UAE Residence Visa Free Countries List in 2026

Holding a UAE residence visa grants expatriates enhanced travel freedom, allowing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to numerous countries worldwide. This benefit depends on the resident’s nationality and the specific visa agreements between countries.

Countries You Can Visit with UAE Residence Visa

UAE residency opens up more opportunities for easy travel. Depending on your passport and residence status, these destinations offer visa-free entry, visas on arrival or online visa applications:

• Asia & Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Japan.
• Africa: Egypt and Morocco.
• Europe outside Schengen: Albania.

Albania’s exemption requires a qualifying 10-year UAE residence permit; Japan’s eVisa is arranged through an accredited agency.

Visas and Visitor Permits on Arrival for UAE Residents

For a beach holiday, a mountain escape or a city break, UAE residents can choose destinations that issue a visa or visitor permit on arrival. Eligibility depends on the passport and residence permit; some destinations also require an online travel authorisation before departure:

• Maldives.
• Seychelles — visitor permit on arrival, with travel authorisation obtained before departure.
• Indonesia.
• Nepal.
• Azerbaijan.
• Jordan.
• Mauritius.

Top Destinations for an Easy Getaway

*These are short-stay options for eligible travellers, not a single visa-free allowance for all UAE residents. Passport and residence-permit conditions apply; some routes require an online visa or travel authorisation before departure.

Visa-Free Countries for Philippine Passport with UAE Residence Visa

Philippine passport holders can visit dozens of destinations without a visa or with permission issued on arrival. UAE residency adds further travel options, depending on the destination’s entry rules.

Visa-Free Countries for Philippine Passport Holders

Philippine passport holders can choose from destinations across four regions:

• Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel (ETA required), Kazakhstan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Singapore, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand and Vietnam.
• Americas: Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Haiti, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname.
• Africa: Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Rwanda and Seychelles (travel authorisation required).
• Oceania: the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Niue and Vanuatu.

Visa-on-Arrival and Online Visa Options for Philippine Passport Holders

• Visa or visitor permit on arrival: the Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Samoa, Palau, Comoros and Timor-Leste. Qualifying UAE residents can also use the arrival-visa routes for Azerbaijan and Jordan.
• Online applications: Sri Lanka (ETA), Bahrain, Iran, South Africa and Vietnam (eVisa for longer visits).

Stay limits and pre-travel registrations vary by destination. UAE residency also opens conditional visa-free routes to Georgia, Armenia and Albania, subject to the relevant permit requirements.

Visa-Free Countries for Indian Passport with UAE Residence Visa

Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to several countries worldwide. Holding a UAE residence visa does not automatically grant visa-free entry but can facilitate easier visa processing or entry in some cases. The visa-free access primarily depends on the Indian passport itself.

Visa-Free Countries for Indian Passport Holders

Indian passport holders have a wide choice of destinations for short trips:

• Asia: Thailand (30 days), Bhutan, Nepal, Malaysia (30 days), Hong Kong (14 days with approved pre-arrival registration), Kazakhstan (14 days), Macao (30 days) and the Philippines (14 days).
• Africa: Mauritius, Seychelles (up to 3 months with travel authorisation), Senegal (90 days), Gambia (90 days) and Angola (30 days).
• Americas and Caribbean: Barbados (90 days), Jamaica (30 days), Dominica (180 days), Grenada (90 days), Haiti (90 days), and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1 month).
• Oceania: Fiji (up to 4 months), Vanuatu (30 days under the visitor route), Kiribati (90 days), Micronesia (30 days) and the Cook Islands (31 days).

Visa-on-Arrival and Online Visa Options

• Visa on arrival: Indonesia (30 days), Cambodia (30 days), Tanzania and Rwanda (30 days, free of charge).
• Online travel authorisation: Sri Lanka (ETA, 30 days), Kenya (eTA) and Saint Kitts and Nevis (eTA, up to 90 days).
• Online visa applications: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iran, Morocco, Oman and Vietnam.

The Maldives offers Indian visitors stays of up to 90 days under its bilateral arrangements. Qualifying UAE residence permits also provide additional entry options in Georgia, Armenia, Albania, Azerbaijan and Jordan.

Visa-Free Countries for Pakistani Passport Holders with UAE Residence Permit

A UAE residence permit gives Pakistani travellers more options for convenient trips abroad, alongside the destinations already accessible with a Pakistani passport. These include visa-free stays, visas on arrival and online applications, depending on the destination and the residence permit’s validity.

Visa-Free Countries for Pakistani Passport Holders

With an ordinary Pakistani passport, travellers can visit:

• Caribbean and Americas: Barbados (90 days), Dominica (up to 6 months), Haiti (90 days), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1 month), Montserrat, and Trinidad and Tobago.
• Africa: Gambia (90 days).
• Oceania: Micronesia (30 days).

Visa-on-Arrival and Online Visa Options

• Visa or visitor permit on arrival: the Maldives (normally 30 days), Nepal, Cambodia, Rwanda (30 days, free of charge), Palau, Comoros and Timor-Leste.
• Online applications: Sri Lanka (ETA, 30 days), Kenya (eTA), Malaysia, Thailand and Tanzania. Tanzania requires prior approval for Pakistani applicants.
• With a qualifying UAE residence permit: Azerbaijan and Jordan offer arrival-visa routes, while Morocco and Bahrain offer online visa routes. Georgia allows stays of 90 days in any 180-day period when the UAE permit meets its conditions, including at least one year of remaining validity for Pakistani citizens. Albania’s exemption applies to a 10-year UAE residence permit with at least one year remaining.

These options are for ordinary passports; diplomatic and official passport privileges follow separate rules.