UAE Student Visa- A Complete Guide for Indian Students

UAE – A Destination That’s More Than Just a Hot Tourist Spot!

Indeed, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other cities in the UAE attract travellers from across the globe. Whether it’s the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, or the largest shopping mall, the UAE is known not just for luxury and wealth, but also for its innovative, technology-integrated learning. This is why the UAE has emerged as a popular hotspot for international students.

Are you once again at the crossroads of deciding what to do after class 12? The overwhelming number of options can be confusing. So, why not consider studying abroad in the UAE? Yes, it’s not only an affordable option but also one of the closest international destinations from India—making it a practical choice for higher education.

If you’re now considering studying in the UAE, you’ll need a UAE student visa.

This blog is your ultimate guide to the UAE student visa—covering all the essential information you need to know.

Why Study in UAE?

While the UAE may not be the first destination that comes to mind when planning to study abroad, it’s quickly becoming a top contender—and for good reason. Like many students, you might initially consider popular choices like the UK or the USA. However, investing in your education is truly worthwhile when it offers strong returns. With world-class universities, global exposure, and excellent career opportunities right next door, why go farther when the UAE offers it all?

Here’s why studying in the UAE in 2025 could be your smartest move yet.

The UAE is one such study destination that offers the easiest student visa process. Don’t trust our words? Read yourself.

UAE Student Visa- A Detailed Guide

Do you know? Besides Poland and Germany, the UAE has the highest student visa success rate? The UAE student visa success rate including Indian and international students is 75%. Which is determined to be a good number.

If these reasons have convinced you to study in the UAE, here’s everything you need to know to navigate your student visa journey with ease.

Step-by-step Guide on UAE Student Visa Application

The UAE student visa journey is easy when you know how to proceed with it. For your easy understanding, here is a step-by-step detailed guide.

Step 1- Secure Admission

To apply for a UAE student visa, you must first secure admission to a recognised university or college in the UAE. Since the UAE student visa is sponsored—and students cannot apply independently—the process is typically initiated by the university on the student’s behalf. Once your admission is confirmed and you’ve received your offer letter, the university will coordinate with you to begin your student visa application.

Note: To secure admission to your dream university in the UAE, here’s everything you’ll need.

• Completed application form
• Academic transcript and certificates
• Passport copy
• English proficiency test score (If your English scores aren’t exceptional)
• Passport-sized photographs
• Customised Statement of Purpose (If applying to more than one university

Step 2- A Medical Fitness Test

If you’re planning to apply for a UAE student visa, undergoing a medical fitness test is mandatory. Whether you’re still waiting for your university acceptance letter or have already received it, make sure to complete a full body check-up in advance.

This step is essential and cannot be skipped. The medical test typically includes a blood test and a chest X-ray to check for any infectious diseases or health concerns.

Passing this test is a key requirement for obtaining your UAE residence visa. Unfortunately, failing the medical fitness test could result in your visa being denied.

Step 3- Choose Your Sponsor

The UAE student visa process is a little different from the rest of the world. To study in the UAE, you cannot sponsor your own student visa.

In simple terms, this means someone else will assist you in filing your student visa application. While this could be a third-party agent or another representative, in most cases it is the university itself.

Once you have secured admission to a well-recognised UAE university, the university’s admissions team will take the lead in starting your student visa process.

The two most common type of study visa sponsorships to study in UAE are:

1. The university or educational institution (most common)
2. A parent or guardian (if they reside in the UAE)

International students who are coming for a full-time degree in the UAE go for university-sponsored visa.

Step 4- Gather Required Documents

It doesn’t matter who is sponsoring your UAE study visa. If you are filing for a visa, you must have a pile of documents handy with you at all the time. This list of documents that are required commonly are:

1. Passport (valid for at least 6 months)
2. Passport-sized photos with a white background
3. Admission letter from a UAE university
4. Proof of tuition fee payment
5. Accommodation details (may require)
6. Financial proof
7. Academic transcripts
8. Medical fitness certificate

NOTE- Make sure to scan all the documents clearly and in colour as most university may verify the documents before submission.

Step 5- Applying Through Official Portal

While this is not on your part, you must ensure to have adequate information on the same.

Once you have gathered all the documents and shared it with your university, they will submit them all through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). This is the official authority that issues UAE visas.

The documents that your sponsors will submit includes the following;

• Completed visa application form
• All the documents mentioned above
• Medical test result
• UAE student visa fees and Emirates ID fee

As this is an online process, with the credentials, even you can see the status of your student visa.

Step 6- Pay the Visa Fees

Yes! Although your sponsor will handle the application process, the payment will still be your responsibility. The UAE student visa fees typically range from AED 7,000 to AED 15,000 approx. for a one-year residence visa for Indian and other international students. These charges generally cover:

• Application fees
• Medical test charges
• Emirates ID fee
• Insurance

NOTE- Check with your university to know the exact cost and the breakdown of it.

Step 7- Receive Entry Permit

Before you get your visa to study in UAE, you will get an eVisa, which is more like an entry permit to the UAE. This document allows you to legally entre the UAE and is usually valid for 60 days.

If; however, you are already in the UAE on some other visa, it can be converted into the eVisa for studies by your university internally.

Step 8- Emirates ID Registration and Visa Stamping

Once you have arrived in the UAE, your visa process doesn’t only end there. After arriving in the UAE with your entry permit, you must complete the following steps.

1. Emirates ID Registration: This is the mandatory identification card offered by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship in the UAE. This card serves as a proof of identity and is essential for accessing government services. It is a biometric process analysing your fingerprint and photo. The validity of this card matches your visa duration (usually 1 year).
2. Visa Stamping: This is the final step that completes your UAE student visa process. Your residence visa will be stamped inside your passport, confirming your legal stay as a student in the UAE.

Step 9- Visa Renewal

This step is for the next year!

Every student visa to study in UAE is valid for only 1 year. This means you have to get your student visa renewed every year based on your enrolment.

To get your visa renewed, here’s all you need to submit for the same;

• Updated enrolment letter
• Pay renewal fees
• Redo medical test (if required)
• Renew Emirates ID

NOTE- Start the renewal process 30-45 days prior to the expiration date of your visa to avoid any late charges, fines, or interruptions in your studies.

Important Tips to Remember

Types of UAE Student Visa

As we are sharing the detailed guide with you on UAE student visa, here now let’s talk about the types of student visas that are there.

1. University-sponsored Student Visa

This is the first one in the list of UAE student visas. As shared already, once you have received the offer letter from your dream country, the university will start your visa filing process. The university-sponsored visa is filed by the university through (GDRFA) portal. This is a yearly visa which requires renewal every year upon proof of continued enrolment.

2. Family-sponsored Student Visa

If you have any parent or guardian living in the UAE, then they can be your sponsor too. The process for a family-sponsored visa is the same as university-sponsored, along with providing documents for enrolment, finances, and accommodation.

3. Short-term Student Visa

As the name suggests, this is for students attending courses or training programs between 3 to 6 months. The duration of this course is 6 years, further depending on the course. This visa is ideal for short courses, workshops, or language programs.

4. Exchange Student Visa

This visa is for students participating in exchange programs between their home institution and UAE one. The required documents for this include proof of the exchange program and an admission letter from the UAE institution. The validity of this visa aligns with the duration of the exchange programme.

5. Golden Student Visa

The last in the list of UAE student visa is the golden student visa. This is a long-term student visa granted to students with exceptional academic records. The eligibility requirements for the golden student visa includes a minimum grade of 95% in high school and 3.75 or higher GPA in university. The validity of this visa is between 5 to 10 years depending on the academic achievements. The benefit of this visa includes extended residency, post-study work opportunities, and more.

UAE Student Visa- Recap in a Quick Glance

For your help, here is a quick summary of UAE student visa.

Get UAE Student Visa Successfully with MetaApply IE

By now, you must have got to know that we don’t say words we don’t stand at. Hence, here we are sharing another fact with you. MetaApply IE has helped thousands of students reach their dream destinations, but when it came to study in UAE, we made dream happens within the blink of an eye.

Our team made sure to get UAE student visa for one of our students in just 24 hours. This tells how accurate we can be with your student visa application. And as you may know one messed up document or wrong answer can cost you your study visa, then leave it to the experts.

With MetaApply IE experts, you will get personalised assistance for your UAE student visa application. Our experts ensure you don’t miss a single document. Furthermore, talking about the visa interview, we also help you prepare by guiding you “what not to say” in your visa interview.

So, if you have made up your mind to study in UAE, then from finance and accommodation to visa guidance and flight tickets, let us be your ultimate guide.