Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November. For many NRI families that means a long flight home, and a stopover in Dubai turns it into a mini-holiday. The catch: a family of four can need four different visa answers.
The golden rule: check each traveller by their own passport. Indian-passport parents, US-born kids on US passports and a British spouse each follow different rules in both the UAE and India.
Step 1: the Dubai stopover
| Traveller | To leave the airport in Dubai |
|---|---|
| Indian passport + valid US visa/green card or EU visa/residence | 14-day visa on arrival |
| Indian passport + UK residence only | UAE visa in advance (UK residence no longer qualifies) |
| Indian passport + Australian PR | Was added in 2025, but 2026 guidance lists only US/EU documents: confirm with your airline or apply ahead |
| US, UK or Australian passport | Visa-free / free on arrival under the UAE's rules for that nationality |
| Staying airside, connecting within the terminal | No UAE visa needed |
Not leaving the airport? You don't need a UAE visa. Longer layovers can use a short transit visa arranged through your airline. Our transit visa guide explains when it's needed.
Step 2: getting into India
- Indian passport: no visa. Just make sure it's valid for the whole trip.
- Foreign-passport child with an Indian parent: an OCI card (now also issued electronically as e-OCI since 1 May 2026) or an Indian e-visa.
- Foreign spouse: OCI after at least 2 years of registered marriage, otherwise an Indian e-visa.
- Kids can't hold two passports: under India's 2026 citizenship rules, a minor can't hold an Indian passport and a foreign passport at the same time.
OCI takes weeks, not days. If it won't arrive in time for Diwali, apply for an Indian e-tourist visa for this trip and start the OCI afterwards.
Step 3: getting back home
- US: H-1B stamp valid? F-1 travel signature recent? Green card in hand?
- UK: passport linked to your eVisa, share code saved.
- Australia: PR travel facility still valid, or a Resident Return Visa if not.
The 10-minute family checklist
- List every traveller and the passport they'll use.
- Check each person's UAE entry for the stopover (or plan to stay airside).
- Check each person's India entry: Indian passport, OCI or e-visa.
- Check passports have 6+ months' validity on the date you return.
- Check everyone's re-entry documents for the country you live in.
- Book only after the visas are sorted.
Get your UAE visa with Krosz in 5 steps
- Pick the UAE and your trip type. Open UAE visa on Krosz and choose tourist, business or family visit. You see the full price before you start: ₹1,999 Krosz service fee + GST, plus the government fee.
- Sign in with a one-time code. No password to remember: enter your email and type the OTP we send.
- Upload your passport and photo. Krosz reads your passport page and pre-fills your details, so you only check them.
- Add your trip details and pay securely. Dates, entry point and where you're staying, then pay by UPI, card or net banking.
- A Krosz visa expert checks everything, then submits. A trained expert reviews every document one-to-one before it reaches the government, and you track the status until your visa arrives by email.
Coming from abroad and need an Indian e-visa for a foreign-passport family member? Krosz handles that too: start at our India visa page.
Start your UAE visa with Krosz →
Rules and fees last checked on 11 October 2026. Visa rules change often: always confirm on the official government website or with your airline before you fly.