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South African passport holders need to have pre-arranged visas before arriving in Dubai or the UAE, as they are not eligible for visas on arrival.
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They can apply for a visa via the following:
- airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, FlyDubai, and Air Arabia
- hotel or travel partners with whom you have booked a trip. They can apply for a service visa (14 days), tourist visa (30 days) or visit visa (up to 90 days)
- UAE residents (friends or relatives) can apply as sponsors on your behalf (subject to guidelines)
Dubai & UAE visa requirements for South Africans
To apply for the pre-arranged visa from South Africa, you’ll require:
- a passport, valid for a minimum of six months
- passport size photos
- a copy of your completed and signed visa application form
- details about your itinerary.
- onward and return flight tickets
- invitation letter (if any) from the host company in the UAE
- female applicants and students above 18 years and travelling alone will require a NOC from parents or husband, photo ID of parents or husband. Coloured copy of the host passport or residence visa
- applicable visa fees in cash, DD or credit card
- a cover letter with all the required details about your itinerary
- statement from your bank for the last six months to prove you have enough finances to fund your visit
- address proof
Please make sure to consult with your nearest UAE embassy regarding the specific documents required for the different visas.
Dubai & UAE visa types for South Africans
The following is a list of visas available in the United Arab Emirates for South African citizens.
- UAE tourist visa is required to enter the UAE if the traveller is not from the list of countries available for the visa-on-arrival scheme. In principle, the tourist visa is obtainable by eligible tourists from around the world. However, as per the UAE’s official government portal, female travellers below the age of 18 are not eligible to apply for this type of visa unless they are travelling with their parents.The tourist visa is valid for 60 days. The UAE also provides a 5-year visa which allows tourists to remain in the country for 90 days on each visit.
All types of tourist visas may be extended for 30 days twice. Typically, to renew each tourist visa, you will be charged a fee of AED 200 (USD 54,45). Unused tourist visas must either be cancelled or extended. The cost of cancelling an unused visa varies depending on the travel agent, and it could cost up to AED 300 (USD 81,68).
- Employment Visa: You are issued a work/employment visa when you sign an employment contract with a Dubai-registered company.
- Dependent Visa: A person with a residence visa for Dubai can sponsor a family in the UAE. So, if you have a spouse, parent or child living in Dubai, they can apply to bring you to the UAE on a dependent visa. The sponsorship criteria vary for spouses and parents. Resident women in the UAE can sponsor their families, too, given they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Freelance Visa: If you work independently, you can apply for a freelance visa in Dubai. This visa category is offered by free zone areas in Dubai, including Media City, Internet City and Dubai Knowledge Park. The rates for a freelance permit vary for different free zones.
- Student Visa: This visa is exclusively for foreign students who wish to study in Dubai. Students with at least 95% percentile in school-leaving exams can apply for a five-year residence visa in Dubai. University students with a minimum 3.5 GPA are also eligible. According to the latest changes in policy, foreign students can also sponsor families in the UAE.
- Investor Visa: When you start a business in Dubai or invest in a Dubai-based company, you can get an investor visa. The visa terms are contingent on your capital investment. For instance, investors with financial assets of up to AED 10M are eligible for a 10-year residence visa in the UAE.
- Property Owner Visa: The real estate investor visa in Dubai is exclusively for property owners. The conditions to apply for this type of visa vary based on the property’s price. To be eligible for the visa, buyers must invest in a property with a minimum value of AED 5M to get a 5-year residence visa in the UAE.
Application process
The UAE tourist visa can be applied for both online or through the approved airlines, hotels, travel agencies or tour operators.
Applicants will simply need to provide the required information and documents and pay the visa fee online without having to send documents by email or visiting the office in person. Once the visa application is approved, they will receive an approved e-visa copy via email
UAE VISA FEE
The UAE visa fee for South Africans would depend on the type of visa you are applying for. Moreover, if you are applying for a visa through a travel agent or company, the fee may be different as compared to the fee that you would have to pay when applying for a visa directly from the consulate. For a rough reference, the UAE visa fee may be anywhere between R 1232 and R 1515. You can make the payment through debit or credit card.