United Arab Emirates entry requirements for Australian passport holders (2026): visa and passport validity
Visa (Smartraveller): Read the official visa text below
Passport validity (Smartraveller): No country-specific rule: general advice only
Official source: Smartraveller (Australian Government) – United Arab Emirates travel advice, section “Travel” · page updated 8 October 2026, still current at 18 October 2026 (Australian time) · checked on 17 October 2026 · Content from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller website - www.smartraveller.gov.au, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (copyright notice). Changes: we quote excerpts unchanged and leave out some general notes; the short summaries are ours.
Whether Australians need a visa for the United Arab Emirates and how long an Australian passport must be valid, as published by Smartraveller, the Australian Government's travel advice service, quoted word for word with the date of the official page.
Other passports: British passport · Canadian passport
Driving in the United Arab Emirates, do you need an international driving permit? Australian licence · UK licence · Canadian licence
Do Australians need a visa for the United Arab Emirates?
We quote the official text word for word and do not summarise it. The first official sentence does not match a wording we summarise.
Official text, “Visas and border measures”:
Each country or territory decides its own entry and exit rules, including health border screening measures. To find out what you need to enter a destination, ask their embassy, consulate or immigration office.
Visas
Australian passport holders are eligible for tourist visa on arrival.
Diplomatic and official passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling.
Emergency passports are not accepted for entry to the UAE.
For visa information, visit the UAE Federal E-Government Portal or the Emirates or Etihad Airlines website before booking your flight.
Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact your nearest UAE Embassy or Consulate-General or the local authorities to confirm your visa and/or residency status and for details about entry permits, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
Borders and departing the UAE
Borders can open and close and entry and exit requirements can change without notice, especially during a conflict. Confirm requirements with local authorities.
Check the latest information from local authorities on entry requirements and border arrangements. Plan for possible delays at border crossings. Make sure you have all documentation, and enough food, water and medication.
Also in the official “Travel” section:
Other formalities
Criminal activity
If you have unresolved criminal charges, including unpaid debts in the UAE, authorities may detain you when you arrive. Immigration officials may then transfer you to police custody. This can be the case even if you only plan to transit through the airport.
Immigration authorities can refuse you entry if you have a criminal record. It won't matter how long ago the offence took place.
If you're worried about authorities denying you entry, contact an UAE embassy or Consulate-General before you leave Australia.
You may also inquire about your legal status through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department's online enquiry service or the Government of Dubai Public Prosecutor's online enquiry service.
Your UAE Unified Identity Number can be retrieved through the online Unified Number Enquiry Service.
Restricted items
It's illegal to import:
- poppy seeds
- pornographic material
Importing pork products requires special approvals.
Authorities may examine and censor or confiscate videos, books and magazines.
It's illegal to carry weapons or replica weapons, including used bullet cartridges, into the UAE.
Official source: Smartraveller (Australian Government) – United Arab Emirates travel advice, section “Visas and border measures” · page updated 8 October 2026, still current at 18 October 2026 (Australian time) · checked on 17 October 2026 · Content from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller website - www.smartraveller.gov.au, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (copyright notice). Changes: we quote excerpts unchanged and leave out some general notes; the short summaries are ours.
How long must my Australian passport be valid for the United Arab Emirates?
In its “Travel” section, Smartraveller gives no passport validity period specific to the United Arab Emirates.
The official “Passport” text below is Smartraveller's general advice, the same on every destination page. Check the rule with the embassy of the country and with your airline before you travel.
Official text, “Passport”:
Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months before entering or departing. This includes for transit.
If your passport expires too soon, you might not be able to travel.
The Australian Government doesn’t make these rules. Check your passport’s expiry date before you go. If you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to get a new passport.
Emergency passports are not accepted for entry to the UAE.
If your Australian passport has 'XX' anywhere in your date of birth, for example, 'XX FEB 1980', you will be refused entry or transit to the UAE. Your passport must have a numerical date of birth, for example, '14 FEB 1980'.
Australian passports which have only one name will be refused entry to the UAE. You must have a name in the both the first and last name fields to enter the UAE.
Lost or stolen passport
Your passport is valuable and can be used by others to commit crimes.
Don’t let anyone trick you into giving it to them. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government:
- In Australia: contact the Australian Passport Information Service.
- Overseas: contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate.
If you're a UAE resident and lose your Australian passport while overseas, contact your nearest UAE embassy. They can give advice on re-entering. Do this before applying for an emergency passport.
If you lose your passport before passing through UAE immigration, you must return to Australia on the next available flight.
Once you're in Australia, you can apply for a full passport. The Australian Embassy can't issue you a new passport if you haven't cleared UAE immigration.
Foreigners must provide their passports for scanning when checking in to a hotel.
If UAE law enforcement take your passport for any reason, make sure they give you a receipt. You'll need the receipt to collect it later and when checking into accommodation.
Passport with ‘X’ gender identifier
Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender. If your passport has an 'X' in the sex field, we can’t guarantee your entry or transit to other countries. Ask the embassy or consulate of your destinations if they’ll accept your passport with an 'X' gender marker. Check all transit destinations too.
More information:
- LGBTQIA+ travellers
If you're travelling on an Australian passport showing 'X' or (non-binary, indeterminate, intersex, or unspecified) in the sex field, you won't be able to enter or transit through the UAE. You can only enter or transit through the UAE if you carry a passport that shows the sex specified as ‘F’ (female) or ‘M’ (male).
Official source: Smartraveller (Australian Government) – United Arab Emirates travel advice, section “Passport” · page updated 8 October 2026, still current at 18 October 2026 (Australian time) · checked on 17 October 2026 · Content from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller website - www.smartraveller.gov.au, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (copyright notice). Changes: we quote excerpts unchanged and leave out some general notes; the short summaries are ours.
For Australian passport holders. These rules are published by Smartraveller, the Australian Government's travel advice service (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), for Australian citizens. Before You Fly is an independent site: it is not an Australian Government site and is not endorsed by DFAT. The airline and the border officials of the destination decide whether you can travel or enter: this site is information, not legal advice. British passport? See the UK (FCDO) rules.
Read the full official travel advice for the United Arab Emirates (safety, health, local laws) before you travel.
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