Dubai-based carrier Emirates has introduced a pre-approved visa on arrival facility for select Indian passport holders who have booked their travel with the airline.
To do so, it has partnered with VFS Global. Fulfilled by Dubai Visa Processing Centre (DVPC), the 14-day single entry visa can be applied for online itself on the airline’s website.
The service is exclusively available to Indian passport holders who have a valid six-month visa for the US, US Green Card, EU Residency, or UK Residency.
After retrieving their booking through ‘Manage an existing booking’ on the Emirates website, customers should click on the ‘apply for a UAE visa’ link.
They will be redirected to the online UAE Visa application site powered by VFS Global Services. More information is available here.
Emirates added that the issuance of visas remains at the absolute discretion of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs.
According to Dubai Tourism statistics, Dubai reportedly welcomed 2 million overnight visitors from India between January to October 2023.
Emirates currently serves nine destinations in India with 167 weekly flights.
It launched services to India in October 1985. The airline’s current network in India includes Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Starting 30 October last year, it introduced its premium economy service on its Bengaluru and Mumbai routes. Emirates operates its newly retrofitted flagship A380 aircraft to those two Indian points that features the premium economy cabin.