Quick Answer: Yes, a minor (under 18) can get a UAE visa and travel without a parent, but only with written parental consent. Both parents (or the legal guardian) must sign a No Objection Certificate (NOC) naming the adult who will receive or accompany the child in the UAE. You'll also need the child's passport with six months' validity, parents' passport copies, an attested birth certificate, the guardian's ID, a return ticket, and proof of accommodation. The visa is applied for online by the sponsor or an authorized agent and usually takes a few working days. The summer visa-fee waiver for children does not apply when the child travels without a parent.
How to Get a UAE Visa for a Minor Without a Parent: Requirements, Documents, Fees & Process
Children travel to the UAE without their parents for many reasons: a summer stay with grandparents, a school trip, a holiday with an aunt or uncle, or a visit to family members who live in Dubai. The UAE allows this, but immigration authorities apply extra checks to protect children. Missing a single consent document can mean a refused visa, a denied boarding, or a child held at immigration until a parent is contacted.
This guide explains who can sponsor or accompany a minor, the exact documents required, what it costs, and how to apply step by step.
Can a Minor Travel to the UAE Without a Parent?
Yes. The UAE treats anyone under 18 as a minor, and minors can enter without a parent as long as their parents have formally authorized the trip.
Since 2018, GDRFA Dubai, working with Dubai Police, has required minors who are not traveling with their parents to carry an authorization letter from their parents. That letter must include the child's address abroad and in the UAE, and the details of the person receiving the child. The requirement applies even when the child is traveling with another family member, such as a grandparent or older sibling. Travelers who don't comply can face fines and deportation.
In practice, this means the visa application and the child's travel documents must both show clear parental consent and a named responsible adult in the UAE.
Three Ways a Minor Can Visit the UAE Without a Parent
1. Traveling with a relative or guardian on a tourist visa. The child travels with an adult (a grandparent, uncle, aunt, adult sibling, or family friend) and each gets a UAE tourist visa. The accompanying adult is named in the parents' NOC.
2. Sponsored by a relative who lives in the UAE. A UAE resident relative can sponsor the child's visit visa through GDRFA or ICP. The sponsor must hold a valid residence visa and Emirates ID and meet the income requirement for their relationship to the child. This is common for children visiting grandparents, aunts, or uncles who live in Dubai.
3. Flying alone as an unaccompanied minor. The child flies alone under the airline's unaccompanied minor service and is collected at the airport by the named adult. The child still needs a valid UAE visa, arranged in advance by the sponsor or an agent, plus the airline's own consent forms.
UAE Visa Requirements for a Minor Without a Parent
Whichever route you choose, these conditions apply:
• The child must be under 18 and hold their own valid passport, with at least six months' validity from the date of entry.
• Both parents must consent in writing. If one parent has sole custody, or one parent has died, you'll need the court custody order or death certificate instead of that parent's signature.
• A responsible adult must be named who will receive or accompany the child in the UAE, with their full contact details.
• The sponsor must be eligible. A UAE-resident sponsor needs a valid residence visa, Emirates ID, and proof of income. Under GDRFA Dubai's 2026 visit visa rules, the minimum monthly income is AED 4,000 for first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second- and third-degree relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and AED 15,000 for friends.
• The trip must have a clear end date, shown by a confirmed return or onward ticket.
Documents Checklist
Prepare clear, color scans of the following before you apply:
• Child's passport: Bio page, valid for at least six months.
• Child's passport-size photo: Recent, on a white background.
• Parents' passport copies: Bio pages of both parents.
• No Objection Certificate (NOC): Signed by both parents, naming the adult who will accompany or receive the child, the travel dates, and the child's address in the UAE. Many travelers have the NOC notarized, and some airlines and nationalities require it.
• Birth certificate: To prove the parent-child relationship. It generally needs to be attested and, if not in English or Arabic, legally translated.
• Custody order or death certificate: Only if one parent cannot sign the NOC.
• Accompanying adult's or sponsor's documents: Passport copy and visa (for an accompanying traveler), or passport, residence visa, and Emirates ID (for a UAE sponsor).
• Relationship proof for sponsors: Documents that show how the sponsor is related to the child, attested where required.
• Sponsor's proof of income: Salary certificate or attested employment contract, if the child is sponsored by a UAE resident.
• Return ticket: Confirmed booking out of the UAE.
• Accommodation proof: Hotel booking or the sponsor's tenancy contract or address.
UAE Visa Fees for a Minor Without a Parent
The cost depends on which route you use.
Tourist visa through an online agent: The fee depends on the visa duration (30 or 60 days) and single or multiple entry. Check current prices on our apply page before you book.
Visit visa sponsored by a UAE-resident relative: According to GDRFA Dubai's 2026 guidance, single-entry visit visas range from about AED 200 to AED 400 depending on duration, and multiple-entry visas from about AED 300 to AED 700. A refundable deposit applies (AED 1,000 for single entry, AED 2,000 for multiple entry). VAT, insurance, and service charges are extra.
The summer fee waiver doesn't apply. Each year from July 15 to September 15, the UAE waives tourist visa fees for children under 18, but only for children who travel with their parents. A child traveling with a grandparent, relative, or alone pays the standard fee.
Airline unaccompanied minor fees: These are separate from the visa. On Emirates, for example, the unaccompanied minor service is mandatory for children aged 5 to 11 and included in the adult fare they pay. For ages 12 to 15, the service is optional and costs USD 50 per leg. Other airlines set their own fees.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for a UAE Visa for a Minor
1. Choose the route. Decide whether the child will travel with an accompanying adult, be sponsored by a UAE-resident relative, or fly alone as an unaccompanied minor.
2. Prepare the NOC. Both parents sign a consent letter naming the responsible adult, the travel dates, and the child's UAE address. Have it notarized if your airline or nationality requires it.
3. Get documents attested and translated. Attest the birth certificate and any relationship documents, and translate anything that isn't in English or Arabic.
4. Book the return ticket and accommodation. Keep the booking confirmations ready to upload.
5. Submit the visa application online. A UAE-resident sponsor can apply through GDRFA or ICP channels, or you can apply online through Express Visa Dubai and upload all documents in one place.
6. Pay the fee and any deposit. Keep your payment receipt and application reference number.
7. Track the application. Online applications usually take a few working days. You can track your application until the e-visa is issued.
8. Print everything. The child or accompanying adult should carry printed copies of the e-visa, the NOC, the birth certificate, and the receiving adult's contact details. Immigration officers and airline staff may ask for them.
9. Arrange airport pick-up. The adult named in the NOC should be at the arrivals hall with their ID, especially if the child is flying alone.
Flying Alone: Airline Unaccompanied Minor Rules
A UAE visa lets the child enter the country, but the airline decides whether the child can fly alone. Rules vary by airline, so check before booking.
Using Emirates as an example: children aged 5 to 11 flying alone must use the unaccompanied minor service, children aged 12 to 15 can choose to use it, and children 16 and over can travel without it. Parents must complete a Declaration of Indemnity form, and the adults dropping off and collecting the child must show ID. The service is booked by contacting the airline directly, not online.
When the child's paperwork is complete, airline staff can escort the child through immigration in Dubai and hand them over to the named adult.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Only one parent signs the NOC. Both parents need to consent unless you have a custody order or death certificate.
• The NOC doesn't name the receiving adult. Authorities require the name and contact details of the person receiving the child.
• Unattested or untranslated birth certificates. This is one of the most common reasons applications are delayed.
• Assuming the summer waiver applies. The July 15 to September 15 fee exemption only covers children traveling with their parents.
• The sponsor doesn't meet the income threshold. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles are second- or third-degree relatives and need a higher salary than parents.
• Booking a flight before checking the airline's unaccompanied minor rules. Some airlines limit which routes and connections children can take alone.
• Traveling with less than six months of passport validity. Children's passports often expire sooner than adults', so check the date early.
• Forgetting paper copies. Digital copies can fail at the worst moment. Carry printed documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a child under 18 travel to Dubai without their parents?
Yes. A minor can travel to Dubai without their parents if both parents give written consent through a No Objection Certificate that names the adult receiving or accompanying the child in the UAE.
Who can sponsor a minor's visit visa in the UAE?
A UAE resident with a valid residence visa and Emirates ID can sponsor a child's visit visa, provided they meet GDRFA's income requirement for their relationship to the child. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins must earn at least AED 8,000 per month.
Does the NOC need to be signed by both parents?
Yes. Both parents should sign. If only one parent has legal custody, or one parent has died, submit the custody order or death certificate with the single parent's consent.
How much does a UAE visa cost for a minor traveling without a parent?
It depends on the visa type and duration. Sponsored visit visas under GDRFA Dubai range from about AED 200 to AED 700 plus a refundable deposit. Tourist visa prices through online agents vary, so check the current rate before applying.
Is the UAE visa free for children in summer?
Only for children traveling with their parents. The fee waiver runs from July 15 to September 15 each year and doesn't cover a child who travels with a relative, a guardian, or alone.
How long does it take to get a UAE visa for a minor?
Online applications usually take a few working days once all documents are submitted correctly. Allow extra time for attestation and translation, which can take longer than the visa itself.
Can a minor fly alone to the UAE?
Yes, if the airline allows it. Most airlines require an unaccompanied minor service for younger children. On Emirates, it's mandatory for ages 5 to 11 and optional for ages 12 to 15. The child still needs a valid UAE visa before departure.
What happens if a minor arrives without parental authorization?
Immigration can hold the child until the parents are contacted, refuse entry, or impose fines. To avoid this, the child or accompanying adult should always carry the signed NOC and the receiving adult's details.
Final Word
Getting a UAE visa for a minor without a parent comes down to three things: clear written consent from both parents, a named and eligible adult in the UAE, and attested documents that prove the child's relationship to their family. Get those in order before you apply, and the visa itself is straightforward.
If you're arranging a visit for a child, start the application online, browse our visa FAQ, or contact our team to check your documents before you submit.