligible for special entry visas
| Group | What qualifies you | Who this typically means |
|---|---|---|
| Residents of selected countries | A valid residence permit from the United States, the United Kingdom or an EU member state | Expats and long-term residents living in the US, UK or EU |
| Former UAE residents | A UAE residence visa that expired no more than five years ago | People who relocated away from the UAE in recent years |
| Relatives of UAE citizens | First-degree relatives of Emirati nationals | Close family of Emirati citizens |
| Green & Golden Visa holders | A valid UAE Green Visa or Golden Visa | Long-term visa holders |
2. The 14-day and 60-day visa expands to six more nationalities
Until now, Indian nationals were the only nationality on this route. From this announcement, it also covers nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa — on one condition: they must hold a valid residence permit issued by the US, an EU member state, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada, plus an ordinary passport valid for at least six months.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs framed the expansion as strengthening ties with friendly countries and encouraging economic, cultural and people-to-people exchange.
60-second eligibility check
Did you live in the UAE on a residence visa?
Check the expiry date on your old visa. If it expired no more than five years before you apply, you fall into the former-resident group. If it’s close to the five-year line, apply sooner rather than later.
Do you hold a residence permit in the US, UK or an EU country?
You fall into the “residents of selected countries” group. Make sure the permit will still be valid when you travel — an expired card won’t count.
Are you a national of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya or South Africa?
You can use the 14-day or 60-day visa if you also hold a valid residence permit from the US, an EU state, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada.
Do you hold a UAE Green or Golden Visa, or are you a first-degree relative of an Emirati?
You’re in one of the four eligible groups. Relatives should expect that proof of the relationship may be requested.
The 14-day and 60-day visa: fees and documents
| 14-day permit | 60-day permit | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | AED 100 | AED 250 |
| Entries | — | Single entry |
| Extension | Can be extended once | Not extendable |
| Overstay fine | AED 50 per day | AED 50 per day |
Smart-service fees may be added on top of the issuance charge. For the 60-day permit, ICP’s portal lists three documents: your passport, a personal photo, and a copy of the qualifying visa, residence permit or Green Card. Eligible family members may also use the route if the main applicant meets the residence conditions.
The bigger picture: every new route since 2025
The October announcement builds on a wider reform package ICP published on 29 September 2025. If you’re planning a longer stay, these routes matter too:
| Route | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| AI specialist visit visa | Single or multiple entry, with a letter from a technology-focused sponsoring or host entity |
| Entertainment visit visa | Temporary stays for leisure and entertainment |
| Events visit visa | Festivals, exhibitions, conferences and seminars, with a letter from the public- or private-sector host stating the event and its duration |
| Cruise & leisure-boat tourism visa | Multiple entry for itineraries with UAE stops, sponsored by a licensed facility |
| Friend or relative visit visa | Sponsoring a relative up to the third degree, or a friend, based on the sponsor’s income |
| Business exploration visa | Requires financial solvency to set up a company, a share in a company abroad, or proven professional practice |
| Residence for widows and divorcees | One year, renewable under defined conditions |
| Humanitarian residence permit | One year for people from countries affected by war or disaster, extendable by ICP decision |
Two other 2026 changes are worth knowing. In June, GDRFA Dubai and the Dubai Health Authority signed an agreement to simplify medical visas and develop a smart medical visa — current UAE medical visas run for 90 or 180 days. And Dubai has removed the AED 750,000 minimum property value for sole owners applying for the two-year property investor visa.
Coming for a trade show? Read this
November is one of Dubai World Trade Centre’s busiest months. GulfHost, Gulfood Manufacturing, ISM Middle East and Private Label Middle East run from 3 to 5 November, and Big 5 Global — one of the region’s largest construction shows — runs from 23 to 26 November alongside GeoWorld, HVACR World, LiveableCitiesX and Future FM.
If you’re exhibiting or visiting, the events visit visa needs a host letter stating the event and its duration — and if you’re travelling from the US, UK or EU on a residence permit, the new special entry route may also apply.
Once your visa is sorted, the next challenge is the conversation on the stand. GLB provides trade show interpreters in Dubai in Arabic, Russian, Spanish, Chinese and more — book early for November, when demand peaks.
The paperwork nobody mentions
The visa application itself is light. The documents become important at three moments:
1. When you prove a family relationship
If you apply as a first-degree relative of a UAE citizen and are asked to prove it, a birth or marriage certificate issued abroad will need the full attestation chain — and, where the authority asks for Arabic, a legal translation by a UAE Ministry of Justice–licensed translator.
2. When a visit turns into residence
Former residents coming back to work, sponsor family or open a company usually need attested degrees, marriage and birth certificates, or corporate documents. This is where most delays happen — because people start too late.
3. When your residence permit isn’t in English
A Spanish TIE, a German Aufenthaltstitel or a French titre de séjour is written in the local language. If ICP or your airline asks for a translation, have it ready before you travel rather than at the check-in desk.
Before-you-fly checklist
- Confirm your group or nationality on the ICP website — rules can change at short notice.
- Check that your passport is valid for at least six months.
- Check that your qualifying residence permit will still be valid on your travel dates.
- Scan your passport, photo and residence permit in good quality.
- Make sure your name is spelled identically on every document.
- If you’ll need family or education documents later, start attestation now.
- Diary your exit date — overstays cost AED 50 per day.
Planning more than a visit?
GLB Translations prepares MOJ-certified Arabic legal translations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and checks your attestation chain before we translate — so your documents are accepted the first time. Clients in Bangkok, Barcelona and Madrid can start before they fly.
Send us your documents for a quote →Frequently asked questions
When were the new UAE special entry visas announced?
ICP announced the four eligible groups and the expansion of the 14-day and 60-day scheme on 25 October 2026.
Can former UAE residents return on a special entry visa?
Yes, if their UAE residence visa expired no more than five years ago — that is one of the four eligible groups.
Can I get a UAE special entry visa with an EU residence permit?
Holders of a valid residence permit from an EU member state, the UK or the US are one of the four eligible groups. Check ICP for conditions that apply to your nationality.
Which nationalities were added to the 14-day and 60-day visa?
Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa, provided applicants hold a valid residence permit from the US, an EU state, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada.
How much do the 14-day and 60-day permits cost?
AED 100 for 14 days (extendable once) and AED 250 for 60 days (single entry, not extendable), plus any smart-service fees. Overstays cost AED 50 per day.
Do I need documents translated for a UAE special entry visa?
Usually not for the visa itself. Translation and attestation become necessary when you prove a family relationship with foreign certificates or move on to residence, work or company setup.
Sources: ICP announcement of 25 October 2026, as reported by VisaVerge (28 October 2026); ICP, announcement of new visit visa categories (29 September 2025); Gulf Business and AGBI on the GDRFA–DHA medical visa agreement (3 June 2026); Time Out Dubai on 2026 visa changes; Gulf Business on the DWTC events calendar. Rules can change at short notice — always confirm on icp.gov.ae before travelling. General information, not legal advice.
