Short Transit — 48 HoursVerified 2026-04-20UAE 48 Hours Transit Visa (Single Entry)
48 Hours Visa is valid only for a 48-hour stay in UAE (based on Emirates flight schedule — arrival/departure time in Dubai). Single Entry. Ideal for travellers taking stopovers en route to their onward journey. Entry validity of visa is 30 days from date of issue.
UAE Visa — Sponsored via Emirates Airline
Visa determined by Emirates ticket itinerary + eligibility criteria.
UAE tourist visas for Indian nationals are sponsored through Emirates airline. Category and duration depend on your Emirates flight itinerary. Eligibility requires ONE of three criteria: travel record (USA/UK/Schengen/EU/Australia/NZ/Russia/Canada/Japan in the last 3 years), financial records (2 years ITR with gross income >₹2 lakh/year, OR fixed deposits ≥₹5 lakh, OR USD 1000 refundable security deposit), OR invitation from immediate family residing in UAE on family status.
Not sure which category applies to you? Visa fees are non-refundable if you submit under the wrong category. Unaccompanied minors and students are not sponsored. Contact SureshotVisa before booking flights — we'll match you to the correct visa type and walk you through the document pack (hotel bookings, entry/exit highlighting, passport specs).
Processing
Normal: 5-6 working days from submission (excluding Saturday/Sunday/UAE Holidays)
Stay Duration
48 hours
Starting Fee
₹1,085
Apply At
12 VFS centres
Special Instructions — Read Before Applying
These requirements apply to ALL Dubai (UAE) visa types. Violations mean your application will be rejected — read each one carefully.
- 1Selection / determination of visa category is based on the Emirates ticket itinerary — the visa type matches your flight duration and pattern.
- 2Emirates does NOT sponsor unaccompanied minors or students. Dubai immigration considers minor/student applications only if travelling with parents.
- 3Newly married couples (spouse name not yet endorsed on passport): submit marriage certificate/notarised affidavit. If travelling immediately after marriage, also include NOC from parents + photo ID + wedding card + marriage photograph of couple.
- 4Passports with special characters in names (e.g. brackets, accents) are NOT accepted — amendment via passport office required before visa submission.
- 5All charges (visa fee, service charges, optional charges) payable in cash or card only in INR at New Delhi. Other cities may have different payment methods.
- 6Hotel check-in / check-out dates on the hotel confirmation MUST MATCH the dates on your flight tickets.
- 7Only up to TWO hotel bookings allowed per application for the entire stay period.
- 8Applicant qualifies via ONE of three criteria (choose the one that applies):
- 9CRITERIA I — Travel Record: Travelled at least once in last 3 years to OR has a valid visa for USA, UK, Schengen, EU, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Canada, or Japan. Supporting doc: passport pages showing travel + visa stamps.
- 10CRITERIA II — Financial Records: Last 2 years Form 16 OR 2 years ITR with minimum gross income >₹2 lakh/year; OR fixed deposits ≥₹5 lakh (1+ year old, 12+ month validity, Banks/Post Office only — NOT co-operative banks/societies); OR in some cases USD 1000 refundable security deposit (returned after entry/exit stamps shown).
- 11CRITERIA III — Family Invitation: Invitation from immediate family member in UAE on family status. Needs valid tenancy contract / Ejari / title deed of host (apartment with 2+ bedrooms), relationship proof with host, UAE resident card of host.
Who Can Apply
- Emirates flight travellers taking stopover in Dubai
- Business travellers with brief Dubai meetings
- Short-duration connecting-flight situations
- Applicants qualifying under one of 3 eligibility criteria (Travel Record / Financial / Family Invitation)
Not eligible under this visa:
- Stays longer than 48 hours — apply for 96 Hours or 30/60 Day visa
- Unaccompanied minors and students (Emirates doesn't sponsor)
- Passports with special characters (brackets) in name — amend first
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Fees (in INR)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Normal 48 Hours Visa | ₹1,085 |
| Express 48 Hours Visa | ₹3,225 |
| Cancellation charge | ₹2,940 |
Visa fees are inclusive of service charge and tax. The cancellation charge per visa is ₹2,940 (only for approved applications — request via VFS centre where submitted). Visa fee once paid is NON-REFUNDABLE under any circumstances. Extension fee (at Dubai Airport Emirates Commercial Visa Services): AED 850 per extension. Extensions available for 30-day and 60-day visas (thrice and twice, respectively, of 30 days each).
Documents Required
Mandatory Documents
- !Visa Application form duly filled
- !Confirmed Onward/Return Emirates ticket with name + entry/exit highlighted in yellow
- !One colour recent passport-size photograph (white background, front facing)
- !Colour photocopy of passport Front/External Cover page + Bio page
Passport valid minimum 6 months at time of travel. Passports with special characters (brackets) in name NOT accepted — must be amended first.
- !Valid visa of destination country (if travelling onwards from UAE)
Required for 48-hour and 96-hour transit-style visas.
- ○Colour photocopy of valid visa or residence proof (if nationality differs from country of residence)
- !Valid visa for destination country (travelling onwards from UAE)
REQUIRED for 48-hour visa since it's a stopover visa.
- !Valid confirmed Hotel booking — name + check-in/out dates highlighted in yellow
Hotel dates MUST MATCH dates on flight tickets.
! = mandatory · ○ = optional / if applicable
🗺️ Step-by-Step Application Process
Book Emirates flight with 48-hour Dubai stopover
Flight itinerary determines visa category — book first.
Verify eligibility — one of 3 criteria
Travel record (visited/valid visa for USA/UK/Schengen/EU/Aus/NZ/Russia/Canada/Japan in 3 yrs); OR Financial (2 yrs ITR >₹2 lakh, OR fixed deposits ≥₹5 lakh); OR Family Invitation from UAE resident.
Gather docs — Emirates ticket + passport + photo + onward visa + hotel
All mandatory docs per checklist.
Submit at VFS UAE
Pay ₹1,085 (normal) or ₹3,225 (express). Normal processing 5-6 working days; Express 48 hours.
Receive visa — valid 30 days from issue, single entry
Use within 30 days. Stay up to 48 hours in UAE.
Download Official Forms
Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.
📋 How to download from VFS:
- Click the form name below — opens VFS Switzerland page
- Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
- Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
- Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device
VFS Application Centres
💡 Pro Tips
- Book Emirates flight BEFORE applying for visa — the visa type is determined by the flight itinerary, so booking first lets you pick the correct category.
- Express visa processing is available for most categories (48-hour approval instead of 5-6 working days).
- For 60-day single entry visa: hotel booking must be 31 days or more — or application is rejected.
- After arrival in Dubai, 30-day and 60-day visas can be extended at the Emirates Commercial Visa Services desk at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 (next to Boots Pharmacy). AED 850 per extension. Open 24/7.
- If you have previous Schengen/US/UK/Canada/Japan/Australia/NZ visa, use Criteria I — it's the fastest approval path.
- For unlisted countries/routes, contact SureshotVisa — we can guide on non-Emirates sponsor visas too.
Common Rejection Reasons
- 1.No onward destination visa (critical for 48-hour)
- 2.Hotel dates don't match flight dates
- 3.Passport has special characters in name (brackets)
- 4.Fails all 3 eligibility criteria
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is 48-hour visa ideal for?+
Can I extend 48-hour visa?+
How is 48 hours calculated?+
Express vs normal — worth it?+
Do I really need onward destination visa?+
What if I only have PNR, not final ticket?+
Let us prepare your UAE 48 Hours Transit Visa — (Single Entry) application
Free consultation. Our experts handle the entire file — cover letter, documents, VFS booking, embassy follow-up.
Other Dubai (UAE) Visa Types
UAE 96 Hours Visa (Single Entry)
Single-entry UAE visa for stays up to 96 hours (4 days) — preferred for business meetings or short stopovers. ₹4,305.
UAE Tourist Visa — 30 Days Single Entry
Short-term single-entry UAE tourist visa for 30-day Dubai stays — extendable thrice for 30 days each. ₹7,735.
UAE Multi Entry Short Term Visa — 30 Days
Multi-entry UAE visa valid 30 days from first entry — unlimited entries/exits during that period. ₹10,905.
UAE 60 Days Tourist Visa (Single Entry)
Single-entry UAE tourist visa for 60-day stays — extendable twice for 30 days each. ₹17,595. Hotel booking required for 31+ days.
UAE Multi Entry Long Term Visa — 60 Days
Multi-entry UAE visa valid 60 days from first entry — unlimited entries/exits. Best for long GCC trips combining Dubai with multiple countries. ₹17,790.
Source & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Dubai (UAE) website and Embassy of Dubai (UAE). Last verified 2026-04-20. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.