🇦🇪UAE

🏳DJAE-DJ

Do UAE passport holders need a visa to visit DJ?

Q: Can I get a visa on arrival in Djibouti instead?

Officially, Djibouti limits visa on arrival to diplomatic, official, and service passport holders. The government recommends the eVisa, so ordinary passport tourists should apply online in advance to avoid being refused boarding or entry.

Q: How long can I stay on a Djibouti tourist eVisa?

The short-stay/visit eVisa permits a stay of 15 to 90 days. A separate transit eVisa covers 1-14 days.

Q: How much does the Djibouti eVisa cost?

The official government fee is USD 23 for the visit (short-stay) eVisa and USD 12 for the transit eVisa, plus any card processing charge.

Q: Where do I apply for the Djibouti eVisa?

On the official Republic of Djibouti portal at evisa.gouv.dj. Avoid unofficial third-party sites charging higher service fees.

Q: What documents do I need?

A UAE passport valid at least 6 months, a scan of the bio-data page, a recent passport-size photo, and a payment card. Proof of accommodation and onward travel are recommended.

UAE ordinary passport holders need an eVisa to visit Djibouti. Apply online at the official government portal (evisa.gouv.dj) before travel; the short-stay (tourist) eVisa allows up to 90 days. Visa on arrival is officially restricted to diplomatic/official passports, so the eVisa is the correct channel for tourists. Djibouti requires a visa from United Arab Emirates ordinary passport holders. Since 18 February 2018, Djibouti's official electronic visa system (evisa.gouv.dj) replaced the general visa-on-arrival facility, and the government now recommends the eVisa for all visitors. UAE citizens are not on Djibouti's small visa-exemption list. The correct route for a short tourist visit is the official Djibouti eVisa: a short-stay/visit eVisa valid for stays of 15 to 90 days, government fee USD 23 (the transit eVisa for 1-14 days is USD 12). The application is fully online: create an account, select the visit visa, upload a passport bio-data scan and a recent photo, pay, and receive a PDF eVisa by email to print and present at Ambouli International Airport (Djibouti-Ambouli, JIB). Passport must be valid at least 6 months. While some sources note visa on arrival may still be granted in practice to ordinary passport holders, Djibouti officially limits VOA to diplomatic, official, and service passport holders, so an eVisa obtained in advance is the safe, recommended option. Airlines make the final boarding decision and generally require the eVisa.

VISA REQUIREDTOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30

For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.

UAE (Golden Visa)Living in UAE as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→

/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30

Visa type

eVisa (electronic visa) - short-stay / visit

Maximum stay

Up to 90 days (15-90 day visit eVisa)

per entry

Entries

Single entry

from issue date

Visa fee

USD 23 (government fee for visit eVisa)

consular fee only

Processing time

Typically 3-7 business days

standard track

Validity

Use within the validity window stated on the eVisa; passport must be valid 6+ months

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Confirm eligibility and passport validity

Verify your UAE ordinary passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended arrival date in Djibouti and has a blank page. UAE citizens are eligible for the Djibouti eVisa.

· 6-month validity· Ordinary passport

/02

Go to the official eVisa portal

Open the Republic of Djibouti's official electronic visa platform at evisa.gouv.dj and create an applicant account. Avoid third-party lookalike sites.

· evisa.gouv.dj· Official portal

/03

Select the visit (short-stay) eVisa

Choose the short-stay / visit eVisa (15-90 days) for tourism. Choose transit (1-14 days) only if you are passing through.

· Visit eVisa· Tourism purpose

/04

Complete the form and upload documents

Fill in personal and travel details and upload a clear scan of your passport bio-data page and a recent passport-style photograph.

· Passport scan· Photo

/05

Pay the fee online

Pay the government eVisa fee (USD 23 for the visit eVisa) by card on the portal.

· USD 23· Card payment

/06

Receive eVisa and travel

Receive the approved eVisa as a PDF by email (usually within 3-7 business days), print it, and present it with your passport at Ambouli International Airport.

· PDF by email· Print copy

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items

Personalized checklist

0 / 10 complete

UAE ordinary passport valid 6+ months beyond arrival

required

At least one blank passport page

required

Approved Djibouti eVisa (printed PDF)

required

Recent passport-size digital photograph

required

Scan of passport bio-data page

required

Confirmed onward/return flight ticket

recommended

Proof of accommodation (hotel booking)

recommended

Payment card for the online fee

required

Yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from an endemic country

conditional

Sufficient funds for the stay

recommended

Track your progress · save & email a copy

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Visit (short-stay) eVisa - government feeUSD 2315-90 day stay, single entry; official rate

Transit eVisa - government feeUSD 12Alternative, 1-14 day stay only

Card/payment processingUSD 0-3Possible bank/card surcharge on online payment

Total estimateUSD 23 — USD 26incl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

Standard eVisa processing

3-7 business days

Apply on evisa.gouv.dj well ahead of travel; receive PDF eVisa by email.

Expedited/rush (third-party agents)

2-4 business days

Some service providers offer faster handling for an added fee; the government portal remains the authoritative issuer.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

UAE is not on Djibouti's visa-exemption list

Djibouti grants visa-free entry only to a small set of nationalities/passport types; UAE ordinary passports are not included.

High

/02

eVisa replaced general visa on arrival

Since 18 February 2018, Djibouti's eVisa system superseded the broad VOA facility and is the government-recommended route.

High

/03

Visa on arrival officially limited to diplomatic/official passports

While Timatic notes any passport may obtain VOA, Djibouti officially restricts it to diplomatic, official, and service passports, making advance eVisa the safe choice.

Medium

/04

Airlines require proof of authorization to board

Carriers generally require a valid eVisa (or confirmed entry document) before allowing boarding to Djibouti.

Medium

/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01

Immigration

Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.

/02

Customs

Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.

/03

Connectivity

Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.

/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024

2026-05-30

United Arab Emirates to Djibouti route verified

Confirmed via Djibouti official eVisa portal (evisa.gouv.dj) and Wikipedia visa policy that UAE ordinary passport holders need an eVisa; visit eVisa allows up to 90 days at USD 23 government fee. Visa on arrival officially limited to non-ordinary passports.

/09 — The questions