Entry rules
United Arab Emiratesentry requirements
U.S. citizens don’t need to apply for anything before visiting the United Arab Emirates: a free visit visa is stamped in your passport on arrival, for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day you arrive.
Checked against official sources Oct 29, 2026 · Sources
Do you need a visa or travel authorization?
| Passport | What you need | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. citizens | Visa issued on arrival Free, stamped at immigration; up to 90 days within 180 days of first entry, not renewable. The UAE Embassy in Washington says you need a return or onward ticket. Overstaying costs AED 50 a day. | 90 days in 180 days |
| British citizens | Visa issued on arrival Free, stamped at immigration; up to 90 days over a 180-day period. | 90 days in 180 days |
| Canadians | Visa issued on arrival Free, stamped at immigration; up to 90 days within 180 days. Canadian temporary or emergency passports are accepted only for transit and exit. | 90 days in 180 days |
| Australians | Visa issued on arrival The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists Australia as visa-free. We could not confirm the length of stay from an official page; check with the UAE embassy before a long stay. | — |
| EU citizens | Visa issued on arrival The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists all 27 EU countries as visa-free. The length of stay can differ by country; check with the UAE embassy before a stay longer than 30 days. | — |
Passport rules
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the day you arrive (UAE government portal, GOV.UK, Government of Canada, UAE Embassy in Washington). For an airside transit, GOV.UK says 3 months after the transit date.
- Canadians: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the day you arrive.
Airlines check this at check-in. If your passport is close to the limit, renew it first: see the 6-month passport rule explained.
Changing planes in United Arab Emirates
- U.S. citizens, Canadians, Australians and EU citizens: Nothing extra if you stay airside. No visa if you don’t pass through immigration.
- British citizens: Nothing extra if you stay airside. No visa if you don’t pass through immigration; GOV.UK says your passport should be valid 3 months after the transit date.
More: Do I need a transit visa?
Travel insurance
Not required for entry: Not required for a visit visa on arrival. Health insurance is required for the separate 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa.
Good to know
- Working on a visit visa is not allowed.
- There is nothing to apply for in advance for these passports, so a website asking you to pay for a UAE “visa” before a normal tourist trip is not needed.
Official links
Watch for look-alike sites. Use only the official addresses above. Sites that “process” your application charge extra for the same official form. How to spot a fake visa site.
Official sources
- Visas for US Citizens | Embassy of the UAE, Washington DC ·
U.S. citizens are not required to apply for a visa before traveling to the UAE. A visa will be issued upon entry, allowing a maximum stay of 90 days non-renewable, whether continuously or intermittently, within 180 days
· checked 2026-10-29 - United Arab Emirates travel advice: Entry requirements | GOV.UK ·
It will be valid for up to 90 days over a 180-day period, which will begin from the date of first entry into the UAE.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Travel advice and advisories for the United Arab Emirates | travel.gc.ca (last updated 14 October 2026) ·
If you're entering the UAE as a tourist, you must get a visa on arrival at the port of entry. This visa is free and allows you to stay for 90 days within a 180-day period.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Visa information to enter the country | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs ·
The Commonwealth of Australia Visa Free
· checked 2026-10-29 - Check if you need a visa to enter the UAE | u.ae ·
Note: Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into the UAE. Lists of countries eligible for visa on arrival may vary from time to time.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Tourist visa | u.ae ·
a valid health insurance policy applicable in the UAE, valid for 180 days
· checked 2026-10-29
If an official page says something different from this page, the official page is right. Tell us and we’ll fix it.
Get an email when these rules change
Only when an official entry rule we track changes: a new travel authorization, a fee, a start date or a passport rule. At most once a week, with the official source for every change.