Travelling to Dubai with a baby or young child in 2026 can be a beautiful experience—safe city, family-friendly attractions, smooth infrastructure, and plenty of kid-friendly facilities. But before you think about strollers, snacks, and nap times, you need to get one crucial part right: your child’s visa and travel documents.

In the UAE, infants and children are treated as separate travelers for immigration purposes. That means your baby usually needs their own passport and, in many cases, their own Dubai visa. This guide walks you through who needs a visa, which visa type to choose, the full document checklist, airline rules for infants, costs, timelines, and a simple online application process through Dubai Visa Center.

Why Babies Are Treated as Separate Travelers in Dubai Immigration

Even if your baby is only a few months old, immigration authorities consider them an individual traveler with their own identity and entry record. This approach helps:

Match each traveler to security and immigration systems
Track entries, exits and visa validity accurately
Protect minors through proper documentation and consent checks

For parents, the key takeaway is simple: never assume your baby can “share” your visa or passport. You must check requirements for their nationality specifically and apply accordingly.

Do Babies Need a Visa for Dubai in 2026?

In 2026, every person entering Dubai—including newborns, toddlers, and older children—must meet UAE entry rules. Depending on your child’s nationality and passport, your baby may:

Be visa-exempt or eligible for a visa on arrival, or
Need a pre-approved e-visa (tourist, visit, or transit).

Even when parents qualify for visa-on-arrival, rules for minors can be slightly different, especially if the child holds a different passport or dual citizenship. When there is uncertainty, it’s safer to apply for a pre-approved visa before travelling so you are not dealing with last-minute surprises at the airport.

Dubai Visa Options for Infants and Children (Tourist, Visit, Transit)

30/60/90-Day Tourist or Visit Visa for Families

For most family holidays and visits to relatives, a 30-, 60- or 90-day tourist/visit visa is the best fit.

These visas:

Are available as single-entry or multiple-entry
Can cover a short vacation, extended stay with family, or multi-week trips
Are issued specifically in the child’s name and passport number

If you plan to leave the UAE briefly and return (for example, a short trip to another country), consider multiple-entry options so you do not need to re-apply.

48/96-Hour Transit Visa for Long Layovers

When your family has a long layover in Dubai and wants to leave the airport to explore the city, a 48-hour or 96-hour transit visa can be used for infants and children as well.

Key points for a child transit visa:

Confirmed onward ticket is mandatory
Minimum layover time requirements must be met
The child’s transit visa details must match their flight itinerary

Visa-Exempt and On-Arrival Nationalities for Minors

If your baby’s passport is eligible for visa-free entry or visa-on-arrival, they generally enter under the same regime as adults—but still:

Must carry their own passport
Must have return/onward ticket and accommodation details
Must satisfy immigration officers that the stay is short and lawful

Whenever eligibility is unclear, applying online in advance through Dubai Visa Center gives you added peace of mind.

Infant & Child Visa Requirements in 2026 – Full Document Checklist

Core Documents Required for a Child’s Dubai Visa

Prepare clear, color scans of the following documents before starting your application:

Child’s passport, valid for at least 6 months from arrival and with blank pages
Recent passport-style photo of the child
Completed online application form (with child and parent details)
Confirmed round trip or onward flight booking
Proof of accommodation: hotel reservation or relative’s UAE address
Parent or guardian passport copies
Valid UAE visa or entry status of the parent if already in the UAE
Child’s birth certificate to prove the parent-child relationship

Having these ready reduces back-and-forth communication and speeds up processing.

Passport & Photo Specifications for Babies

For infants, photo rules can feel a bit strict, but they’re important for identification:

Neutral white or light background
Face centered and visible, with no strong shadows
Eyes open if possible (relaxed newborn photos are usually accepted if the rest is correct)
No toys, pacifiers, or adult hands visible
No hats, headbands or heavy accessories that cover facial features

Always use the latest available photo—immigration officers prefer an image that reasonably matches your child’s current appearance.

Extra Documents When Only One Parent Travels

If only one parent is travelling with the child—or if surnames differ—extra documentation is often requested for child-protection reasons. Prepare:

A signed consent letter from the non-travelling parent, authorising the trip
A copy of the non-travelling parent’s passport
Custody or guardianship papers if relevant (for divorced, separated, or widowed parents)

These documents help avoid delays during immigration checks and demonstrate that the trip is fully authorised.

Travel Insurance & Health Considerations for Infants

While not always mandatory for visa approval, travel medical insurance is strongly recommended for babies and children. It can help cover:

Sudden illness or fever
Minor injuries or medical emergencies
Prescription medicines and doctor visits

If your baby has recently been premature or has health conditions, carry medical notes or fitness-to-fly letters in case the airline requests them.

Airline Rules for Infants Travelling to Dubai

Lap Infant vs Own Seat, Bassinets & Infant Fees

Most airlines define an infant as under two years of age. Parents can usually choose between:

Lap infant: The baby travels on an adult’s lap; a reduced infant fee applies.
Own seat: You buy a separate seat and use an airline-approved car seat.

Bassinets are limited and usually assigned to bulkhead rows. Request them immediately after booking, not at the last minute—families often compete for a small number of bassinet spots.

Strollers, Car Seats & Cabin Baggage for Babies

Airlines typically allow at least one stroller and/or car seat free of charge. Common practice is:

Use the stroller inside the airport up to the gate
Hand it over before boarding; collect it at the aircraft door or baggage belt

Check your airline’s baggage rules in advance so you can pack baby essentials—diapers, clothes, milk, snacks, wipes—inside hand luggage without exceeding limits.

Unaccompanied Minor Policies by Age

Infants and very young children cannot travel alone. For older kids (typically 5–12 years), most airlines offer Unaccompanied Minor (UM) services, but these must be reserved in advance.

If you ever consider a child travelling without parents, always verify:

Minimum age for UMs
Routes where the UM service is allowed
Additional forms and fees payable

How to Apply for a Dubai Visa for Your Baby Through Dubai Visa Center

Here is a clear, step-by-step process to apply for your baby’s Dubai visa online using Dubai Visa Center:

Choose the visa type
Decide whether your child needs a 30/60/90-day tourist/visit visa or a 48/96-hour transit visa, based on your plans.
Enter traveler and parent details
Fill in the online form with the baby’s personal information and the accompanying parent or guardian details exactly as shown in passports and birth certificate.
Upload all required documents
Attach scans of your child’s passport and photo, birth certificate, parent passports and visas, flight itinerary, and accommodation proof.
Review visa fees and pay securely
Check the displayed fee for the chosen visa type and submit payment through the secure payment gateway.
Track your child’s visa status
Use the application ID sent to your email to follow progress. You may receive email or SMS updates for any additional information needed.
Receive the approved e-visa
Once approved, the e-visa will be emailed to you. Print a copy and keep a digital version on your phone or tablet for check-in and immigration.

Call to Action: Apply your baby’s Dubai visa through Dubai Visa Center at least 7–10 days before travel, and even earlier during peak holiday seasons, so your family itinerary stays stress-free.

Fees, Processing Time, Validity & Extensions for Child Visas in 2026

In 2026, processing times and fees for a child’s Dubai visa can vary by nationality, visa duration, and season. In most standard cases:

Processing takes around 2–5 working days, provided documents are correct
Fees for a child’s tourist visa are comparable to adult visas and depend on the length of stay and entry type
Transit visas typically cost less but are valid only for 48 or 96 hours

When you apply through Dubai Visa Center, the exact fee for your baby’s nationality and chosen visa type is clearly displayed before payment, so there are no hidden surprises.

For longer stays, certain tourist or visit visas may be extendable inside the UAE, subject to the 2026 rules. Extensions are useful if your family decides to prolong the holiday or stay longer with relatives.

Overstay, Grace Periods & Risks for Minors

Even if the traveler is a baby, overstay rules still apply. If a child remains in the UAE beyond the permitted stay:

Daily overstay fines may be charged
Exits can become stressful, with extra payments at the airport
Future visa applications for the child—or in some cases, the family—may face additional checks

Some visa categories offer a short grace period after expiry, but you should never depend on that. Always note your child’s visa expiry date and either:

Exit the country in time, or
Apply for an extension through approved channels before the visa runs out

Using a structured provider like Dubai Visa Center helps parents stay informed about validity and next steps.

Common Mistakes Parents Make When Applying for a Child’s Dubai Visa

Parents handling family paperwork alongside daily life can easily overlook small details that cause delays. Typical mistakes include:

Uploading baby photos with poor lighting, incorrect background, or visible hands/toys
Forgetting consent letters when one parent is not travelling
Differences in spelling or dates between birth certificate and passports
Booking flights first and applying for visas very late, leaving no buffer for corrections
Assuming the baby can enter on parent’s visa-on-arrival without checking their own eligibility

Avoiding these issues is simple: double-check documents, use high-quality scans, and apply early through a guided platform.

Why Families Prefer Applying with Dubai Visa Center

For parents, convenience and peace of mind matter as much as speed. Dubai Visa Center offers:

A fully online process—no embassy queues with a baby in tow
Clear instructions tailored for infants and minors
Document pre-checks that reduce chances of rejection due to avoidable mistakes
Multiple visa options (tourist, visit, transit; different stay lengths)
Application tracking and responsive support if you need help or corrections

By letting specialists handle the visa side, you can focus on planning flights, accommodations, and baby essentials instead of worrying about forms and fine print.

Final Call to Action – Apply Your Child’s Dubai Visa Online

Your family trip to Dubai in 2026 should be about beach days, aquarium visits, desert sunsets, and unforgettable memories—not paperwork stress at the airport.

Apply your baby’s Dubai visa, along with the rest of the family, through Dubai Visa Center. With guided forms, secure payments, document checks and timely updates, you can board your flight confident that your child’s entry to Dubai is properly arranged.

Start your application today and make your Dubai journey smooth from the very first step.

Apply Dubai Visa Center