For ICP visa services in the emirates other than Dubai, for individuals and companies
Visa Services UAE for Individuals and Companies
Instant PRO provides visa services UAE with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) for individuals and companies: we prepare entry visa applications according to each visa’s category and conditions, extend those that can be extended, and amend or cancel them. We identify the right transaction with you, prepare its documents, submit the application through the official channels, and follow it until the authority issues its decision. This page covers the emirates other than Dubai: Dubai visas are handled by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, and you can find our service for them on the GDRFA Dubai services page.
- Identify the transaction and category
- Prepare the documents
- Submit and follow up
Visa services UAE are the transactions that issue, extend, amend and cancel an entry permit with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, including the residence visa that precedes the residence permit. The ICP handles them in every emirate except Dubai, and conditions and fees differ by category. Instant PRO prepares and follows up the application.
UAE Residence Visa: The Entry Permit to Complete Residence Procedures
In the ICP’s classification, a residence visa is an entry permit granted for a set period so that a work residence or a family residence can be completed. It is the stage before the residence permit itself, which is the document that proves residence once its procedures are completed inside the country. The permit is issued first, then the residence and Emirates ID procedures follow, and that stage is a separate service with the ICP.
The visa issuance service card sets out who applies for each permit. A work entry permit is requested by the employer, whether a government body, a private company or a free zone establishment, for an employee arriving from outside the country. The establishment must be active when the visas are issued, and approval from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation is required if the employer falls under the labour relations law or the worker is domestic help. A resident requests the entry permit for family members and needs a sponsor file that allows them to submit these requests. Residence without work covers categories such as property owner, retiree, student and relatives, each with its own conditions on the card.
Two time limits apply to this category from the start. The holder must enter the country within sixty days of the permit’s issue date, and its validity can be extended for a similar period under the approved rules. A foreigner’s stay must not exceed sixty days from the date of entry to complete the residence procedures, and if residence is not established in that time, the prescribed late fines apply. This is what the card states for the work or residence entry permit and the residence-without-work categories, and it should not be generalised to other visas.
Issuing a UAE Visa: Family and Friend Visits and Other Categories
A relative or friend visit visa is requested by a resident for the person they are hosting, for thirty, sixty or ninety days depending on the period chosen. It requires a sponsor file for the host or head of family, valid health insurance inside the country and a return ticket. The host’s conditions vary with the degree of kinship: the card sets a monthly salary of not less than AED 4,000 for first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second and third-degree relatives and AED 15,000 for a friend, together with proof of the family relationship. The financial guarantee is refunded after the visa is cancelled or the visitor leaves the country, provided no residence violation is recorded against the visitor.
Other categories are issued through licensed entities. Tourism establishments issue the tourist visa, licensed health facilities issue the treatment visa and the patient companion visa, universities and educational or research institutions issue the study and training visa, and government and private entities and free zone establishments issue the work mission visa. Visit categories and their conditions change from time to time, so we check the current service card before every application.
Extending a UAE Visit Visa
Extension of a visit visa depends on its category. The visa extension service card allows extension of the relative or friend visit permit and the job or business exploration permit, once or several times by decision of the issuing authority, and allows the validity of an entry permit to be extended once, for a similar period, before arrival in the country. Border-area permits and permits for truck drivers and for workers on tourist ships and pleasure boats cannot be extended at all.
The maximum length of stay varies by category, so we confirm it against the authority’s current card before submitting, and we do not rely on a number before reviewing the status of your visa. It is wise to apply before the period ends, because staying beyond the permitted grace period carries a daily fine under the service card.
Amending and Cancelling a UAE Visa
Amending Visa Data
This service amends an entry permit issued by the ICP. If an error appears in the permit’s data or the passport details have changed, we submit a visa data amendment request with the passport and a personal photo, and the service card requires a passport valid for more than six months. The documents can vary by category (visitor, tourism establishment, health facility, educational institution or employer), so we confirm what is required for your case when the request is opened.
Cancelling a Visa
A visa that its holder has not used can be cancelled if the holder has not entered the country and the visa is still valid. A tourist entry permit after its holder has entered cannot be cancelled unless the cancellation is linked to a status change request, as the visa cancellation card states. This cancellation concerns the entry permit alone; cancelling a residence is a separate service.
Which Authority Issues UAE Visas
The Federal Authority issues visas in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, while visas issued in Dubai fall under the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, as the UAE government portal explains. Jurisdiction is determined by the emirate that issues the entry permit, and submitting an application to the wrong authority only wastes time.
Entry and residence of foreigners are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. (29) of 2021 and its Executive Regulation issued by Cabinet Resolution No. (65) of 2022, and the Regulation classifies entry visas by purpose into five types: visit, temporary or emergency visa, work, residence, and the visa for GCC residents and their companions. What the authority publishes on its service cards is the practical application of these rules. You can find the rest of what we handle with the authority on the ICP services page.
Visa Services UAE for Companies and Establishments
Companies need these transactions repeatedly: an entry permit for a new employee, a visa for a visitor or invitee, and the extension or cancellation of what is no longer needed. We serve companies in these recurring transactions by gathering the establishment’s documents and approvals, and by flagging the requirement that the establishment be active when visas are issued and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation approval where it applies.
Documents Required for Visa Services UAE
Documents vary by transaction and category. The table below shows what the official service cards state (as of November 2026); not all of it is required in every application.
| Transaction | Core documents | Additional documents depending on the case |
|---|---|---|
| Relative or friend visit | Passport, personal photo, medical report | Proof of family relationship, evidence of the reasons for the visit, a copy of the husband’s residence permit in a GCC country for a foreign wife visiting from there, and an ID copy for certain nationalities |
| Work entry permit | Passport, personal photo | Medical report or fitness certificate depending on the category, employment contract or a letter from the employer stating the purpose of entry, a certificate from the employer in the country, a ticket, and an attested good conduct letter for the categories announced |
| Residence without work | Passport, personal photo | Tenancy contract, ownership certificate for a property owner, retirement or birth certificate for a retiree, proof of kinship for relatives, and a certificate from the educational body for a student |
| Visa extension | Passport, personal photo | The same documents as issuance, according to the type of visa |
| Visa data amendment | Passport, personal photo | Varies by category (visitor, tourism establishment, health facility, educational institution or employer); we confirm the requirement for your case when the request is opened |
| Visa cancellation | Passport, personal photo | A letter from the free zone if the visa was issued through it |
How a Visa Transaction Proceeds With Us
Step 1 - Identify the Transaction and Authority
We identify the transaction, the category and the competent authority for the emirate.
Step 2 - Gather and Match the Documents
We gather the documents and match the data across them before submission.
Step 3 - Submit the Application and Pay Fees
The application is submitted through the ICP's official channels, and the prescribed fees are paid at submission.
Step 4 - Follow Up and Complete Requests
We follow the application and respond to anything the authority asks to be completed or amended.
Step 5 - Inform You of the Outcome
We inform you of the outcome when the authority issues its decision.
Government Fees for Visa Services UAE
The collecting authority for every row below is the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. The amounts are in dirhams as published on the service cards on the ICP website, and they were last verified on 1 November 2026. Fees differ by applicant category, so there is no single figure for all visas.
| Transaction | Published fees | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance – work or residence entry permit | Application fee 100 + visa issuance fee 100 + smart services fee 100 | Visa issuance card |
| Issuance – residence without work | Application fee 100 + visa issuance fee 100 + smart services fee 100 | Visa issuance card |
| Issuance – relative or friend visit | Application fee 100 + smart services fee 100 + issuance fee 100 per month for a single trip, or 200 for multiple trips | Visa issuance card |
| Visa extension | Application fee 100 + extension fee 500, with different fees for special categories stated on the card | Visa extension card |
| Visa data amendment | Application fee 50 + smart services fee 100 | Visa amendment card |
| Visa cancellation | Entry permit cancellation fee 50 + smart services fee 100 | Visa cancellation card |
The financial guarantee for a relative or friend visit is separate from the transaction fees: AED 1,000 for a single trip and AED 2,000 for multiple trips, plus a deposit fee of AED 20. It is refunded on request after the visa is cancelled or the beneficiary leaves the country, provided no residence violation is recorded against them.
Note: The fees above are the government fees and smart services fees published on the service card only. They do not include Instant PRO’s fees, nor the fees of a private notary office where one is needed. Other costs may apply depending on the category, including health insurance and a return ticket for a relative or friend visit, and the financial guarantee mentioned above, so these amounts are not the final cost in every case.
How Long UAE Visa Transactions Take
The ICP’s service cards publish a completion time of two days for each of visa issuance, extension, amendment and cancellation. This is a time published by the authority, not a promise from Instant PRO and not a guarantee of approval or of an issue date; the decision remains with the competent authority. Timing is affected by the completeness of the documents and the consistency of their data, whether the category’s conditions are met, whether Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation approval is in place where required, the sponsor file of the host or head of family, and anything the authority asks to be completed. The time you need to prepare your own documents depends on how ready they are.
How Instant PRO Helps With Visa Transactions
We determine with you the type of transaction and the competent authority for the emirate before the application is submitted, and we match the documents and data to the official service card’s requirements. We then prepare the application, submit it and follow it, and respond to anything the authority asks to be completed or amended. We explain the government fees separately from Instant PRO’s fees, and we state our fees before the transaction starts. Speaking to us also lets us identify the right category before you pay, and avoids submitting an application whose conditions are not met. The decision to issue, extend, amend or cancel remains with the competent authority alone.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visa Services UAE
Do you also handle Dubai visas?
Visas issued in Dubai fall under the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, not the Federal Authority, and our service for them is on the GDRFA Dubai services page. This page covers visas issued in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
What is the difference between a residence visa and a residence permit?
A residence visa is an entry permit the ICP issues for a set period so that work or family residence can be completed. The residence permit is the document that proves residence once its procedures are completed inside the country. The first comes before the second, and each has its own conditions and fees.
How long can I stay after entering on a residence visa?
For the work or residence entry permit and the residence-without-work categories, the service card states that a foreigner’s stay must not exceed sixty days from entry to complete residence procedures, otherwise late fines apply. The permit must be used within sixty days of issue, and its validity can be extended for a similar period.
Can a visit visa be extended without leaving the UAE?
It depends on the category. The ICP’s extension card allows extending the relative or friend visit permit and the job or business exploration permit, once or several times by the issuing authority’s decision, while some permits, such as border-area and truck driver permits, cannot be extended. The maximum stay varies by category, so we review it with you first.
Can I cancel a visa I have not used?
Yes. The cancellation card allows cancelling an entry permit if its holder has not entered the country and the visa is still valid. A tourist visa cannot be cancelled after its holder has entered unless the cancellation is linked to a status change request. This concerns the entry permit alone; cancelling a residence is a separate service.
How much does a visa extension cost, and is that the total cost?
The extension card publishes an application fee of AED 100 for all extension types and an extension fee of AED 500, with different fees for special categories. These are the authority’s fees only and exclude Instant PRO’s fees, which are stated before the service starts. Fees can change, so we confirm them when the application is opened.
Next step
Start your visa request
Tell us the type of transaction (issuance, extension, amendment or cancellation) and the emirate, and we will explain the documents and steps you need. Please do not send passport or ID images in the first message; we ask for documents after the transaction is identified. The office is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and there is a WhatsApp channel for urgent cases around the clock.
WhatsApp: +971 56 232 7778
Office 805, Opal Tower, Business Bay, Dubai
Working hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Identify the transaction and category
- Prepare the documents
- Submit and follow up
Instant PRO is an independent office that prepares and follows up transactions. It is not a government body and is not affiliated with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. The fees and conditions mentioned come from the official service cards, which we reviewed on 1 November 2026, and are subject to update. See our editorial policy.