Last verified: September 2, 2026
A UAE transit visa costs more than the number most sites quote, because most sites quote only the government fee and leave out everything else. Below is the whole thing, itemised, so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
The short version
| 48-hour transit visa | 96-hour transit visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Government/official fees | No issuance fee | AED 120 |
| Service fee | Depends on provider | Depends on provider |
| VAT | Confirm based on the provider/service | Confirm based on the provider/service |
| Total | Depends on provider | AED 120 + applicable provider charges |
That total is what you pay. There is no charge added at the airport and no second payment on approval.
What each part of the fee is
The government fee
48-hour: No issuance fee
96-hour: AED 120 total official fees
The service fee
This is what an agent charges to prepare, submit and follow up the application. It covers document review before submission, handling the application itself, and dealing with the authorities if something is queried.
You do not have to pay it. You can apply through the government portal yourself, and for a straightforward case with a clear itinerary and plenty of time, that is a perfectly sensible choice.
We would rather say that than pretend otherwise.
Where the fee earns its place is on the harder cases: a tight timeline, an itinerary split across airlines that will not sponsor you, a previous refusal on your record, or documents that need checking before they go in rather than after they come back.
VAT
Do not put a fixed VAT amount against the government fee unless you have confirmed how it applies. For your agency service, use your actual applicable VAT treatment.
Medical insurance
Do not state that it is mandatory unless you have confirmed it specifically for the transit visa. The current GDRFA transit-visa service page does not list insurance among its required documents.
What is not included
Being explicit, because this is where surprise costs come from.
- Flights. Obviously, but worth stating for anyone comparing a transit visa against an airline package that bundles them.
- Accommodation. A hotel booking may be requested as a document; it is not part of the fee.
- Airport transfers and transport in Dubai.
- Use your actual agency surcharge if you offer express processing. Don't present an agency surcharge as a government fee.
- AED 50 per day after the applicable grace period.
- Re-application after a refusal. A refused application is not refunded as a matter of course, and reapplying means paying the government fee again.
Cost in your own currency
Exchange rates move, so treat these as indicative and check on the day.
| Currency | 48-hour visa | 96-hour visa |
|---|---|---|
| Indian rupee (INR) | INR 12,346 | INR 12,821 |
| Pakistani rupee (PKR) | PKR 36,530 | PKR 37,935 |
| Bangladeshi taka (BDT) | BDT 15,960 | BDT 16,574 |
| Nigerian naira (NGN) | NGN 196,950 | NGN 204,525 |
| Philippine peso (PHP) | PHP 7,605 | PHP 7,898 |
| Kenyan shilling (KES) | KES 16,796 | KES 17,442 |
| US dollar (USD) | USD 130 | USD 135 |
Note: These are approximate conversions of your Dubai Transit eVisa price. The base prices are USD 130 for 48 hours and USD 135 for 96 hours. Local-currency amounts can change with exchange rates and may differ from the final amount charged. Rates checked on 1 September 2026.
Applying yourself versus using an agent
An honest comparison.
| Government portal | Airline | Agent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Government fee only | Only if you fly that carrier | Government fee plus service fee |
| Who can use it | Anyone eligible | Only if you fly that carrier | Anyone |
| Multi-airline itineraries | Yes | Usually no | Yes |
| Document check before submission | No | Limited | Yes |
| Help if it is queried or refused | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Speed | Same government processing | Same | Same, plus faster preparation |
Nobody can process faster than the government processes. Any agent promising to beat the official timeline is promising something they do not control.
Why the price you see elsewhere is different
If you have found a lower figure on another site, one of these is usually the reason:
- It is the government fee only, with the service fee added at checkout.
- It is out of date. Fees change and most pages are never updated. Check whether the page carries a verification date. If it does not, treat the number with caution.
- It excludes VAT.
- It is a different visa. A tourist visa, a 30-day visit visa and a transit visa are three different products at three different prices.
- It is not real. Underquoting to get the click, then adjusting at checkout, is common in this market.
Is it refundable?
Generally, visa application fees and service charges are non-refundable, including if the visa application is rejected. However, if you cancel before your passport and supporting documents have been submitted for processing, you may be eligible for a partial refund after applicable processing charges are deducted. Once the application has been submitted for processing, or has already been processed, no refund will be provided.
Getting the cost down legitimately
Three things genuinely reduce what you spend.
- Apply early. Rush processing costs extra and it is entirely avoidable. Applying when your itinerary is confirmed rather than the week before your flight is the single biggest saving available to most people.
- Check whether you need a visa at all. Some nationalities qualify for visa on arrival, and some travellers holding a US, UK or EU visa qualify for an exception. If that is you, the whole fee disappears.
- Buy the right visa first time. Choosing a 48-hour visa for a 50-hour stop to save a small amount and then paying an overstay fine is the most expensive form of economy in this market. Check which of the two visas fits your stop before you buy.
Ready to apply
Current pricing is shown on each product page, so you see the total before you commit:
48-hour transit visa or 96-hour transit visa When you are ready, you can begin your application.
