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A UAE entry permit is the visa issued before a residence visa, so the person can enter the country, or change status inside it, and finish the medical, Emirates ID and residence. In Dubai, GDRFA charges AED 200 plus 5% VAT for a work or family entry permit and gives 60 days from entry to complete the residence. GDRFA quotes 48 hours to issue one.
Entry permit types in Dubai
| Permit | Who sponsors | GDRFA fee | After entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work, linked to a job contract | Employer, after the MOHRE work permit | AED 200 + 5% VAT | 60 days to finish residence |
| Family, residence without work | Resident husband, wife or parent | AED 200 + 5% VAT | 60 days to finish residence |
| Tourist, single entry 30 days | Licensed Dubai tourism company | AED 210 incl. VAT | Visit only |
| Tourist, single entry 60 days | Licensed Dubai tourism company | AED 315 incl. VAT | Visit only |
Source: GDRFA service pages for each permit, checked . If the person is already in the UAE, the work and family permits add AED 500, AED 10 and AED 10.
A residence entry permit and a visit visa are both "entry permits" in the system, but only the first leads to residence. If you came on a visit visa and found a job or a sponsor, you need the residence entry permit plus a status change. Our visa change page covers that.
Dubai entry permit documents
Work entry permit
- Personal photo.
- Passport copy valid at least 6 months.
- MOHRE-endorsed work permit, for companies under MOHRE.
The employer files it. The steps after entry are on our employment visa page.
Family entry permit
- Photo and passport valid at least 6 months.
- Sponsor's employment contract and salary certificate.
- Certified marriage contract or attested birth certificate, as the case needs.
- Father's no objection letter if the mother sponsors the children.
The sponsor needs AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. See the spouse visa and family visa pages for the full rules.
How long an entry permit lasts
Two different time limits apply, one before entry and one after.
| Clock | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Time to stay after entry, work and family permits | 60 days from the date of entry to finish the residence | GDRFA permit pages |
| Time to use an ICP visit visa | Enter within 60 days of issue | ICP visit visa page |
| Time to use a GDRFA residence entry permit before entry | Not stated on the GDRFA pages | Check the dates on the permit |
Checked . Once the person is in the UAE, the 60 days after entry is what matters. Book the medical in the first week. If the residence is not issued by day 60, the stay has run out, and ICP's overstay fine of AED 50 per day applies to an expired entry visa.
Checking an entry permit's status
How you check depends on who issued it:
| Issued by | Tool | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| GDRFA, Dubai | GDRFA status inquiry, Application tab | Application or transaction number and the details it asks for |
| ICP, other emirates | ICP application tracking | Application number |
The GDRFA tool also has a File tab for once the person has a file number. Our visa status check page walks through each field.
If an Amer center or typing center submitted the application, keep the receipt: the application number on it is what the status tools ask for, and the center is the one that can answer for a missing document.
Cancelling an unused entry permit
If the job falls through or the family member is not coming, cancel the permit. GDRFA charges AED 50, plus AED 10 and AED 10 if the person is inside the UAE. Source: GDRFA entry permit cancellation page, checked . Cancelling closes the record properly instead of leaving an unused permit on the person's file.
What it costs with typing
GDRFA's fees are only part of the bill. Typing centers usually charge about AED 50 to 150 to type a visa or entry permit form, and Amer service charges run about AED 100 to 300 per GDRFA transaction. Source: published price lists of Dubai typing centers, PRO firms and free zones, checked . Government fees are always extra to those figures.
Mistakes that cost time
- Passport with less than 6 months. GDRFA asks for 6 months' validity. Renew the passport first.
- Name order. The permit is typed from the passport. A wrong order means a correction or a new permit.
- Wrong channel. A permit from another emirate is not found on the GDRFA tool. Use ICP.
- Waiting too long after entry. The 60 days pass quickly when the medical and biometrics are booked late.
Where to apply
GDRFA lists its website and smart app (UAE Pass), Amer centers and its customer happiness centers as channels. Find one on our Amer centers near you page. Visit visas for tourists are issued through licensed tourism companies; see Dubai visit visa.
The partner team's part in an entry permit
Tell us who the permit is for, who sponsors them and whether they are inside or outside the UAE. Send the person's passport and photo and the sponsor's documents for that permit type. The partner team confirms which permit fits, types and submits it and sends you the issued permit. The risk comes after arrival: the residence must be issued within 60 days of entry, so they book the medical and Emirates ID biometrics in the first week and follow the residence. If a permit needs cancelling, they handle that too. You get one total price before anything is filed, government fees itemised and the service charge shown separately.
