Typically, tourists whose layover lasts less than 24 hours do not apply for a transit visa, as this will lead to unnecessary time and financial costs, but there are certain nuances and sometimes obtaining such a visa may simply be necessary.
A transit visa is required if you plan to leave the transit zone. Sometimes a tourist is simply forced to leave this area. Most often this happens when purchasing tickets from different airlines that do not belong to the same alliance. In this case, the passenger is forced to leave the transit area to pick up the luggage and return it to the new flight.
The transit visa is valid for 96 hours and must be used within 14 days, including the day the visa is issued (after this period, the unused visa is cancelled).
There are several ways to obtain a transit visa. Many travelers do this using Fly Dubai and Emirates airlines. After purchasing air tickets, a request can be left directly on the carriers’ website, but this must be done no later than four days before the departure date. If the decision is positive, the response will be sent by email and must be printed. You can also apply for a transit visa directly at the airline office. In addition to the passport, you may need a certificate from your place of work, from a bank and other documents.
In 2-3 working days, a transit visa can be issued at the visa center, either by applying there in person or online. When submitting documents, please note that official weekends in the UAE are Friday and Saturday. You bring the required list of documents (it is listed on the visa center website) in person or, less often, send it via email.
When applying for a visa to Abu Dhabi, it is best to use the services of Etihat airline (of course, if you fly with these airlines). Their main requirement is that the transfer lasts at least eight hours. After arriving in Abu Dhabi with a printed visa, you must go to the immigration counter, where the original visa will be inserted into your passport.
Keep in mind that 13:00 is the official transfer, but in reality the time is 3-4 hours less (taking into account all formalities). And what can you accomplish in such a short period of time in a city you know nothing about. In this case, it is better to spend time at the airport, and there is something to do there. Even though Abu Dhabi is a very hot city, take warm clothes with you as it is quite cold at the airport. There is free internet almost everywhere at the airport, thanks to which time can fly by.
There are many catering establishments at the airport, even McDonald's, but the variety there is not as rich as in our McDonald's. If you wish, you can look into duty-free, chat with Russian-speaking tourists, and find some entertainment. In a word, it won't be boring.
Free food
If the long layover is more than 3 hours, then feel free to go to the airline counter, most likely it is Etihad, and ask for coupons for free food (can i get a meal coupons?). Show them your tickets for the next flight. If the layover is very long, you may be given several coupons for dinner, breakfast or lunch. You can use coupons in terminals 1 and 3 on the second floor at any food court establishment. You show the coupons and they tell you what you can take with these coupons. We liked Bricco pizza&pasta. There, for one coupon you will be given a very good portion of pizza, pasta or hot food, a small fruit plate and a cold drink.
Sleep
you can either in sleeping cabins at a price of $45 for 4 hours per person, or in the only airport hotel (it is better to book in advance on booking or the official website of the hotel) at a price of $130 per room for 6 hours, it is located according to the signs in front of the entrance to terminal 1. You can also sleep for free in any convenient place at the airport. We found the quietest and most comfortable place to sleep in the passage between terminals 1 and 3, opposite Costa coffee there is an inconspicuous staircase to the top, there is a quiet small waiting room with comfortable places to sleep. There is also an Etihad counter where you can ask for a blanket. Please note that there are strong air conditioners at the airport and if there are no blankets, it can be cold, so we recommend always dressing warmly if you are flying with a transfer in the Emirates. Multiple reviews confirm our caution.
Pass the time
Free Wi-Fi, phone charging, showers, a library of books in English, quite a lot of sockets around the airport, as well as standard duty free shops - in general, the airport is excellent and comfortable with good navigation.
Is it possible to go into the city, do I need a visa?
Even if you want to go out for 5 minutes, you still need a visa, which costs about $100, and it is better to apply for it in advance through the airline, or at the visa centers in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Issued for a period of 30 days. No one will let you out of the airport without a visa.
Today, most Middle Eastern airlines sell tickets to their customers at very attractive prices. But a considerable number of passengers are interested in issues related to transfers. Of particular interest to travelers is the transfer to Abu Dhabi.
To avoid trouble, Russians should know when they need a transit visa for a layover in the United Arab Emirates.
The third case is the most interesting. So, if a traveler has purchased air tickets from more than one company, he risks stumbling upon a sharp pitfall. The fact is that the ticket alliance is excluded. The traveler's luggage will not be transported to the final destination. In order to pick up their belongings, the traveler will have to leave the “safe” zone.
How to get permission
A person looking closely at usually pursues goals such as:
- visiting friends;
- visiting relatives;
- transit trip;
- tourist rendezvous.
If a Russian plans to take a short walk around the city or this beautiful country, then he needs permission from certain authorities.
Permission can be issued, which is located in Moscow. You can also request permission by contacting “your” travel company. Both “native” and Arab organizations can help a Russian tourist.
If a Russian plans to make an independent rendezvous, then he needs to enlist the support of only the local CC. In this case, you can purchase air tickets only through one company. CC employees must inform the traveler regarding this nuance.
Applying for a transit visa to Abu Dhabi
A transit visa can be issued by the same company that carries out the traveler’s flight.
The application can be submitted either on the website or in person. In the second case, the traveler undertakes to visit the airline office.
Important to consider
A transit visa is issued for a period of four days. Its validity period is 14 days. This period includes the day the visa document is issued. To avoid troubles, you should apply for a visa document shortly before travel.
Review of the package of documents is usually carried out within three days.
Upon arrival in Abu Dhabi, the traveler must present a printed confirmation of his visa. You also need to provide your passport and original visa document.
The approximate cost of a transit visa document today is $70.
What documents are required
To obtain a transit visa, you must include in your package of documents:
- International passport (you must provide both the original and a high-quality photocopy).
- One high-quality photograph taken in accordance with the requirements of the Schengen countries.
- A correctly completed application form (to be completed in English).
- Certificate from the official place of employment.
- A certificate confirming solvency.
- A letter from the person acting as a sponsor (relevant for persons over 60 and under 20 years of age).
- Photocopies of round-trip air tickets.
- Book a hotel room.
If the request is made online, then all documents must be sent electronically. To do this, you need to make high-quality scans in advance. The photograph and scans must meet all requirements.
A bank account statement can serve as a certificate confirming solvency. Sometimes a bank card statement is enough.
Applying for a transit visa to Dubai
The procedure for obtaining a transit visa is quite quick and simple. It will also not be difficult to register. The specifics of this document depend on the exact airport at which the transfer is planned.
There are two ways to quickly register: independently and with the help of Emirates airline employees.Advantages of CC services
The main disadvantage of cooperation with visa centers is the undemocratic cost of their services. But one thing cannot be taken away from the specialists: they work quickly and very professionally.
The main advantage of cooperation with a local CC is saving time. You can apply for a transit visa either in person or online. In this case, the package of documents is reviewed within no more than three days.
If the issue is resolved positively, then a few days later the traveler can download a transit visa in his virtual account.
It is important to take into account that Friday and Saturday are weekends in the Arab Republic.
Airline assistance
You can request a transit visa on the airline's website. This step is relevant only after purchasing air tickets. A request for the issuance of this document through the airline must be submitted 3-4 days before the expected rendezvous.
If the issue is resolved positively, the traveler will receive permission by email. It must be printed and attached to the main package of documents. Basic documents include air tickets and a foreign passport.
But if the traveler has not yet traveled abroad during the current five-year period, he will have to provide a certificate from the official place of employment. A bank account statement will also work.
Relevance of the visa document
The relevance of a transit visa, which allows a traveler to stay in the UAE, is over 96 hours. It can be issued for a period of 60 days. During this time, the traveler undertakes to use it.
This type of visa document is only valid at the airport. The traveler must depart and land only at this airport. You can move freely around the airport.
What you need to know about Abu Dhabi Airport
Russian travelers note that Abu Dhabi airport looks more like a small state. In many ways it is similar to Singapore airport.
This is a fairly comfortable place to wait for your flight. One of the undoubted advantages here is the opportunity to receive a special voucher. However, this is only relevant when the transfer takes more than four hours.
