India visa on arrival for UAE citizens: requirements and process

The new Visa on Arrival program for UAE citizens previously visited India simplifies travel, offering a seamless experience at select Indian airports.

Citizens of the United Arab Emirates who have visited India in the past are now eligible for a new visa program. While they cannot apply for this online, they can now get a visa upon their arrival in India. This expedites the visa process for these travelers and helps them enjoy travel to India without the hassle of applying for a visa before they arrive in the country.

Applying for the visa on arrival

Travelers from the UAE can get a India visa on arrival under the following conditions:

• They have previously obtained a visa to India and visited the country
• They have a valid UAE passport that has at least 6 months left on it.
• They pay the visa application fee (this is per application, including children).
• They are entering India through the airport in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, or Mumbai.

Travelers have a couple of options when it comes to filling out their visa application paperwork. They can print out the form before they leave home, fill it out, and have it ready when they get to India.

Airlines will also offer the opportunity to fill out the form on the flight, though the paperwork may not always be available, especially on flights that do not originate in the UAE. The application form is straightforward and should not present any difficulties for most travelers. Applicants will need to make sure that the information they put on the form matches exactly what is on their passports to avoid delays in processing the application.

Once they land, UAE citizens will need to present their passport, the filled-out application form, and their disembarkation card. They will also need to have a readily-available means to pay the application fee. As long as they have these things ready, it shouldn’t take long to get their visa on arrival in India.

Details about the India visa on arrival for UAE citizens

There are a few things that travelers should know about the visa-on-arrival program for Emirati citizens.

• This program is not available for UAE nationals visiting India for the first time.
• UAE nationals of Pakistani origin will not be eligible for this program.
• The program was designed to strengthen links and ties between India and the UAE.
• The visa on arrival is good for 60 days.
• Travelers can get a visa on arrival for the purposes of conducting business, participating in tourist activities, attending conferences, and obtaining medical care.

Applicants who meet all the qualifications should be able to get their visa on arrival without any problems. Once they have it, they will be free to move about India and do all of the things they had planned to do in the country.

This visa can help make travel to India easy, safe, and fun for citizens of the UAE. They can travel to India knowing that entering the country should be a breeze and that they should be able to meet all of their travel goals there.

Airports that support the visa on arrival for Emiratis

Emirati citizens can avail of the VoA facility at several major international airports in India, including the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, Chennai International Airport in Chennai, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, and Cochin International Airport in Kochi. These airports are equipped with dedicated counters and streamlined procedures to assist Emirati travelers, ensuring hassle-free entry into the country and fostering a stronger bond between the two nations.

Airlines that operate from UAE to India

Numerous airlines operate flights between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the major airports that accept the India Visa on Arrival for Emirati citizens. Some of the prominent carriers include Emirates, the flagship airline of Dubai, which offers frequent and direct flights to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Kochi. Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, also connects the UAE capital to these Indian destinations with regular flights. Air Arabia, a low-cost airline headquartered in Sharjah, serves multiple routes between the UAE and India, providing affordable travel options to passengers. Additionally, other airlines such as Flydubai, IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet offer flights connecting various cities in the UAE with the aforementioned Indian airports, ensuring a wide range of options for travelers to choose from when planning their trips.

Drawbacks of the VoA for Emirate travelers

While the Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility for Emirati citizens has significantly streamlined travel to India, there are some drawbacks associated with this system. One of the main concerns is the potential for longer wait times at the immigration counters in Indian airports, as the VoA process requires additional document verification and biometric data collection, which could lead to delays during peak travel seasons. Furthermore, VoA eligibility is limited to specific airports, restricting the flexibility of travelers who may prefer to use other entry points in India. Lastly, the VoA facility is not applicable for employment, research, or missionary purposes, limiting its utility for Emirati citizens seeking to engage in these activities in India.

Conclusion

The introduction of the Visa on Arrival facility for Emirati citizens who have previously visited India has made travel between the two countries more convenient and hassle-free. By allowing travelers to obtain their visa upon arrival at select major Indian airports, it eliminates the need for prior visa applications. However, some drawbacks, such as potentially longer wait times and limited eligibility, do exist. Nevertheless, this initiative strengthens the bond between India and the UAE, encouraging cultural exchange and fostering economic ties by simplifying travel for business, tourism, and other purposes.