How long does a visa take from the UAE? The table below shows typical, indicative processing times for visa applications submitted by residents of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the UAE. These are general ranges. Actual times depend on the specific consulate, the season, your nationality and, most importantly, appointment availability, which is often the real bottleneck rather than the processing itself.
Always confirm the current time for your case with the relevant consulate or application centre before you book travel. Visa Doctor tracks these timelines daily and can advise on the fastest realistic route for your dates.
Schengen (France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Greece, Portugal, Belgium, Croatia)
- Where UAE residents apply
- VFS Global / BLS (Spain)
- Typical processing time
- ~15 calendar days standard; can extend to 30–45 days in peak season
United Kingdom
- Where UAE residents apply
- VFS Global
- Typical processing time
- ~3 weeks (15 working days) standard; priority and super-priority options are faster
United States (B1/B2)
- Where UAE residents apply
- US Embassy/Consulate interview
- Typical processing time
- Driven by interview appointment availability; passport is usually returned within about a week after the interview
Canada
- Where UAE residents apply
- VFS Global
- Typical processing time
- Varies widely by season, commonly several weeks; biometrics required
Japan
- Where UAE residents apply
- Consulate / VFS
- Typical processing time
- ~5–7 working days
China
- Where UAE residents apply
- Chinese Visa Application Service Center
- Typical processing time
- ~4 working days for regular service; express options available
Turkey
- Where UAE residents apply
- e-Visa (online)
- Typical processing time
- Often issued within minutes to 72 hours for eligible passports
Morocco
- Where UAE residents apply
- e-Visa (online)
- Typical processing time
- ~72 hours (3 business days) for the e-Visa
Vietnam
- Where UAE residents apply
- e-Visa (online)
- Typical processing time
- ~3–5 working days
South Africa
- Where UAE residents apply
- VFS Global
- Typical processing time
- ~5–10 working days typically
Australia
- Where UAE residents apply
- Online (ETA/visitor)
- Typical processing time
- ETA can be near-instant; visitor visa processing varies
Hong Kong
- Where UAE residents apply
- Consulate / online
- Typical processing time
- Varies; often around 1–2 weeks where a visa is required
Important notes
- Appointment availability usually matters more than processing speed. Applying through a consulate with earlier slots can save the trip.
- Peak seasons (summer, Eid, winter holidays) lengthen Schengen and UK times significantly, so apply early.
- Times shown exclude the days needed to prepare documents and secure biometrics appointments.
- For the United States, timelines are driven by interview wait times, which vary by location and can be long.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Indicative only. Verify current times with the consulate or with our team.
For Japan specifically, see our guide to the Japan visa processing time from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with the official working days for each visa type.
Frequently asked questions
Which visa is fastest to get from Dubai?
e-Visas (Turkey, Morocco, Vietnam) are usually the quickest, often within a few days. Among appointment-based visas, timelines depend heavily on current consulate availability.
Can visa processing be expedited?
Several destinations offer priority or urgent services for an additional fee (for example UK priority and super-priority). Availability and eligibility change, so confirm before relying on them.