Apply Dubai Visa is a DTCM-licensed agency (Licence No. 1418453) processing Dubai tourist visas directly through GDRFA. If you have renewed your passport after receiving a Dubai tourist visa, your visa is no longer valid for travel on that new passport — it is linked to the old passport number. The fix is straightforward: cancel the old visa and reapply.
Can I travel to Dubai using my old visa if I have a new passport?
No. A Dubai tourist visa is issued against a specific passport number. If your passport has changed, the visa on your old passport cannot be used with your new passport — even if the old passport is cancelled. Passport details must match the visa exactly. If they do not match, you will be stopped at immigration.
What is the correct process when you get a new passport?
Step 1 — Cancel the old visa
Contact your visa agency or GDRFA directly to cancel the tourist visa issued on your old passport. This closes the file properly.
Step 2 — Reapply on your new passport
Submit a fresh tourist visa application using your new passport. You can apply for a 30-day visa or 60-day visa depending on your travel plans. Standard processing is 48 hours.
Step 3 — Travel with new passport and new visa only
Once your new visa is issued, travel with your new passport and new visa only. You do not need to carry your old passport — only the new passport with the matching new visa is required.
Do I need to notify GDRFA separately about my new passport?
No. There is no separate passport update procedure for tourist visas. Simply cancel the old visa and reapply — that process handles everything. GDRFA does not need to be informed independently.
What happens if passport and visa details do not match at immigration?
You will be stopped. Dubai airport immigration officers check that the visa details match the passport presented. A mismatch — even if the old passport was legitimately cancelled — results in denial of entry. This is why cancelling the old visa and obtaining a new one before travel is essential.
Does this apply to residence visa holders too?
Tourist visa holders only. If you hold a UAE residence visa and have renewed your passport, residence visa transfers follow different rules handled directly through UAE immigration under separate procedures. This guide covers tourist visas exclusively.
How quickly can I get a new visa after cancelling?
Standard processing through GDRFA is 48 hours. For travel within 24 hours, urgent same-day and 1-hour processing is available. Check all visa options and fees here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I carry both my old and new passport to use the old visa?
No. Carrying both passports does not resolve the mismatch. Your visa must correspond to your current passport number. Cancel and reapply — there is no workaround.
My old passport was cancelled by the embassy — is the visa also cancelled?
No. Your Dubai tourist visa remains on file separately from your passport status. You must explicitly cancel it through the visa system before reapplying on your new passport.
Is there a fee to cancel the old visa?
Contact the issuing agency for their specific cancellation policy. Processing fees for the new visa apply as standard.
How do I apply for a new visa on my new passport?
Upload your new passport and apply through our licensed agency — we process through GDRFA in 48 hours or faster.