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Holding a valid UAE residence visa opens up a genuinely useful list of destinations for Indian passport holders, including places that can be entered without applying for a visa in advance and destinations that offer an e-tourist visa with a simplified online application process.
The one thing that varies from country to country is the entry requirement and how long the visa-free or tourist e-visa stay actually lasts once inside. These requirements are worth confirming close to the travel date, since permitted stay durations and visa policies can be revised from time to time. Here's the current list of destinations Indian passport holders with a valid UAE residence visa can enter visa-free or through an e-tourist visa.
The Visa-Free Destination List
The Visa-Free Destination List
Thailand
Malaysia
Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan
Nepal
Philippines
Montenegro
Macao
Bhutan
Seychelles
Mauritius
Maldives
Armenia
Georgia
Fourteen destinations, spanning Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Balkans and the South Caucasus - a wider spread than most travellers assume is available without an advance visa application.
Why "Visa-Free" Still Needs a Duration Check
Why "Visa-Free" Still Needs a Duration Check
None of these destinations require a visa application, appointment, or advance approval for eligible Indian passport holders travelling on a valid UAE residence visa. What does vary is the permitted length of stay - some destinations allow a short window measured in days, others extend to a month or more, and a few authorities revise these durations periodically based on tourism policy. Before booking, it's worth confirming the current permitted stay for the specific destination and travel dates, rather than assuming the same duration applies year-round or matches what was true on a previous trip.
This matters most for two kinds of trips: longer holidays that might run close to or beyond the permitted stay, and multi-destination itineraries where the traveller is counting on a specific number of days in each country.
Practical Points That Apply Across the List
Practical Points That Apply Across the List
A few things are worth checking regardless of which destination on this list is being booked:
● Passport validity: Most of these destinations expect at least six months of remaining passport validity from the date of entry - a standard requirement, but worth confirming since it catches travellers with passports nearing renewal.
● UAE residence visa validity: Since entry eligibility is tied to holding a valid UAE residence visa rather than the Indian passport alone, the residence visa itself needs to have enough remaining validity to cover the trip - some destinations set a minimum remaining validity period on the residence visa as a condition of visa-free entry.
● Proof of onward travel and funds: Visa-free doesn't mean requirement-free; immigration counters at most of these destinations still expect proof of return or onward travel, accommodation details, and sometimes evidence of sufficient funds for the stay.
Airline document checks: Airlines typically verify visa-free eligibility before boarding, so it's worth having the UAE residence visa readily available at check-in, not just packed away for arrival.
Why This List Is Worth Bookmarking Rather Than Memorising
Why This List Is Worth Bookmarking Rather Than Memorising
A handful of these arrangements—Georgia and Armenia in particular—have had their specific terms adjusted more than once in recent years, generally around eligibility conditions or the minimum residence-visa validity required, rather than the Georgia visa free status itself being withdrawn. Rather than relying on a fixed memory of “which countries and for how long,” it's a more reliable habit to check the current terms shortly before each trip, particularly for less frequently visited destinations on the list.
A handful of these arrangements—Georgia and Armenia in particular—have had their specific terms adjusted more than once in recent years, generally around eligibility conditions or the minimum residence-visa validity required, rather than the Georgia visa free status itself being withdrawn. Rather than relying on a fixed memory of “which countries and for how long,” it's a more reliable habit to check the current terms shortly before each trip, particularly for less frequently visited destinations on the list.
Checking Current Terms Before Booking
Checking Current Terms Before Booking
Since permitted stay durations and specific conditions can be updated by the destination country at any time, confirming the current terms for a specific travel date is worth the few minutes it takes before finalising flights and hotels. UAE-based Indian travellers can check current visa-free eligibility and permitted stay duration for these destinations.
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