The UAE has clarified the eligibility criteria for its five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, which allows visitors of all nationalities to enter the country repeatedly without requiring a local sponsor or host.

The five-year visa is maily aimed at tourists, frequent visitors, family visitors and business travellers seeking greater flexibility than standard tourist visas.

Giving a list of eligibility criteria for the visa, Dubai's General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) said the self-sponsored visa is valid for five years and allows holders to stay in the UAE for up to 90 days per visit. 

The stay can be extended by a further 90 days, provided the total time spent in the country does not exceed 180 days in a calendar year, stated GDRFA in its statement.

Applicants must hold a passport valid for at least six months, provide a recent photograph, proof of health insurance, a return ticket and bank statements for the previous six months. 

They must also show a minimum bank balance of $4,000, or its equivalent, during the six months preceding the application, it added.The application fee has been set at AED3,713 ($1,011), including visa and service charges and a refundable financial guarantee, although the final cost may vary depending on individual circumstances, it added.

The authorities said the visa applications can be submitted through the UAE's official digital platforms, Customer Happiness Centres and Amer Service Centres.-TradeArabia News Service