On 25 June 2026, the United Arab Emirates took another confident step in the global race for talent and mobility. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) extended visa-on-arrival eligibility to nationals of six more countries — but with a clever condition attached. Eligibility is tied to holding a valid residence permit from a developed nation, which means the UAE widens its doors and screens for credibility at the same time. For anyone weighing the UAE as a long-term base, the design reveals much about the kind of country, and the kind of residents, the Emirates is building around.
- Effective 25 June 2026, the UAE's ICP grants visa on arrival to nationals of six additional countries.
- Six newly-eligible nationalities: Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa.
- The condition: hold a currently-valid residence permit or visa from the US, an EU member state, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada.
- Stay: 14 days (extendable once) or 60 days (single-entry, non-extendable), by category — and it extends to accompanying family.
- The smart part: requiring a developed-country residence permit is built-in pre-screening — the UAE opens up while admitting already-vetted, established travellers.
- The signal: a country engineering a trusted, high-calibre mobility ecosystem — exactly the backdrop that makes the UAE Golden Visa so compelling.
At a glance: From 25 June 2026, the UAE (via the ICP) offers visa on arrival to nationals of six new countries — Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa — provided they hold a valid residence permit from a developed nation. Stays are 14 or 60 days by category. [VERIFY: confirm the exact six-country list against the WAM article and ICP gazette before publishing.]
What did the UAE announce on 25 June 2026?
The UAE granted visa on arrival to nationals of six additional countries, effective 25 June 2026, through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP). Eligibility is conditional: the traveller must hold a currently-valid residence permit or entry visa from a developed nation. The reform also extends to accompanying family members, broadening who can benefit in a single trip.
According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the ICP framed the amendments as part of an ongoing effort to enhance the UAE's visa framework, expand the pool of beneficiaries, and align its services with global best practice in travel, tourism and mobility. In other words: open the door wider, but keep it intelligent.
Which six nationalities are now eligible?
The six newly-eligible nationalities are Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa. These are fast-growing, internationally mobile populations — exactly the rising middle and professional classes that global hubs compete to attract. Previously, this on-arrival route was far narrower; the 2026 update materially widens access for travellers from these countries who have already established themselves abroad.
The visa-on-arrival reform at a glance
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issuing authority | ICP — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security |
| Effective date | 25 June 2026 |
| Newly-eligible nationalities | Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya, South Africa |
| Qualifying residence/visa | Valid permit or visa from the US, an EU member state, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada |
| Permitted stay | 14 days (extendable once) or 60 days (single-entry, non-extendable), by category |
| Family | Extends to accompanying family members |
| Key condition | The qualifying permit must be valid at the time of travel — an expired permit does not qualify |
Why does requiring a developed-country residence permit matter?
Because it turns an open door into a smart, pre-screened one. By making eligibility conditional on a valid residence permit from the US, EU, UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada, the UAE effectively lets those countries' own rigorous vetting do part of the work. Anyone holding such a permit has already cleared substantial background, financial and security checks abroad.
This is the genius of the design. The UAE expands openness and reinforces trust in the same move — admitting more people while raising the average profile of who arrives. It is mobility policy engineered to attract the established, the credible and the economically active, rather than simply lowering the barrier for everyone. For a country that markets itself on safety, order and quality of life, that combination is not an accident; it is strategy.
How long can eligible travellers stay, and can they extend?
Eligible travellers receive either a 14-day visa, extendable once, or a 60-day single-entry visa that is non-extendable — depending on the category selected on arrival. The shorter, extendable option suits flexible short trips; the longer 60-day option suits a single, more substantial visit. Both make spontaneous travel to the Emirates dramatically easier for qualifying nationals and their families.
What does this mean for the UAE as a residency destination?
It reinforces a clear message: the UAE is deliberately building a trusted, high-calibre mobility ecosystem. A government that designs entry rules to welcome already-vetted, established global citizens is the same government that has made long-term residency strikingly attractive. That is the backdrop against which the UAE Golden Visa — a 5 or 10-year renewable residence permit with no sponsor and no minimum-stay requirement — has become one of the most sought-after programmes in the world.
For internationally mobile families, the logic compounds. Hold residency in a top jurisdiction, and doors across the world — now including easier UAE access — open more readily. Secure UAE residency itself, and you anchor your family in a stable, tax-efficient hub with growing global reach. It is the same philosophy seen across the region's leading schemes, from Saudi Arabia's Premium Residency to the Oman Golden Visa, and it is why the UAE consistently ranks among the best golden visa programmes we advise on.
Thinking about making the UAE your family's long-term base? A short conversation can map the fastest, most secure route for your situation. Book a free consultation with Mirabello Consultancy →
How Mirabello Consultancy reads this move
Mirabello Consultancy advises families and entrepreneurs on residency and citizenship across more than ninety programmes worldwide, and the UAE is among the most-requested. We see the visa-on-arrival expansion as a proof point, not a headline: governments that design intelligent, safety-first mobility are the ones worth building a future around. Our role is to translate that into a concrete plan — which residence permit to secure first, how it strengthens your global mobility, and how the UAE Golden Visa fits a multi-jurisdiction strategy. For governments themselves, our government advisory team studies exactly this kind of policy design.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for the UAE's new visa on arrival?
Nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa qualify, provided they hold a currently-valid residence permit or visa from the US, an EU member state, the UK, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada. Accompanying family members are included.
When does the change take effect?
The expansion takes effect on 25 June 2026. It is administered by the ICP — the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security — which manages the UAE's entry and residency framework.
How long can I stay on this visa?
You receive either a 14-day visa that can be extended once, or a 60-day single-entry visa that cannot be extended, depending on the category you choose on arrival. The qualifying residence permit must be valid at the time of travel.
Does this replace the UAE Golden Visa?
No. Visa on arrival is a short-stay entry facility for visitors. The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence permit of 5 or 10 years, renewable, with no sponsor and no minimum-stay requirement. They serve different goals — short visits versus building a long-term base.
Is this a good moment to consider UAE residency?
For many internationally mobile families, yes. A government that keeps refining safe, high-quality mobility tends to be a stable place to anchor a family. A free consultation with Mirabello Consultancy can assess whether UAE residency, or another programme, best fits your goals.
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The UAE's 25 June 2026 visa-on-arrival expansion is a small news item with a big tell. By widening access to six more nationalities while gating eligibility on a developed-country residence permit, the Emirates has shown how to be more open and more selective at once — admitting established, pre-vetted travellers and raising the calibre of who arrives. That is the same instinct that has made the UAE Golden Visa a global benchmark for long-term residency. If you are considering the UAE as a base for your family, Mirabello Consultancy can map the most secure, efficient route — book a free consultation to begin.
