If you live in the UAE and are arranging a family member’s or friend’s visit to Dubai, identify the visitor’s entry route before collecting a generic tourist checklist. This guide is for hosts planning a guest’s visit. It does not mean that a UAE resident needs a tourist visa to live in the UAE.
Separate the host from the visitor
List who is travelling, who is hosting and who will submit the application. Confirm the visitor’s nationality, passport, residence circumstances and intended dates. Your documents as a host should not be mixed with the traveller’s passport file, and your own residence status does not automatically establish a guest’s eligibility.
Confirm the route before paying
Dubai’s official visitor guidance distinguishes prearranged tourist visas from a visit arranged by a legal resident relative or friend through GDRFA. Ask which route fits the guest and what the current host and visitor requirements are. Do not assume every resident can sponsor every visitor under the same conditions.
Build two document lists
| List | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Visitor information | The passport, photo and other documents requested for that traveller and category. |
| Host information | Whether residence, relationship, accommodation or other host evidence is needed for the selected service. |
Request the actual service checklist before sending sensitive documents. Ask why any additional host document is required and how it will be used. If several relatives are visiting, confirm the requirements for each person instead of assuming that one family relationship document covers everybody.
Coordinate the dates and responsibilities
- Confirm the visitor’s arrival, departure and flexibility of bookings.
- Agree who will collect the files and respond to document requests.
- Confirm the submitting provider, quotation and payment terms.
- Arrange how the application reference and permit will be shared with the traveller.
When the family has more than one application
Maintain a separate reference and status record for each visitor. A successful result for one relative is not evidence that another application is complete. If the group must travel together, discuss what happens if the results arrive at different times.
Before the guest travels
Check that the issued document belongs to the correct traveller and that its dates and conditions fit the visit. Share the complete permit and useful provider contact information. If plans change, ask how the change affects the specific application or permit before assuming it remains suitable.
Official reference
Dubai government: planning entry and prearranged visits. Reviewed on 6 October 2026. Check the current service instructions when applying.
Related guides
- Requirements for the tourist route
- Plan the application before travel
- Check a submitted visa application
For help with an application, contact NSB Tourism through our visa services page. Include your nationality, travel date and application reference if you have one. Request the current checklist and a written quotation before proceeding.