An tourist visa in the UAE doesn't have to end the moment the original validity runs out. Whether the plan changed mid-trip, a connecting flight got pushed back, or a visitor simply wants more time in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, an in-country extension is usually available - provided the application goes in before the current visa expires, not after.

Here's what actually determines whether an extension is possible, what it costs, and where people tend to go wrong.

How Many Times Can a UAE Tourist Visa Be Extended?

The extension count depends on the entry permit category, not on nationality. Under the rules published by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), a standard tourist or visit entry permit can be extended once or several times, as long as the cumulative stay does not exceed 120 days. Visit permits issued to see a relative or friend, look for work, undergo medical treatment, or attend study/training can run up to 180 days under the same "extend before expiry" principle.

In practical terms, most tourists holding a 30-day single-entry visa can extend twice in 30-day blocks, taking their total stay to around 90 days before an airport-to-airport visa change or an exit becomes necessary. Holders of a 60-day visa typically get one extension of the same length. The exact number available on a specific visa is confirmed at the point of application through the ICP Smart Services portal or the GDRFA Dubai app, since sponsor details, immigration history and the original visa type all factor in.

The Application Routes

There are four ways to extend a UAE tourist visa without leaving the country:

●        ICP Smart Services: for visas issued outside Dubai (Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates).

●        GDRFA Dubai's online portal or smart app: for Dubai-issued visas.

●        An Amer Centre or authorised typing centre: useful for travellers who prefer in-person assistance or need help correcting document issues.

●        A reputed travel agency: for those who wish to engage with Visa Experts to ensure smooth & hassle-free processing

All three routes ask for the same core documents: passport bio page, a recent photograph, proof of the current visa, and - depending on the case - proof of accommodation or a No Objection Certificate from the original sponsor.

What Does a UAE Visa Extension Cost?

Based on GDRFA Dubai's published service catalogue, the government fee structure for a standard tourist visa extension looks like this:

The UAE tourist visa extension fee consists of several government charges. The base visa extension fee is AED 600, with an additional 5% VAT (AED 30). Applicants are also required to pay a Knowledge Dirham fee of AED 10 and an Innovation Dirham fee of AED 10. If the applicant is applying for the extension while staying inside the UAE, an in-country processing fee of AED 500 is also applicable. These charges are added together to determine the total cost of extending a UAE tourist visa.

That puts a typical in-country extension somewhere between AED 640 (fee plus VAT and dirham charges only) and roughly AED 1,140 - 1,200 once the in-country surcharge applies - figures that GDRFA and ICP note can vary depending on the applicant's individual circumstances. Anyone applying should treat the final amount shown at checkout on the official portal as the accurate figure, since dirham charges and surcharges are updated from time to time.

No More Grace Period

One rule change worth flagging to anyone still relying on older guides: the 10-day grace period that used to cushion tourist- and visit visa holders after expiry has been removed. Since the unified fine system took effect in February 2026, overstay penalties of AED 50 per day apply from day one after expiry, across every emirate and visa category, with an additional exit fine charged at the airport on departure. There's no buffer for a weekend, a public holiday, or a delayed flight. This is the single biggest reason immigration lawyers and visa consultants now recommend applying for an extension at least 5 - 7 working days before the current visa lapses - not on the final day.

How Travel Agencies Package the Extension Process

Beyond the direct ICP/GDRFA channels, licensed travel and visa services agencies typically offer two structured products built around the same underlying government rules:

●        Inside Country Extension - the agency handles document preparation, submission and tracking for a standard 30-day (or 60-day) extension entirely from within the UAE, without the traveller needing to visit a service centre in person. This is essentially the same government process described above, managed end-to-end on the traveller's behalf, which reduces the risk of a rejected application over a document formatting issue or a missed deadline.

●        Airport-to-Airport Visa Change - once someone has used up the extensions available on their current entry permit, or their visa type doesn't allow further in-country extension, this becomes the practical alternative to a full international exit. It involves a short exit to a nearby country - commonly a same-day or few-hour turnaround - after which a new entry permit is issued on return, effectively resetting the visa clock without the cost or disruption of flying home and back. Agencies coordinate the flight booking, new visa issuance and re-entry timing as a single package, since getting the sequencing wrong can leave a traveller stranded outside the UAE without a valid visa to return on.

Both routes follow the same fee logic outlined above, plus a service charge for the agency's handling, document review and coordination. For travellers who've already used their extensions, are short on time, or simply don't want to manage GDRFA/ICP submissions and airport logistics themselves, this is usually the faster and lower-risk path.

When an Extension Isn't the Right Move

An extension only prolongs an existing tourist status; it doesn't change it. Travellers who've received a job offer, are sponsoring a family visa, or need a different visa category altogether should look at a status change application instead, which follows a separate process through ICP or GDRFA and usually involves the new sponsor. Extensions also stop being available once someone has used up their entry permit's cap - at that point, an airport-to-airport visa change or an exit and re-entry becomes the only route to stay longer.

Before Applying, Confirm

●        The current visa is still valid (extensions can't be backdated once expired).

●        The number of extensions already used on this entry permit.

●        Passport validity - most authorities want at least six months remaining.

●        Whether the visa was airline-issued, since those are extended through the standard ICP/GDRFA channels regardless of which carrier issued them.

Because eligibility and fees can shift by visa type and emirate, it's worth double-checking current figures directly on GDRFA Dubai's service page, or through a licensed visa services provider which offers both Inside Country Extension and Airport-to-Airport Visa Change as managed services - a useful shortcut for travellers who'd rather not track deadlines, dirham charges and portal logins themselves, particularly given how frequently the fee structure and grace-period rules have changed over the past year.