For an ordinary UAE visit or tourism entry permit covered by the federal ICP rules, the total stay may be extended up to 120 days, subject to approval. It is a cap, not an automatic extension or a guarantee. The permit category and issuing authority matter: Dubai tourist visas use a separate GDRFA service, and some other permit categories have different limits or cannot be extended.
What is the UAE visit-visa extension limit?
ICP’s extension terms allow the issuing authority to extend a visit or tourism entry permit once or multiple times, provided the total duration does not exceed 120 days. You must apply and receive approval; the rule does not give every visitor an automatic right to remain for that period. Check the permit category and its authorized stay on your entry document.
The 120-day ceiling applies to the visit/tourism entry-permit category described by ICP. Other categories have different rules: ICP lists up to 180 days in total for permits to visit a relative or friend, job or business exploration, medical treatment, and study or training. Some entry permits are non-extendable. See ICP’s Visa Extension service terms for the category-specific conditions.
Does Dubai follow the same limit?
Dubai’s GDRFA tourist-visa extension service also sets a maximum total duration of 120 days. It says an extension for the same period may be granted once or more than once, at the issuing authority’s discretion. This is a Dubai service rule, not a uniform fee or application process for every emirate.
GDRFA lists a passport copy and application through its online or smart channels or an Amer centre. Its stated expected completion time is 48 hours; this is a service estimate, not a promise of approval. The service is for a tourist visa issued through accredited tourism offices in Dubai. Check the live service page for current requirements and charges: GDRFA Dubai: Extending a tourist visa for a single or multiple trips.
Which authority should you contact?
Apply through the authority responsible for the emirate and permit that issued your visa. The federal government directs applicants for Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah permits to ICP; Dubai permit holders should use GDRFA Dubai. Available channels listed by the government include ICP eChannels and UAEICP, GDRFA Dubai, Dubai Now, and registered typing centres. See the official application-channel guidance.
Does an Indian passport qualify for the same extension?
Indian nationality alone does not establish the entry route or extension terms. The UAE’s displayed eligibility table marks an Indian normal passport as eVisa, and the government cautions that eligibility can change. Passport category and individual circumstances can affect the route. Check the current official visa eligibility guidance and confirm the permit actually issued to you; then use that permit’s category and issuing authority to verify extension options.
Is the five-year tourist visa covered by the 120-day rule?
No. The five-year multiple-entry tourist visa is a distinct product with its own conditions. The federal tourist-visa page says holders may stay up to 90 days on each visit and may extend for a further 90 days, subject to the visa’s conditions. Do not treat that per-visit provision as the 120-day ceiling for ordinary visit or tourism entry permits. Check the current terms on the UAE tourist visa page.
What should you do before your current stay expires?
- Identify the permit. Check the category, issuing authority, and authorized stay printed on your entry document.
- Use the issuer’s official channel. Contact ICP for permits issued for the other emirates, or GDRFA Dubai for Dubai permits. Follow the service’s current application instructions.
- Apply before your authorized stay ends. A submitted or pending request is not proof that an extension has been approved. Check the application status and confirm the new validity with the issuing authority.
- Verify charges and timing live. Fees and processing estimates depend on the service and circumstances; do not assume a Dubai quote applies across the UAE.
What are the fees and overstay consequences?
At the time shown on GDRFA Dubai’s service page, its displayed charges included an AED 600 extension fee, 5% VAT, AED 10 knowledge dirham, AED 10 innovation dirham, and an AED 500 “fee inside the country.” GDRFA warns that the total may vary with the sponsored person’s circumstances. These are figures for that Dubai service, not a UAE-wide quote; check the live page before applying or paying.
The UAE Government’s general visa provisions page, updated in 2026, states a standardized overstay charge of AED 50 per day for visit, tourist, and residence visas. The applicable start date may depend on the permit’s expiry and any grace period. Confirm how the rule applies to your permit through the issuing authority rather than assuming that an extension request pauses the clock. See the government’s visa provisions.
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