Have a UAE residency visa? Here’s some places you can visit easily without the hassle of visa applications
30 July 2018
| Last updated on 14 January 2020If you’re wanting to get away for a few days, but hold a passport that makes it hard to just hop on a plane – here are the countries that offer visa on arrival for UAE residents.
UAE residents from countries like India, Lebanon or South Africa and more will be familiar with the struggles of visa permits and applications when wanting to visit a country.
Nonetheless, thankfully, there are a few nearby places that allow individuals holding a UAE residency visa to bypass the typical visa regulations. These places are visa-free for UAE residents; meaning, you only need a residency visa in the UAE to be able to visit these countries.
SEE ALSO: UAE citizens can now travel visa-free to 3 new countries
Any nationality living in the UAE is able to gain a visa on arrival for UAE residents in the following places…
*This information was correct at the time of writing, but visa regulations can be subject to change so we recommend checking with a travel guide while planning your trip to any of the below.
List of countries with visa on arrival for UAE residents
Georgia
Considered the safest country in Europe, Georgia so rarely often makes it onto everyone’s go-to list. Which is a shame, though, as this country is filled with geographical, historical and gastronomical wonders that are sure to make your trip here a memorable time.
It has its own unique alphabet, which is one of only 14 independent alphabets in the world. Georgia is also home to the highest permanently inhabited settlements in Europe, and its rare Georgian cheese – Dambal Khacho – has its own UNESCO status.
For UAE residents wishing to travel here, there is no Georgian consulate in the UAE – however as per the country’s own Visa HQ website, holders of a UAE residency visa can enter this burgeoning tourist spot for 90 days without a visa:
“Holders of valid visa or residence permit of UAE are exempted from visa requirements. You can enter Georgia without a visa for 90 days in any 180-day period. Please, note that you must present relevant valid visa or residence permit along with your travel document/passport at the moment of crossing Georgian border.”
Azerbaijan
Until recently, UAE residents wishing to travel to Azerbaijan had to obtain a visa from the Azerbaijani embassy in the UAE prior to travelling.
However now, thanks to a new change in visa laws between the two countries, anyone travelling to Azerbaijan who has a valid residency in the UAE can obtain a tourist visa for one month upon arrival at the airports in Azerbaijan.
The ‘Land of Fire’, as it’s known, is neither Europe nor Asia – and is filled with contradictions, making it one of the most interesting places you can visit that’s within 5 hours of the UAE.
All you need to do is present your passport with your valid UAE residency visa at the airport upon arrival, and you’ll be able to stay in Azerbaijan for a month.
However, remember that if you wish to stay in the country for more than 15 days, you’ll need to register at the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan – your hotel should be able to help you with this when you arrive there.
Armenia
Thanks to the country’s visa-waiver programme with the UAE, Indian nationals holding a UAE residency visa are able to enter Armenia and obtain a visa on arrival.
Previously, Indian nationals were required to be diplomats or receive an invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Armenia, but this is no longer the case thanks to the special agreement that the country has with the UAE.
SEE ALSO: Drinking in Dubai as a tourist - the laws you need to know
The same visa regulations also apply for UAE residents who hail from Lebanon, Jordan and South Africa. However, individuals from Pakistan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and every African country (except South Africa) are not afforded the same flexibilities in gaining a visa on arrival.
If you’re wishing to travel and you qualify for a visa on arrival as a UAE resident, you will reportedly need to pay the equivalent of 20 Dirhams for your short stay tourist visa on arrival in Armenia.
Embassy and Consulate Contacts
Before booking your flight tickets, we strongly urge you to double check the visa requirements your passport and residency are subject to with the correct authorities.
And just in case, if ever you need assistance, the number of the Armenia authorities in the UAE is +971 2 444 4196 and for Azerbaijan, it is +971 4 388 3727.
- Tags:
- tourist information
- travel