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Ethiopian citizens need a visa issued before they travel to Dubai. Ethiopia is on the UAE's visa required list, so you cannot get a visa at the airport. A Dubai tourism establishment applies to GDRFA for a tourist visa, AED 210 for 30 days, or a relative who lives in the UAE sponsors a visit visa through ICP.
The process, step by step
Step 1: decide who applies. No relative in the UAE means a tourist visa through a Dubai travel agency, hotel or airline package. A relative with UAE residence means they can sponsor you through ICP instead, which allows up to 90 days and extensions.
Step 2: check the sponsor's income (family route only). ICP sets the floor by relationship: AED 4,000 a month for a parent, child or spouse; AED 8,000 for a brother, sister or cousin; AED 15,000 for a friend. A sponsor below the line will be refused, and the fee is not returned.
Step 3: collect documents. For the traveller: passport bio page valid for at least 6 months, a photo on a white background, a return ticket and health insurance valid in the UAE. For a sponsor: Emirates ID, residence and salary proof, plus proof of the relationship.
Step 4: submit and pay. GDRFA tourist visa fees with VAT:
| Length | Single entry | Multiple entry |
|---|---|---|
| 30 days | AED 210 | AED 315 |
| 60 days | AED 315 | AED 525 |
ICP visit visa fees: AED 100 application, AED 100 a month issuance (single entry), AED 100 smart services, AED 20 deposit fee, and a refundable guarantee of AED 1,000. Sources: GDRFA and ICP service pages, checked .
Step 5: wait for issue. GDRFA states 48 hours for tourist visas. Track it with the GDRFA tool: our visa status check page shows the fields to enter.
Step 6: travel within the window. An ICP visit visa must be used within 60 days of issue. Print the e-visa and carry the return ticket.
Step 7: leave on time. Visit visas have no grace period stated on any official page we read. Each extra day costs AED 50 (overstay fine in Dubai).
Timeline at a glance
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 2 to 3 weeks before travel | Choose route, check sponsor income, collect documents |
| 7 days before | Application submitted |
| About 2 days later | E-visa issued if the file is complete |
| Day of travel | E-visa, return ticket, passport with 6 months left |
| Last permitted day | Exit or extend before it ends |
Coming for domestic work
Ethiopians who come to Dubai to work in a household should not travel on a visit visa. The employer sponsors a domestic worker visa, with its own permit, medical test and residence. See maid visa in Dubai for how that works.
Help from the partner team
Tell us the dates and who is sponsoring. The partner team checks the sponsor's income against ICP's tiers, puts the documents into the format GDRFA or ICP accepts, files the visa and sends it to you once issued. They also keep the exit date on record so an extension can be filed before it runs out, if needed. One total price is given first, with the government fee and service charge as separate lines. WhatsApp or the form on this page.
Other countries: Dubai visa by nationality.
