The United Arab Emirates expanded its visa-on-arrival programme on 25 June 2026 to ordinary-passport holders from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa. Eligibility is conditional: the traveller must also hold a valid residence permit issued by the United States, an EU member state, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada. Accompanying family members who meet the nationality and residence-permit conditions are included. Travellers from the six countries who do not hold one of those permits still need to arrange the appropriate UAE entry visa before travelling.
Who qualifies
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcement sets out two separate tests. First, the traveller must hold an ordinary passport from one of the six newly listed countries. Second, the traveller must hold a current residence permit from one of the nine approved jurisdictions. The official announcement refers specifically to residence permits; it does not generally extend eligibility to every visitor, student or work visa issued by those jurisdictions. Travellers should therefore rely on the status shown on their residence document and confirm any borderline document with the airline or the UAE immigration authority before departure.
Eligible nationalities and residence permits
- Eligible passports: Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa
- Qualifying residence permits: United States, an EU member state, United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada
- Passport type: ordinary passports; the announcement also covers accompanying family members who satisfy the conditions
- Effective date: 25 June 2026
The two visa options
Eligible travellers can receive either a 14-day or a 60-day visa on arrival. The 14-day visa costs AED 100 and may be extended once while the holder is in the UAE. The 60-day visa costs AED 250, covers a single stay and cannot be extended. The Ministry announcement does not state the extension fee for the 14-day option, so travellers should check the current amount directly with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security before extending. Both visa types require the holder to leave when the permitted period ends, and the stated overstay penalty is AED 50 per day.
What changed in practice
The policy removes the need for a qualifying traveller to obtain a standard UAE visit visa before departure. That is most useful for members of the six nationalities who already live in an approved third country and need to make a short visit to the UAE. For example, a Kenyan citizen holding Canadian permanent residence or an Indonesian citizen with a current UK residence permit can present the relevant documents at a UAE port of entry. The rule is not a blanket visa waiver for all citizens of the six countries and it does not alter the residence or work permission needed for anyone moving to the UAE long term.
Documents to check before departure
Carry the ordinary passport and the qualifying residence-permit document together. Make sure the permit remains valid on the date of entry and that the names and personal details are consistent across both documents. The official announcement says the visa is obtained on arrival, but admission remains subject to normal border checks. Airlines conduct their own document checks before boarding, so confirming eligibility with the carrier is sensible when the residence evidence is digital, recently renewed or otherwise difficult to interpret. GoMate's /country-guides/united-arab-emirates guide covers the separate residence pathways for people planning a longer move.
Fees and duration
The 14-day visa costs AED 100 and is extendable once. The 60-day visa costs AED 250 and is not extendable. Overstaying either option carries a stated fine of AED 50 per day.
Residence permit is the key condition
The UAE Ministry announcement requires a valid residence permit from an approved jurisdiction. It does not describe a general entitlement based only on holding a short-term visa. Confirm the document type before relying on visa on arrival.
Key Takeaway
The new UAE route is available to six nationalities only when the traveller also holds a valid residence permit from one of nine approved jurisdictions.