The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are set to implement a unified tourist visa, similar to the Schengen visa. The permit will enable tourists to travel across all 6 GCC member states: Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The announcement was made by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE’s Minister of
28 February 2023
| Post byAuthorities in the United Arab Emirates have announced several reforms to online visa services. These include the option to extend a 90-day UAE visitor visa for an additional 30-day stay.
Under the new rules, it is also possible to electronically extend single-entry or multiple-entry visit visas for a relative or friend. This applies to tourist visas valid for 30, 60, and 90-day stays, including the UAE online visa.
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), Customs and Ports Security confirmed 15 updates to UAE’s online smart services system. The aim is to improve the quality of the services offered to citizens, residents, and visitors alike.
“The development of smart services represents a dynamic process carried out by the authority”, said the Director General of the ICA, Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili.
“It also signifies reading the future directions of governments, knowing the needs of customers, and meeting them in the easiest and fastest ways”, he added.
Issue of UAE Visas for Family Groups Now Possible Online
The ICA has also amended the UAE visa policy to allow the online issue of visas for family groups visiting for tourism or medical purposes. These may be issued as either single-entry or multiple entry-visas, and permit stays of 60 or 180 days.
Other smart system updates allow:
- Extending the pre-entry validity of visas
- Printing of visa and residence details in the visa holder’s account
- The option to cancel and change visa information for GCC citizens registered in the system without an Emirates ID.
Further amendments to the services include a new residence visa renewal procedure. Under the new rules, foreign citizens with a UAE residence visa are not able to renew the document until it has less than 6 months validity remaining.
The ICA also confirmed that citizens of the Emirates the will no longer be required to provide fingerprint data when submitting passport applications through smart system. They will also be exempt from paying any fees or charges for these services.
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