Can I apply for Dubai access if my passport is about to expire?
Dubai has also emerged as one of the hottest international travel destination courtesy of its futuristic city, shopping, culture and desert adventures. Millions of tourists seek a visit visa to Dubai to get a taste of the fascinating cuisines, the city has to offer every year. Visa is the first step and the most important step whether you plan to make a short trip or a long vacation.
Nonetheless, a frequent problem encountered by most travelers is the expiry date of their travel documents i.e. the passport. You may be anxious about whether you can still be eligible to apply to a Dubai visit visa since your passport is about to expire. The article dispels the confusion by informing of the passport validity stipulations and other requirements as a way of gaining access to entry in Dubai.
The Dubai Visit Visa Requirements of Passport Validity
In order to apply to get a Dubai visit visa your passport should be valid with a minimum of six months before the planned date of travel. This is compulsory by the UAE immigration officers so that they can ascertain whether the travelers or their documents have validity in regard to entry and stay. In case your passport is expired with fewer than six months of validity, there is a high tendency that your visa would not be accepted.
This requirement does not matter which type of a visa you wish to apply; it can be a 14-day, 30-day or 60 days Dubai visit visa. So, make sure that you renew your passport long before you initiate the process of applying from the visa. The validity of a renewed passport is not only to get the visa granted but also to avoid inconveniences of travels or denials at the immigration outposts.
What happens when you apply with a soon to expire passport?
In case you proceed and submit the application process of the Dubai visit visa with a passport that is nearly expired, your request would either be denied or would be placed on hold pending the issuance of a renewed passport. In other scenarios, you might be denied boarding by airlines and denied entry at destination point in Dubai in the event of non adherence to the six month rule though the visa came through accidentally.
Renewing your passport when you see that there are less than six months left in its validity period is the best to do. The transaction of most passports is usually simple and fast and having your papers up to date will allow you to travel to Dubai without any problems.
Secondary Tip: Verification of Rules in the Airline and Transit Country
In addition to the official UAE immigration regulation, it is also worth verifying the passport requirement of the airlines you are traveling and also any stop-over countries that are in your route. Most international airlines also use six-month rule of validity of passports as one of the boarding requirements. Even after obtaining visa with a passport that is about to expire, the planes may refuse to take you off when you get to the departure airport. Similarly, there are countries you might need to pass through to reach Dubai and they might also impose their own barrier on entry as far as passport validity is concerned. Want to make sure that your travel document covers all the required regulations in all legs of yours? It is better not to get involved in any unneeded delays, cancellations, or even denials.
Conclusion:
Overall, although tourists are welcomed by Dubai across the globe, its entry criteria is strict in terms of passport validity. You will not be able to apply a Dubai visit visa in case the validity of your passport expires within six months of the planned travel date. A simple and very crucial thing to plan effectively on your trip is by ensuring that you inspect your passport to make sure that it is still valid enough to be considered as the bare minimum in terms of validity.
To have a smooth process, ensure the date of expire on your passport before you decide to take a Dubai visit visa. Apply early enough to renew your passport so not only that you gain chances of visa issuance, you also get a peace of mind when preparing your memorable trip to Dubai.
