Study in the United Arab Emirates from Nepal and India

United Arab Emirates student visa at a glance

Visa fee

AED 200

Source: alsaada.gdrfad.gov.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

Money to show a year

No fixed amount

Work in term

See guide

Work permits for students

Source: u.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

Stay after study

See guide

No general post-study visa

Source: u.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

Short answer: To study in the United Arab Emirates you apply for the Student residence visa. The main visa fee is AED 200. No fixed funds amount is published; you show enough to cover your study and living costs.

How much does it cost to study in the United Arab Emirates?

Two different kinds of money: fees you pay (gone once paid) and funds you show as evidence (they stay in your account). Never add them together.

What do I need for the United Arab Emirates student visa?

Sponsor

The accredited university or college you study at (it acts as host and guarantor), or a parent who is a UAE resident. Source: u.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

Parent sponsorship

Sons under 25 (older with proof of higher-education enrolment); daughters at any age until they marry. Source: u.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

Requirements (Dubai)

Photo, passport copy, approved medical examination, Emirates ID application receipt and health insurance; the institution must be licensed and approved by the Ministry or the emirate's education authority. Source: alsaada.gdrfad.gov.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

Processing

48 hours in Dubai; after the permit expires or is cancelled you have a 60-day grace period. Source: alsaada.gdrfad.gov.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

Validity

Up to 12 months and renewed every year; you also need a medical fitness test and an Emirates ID with biometrics. Source: cgidubai.gov.in (opens the official website in a new tab)

Family

Students' family members can stay if the student can afford suitable housing. Source: u.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

Accreditation check

The federal Commission for Academic Accreditation lists licensed institutions, their emirate and status (active or licence revoked). Source: caa.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I work while studying in the United Arab Emirates?

Work permits for students

The Ministry of Human Resources issues a student training and employment permit (age 15+, already in the UAE, valid 3 months) and part-time permits. Source: u.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

Conditions

You need written permission from your sponsoring university and a work permit; working without one can lead to visa cancellation and deportation. Source: cgidubai.gov.in (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I stay and work after graduating?

No general post-study visa

Graduates of a top-500 world university (Ministry of Education list) within the last 2 years can get a jobseeker visit visa of 60, 90 or 120 days without a sponsor. Source: u.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

Jobseeker visa fees (Dubai)

AED 200 / 300 / 400 for 60 / 90 / 120 days, plus an AED 1,000 refundable guarantee and AED 60 in service fees, plus 5% VAT. Source: gdrfad.gov.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

Golden visa for top graduates

10-year residence for top graduates within 2 years: UAE universities with GPA 3.5 or 3.8 (by university class), or top-100 world universities with GPA 3.5; Dubai fee AED 1,100. Source: gdrfad.gov.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

What is different for Nepali and Indian students?

What are the top universities in the United Arab Emirates?

Compare universities across countries

What has changed recently?

1. 13 Feb 2025

   Visa on arrival extended to Indian nationals holding residence permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or Singapore (visits only). Source: mofa.gov.ae (opens the official website in a new tab)

2. 4 Apr 2025

   India: UGC regulations on equivalence of foreign qualifications came into force (branch-campus and franchise rules). Source: ugc.gov.in (opens the official website in a new tab)

Check these yourself

We could not confirm these on an official page when we last checked, so we do not state them as facts.

• Student work-permit fees and weekly hour limits — confirm with MOHRE or your university (the Indian Consulate in Dubai describes about 15 hours a week as typical).
• Rules for Dubai free-zone universities (regulated by KHDA) and how their degrees are recognised — check khda.gov.ae.
• Student visa fees outside Dubai, and medical-test and Emirates ID fees.
• Golden visa GPA: ICP says 3.8, Dubai GDRFA says 3.5 or 3.8 by university class.
• The current top-500 university list used for the jobseeker visa.
• How much money to show, tuition and living costs — no official figures; ask your university.
• Nepal: how much foreign exchange you can take for study in the UAE — check with Nepal Rastra Bank or your bank.

Official sources for United Arab Emirates

Government and official pages we use for this guide, checked 22 Oct 2026.

1. 1u.ae – Residence visa for studying in the UAEstudent_visa_main · Sponsors, family, golden visa link
2. 2GDRFA Dubai – Issuing a residency permit to a studentfee_page · Requirements, AED fees, 48 h, 60-day grace
3. 3dubai.ae – Student residence visastudent_visa_main · Institution as host and guarantor
4. 4ICP – Issuance of a Visa (entry permit)immigration_authority · Federal entry permit incl. study category
5. 5u.ae – Golden visapost_study · Golden visa for outstanding students
6. 6ICP – Golden residencepost_study · Outstanding students GPA 3.8
7. 7GDRFA – Golden residence (top students, graduates)post_study · Criteria, 10 years, AED 1,100
8. 8u.ae – Jobseeker visit visapost_study · Top-500 graduates, 60/90/120 days
9. 9GDRFA – Visit visa to explore job opportunitiespost_study · Jobseeker fees and guarantee
10. 10u.ae – Work permitswork_rules · Student training/employment and part-time permits
11. 11CAA – Higher education institutionsaccreditation · Licensed institutions and status by emirate
12. 12UAE MoE – University Certificates Recognition systemrecognition · Recognition of foreign degrees in UAE (22 Jun 2023)
13. 13Consulate General of India, Dubai – Student advisoryembassy_india · Accreditation checks, visa, work, insurance for Indians
14. 14UAE Embassy Kathmandu – Attestationembassy_nepal · Nepal MoFA attestation first; digital attestation
15. 15UAE Embassy New Delhi – Attestationembassy_india · MEA attestation first; digital attestation
16. 16UAE Embassy New Delhi – Visa on arrival expansionembassy_india · VoA for Indians with AU/CA/JP/NZ/KR/SG residence (13 Feb 2025)
17. 17UGC Regulations 2025 – equivalence of foreign qualificationsrecognition_india · Branch-campus / franchise rules for Indian equivalence