Families planning to visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with children this summer can save several hundred dirhams thanks to the annual exemption from the tourist visa fee.
Conditions for receiving the benefit
This exemption is valid annually from July 15 to September 15 and applies to children under 18 years old who travel to the UAE with one or both parents. The benefit covers both 30-day and 60-day tourist visas.
However, travel agents clarified that a child's visa may not be entirely free. Although the application fee itself is waived, families will still have to pay for medical insurance for the trip and service fees charged by the document processing agency.
Who is eligible for the exemption
Firuzekhan from Arabian Business Centre stated that to qualify for the exemption, the child must travel to the UAE with at least one parent. According to her, 'both the parent and the child must arrive in the UAE as visitors. The child's visa application must also be submitted along with the accompanying parent's tourist visa application.'
This means the benefit is intended not for an UAE resident applying for a visitor visa for their child, but for foreign tourists traveling to the country as a family. Firuzekhan added that 'traveling with one parent is sufficient to meet the requirements. However, a letter of guarantee may be required if the child is traveling only with the mother or father.'
The necessary documents should be provided to the agency handling the applications. Families are advised to inform the agency that they are applying under the summer visa fee exemption before making any payments.
Additional costs for families
Subair Tekepuratvallapil, Senior Manager at Wisefox Tourism, reported that the standard cost for processing a one-month tourist visa for a child can range from approximately 250 to 350 dirhams. He specified that 'this application fee is waived during the summer period for the eligible child. Service fees and insurance depend on the agencies, and they may charge a processing fee.'
These additional costs can reach about 120 dirhams per child, depending on the chosen agency and the insurance coverage provided. Therefore, parents should not assume they will pay nothing for the child's visa processing. Subair advised: 'Parents should request a full breakdown from the travel agency showing the visa fee, insurance cost, and the agency's service fee.'
A family traveling with two children can save between 500 and 700 dirhams on visa fees. However, they may still need to pay up to 240 dirhams for insurance and service fees for both children.
Visa coverage and renewal
According to representatives from Amer Centre and travel agencies, the exemption applies to both 30-day and 60-day tourist visas. Applications must be submitted during the benefit period, which runs from July 15 to September 15. For the child to meet the conditions, the parents' and children's applications must be submitted simultaneously.
The official rule covers children under the age of 18. Families traveling with someone who is already 18 years old should clarify the applicable visa cost with the travel agency before submitting documents.
Subair also noted that 30-day and 60-day tourist visas can currently be renewed twice. Furthermore, the parent's visa can also be renewed upon payment of the relevant fees. The renewal cost currently starts from approximately 1000 dirhams, depending on the visa type, agency, and applicant. He warned that 'visitors must check the exact amount before applying, as the summer exemption applies only to the initial child visa application and should not be assumed to cover subsequent renewals.'
Travel agents recommended that visitors apply for parents and children together, avoiding submitting the child's application separately.
