Do I need a transit visa when connecting in the UAE?

Whether you need a transit visa depends on your nationality, itinerary, the length of your connection, and whether you plan to leave the airport's transit area.

You may not need a transit visa if:

  • your connection is less than 24 hours;

  • you remain within the airport's transit area;

  • your baggage is checked through to your final destination;

  • you have all the documents required to enter your destination country.

You may need a transit visa if:

  • you need to leave the airport's transit area;

  • you need to change airports;

  • you need to collect and re-check your baggage;

  • your journey is booked on separate tickets and you need to check in again for your next flight;

  • your connection is longer than 24 hours;

  • UAE regulations require a transit visa for citizens of your country.

When do passengers usually need to leave the transit area?

For example:

  • when a journey is booked on separate tickets and baggage is not checked through to the final destination;

  • when passport control is required to change terminals or airports;

  • when a long layover requires leaving the transit area.

In these situations, a transit visa or another document allowing entry into the UAE may be required.

How can I check whether I need a transit visa?

Requirements depend on:

  • your nationality;

  • the country that issued your travel document;

  • whether you hold visas or residence permits for other countries;

  • the length of your connection;

  • the conditions of your itinerary.

Before travelling, we recommend checking the requirements with:

  • your airline;

  • the UAE embassy or consulate;

  • official UAE government resources.

If you are travelling with a child

Additional document requirements may apply to children travelling to or transiting through the UAE.

We recommend checking the requirements in advance based on the child's nationality and the details of the accompanying adult(s).

Important: It is the passenger's responsibility to ensure they have all visas and travel documents required for their journey..