UAE: No visit visa extension without exiting the country, say travel agents

Extension of UAE visit visa without exiting the country has been stopped, according to travel agents in the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

A Dubai-based travel agent, talking to Khaleej Times, said, "Today, we have been informed by the immigration department that visit visa extension without exiting the country has been stopped. Usually, it was an inside-country visa, so people need not leave the UAE.

"Earlier, there was relaxation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and people didn't need to exit the country. But now the relaxation has been withdrawn. This is the information we received from the immigration department."

The development was widely discussed by community members on Facebook groups and other social media platforms.

An Abu Dhabi-based travel agent said the condition to exit the country for visa renewal is a standard procedure followed in pre-pandemic days.

"Inside the country, renewals and extensions of visit visas have been stopped. You should exit the country and then apply. This is similar to norms followed in pre-pandemic days. We are now back to normalcy, and hence the relaxation has been revoked."

• UAE: Visitors scramble for tickets to neighbouring countries following visit visa rule change