Have you ever longed to catch the breath-taking sights offered from the top of Burj Khalifa in Dubai? Or are you thinking of having a thrilling time in Abu Dhabi’s branded theme park of Ferrari World? The United Arab Emirates offers far more attractions than this! To make your dream of exploring this destination a reality, read this guide on how to apply for a Dubai visa!
This guide will explain the Dubai visa application process in South Africa. You will need to apply at the UAE Embassy in Pretoria or one of VFS Global’s Visa Processing Centres in South Africa. You can also apply online with VFS Global’s website, through Emirates or with Etihad. The earliest you can apply for a UAE visa is 3 months before you travel.
Please note this process is applicable to South African passport holders
Types of Visas to Apply for:
There are 7 Dubai visa types. The nature of your visit will determine which visa is suitable for you.
- If you plan to spend less than 4 days in the United Arab Emirates, apply for the 96-hour visa. This also serves as a transit visa, and if your layover is at least 8 hours in the UAE, you will need this visa.
- Are you spending less than 30 days in the UAE? Then you can apply for the 30-day short-term visa.
- In the event that you need to leave the country and return, you can get the multi-entry short-term visa. This visa entitles you to stay up to 30 days per visit.
- Are you travelling to any of the seven Emirates for a series of events? You should apply for the 90-day long-term visa.
- If your travels in and out of the UAE end up taking longer than a month, apply for the multi entry long term visa. This visa lets you make many entries into the country at 90 days per stay. This visa is also applicable if you’re travelling in and out of the United Arab Emirates for business.
- Should you be a GCC resident (Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE), you can apply for the 30-day (GCC Resident) visa.
- If you’re travelling with a GCC resident, you are welcome to apply for the 30-day (GCC Accompanied) Visa.
- You will not need a visa if you are passing through the UAE and your layover is less than 8 hours. But you will need to remain at the airport until your next flight.
- For more information on the different types of Dubai visas, get a free visa quote with Visa Box.
Validity
All UAE visas are valid for 60 days from the date of issue to enter Dubai. This excludes the 96-hour visa, which is valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
Your passport will also need to be valid for at least six months after your departure from the UAE.
The processing time for each visa type is 3-4 working days.
Are you applying via Emirates, Etihad, or VFS Global? You will receive your visa via the email you applied with.
Visa Costs:
The prices of the various visa types depend on which company you use to apply for your Dubai visa.
| 96-hour visa: | R 760 – R 980 |
| 30-day short term visa (single entry): | R 1,232 – R 1,370 |
| 30-day short term visa (multi entry): | R 2,400 – R 2,730 |
| 90-day long term visa (single entry): | R 2,840 – R 4,520 |
| 90-day long term visa (multi entry): | R 6,510 – R 6,390 |
| 30-day (GCC Accompanied): | R 1,215 – R 1,515 |
| 30-day (GCC Resident): | R 1,215 – R 1,515 |
The VFS Global Dubai processing centres have payment facilities. Should you be applying through the Emirates website and the Etihad website, you can pay online
Dubai Visa Requirements:
All UAE visa types require the following documents:
- The completed application form (a form is also available on VFS Global)
- Copy of flight ticket
- Two colour photographs with white backgrounds (size: 4.3 cm x 5.5 cm)
- Colour copy of passport (must be valid for at least six months after your departure from the UAE)
- Letter from the bank stating that you have enough funds to travel to the United Arab Emirates
- Letter from your employer stating that you are employed with your company and what position you hold
- Hotel booking confirmation (if applicable)
- Travel itinerary
Is your 90-day / Multi-Entry Long-Term visa application for the sake of visiting family? You will need these documents:
- Host passport copy
- Host covering letter
- Proof of relationship
Should you be visiting the UAE for business, you will need the following documents:
- Hotel confirmation
- Company covering letter
- Host company invitation letter / Host resident permit with passport copy
Where to Apply:
At the Embassy
Embassy of the United Arab Emirates – Pretoria
| Address: | 992 Arcadia St, Arcadia |
| Contact: | +27 12 342 7736 / uae@mweb.co.za |
| Hours: | Monday to Friday – 09h00 to 12h00 |
Parking is available on the premises. Taxis, buses and Uber options are available to get you to the embassy as well.
Online
You can apply online via VFS Global, Emirates and Etihad. If you are flying with Emirates, you will need to use the “Manage your booking” tool to apply online (your flight ticket is required before applying). You will need your booking reference to start the process. For VFS Global, you have to finalise the process by paying at one of their processing centres in South Africa (see below).
Dubai Visa Processing Centres
You can also apply at these processing centres.
DVPC – Johannesburg
| Address: | Sandton City, Office Tower, 2nd floor, Sandton |
| Contact: | 011 783 0410 / 011 783 1941 / infodvpcsa@dubaivisa.net |
| Hours: | Monday to Friday – 08h30 to 12h30; 13h30 to 15h00 |
Parking is available in the Sandton City mall.
DVPC – Cape Town
| Address: | 5th Floor, Strand Building, 47 On Strand Street, Cape Town |
| Contact: | 021 423 6573 / infodvpccpt@dubaivisa.net |
| Hours: | Monday to Friday – 08h30 to 12h30; 13h30 to 15h00 |
Limited parking bays are available around Strand Building.
DVPC – Durban
| Address: | Unit – 6, Crystal Rock, 16 Solstice Road, Umhlanga Ridge New Town, Umhlanga Ridge |
| Contact: | 031 584 7153 / infodvpcdur@dubaivisa.net |
| Hours: | Monday to Friday – 08h30 to 12h30; 13h30 to 15h00 |
Parking is available at Crystal Rock.
Take note that these Dubai visa processing centres are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and South African Public Holidays.
How to book an appointment
Should you be visiting the embassy or the Dubai visa processing centres, remember these steps:
- Submit the required documents.
- Complete the application form.
- Pay the application fee.
If you’re applying online, take note of the following:
- Visit the application pages of either VFS Global, Emirates and Etihad to start applying for your UAE visa (make sure to have your flight ticket with Emirates for this step).
- Complete the online application form.
- Upload copies of your documents.
- Pay the application fee online via debit/credit card (Only Visa and MasterCards are accepted).
- You will receive a confirmation email once the payment is successful.
- Should your application be successful, a visa copy will be sent to the email you provide in the application form.
- With VFS Global, you will need to visit the processing centres afterwards for verification and payment (make sure to have required documentation when doing this).
Where to print your documents:
You can get all the required documents for your UAE visa at the following places. They are all situated near to the embassy and the Dubai visa processing centres.
In Pretoria:
PostNet Eastwood Village
| Address: | Shop 28 Eastwood Village SC,cnr Eastwood &, Pretorius St, Arcadia |
| Contact: | 012 342 4390 / eastwoods@postnet.co.za |
| Hours: | Monday – Friday: 08h00 to 18h00; Saturday: 09h00 to 13h00 |
In Johannesburg:
PostNet Sandton City
| Address: | Shop L38B Ground Floor Entrance 7 Sandton City Rivonia Road &, 5th St, Sandhurst, Sandton |
| Contact: | 011 783 6810 / sandtoncity@postnet.co.za |
| Hours: | Monday – Friday: 07h00 to 20h00; Saturday: 09h00 to 20h00; Sundays and Public Holidays: 09h00 to 18h00 |
In Cape Town:
PostNet Cape Town Long Street
| Address: | Shop 8, No 2 Long Street, Cape Town City Centre |
| Contact: | 021 418 1630 / longstreet@postnet.co.za |
| Hours: | Mondays – Tuesdays & Thursdays – Fridays: 08h00 to 16h30; Wednesday: 08h30 to 16h30; Saturday: 08h30 to 12h00 |
In Durban:
Jetline
| Address: | Solstice Rd & Millennium Blvd, Umhlanga Ridge, Umhlanga |
| Contact: | 031 566 4627 / durban@jetline.co.za |
| Hours: | Mondays – Fridays: 08h00 to 17h00; Saturday: 09h00 to 12h00 |
Foto First
| Address: | Shop F229, Level 1, Gateway Theatre of Shopping |
| Contact: | 031 566 1622 / ffgateway@newteltron.co.za |
| Hours: | Monday – Thursday: 09h00 to 19h00; Friday – Saturday: 09h00 to 21h00; Sunday: 09h00 to 18h00 |
Now that you have all you need to know about applying for a Dubai visa, book a flight to the UAE with Travelstart! Whether you apply via VFS Global, Emirates or Etihad (which includes a stopover in Abu Dhabi), you’ll be sure to have a wonderful time exploring this exotic country in the Middle East.
Find your Emirates flight to Dubai with popular flight routes from Johannesburg to Dubai today!
All information on this blog page was correct at the time of publishing and may change at any time without prior notice. Travelstart is not affiliated with immigration authorities or their application centres and will not be liable for loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this volatile information.