UAE visa on arrival mishap for Indian passport holder with Irish residence (IRP holder). As follows..
Hello everyone will try to keep it as short and informative as possible.As many might be aware recently Air India express has started few new direct route from Abu Dhabi to India, the one we went for was ABU DHABI to INDOREWe had first leg Dublin to Abu Dhabi with etihad. Etihad checked the documents and confirmed eligible for visa on arrival for UAE, So we reached Abu Dhabi.Plan was to get visa on arrival by paying AED 100 exit check in bag onto Air India express Indore flight and re-enter. However as soon as we reached immigration for visa on arrival they advised not eligible for Irish residence permit need to apply for normal visa. Went to apply for normal visa they advised lay over had to be atleast 8 hours away our layover was 4 hours. Went to Etihad transfers they advised Indian passport and Irish residency eligible for visa on arrival they need rejection letter from immigration for etihad to accept their mistake and book us a flight to India, went back to immigration office they advised cannot provide rejection letter and it’s not their mistake if Etihad says eligible.After requesting for 4 hours rebooked new flight applied for normal visa ensuring is minimum 8 hours away.Now as per UAE document and Etihad we were theoretically eligible for visa on arrival but requesting was pointless, for reference links of etihad and UAE govt document as below.Please be careful this is some sort of hidden rule and Etihad escalated to some very senior immigration officer as well but that was equally pointless.
So what's wrong?
Indian passport holders with an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) are not eligible for a Visa on Arrival upon arrival in the UAE . This is the reason why the UAE Immigration Department may deny you entry.
According to the official regulations of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "European Union (EU) member states" Indian citizens with a valid visa or residence permit from the UAE are eligible for visa on arrival. However, immigration officials at UAE borders are considering this rule as "Schengen area". Strictly speaking, only countries that are coming in. Ireland is a member state of the European Union but not part of the Schengen area. Therefore, immigration systems and border officers will not accept Irish IRP cards for this benefit.
Why did this confusion arise?
- Airline - Immigration Difference: Etihad Airways issues travel permits by checking the international database (TIMATIC). This generally shows "EU residency". That is why the airline desk has issued you a travel permit.
- Immigration reality: UAE immigration officials limit the term "EU" to Schengen countries only. They do not accept Irish IRP cards or Irish visas for visa on arrival.
- Connecting flight difference: Since you changed to another low-cost airline (Air India Express) and they were two separate tickets, you had to go through immigration to collect your baggage and check in again. But if it was a single ticket via Etihad, the baggage would have reached Indore directly. In that case, they would have been able to continue in the transit area without a visa.
8-hour rule for pre-application visas
When they were forced to apply for a regular transit visa at the airport, the immigration department changed the 96-hour transit visa rule. Strictly enforced. According to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) law, if you want to get a transit visa from the airport, the waiting time (layover) for the next flight is at least 8 hours . There must be (maximum 96 hours). The first flight had only 4 hours. That's why that visa was also denied.
Things to keep in mind for future trips
- Don't rely solely on airline information: Airlines look at general criteria, but the final decision rests with local immigration authorities.
- Irish residency should not be used for a UAE visa on arrival: If you have an Indian passport and an Irish IRP, you can apply for a regular UAE Tourist Visa through an agency or airline before your trip. Must apply.
- Avoid connecting flights on different tickets: If your layover time is less than 8 hours, book the entire journey on a single ticket. This way, your baggage will transit automatically and you can continue your journey without having to go through UAE immigration.
This information will help you understand what that 'hidden rule' you encountered while traveling through the UAE.
UAE Visa on Arrival and IRP Card: Hidden Rules to Know
Under UAE law, Indian citizens holding US, UK visas or green cards are eligible for visa on arrival. However, Irish IRP card holders are not eligible for this benefit.
- European Union (EU) / Schengen Confusion: The UAE does grant visas on arrival for residence permits from some European countries. However, Ireland, although in the European Union, is not part of the Schengen area . Therefore, you cannot get a visa on arrival in the UAE by showing your IRP card. This is an important 'hidden rule' that is not made clear on many airline websites.
This discrepancy between airline databases and actual immigration rules can cause great inconvenience to travelers. Some get it and some don't. It is clear from the note. Therefore, he urges travelers to take necessary precautions.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.