UAE Visa Rule 2025: Big Passport Change for Pakistani & Indian Travelers
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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced major visa updates for 2025, directly affecting Pakistani and Indian passport holders. These changes include a visa-waiver for Pakistani diplomatic and official passports, a new passport cover page requirement, stricter documentation rules, and expanded visa-on-arrival options for Indian citizens.
For ordinary travelers, the rules remain strict, but for diplomats and officials, the UAE has eased travel restrictions. Applicants are advised to check the new requirements before applying to avoid delays or rejections.
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Visa-Waiver for Pakistani Diplomatic Passports
Starting July 25, 2025, the UAE activated a visa waiver for Pakistani diplomatic and official passport holders. This is a reciprocal agreement, meaning UAE diplomats also get the same facility when visiting Pakistan.
👉 Important to note: This waiver does not apply to ordinary Pakistani passport holders. Regular citizens must still go through the normal visa process.
This move highlights stronger ties between Pakistan and the UAE, but for common travelers, existing visa rules remain unchanged.
New Passport & Documentation Rules
In 2025, the UAE introduced a new requirement: all visa applicants must now submit a scanned copy of the outer cover page of their passport along with standard pages.
Authorities say this step improves security, verification, and transparency. Missing this document may cause delays or even rejection of the application.
Other strict rules include:
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Passport validity must be at least 6 months.
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Only machine-readable passports are accepted.
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Stronger financial proof is required (minimum AED 3,000–5,000).
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Applicants must show hotel bookings or host invitation letters.
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Return tickets are now strictly checked.
For Pakistani applicants, a biometric appointment code introduced in June 2025 must be obtained from Bank Alfalah (fee: USD 69) before visiting visa centers.
Visa-on-Arrival Update for Indian Passport Holders
Indian citizens benefit from new visa-on-arrival flexibility in 2025. Those holding valid US, UK, or Schengen visas or residence permits can now enter the UAE with a 14-day visa-on-arrival, extendable for another 14 days in some cases.
This gives Indian travelers more options for short stays. However, eligibility depends on holding other valid visas or residencies.
Conclusion
The UAE Visa Rule 2025 changes bring major updates for both Pakistani and Indian travelers. While diplomats and officials from Pakistan enjoy a visa waiver, ordinary citizens face stricter checks, financial proof requirements, and biometric codes. Indian passport holders now have expanded visa-on-arrival options, but conditions apply.
Travelers are advised to prepare documents carefully and confirm requirements from official UAE consular sources before applying.
