Vatican City travellers to UAE in 2026: 70+ nationalities enter visa-free or on arrival

The United Arab Emirates has confirmed its entry regulations for 2026, allowing nationals of more than 70 countries to enter without arranging a visa before travel. The rules sort visitors into separate categories, each with its own permitted length of stay and conditions, ranging from 14 days to unlimited access.

Key facts

• More than 70 countries are covered by the visa-free and visa-on-arr-arrival arrangements for 2026.
• Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) passport holders face no duration cap on their stay.
• A group of 49 countries can stay up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.
• Thirteen countries receive 30 days visa-free on arrival, with extensions available in most cases.
• Seven countries qualify for a conditional visa on arrival of 14 or 60 days, subject to a residence permit.

Who gets unlimited or long-stay visa-free entry?

Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council member states — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia — need no visa and face no cap on how long they can remain, when they enter the UAE using approved travel documents.

A broader set of 49 countries is granted visa-free entry for up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period. Multiple entries are allowed under this arrangement, but travellers may not work in the country. Nations named in this group include the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, South Africa and Singapore.

Which countries get 30 days on arrival?

A third category covers 13 countries whose nationals receive 30 days of visa-free access on arrival, with extensions available in most cases. The countries listed include Malaysia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong and Vatican City.

The UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security advises nationals of these countries to check any additional entry conditions through official channels before travelling.

Who needs a residence permit for a visa on arrival?

Seven countries are offered a conditional visa on arrival, valid for either 14 or 60 days: India, Indonesia, Kenya, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam.

Travellers from these nations must hold a valid residence permit issued by the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada or Japan. Nationals of these countries who do not meet that residency requirement cannot use this provision.

What this means for travellers

Passport holders should check which of the four categories applies to their nationality before booking, since the permitted stay and the paperwork required at the border differ widely. Travellers from the seven conditional visa-on-arrival countries need to confirm they hold a qualifying residence permit before they travel, while the 90-day group cannot take up employment in the UAE.

The source does not state a specific start date for the 2026 arrangements, any associated fees, or how extensions for the 30-day group are requested.

The policy is presented as part of the UAE's effort to simplify international arrivals as its major airport networks continue to handle large passenger volumes.