UAE to hike airport-to-airport visa change charge

Dubai: Travel and tourism industry experts here speculate that the fares to change the airport to airport visa status would go up to 20%, soon. The news about the latest changes in the fares that would affect the visitors has been reported in international media. Meanwhile, the airline fares for visitors to leave the country and then return have gone up by 125 dirhams. Industry experts observe that the huge demand for visitors to stay back in the country during the winter months has resulted in a sudden fee hike.

What is an airport-to-airport visa change?
Airport-to-airport visa change enables the applicant to secure a tourist visa, swiftly, to visit a neighbouring country instead of returning to their home country. The visa would allow them to return to the UAE on the same day or after spending a night in the neighbouring country. The process for returning on the same day takes up to four hours. It includes flying to a neighbouring country, waiting at the airport and then returning by the next available flight.

Fares start at 1,500 dirhams
As per the tourism companies, the authorities have discontinued the 90-day long visa, by the last quarter of 2023. Meanwhile, there has been a significant increase in the demand for the 60-day long visa among the visitors. The 60-day long visa that was available for 1,300 dirhams now starts from 1,500 dirhams onwards. The fares mostly depend on the cost that exists when the visitors book the package. The visitors could purchase the visa for reasonable rates if they book at least a month in advance.

In December 2022, the UAE discontinued the option for visit visa holders to extend their visa without exiting the country. They had to exit the country before returning on a new visa. However, this was changed, during the pandemic times, owing to humanitarian reasons. Now, the fares for changing the 30-day long visa begin from 1,300 dirhams onwards. Earlier, it was 1,200 dirhams. There is a huge demand for extending the 60-day long visa. Industry experts say that they are finding it difficult to book seats as the quota often exhausts quickly.

Rising demand
Experts think that older people mostly choose long-term visas as they are not willing to travel frequently. Besides, many expatriates prefer bringing their parents to stay with them in UAE as the country presently enjoys pleasant weather. This too has resulted in the rising demand for airport-to-airport visa change.