Category: visas

Mexico has one of the most useful visa exemptions for UAE residents. If your passport normally needs a Mexican visa, you can still visit without one if you hold a valid multiple-entry visa from the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom or a Schengen country, or permanent residence in one of those places. Without one of these, you apply at the Embassy of Mexico in Abu Dhabi.

Checked on 21 October 2026 against the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE). Sources at the end.

Mexico at a glance

The visa-holder exemption, explained

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) says that people who normally need a visa may enter Mexico for up to 180 days for tourism or business, with no Mexican visa, if they show one of these:

• A valid multiple-entry visa from the USA, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom or any Schengen country.
• Proof of permanent residence in Canada, Chile, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Japan, Peru, the USA or a Schengen country.
• An APEC Business Travel Card showing “MEX” on the back.

What this means for UAE residents:

• Single-entry visas do not count. Check the “entries” field. A US B1/B2 visa is usually multiple entry; many Schengen visas are not.
• The visa must be valid when you arrive. Carry the passport it is stamped in.
• Temporary residence permits are not listed. A UK student visa in a passport counts as a visa; a separate temporary residence card from a Schengen country is not on the SRE list.
• The officer decides your stay. 180 days is the maximum, not a guarantee. Have a return ticket, hotel bookings and proof of funds ready.

Most routes from the UAE to Mexico connect in Europe or North America. Your transit country has its own rules: connecting in the US needs a US visa, and a Schengen airport transit can need an airport transit visa for some passports.

Applying for a Mexican visa in the UAE

If you have none of the documents above, apply for a visitor visa (“visitante sin permiso para realizar actividades remuneradas”) at the Embassy of Mexico in Abu Dhabi.

1. Read the “General requirements” and “Non-lucrative visitors” pages on the Embassy website (embamex.sre.gob.mx/emiratosarabesunidos).
2. Book an appointment as the Embassy instructs. Mexican visas require an in-person interview.
3. Prepare your documents, including proof of economic solvency (bank statements and salary) and your UAE residence visa.
4. Attend, pay the consular fee shown on the Embassy’s fee page, and wait for the decision.
5. If approved, the visa is placed in your passport. You then enter Mexico within its validity.

Typical documents

• Passport valid for your whole stay, plus a copy.
• UAE residence visa and Emirates ID.
• Completed application form and photo.
• Bank statements and salary certificate or NOC. See our NOC templates and bank statement guide.
• Return flight booking and hotel bookings.

At the airport in Mexico

• Show your passport and, if you rely on the exemption, the US, UK, Canadian, Japanese or Schengen visa.
• Be ready to show your return ticket, where you are staying and how you will pay for the trip.
• The tourist entry fee (FMM) is normally included in commercial air tickets.

Questions people ask

Can I visit Mexico with a US visa from the UAE?

Yes, if it is a valid multiple-entry US visa. You do not need a Mexican visa for tourism or business stays of up to 180 days.

Does a single-entry Schengen visa work for Mexico?

No. The SRE exemption names multiple-entry visas only.

Is a UAE residence visa enough for Mexico?

No. UAE residence is not on Mexico’s list. You need a visa-free passport, one of the listed visas or residence permits, or a Mexican visa.

Related guides

• US visitor visa from the UAE by nationality
• Canada visitor visa from Dubai
• UK visitor visa from the UAE
• The Balkans with a US, UK or Schengen visa

Sources

• Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) — Visa exemptions (Consulate General in Hong Kong page, updated 11 January 2026): consulmex.sre.gob.mx
• Embassy of Mexico in the UAE — Visas: embamex.sre.gob.mx

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 21 October 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.

New Zealand visitor visas are applied for online, so UAE residents don’t need to visit an embassy. What decides your route is your passport. Emirati citizens travel on an NZeTA, an electronic travel authority. Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi and Nigerian passport holders need a visitor visa. Almost everyone pays the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) on top.

Checked on 21 October 2026 against Immigration New Zealand and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Sources at the end.

New Zealand at a glance

NZeTA or visitor visa?

Your UAE residence does not change which one you need. It only matters as evidence: a stable job and residence in the UAE help show you will return.

Visitor visa: step by step

1. Create an account on the Immigration New Zealand website and start a Visitor Visa application.
2. Upload your documents (list below). Scan them clearly in colour.
3. Pay online: the visa fee and the NZD 100 IVL.
4. Respond quickly if an immigration officer asks for more information.
5. Receive an eVisa by email. There is no sticker in your passport.

Check the current processing time on the Immigration New Zealand website before you book flights. Apply well ahead of the December holidays.

Documents

• Passport valid for at least three months after you plan to leave New Zealand.
• UAE residence visa and Emirates ID.
• Recent photo meeting INZ’s digital photo rules.
• Proof of funds: bank statements showing NZD 1,000 for each month of your stay, or NZD 400 a month if your accommodation is already paid. See our bank statement guide.
• Employer letter or NOC confirming your job, salary and approved leave. See our NOC templates.
• Onward or return travel booking.
• Travel plan with dates and places, and hotel bookings.
• If you visit family: an invitation letter and your relative’s status in New Zealand.

What it costs in total

The IVL is not refunded if your application is declined. Fees are taken from Immigration New Zealand’s fee table for rates from 1 October 2024; use the official Fee Finder to confirm the amount before you pay.

Mistakes to avoid

• Showing a balance that barely covers NZD 1,000 a month, with a large deposit just before the statement date.
• Booking non-refundable flights before the eVisa arrives.
• Forgetting transit rules: if you connect through Australia, you may need an Australian transit visa.

Questions people ask

Do Emiratis need a visa for New Zealand?

No visa, but they need an NZeTA before travel and must pay the NZD 100 IVL.

Can I apply for a New Zealand visa in Dubai?

You apply online from anywhere, including Dubai. There is no in-person submission for a standard visitor visa unless INZ asks for it.

How much money do I need in my bank for a New Zealand visa?

NZD 1,000 for each month of your stay, or NZD 400 a month if your accommodation is prepaid, plus your onward ticket.

Related guides

• Australia visitor visa from the UAE
• New Zealand Skilled Migrant residence from the UAE
• UAE bank statement for a visa

Sources

• Immigration New Zealand — Fee and levy table, rates from 1 October 2024: immigration.govt.nz
• Immigration New Zealand — Fees and levies: immigration.govt.nz
• MBIE — International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, information for visitors: mbie.govt.nz

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 21 October 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.

Many UAE residents visit the Philippines with Filipino friends, partners or colleagues. Filipino citizens need no visa, of course — but other nationalities often do. Since 2025, UAE residents who need a Philippine visa apply through the Philippine e-visa system, handled by the Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General in Dubai depending on which emirate issued your residence visa.

Checked on 21 October 2026 against the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. Sources at the end.

Philippines at a glance

Indian passport holders: the 14-day visa-free rule

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs allows Indian nationals visa-free entry for tourism for an initial stay of up to 14 days. It can be extended once by 7 days, for a maximum of 21 days. The DFA lists these conditions:

• A valid, current visa or permanent residence permit from the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, a Schengen country, Singapore or the UK.
• A passport valid at least six months beyond your stay.
• A return or onward ticket.
• No derogatory record with Philippine immigration.

A UAE residence visa is not on that list. If you have none of those visas, or want to stay longer than 14 days, apply for an e-visa.

Applying for a Philippine e-visa from the UAE

The Philippines rolled out its e-visa across the Middle East on 24 March 2025, and the Embassy in Abu Dhabi announced it on 7 April 2025 for foreign nationals living in the UAE. The steps:

1. Find your post. Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah residence: Consulate General in Dubai. Abu Dhabi or Al Ain residence: Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
2. Create an account at evisa.gov.ph.
3. Upload your documents (list below).
4. Pay online. The Embassy’s announcement says payment uses a PayIT account (First Abu Dhabi Bank).
5. Wait for the decision and follow any instruction to appear in person.

Documents

The Consulate in Dubai lists these for a tourist visa:

• Completed application form.
• Passport bio page.
• Copy of your UAE residence visa.
• Flight itinerary.
• No-objection letter from your employer. See our NOC templates.
• Bank statements for the last three months. See our bank statement guide.

Processing time

The Consulate advises applying at least one month before travel, and says a confirmed flight does not make your application faster.

Questions people ask

Can I apply for a Philippine visa in Dubai if my residence visa is from Abu Dhabi?

No. Abu Dhabi and Al Ain residence visas are handled by the Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Dubai and the Northern Emirates go to the Consulate in Dubai.

I’m Indian with a US visa. Do I need a Philippine visa?

For a tourist trip of up to 14 days, usually not, if you also meet the other conditions. For longer stays, apply for an e-visa.

How long does a Philippine visa take from Dubai?

About 3 to 8 working days for a single-entry visa, and longer for some nationalities and for multiple-entry visas. Apply a month ahead.

Related guides

• Vietnam visa for UAE residents
• Thailand visa for UAE residents
• Malaysia visa for UAE residents

Sources

• Philippine DFA — PH Embassy in Abu Dhabi pilots Philippine e-visa issuance (7 April 2025): dfa.gov.ph
• Philippine Consulate General Dubai — Visa procedures: dubaipcg.dfa.gov.ph
• Philippine Consulate General Dubai — No-visa entry countries: dubaipcg.dfa.gov.ph

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 21 October 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.

Nepal is one of the simplest trips from the UAE. Indian citizens need no visa at all. Most other passports can get a tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi passport holders, as SAARC nationals, get their first 30-day visa of the year free. A short list of nationalities — including Nigerians — cannot use the visa on arrival and must apply in advance.

Checked on 21 October 2026 against Embassy of Nepal visa pages, which follow Nepal’s Department of Immigration rules. Sources at the end.

Nepal at a glance

Which route is yours?

Nepal’s rules depend only on your passport. Your UAE residence does not change anything, except that it makes the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi your nearest place to apply in advance.

Visa on arrival: step by step

1. Fill in the online arrival form on the Department of Immigration website shortly before you travel, and keep the confirmation.
2. Bring US dollars in cash for the fee, plus a passport photo in case the kiosks are not working.
3. At Kathmandu airport, use the visa kiosk or form, pay the fee at the counter and keep the receipt.
4. Go to the immigration desk with your passport, form and receipt to receive the visa.

Fees

Embassies charge the same amount in local currency. A tourist can stay up to 150 days in one calendar year in total, using extensions in Kathmandu or Pokhara.

Applying in advance from the UAE

If your nationality cannot get a visa on arrival, or you prefer to land with a visa already in your passport, apply in person at the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi. Applications are taken Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, and visas are collected from 2:30 to 4:00 pm.

Documents the Embassy asks for:

• Online visa application from the Nepal immigration portal, printed.
• Passport valid at least six months with a blank page, plus a copy.
• Copy of your UAE residence visa.
• Stamped and signed NOC from your employer showing your name, nationality, job title and salary. See our NOC templates. If you are on a family visa, your sponsor’s passport and UAE visa copy.
• The fee in cash.

Nationals who cannot get a visa on arrival (Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria and Iran, plus refugee travel document holders) also need an Emirates ID copy, a police character certificate and details of any programme they will attend in Nepal.

Questions people ask

Do Indians in Dubai need a visa for Nepal?

No. Indian nationals do not need a visa for Nepal.

Is the Nepal visa free for Pakistanis?

The first 30-day tourist visa in each calendar year is free for SAARC nationals, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Later visas that year are charged.

Can Nigerians get a Nepal visa on arrival?

No. Nigeria is on the list of countries that must apply at a Nepal Embassy before travel, with a reference letter from the Nigerian embassy.

Related guides

• Sri Lanka visa for UAE residents
• Maldives visa for UAE residents
• Thailand visa for UAE residents

Sources

• Embassy of Nepal, Abu Dhabi — Visa: ae.nepalembassy.gov.np
• Embassy of Nepal, Colombo — General rule for visa: lk.nepalembassy.gov.np
• Embassy of Nepal, Bangkok — Visa services: th.nepalembassy.gov.np
• Department of Immigration, Nepal: nepalimmigration.gov.np

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 21 October 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.

Zanzibar beaches and Serengeti safaris are popular with UAE residents, and both are in Tanzania, so one visa covers both. Most people apply online for a Tanzanian e-visa. The catch is that several passports common in the UAE — Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and Nigerian — need a referral visa, which must be cleared by Immigration headquarters and can take weeks. And every foreign visitor to Zanzibar must also buy US$44 Zanzibar travel insurance.

Checked on 21 October 2026 against Tanzanian embassy websites (tzembassy.go.tz). Sources at the end.

Tanzania at a glance

Ordinary visa or referral visa?

Your passport decides which one you need. Your UAE residence does not change it.

The full referral list published by Tanzanian embassies is: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Chad, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Somaliland, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen, and stateless people or refugees.

If you need a referral visa, do not book flights until the visa is issued. The Tanzanian Embassy in Cairo says referral approval can take up to six weeks.

Applying for the e-visa: step by step

1. Go to the official Tanzanian Immigration eServices portal, eservices.immigration.go.tz. Avoid look-alike sites that charge extra.
2. Choose the ordinary (tourist) visa, single or multiple entry.
3. Upload your passport bio page, a photo, your return ticket and other requested documents.
4. Pay the fee online by card.
5. Track your application and download the grant notice. Print it and carry it.
6. Going to Zanzibar? Buy the Zanzibar inbound travel insurance online (below).

Zanzibar’s mandatory US$44 insurance

Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so your Tanzanian visa covers it. But since 1 October 2024, every foreign visitor to Zanzibar must also hold inbound travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC):

• Cost: US$44 per person.
• Cover: stays of up to 92 days.
• Where to buy: online at visitzanzibar.go.tz.
• Who: all non-Tanzanian visitors, whether you fly straight to Zanzibar or arrive by ferry from Dar es Salaam.

Your own travel insurance from the UAE does not replace it.

Total cost example

Mistakes to avoid

• Booking non-refundable flights before a referral visa is approved.
• Using unofficial visa websites.
• Forgetting the Zanzibar insurance.
• Not checking health entry rules. Ask your doctor about vaccinations, and check whether a yellow fever certificate is needed for your route.

Questions people ask

Do I need a separate visa for Zanzibar?

No. Zanzibar uses the Tanzanian visa. But you must buy the US$44 Zanzibar insurance.

How long does a Tanzania visa take for Pakistanis?

Pakistani passports need a referral visa, which must be approved by Immigration headquarters. Allow several weeks; one embassy states up to six weeks.

How much is the Tanzania visa for Indians?

US$50 for a single-entry ordinary visa, according to Tanzanian embassy fee tables.

Related guides

• Kenya ETA for UAE residents
• Seychelles visa for UAE residents
• Mauritius visa for UAE residents

Sources

• Embassy of Tanzania, Tel Aviv — Types of visa and fees: il.tzembassy.go.tz
• Embassy of Tanzania, Cairo — Visa fees and referral processing: eg.tzembassy.go.tz
• Embassy of Tanzania, Tokyo — Mandatory inbound travel insurance to enter Zanzibar: jp.tzembassy.go.tz
• Tanzania Immigration eServices: eservices.immigration.go.tz

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 21 October 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.