The United Arab Emirates has relaxed rules, allowing eligible travelers to renew certain visitor visas without leaving the country.

Tourist entry permits can be extended repeatedly as long as the total stay does not exceed 120 days, while family‑reunion, job‑search and business‑exploration visas may be extended up to 180 days.

Certain permits, such as border‑area passes, truck driver permits and crew visas for tourist vessels, remain non‑renewable.

In Dubai, extensions are processed by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) under its own rules.

Applications must be submitted by the sponsor, not the visitor; travel agencies handle tourist visa extensions, while family members or private sponsors manage personal visit visas.

Applicants need a valid passport, a recent photograph and the documents originally submitted for the visa.

Fees vary by visa type: under the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), a standard tourist extension costs Dh100 application fee plus Dh500 extension fee, while 14‑day visas cost Dh250.

Specialised categories linked to Golden or Blue Residency carry a Dh1,000 fee, and Dubai’s GDRFA charges Dh600 plus VAT for extensions.

Additional charges may include Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams and a Dh500 processing fee for applications made inside the UAE.

Visitors must leave the UAE or secure an extension before their authorized stay ends; overstayers incur a fine of Dh50 per day with no automatic grace period.

New job‑seeker visa for skilled professionals

The UAE also introduced a job‑seeker visa for skilled workers and recent graduates, available for 60, 90 or 120 days without a sponsor.

Applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree and belong to recognised professional categories or graduate from a top‑500 global university; the visa does not permit employment until a separate work permit is obtained.

The cost for Kenyan nationals ranges from KSh52,300 to KSh63,500, inclusive of a refundable security deposit.