UAE Tourist Visa Extension for Pakistanis: Rules, Fees and Process. You are a Pakistani visitor in the UAE on a tourist visa — can you stay longer? In many cases, yes. This guide from AsanPapa24 explains how a UAE tourist visa extension works for Pakistani passport holders, using the service pages of the two authorities that handle it.
First, the Visa Itself: How Pakistanis Get a UAE Tourist Visa
A Pakistani passport holder needs a UAE tourist visa arranged before travel — there is no visa on arrival for Pakistani passport holders. GDRFA Dubai issues the single-entry tourist visa for a period of 30 or 60 days, and the sponsor/host in the UAE must be an establishment working in tourism — in practice, an accredited tourism company. You can arrange it through an accredited tourism company or through the airline you fly with (Emirates, Etihad, flydubai or Air Arabia); confirm the route with them before you book. GDRFA lists the fee as AED 200 for a 30-day tourist visa and AED 300 for a 60-day tourist visa, plus 5% VAT.
GDRFA asks for one personal photo, a copy of your passport, and the identity card for your country of origin — for Pakistanis, that means your CNIC. ICP’s issuance terms also require a valid health insurance policy within the UAE, a passport valid for no less than 6 months, and a return travel ticket. The entry permit is valid for 60 days from its date of issue, and you must enter the UAE within that period.
The ICP visa extension page and the GDRFA Dubai extension page both say you can extend a tourism entry permit once or several times. The total stay must not pass 120 days. The issuing authority decides each request, so approval is not automatic.
Fees, timing and eligibility can vary by visa type and emirate. The sections below cover the limits, fees in AED, documents and steps.
Can You Extend a UAE Tourist Visa?
Yes. The official pages treat extension as a standard service. GDRFA even lists extra charges for visa holders who are already inside the country, which shows in-country extension is part of the process.
The main limit is total time. For tourism permits, both authorities cite a maximum of 120 days. ICP lists higher ceilings for other visit categories:
| Entry permit type | Maximum total duration (ICP) |
|---|---|
| Tourism (issued through tourism establishments) | 120 days |
| Visiting a relative or friend | 180 days |
| Exploring job opportunities or business establishment | 180 days |
| Medical treatment | 180 days |
| Study or training | 180 days |
You cannot extend some permits. ICP lists entry permits for border areas, truck drivers, workers on tourist ships and pleasure boats as non-extendable. GDRFA’s page says the same for its own services. ICP also says a 60-day visa for nationals of certain countries who live outside their country of nationality is not extendable. A 14-day version can be extended once for the same period.
Which Authority Handles Your Extension?
In general, visas issued in Dubai go through GDRFA Dubai. Visas issued in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah or Umm Al Quwain go through ICP. If your visa was issued by a travel agency, the agency will normally know which authority applies. That makes the travel agency that arranged your visa a sensible first contact. It may also be able to submit the extension on your behalf.
Check your visa document to see who issued it. The authority that issued the visa is the one that extends it.
You can also visit an Amer Service Centre to apply for a Dubai-issued extension. Amer centres handle GDRFA applications in person, including this service.
What Does It Cost?
The two authorities publish different fee tables. Do not add them together. Use the one that matches your issuer.
GDRFA Dubai
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Extension fee | AED 600 |
| VAT (5%) | AED 30 |
| Knowledge Dirham | AED 10 |
| Innovation Dirham | AED 10 |
| Inside-country fee (for those already in the UAE) | AED 500 |
GDRFA also notes that the total amount may vary based on the information you enter. The listed charge does not include external fees, such as bank charges or service-centre costs.
ICP (Federal Authority)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application fee | AED 100 |
| Extension fee | AED 500 |
ICP also lists separate fees for a 14-day extension and for Golden Visa or Blue Residency holders.
These are official fees only. Your agency or service centre may add its own service charge.
What Documents Do You Need?
For GDRFA Dubai
GDRFA requires a copy of your passport. That is the only requirement listed on the service page. In practice, they may also ask for a copy of your current visa. No personal photo, ticket, or bank statement is listed.
For ICP
ICP requires:
- Your passport
- A personal photo
- The same documents used when the visa was issued
That third item means ICP may ask for the original application documents. Keep your visa, hotel booking and ticket details available.
How to Apply
Through GDRFA Dubai
- Log in to the GDRFA Smart Services portal with UAE Pass or your username and password.
- Search for “Extending a tourist visa for a single or multiple trips” and select it.
- Fill in the application data, attach your passport copy, and submit.
- Pay the fees by credit card.
- Check your inbox or your GDRFA account for the approved extension.
If you prefer to apply in person, visit an Amer Service Centre. They can take your passport copy, submit the request and collect payment.
Through ICP (Federal)
- Log in to the ICP Smart Services portal. UAE Pass login is required.
- Submit the visa extension application.
- If the service cannot retrieve your data, attach the documents it requests.
- Pay the fee.
- You will receive an electronic notification.
A tourist applies through the issuing authority: a Dubai-issued visa goes through GDRFA, and a visa issued in another emirate goes through ICP. The travel agency that arranged the visa is the sensible first contact — it may be able to submit the extension on your behalf.
Processing time
- GDRFA: about 48 hours
- ICP: 2 days
These times are from the official service pages. They do not include time for document checks, corrections or agency submission. Apply a few days before your visa expires.
What Happens If You Overstay?
ICP charges a fine of AED 50 per day for overstaying an entry visa or residence visa. Fines are calculated for each day you remain after your permitted stay ends.
Do not rely on a grace period. Neither the ICP nor the GDRFA service page mentions a grace period for tourist visas. Some service providers and agencies use the term, but the official pages do not list it. Apply for an extension before your visa expires.
Visa on Arrival and Special Categories
This does not apply to Pakistani passport holders, who need a pre-arranged tourist visa as explained above. Visa-on-arrival holders should check their category separately.
GDRFA Dubai also offers a separate service for extending a visitor visa upon arrival. It applies to citizens of some countries and to certain Indian nationals who hold a US green card or a valid visa for the US, the UK, or an EU country. Conditions and fees for that service are different from the regular tourist visa extension covered in this guide.
If You Cannot Extend Your Visa
If the authority does not approve your extension, you must leave before the visa expires. There is no official way to stay in the UAE without a valid visa or permit.
You may be able to apply for a new entry permit. That is a fresh application, not an extension. It would need to follow the rules for issuing a new tourist visa, including sponsor, fee and document requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Pakistani passport holders get a visa on arrival in the UAE?
No. A Pakistani passport holder needs a tourist visa arranged before travel, issued through an accredited tourism company. See the first section of this guide.
Will the authority approve my extension?
Not necessarily. The authority that issued the visa decides each request. The total stay must not exceed 120 days for tourism permits. If the request is approved, the new visa is issued electronically.
Can I extend the visa before I travel?
Yes. ICP allows you to extend an entry permit once for the same period before arriving. The fee is AED 50. The same option applies for a 14-day visa and for some other categories.
How can I contact ICP if I have a question?
ICP lists a call centre number of 600522222. You can also visit a Customer Happiness Centre.
Final Takeaway
A tourist visa extension is a formal process, not an automatic right. The issuing authority — GDRFA for Dubai-issued visas, ICP for other emirates — decides each request. The total stay must not exceed 120 days for tourism permits. Fees differ by authority and by whether you are already inside the country.
If you are a Pakistani visitor, the simplest path is through the travel agency that arranged your visa, or through the official GDRFA or ICP service page. Check your visa document for the issuing authority, apply before the visa expires, and keep the official pages as your source of truth.
About AsanPapa24 and This Guide
This guide was compiled from the GDRFA Dubai and ICP official service pages linked below. Those pages describe the rules as they apply to the authorities that issue and extend the visas. Fees, document lists and conditions can change, so always confirm the current position on the official pages before you apply or rely on the information.
Official Sources
- GDRFA Dubai — Extending a tourist visa for a single or multiple trips
- GDRFA Dubai — Issuance of a single-entry tourist visa
- ICP — Visa Extension
- ICP — Issuance of a Visa
- GDRFA Dubai — Extending a visitor visa upon arrival
Disclaimer
AsanPapa24 published this article. AsanPapa24 is an independent informational website. It has no links to any official government, embassy, or visa processing centre. The information is provided for general informational purposes only, based on publicly available sources. It is not legal advice, immigration advice, or a guarantee of any visa outcome. For official and up-to-date information, check the website of the relevant government authority before applying. Visa requirements, fees, and processing rules can vary by nationality, emirate, and individual circumstances.
Last Updated: 6 November 2026