Can I Extend My Dubai Tourist Visa Without Leaving the UAE?

Enjoying Dubai so much that you want a few more weeks? Good news: in most cases you do not need to fly out and come back to stay longer. The UAE lets tourist visa holders extend their stay from inside the country, as long as you apply before your current visa expires.

Here's everything you need to know, updated for October 2026.

The short answer

Yes. A UAE tourist visa (30, 60 or 90 days) can be extended once or more from inside the UAE, as long as your total stay does not go over 120 days. You don't need to do an "exit and re-entry" or a "visa run" to Oman any more.

The one hard rule: apply before your visa expires. There is no automatic grace period after the last valid day, so waiting until the day after means overstay fines.

Who can extend, and for how long?

• Tourist visa: extendable inside the UAE up to a total stay of 120 days.
• Visit visa to see relatives or friends: extendable up to a total of 180 days.
• Job exploration or business setup visa: extendable up to a total of 180 days.
• 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa: each stay is up to 90 days, extendable by another 90 days, with a maximum of 180 days in the UAE per year.

Some special permits — such as border-area, truck driver and tourist ship worker permits — cannot be extended.

Who applies for the extension?

You usually can't do it entirely on your own. The extension is filed by your visa sponsor:

• If a travel agency, airline or hotel issued your tourist visa, they apply for the extension.
• If a relative or friend sponsored your visit visa, they apply.

So the first step is always to contact whoever arranged your visa — at least a week before it expires.

Where the extension is processed

It depends on which emirate issued your visa (check the visa copy):

• Dubai-issued visa: General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) — via the GDRFA website or app, an Amer centre, or the GDRFA office in Al Jafiliya.
• Visa issued by any other emirate (Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, RAK, Fujairah, UAQ): Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) — via the ICP Smart Services portal or app, or an approved typing centre.

How much does it cost?

Official government fees at the time of writing (October 2026):

Dubai (GDRFA)

• Extension fee: AED 600 + 5% VAT
• In-country fee: AED 500
• Knowledge Dirham and Innovation Dirham: AED 10 each

Other emirates (ICP)

• Application fee: AED 100
• Extension fee: AED 500

Amer centres, typing centres and travel agencies add their own service charges on top. Fees change from time to time, so the final amount shown before payment is the one that counts.

Documents you'll need

1. A clear copy of your passport (valid for at least 6 months)
2. A copy of your current UAE visa / entry stamp
3. A recent passport-size photo (white background)
4. Any supporting documents used for the original visa (for family visit visas, this can include the sponsor's details)

How long does it take?

Usually about 48 hours for both GDRFA and ICP once the application is complete and paid. Apply early so a missing document doesn't push you past your expiry date.

Step-by-step: extending your tourist visa

1. Check your visa expiry date and which emirate issued it.
2. Contact your sponsor (travel agent or relative) 7–10 days before expiry.
3. Share your documents — passport copy, visa copy and photo.
4. Pay the extension and service fees.
5. Receive your extended visa by email and keep a copy with your passport.
6. Do not overstay while waiting — if the application is still pending close to expiry, follow up with your sponsor the same day.

What if I overstay?

Overstaying a tourist or visit visa is fined at AED 50 per day, and serious overstays can lead to travel bans or problems getting future UAE visas. There is no fixed grace period to rely on, so never assume you have "a few extra days".

Extension vs. leaving and getting a new visa

An in-country extension is usually the easiest option for a short additional stay. But once you're close to the 120-day limit, or if you need a different type of visa (for example, for work), you'll need to exit and apply for a new visa.

Need help extending your visa?

If ClickOnVisa issued your UAE visa, get in touch with our team before your visa expires and we'll handle the extension for you. Planning a new trip? See our UAE visa page for visa options, fees and processing times.

Note: Visa rules and fees can change without notice. Always confirm the latest requirements with your sponsor or the GDRFA / ICP before your visa expires.