United Arab Emirates: Discontinuation of In-Country Visit Visa Renewals

Effective immediately, the immigration authorities are discontinuing the process whereby foreign nationals under visitor status can renew their visa in country. This concession was announced during the pandemic to soften the impact of travel and other immigration restrictions. As a result of the discontinuation, visitors whose visit visa has expired must exit the country and re-enter based on a new immigration authorization. However, the implementation of this rule has been inconsistent, with some applicants in Dubai receiving approvals for in-country visitor visa renewals while those in other emirates, including Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, being unable to do so. Additionally, it is not clear if the rule applies to all categories of visitors and under all circumstances. We will report updates as they develop.