The Federal Authority for ICP (Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security) is now providing multiple-entry tourist visas to family groups.
Earlier, individual would have to apply for family member separately, submitting the same documents for every member but now the ICP website is providing an option for a family to apply as a group.
A resident informed sources that when he flew his family in for a visit, he had to process individual applications for family members. But now as per new process, the family no longer have to process application and required documents separately if visiting in a group.
Further, the visa would be applicable for families with children below 18, allowing the individual to stay in the UAE for a period not exceeding 3 months. It might be exceeded till 180 days during the year.
“It is a service by the ICP and does not require any sponsor in the country,” he said. “However, it is better for them to individually apply for the visa online on the ICP website than go through an agent because travel agencies don’t have a quota or anything of that sort for this kind of visa.”
Indian national Rehna Nazir said, ” she was already in the process of applying for the visa for herself and her family of 5.”
“We visit Dubai a couple of times every year to see my sister,” she said. “Having a multiple-entry visa would save us all the trouble of having to apply for a visa every time we want to travel. It would also make impulsive trips possible. Sometimes, my children get unexpected time off from school. If we have this visa, we can plan a trip without worrying about anything else.”
Requirements:
To apply for the visa, families must submit the following:
A coloured photo
A copy of the passport
Valid medical insurance
Valid ticket to leave the UAE
Bank statement for the previous six months with a bank balance of $4,000 (equivalent to approximately Dh14,700) or its equivalent in foreign currencies
Proof of place of residence which can be a hotel or residence address
Cost
According to the ICP website, the visa costs Dh750, in addition to a security deposit of Dh3,025.
In an interview, Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing said, “the multi-entry visa would help the country in terms of attracting tourists.”
