🛂 UAE Tourist Visa for Chinese Citizens (2026)
Eligibility, documents and process — plus a free fee calculator on the main /visa page.
Quick answer
Chinese passport holders receive 90 days visa-free entry to the UAE — no advance application required. For longer stays or different purposes, the Tourist Visa is available under the standard process described below.
Eligibility for Chinese passport holders
Chinese passport holders receive 90 days visa-free entry within any 180-day period — extended from 30 days in April 2025.
China has a growing expatriate community in the UAE; Chinese tourist arrivals are also rising rapidly since the 2025 visa-free extension.
About the UAE Tourist Visa
Short-stay visa for tourism, leisure, or visiting friends and family. Issued in single-entry (30 or 60 day) and multi-entry (90 day or 5-year) formats.
Typical documents
- Coloured copy of the passport biographical page (minimum 6 months validity from the travel date)
- Recent passport-size colour photograph with a white background
- Confirmed onward or return air ticket
- Confirmed UAE hotel booking or proof of accommodation
- Proof of sufficient funds (bank statements)
- Basic UAE health insurance (mandatory)
How Chinese citizens typically apply
For tourism, no application is needed. For other visa types like tourist visa, applications are routed through the following sponsors:
- Not applicable for tourism — visa-free entry
Nearest UAE diplomatic mission: Beijing (Embassy); Shanghai and Guangzhou (Consulates).
Notes specific to Chinese applicants
- In April 2025 the UAE extended visa-free stays for Chinese citizens from 30 days to 90 days within any 180-day period.
- Chinese passport holders are not eligible for visa-on-arrival at UAE airports, but the 90-day visa-free policy makes this irrelevant for typical visits.
- For visits beyond 90 days, a pre-arranged visa is required.
Common rejection reasons
- Passport with less than 6 months validity from the planned travel date
- Previous UAE visa overstay or labour absconding record
- Insufficient travel history (for some nationalities)
- Incomplete or unclear scanned documents
- Missing return ticket or hotel booking
Process notes
- Tourist visas are typically obtained through an airline (Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, Air Arabia), a licensed UAE travel agency, or a UAE-based hotel acting as sponsor.
- Basic mandatory health insurance is required for the duration of the stay.
- Applying from inside the UAE incurs additional surcharges.
- For an estimate of current fees, use the calculator on the main UAE Visa page.
Get current fees and currency conversion
Visa fees change periodically and are quoted in AED. Use these free tools to estimate costs in your currency:
Planning the move itself?
FAQ
Chinese passport holders receive 90 days visa-free entry within any 180-day period — extended from 30 days in April 2025.
Short-stay visa for tourism, leisure, or visiting friends and family. Issued in single-entry (30 or 60 day) and multi-entry (90 day or 5-year) formats.
A UAE Tourist Visa is typically valid for 30, 60, or 90 days from the date of issue (5-year multi-entry also available). It can be extended subject to current rules.
Typical documents include: Coloured copy of the passport biographical page (minimum 6 months validity from the travel date); Recent passport-size colour photograph with a white background; Confirmed onward or return air ticket; Confirmed UAE hotel booking or proof of accommodation. Specific requirements may vary by sponsor and emirate.
Fees vary by visa duration, sponsor, and processing speed. For an up-to-date estimate, use the free UAE Visa Fee Calculator on the main /visa page.