Planning to travel to Dubai with your child? Find the visa requirements, consent letter rules, and full document checklist for minors traveling with parents, one parent, or grandparents.

Planning a family holiday is exciting, but the paperwork side feels overwhelming once children are involved. If you’re getting ready for traveling to Dubai with a child in tow, you’ve probably noticed that the rules aren’t always as clearly explained as they should be. It’s so easy to miss a document that could hold up your trip at the airport between visa categories, consent letters, and ever-changing entry requirements.

We work with families every week who’re sorting out Dubai child travel documents, and is a notarised letter actually required? This guide walks through everything based on the current 2026 entry requirements, so you can make sure of everything.

Do Children Need a Separate Dubai Visa?

Yes. A Dubai visa for children is mostly required regardless of age; even infants need a visa for Dubai. If your nationality qualifies for visa-on-arrival access, your child traveling on the same passport type usually qualifies too. But the entry stamp and supporting documents are still checked individually for each traveler, even for a child.

For nationalities that need to apply beforehand, the Dubai tourist visa for minors follows largely the same process as an adult application. That includes a passport copy, a photograph, and a confirmed travel itinerary. The confusion begins in the supporting paperwork, which leads to delays. Here’s the Dubai tourist visa application page for the full process.

What Documents Are Required for a Child to Travel to Dubai?

The standard list looks like this: if you are still wondering what documents are required for a child to travel to Dubai:

  • A passport that should be valid for at least 6 months.
  • A recent passport photo.
  • Birth certificate.
  • A visa application form, which must contain the child’s details 
  • A copy of the parents’ or accompanying adult’s passport and visa.
  • A consent letter, where applicable.

Airlines and the immigration officials in Dubai rarely ask for additional proof at the gate, even when the visa itself has already been approved, so, rather than depending on digital copies

Always carry physical copies of everything. See our Dubai visa documents checklist.

Dubai Visa Requirements for Minors Traveling With One Parent 

This is one of the cases where Dubai visa requirements for minors traveling with one parent cause a difference from a two-parent trip. While the UAE does not always mandate a notarised letter for single-parent travel the way some countries do, it’s increasingly common for airlines, immigration staff, or visa processing authorities to request written confirmation that the non-travelling parent is aware of and should agree to the trip.

In practical terms, a child travel consent letter, Dubai authorities, or your airline may ask to see should basically include the names and passport numbers of both parents, the child’s details, travel dates, and a signature from the parent staying behind. It’s worth having this letter notarised in advance when you’re divorced, separated, or share custody. Our guide on Dubai visa requirements for single-parent travel covers this scene in more detail.

Can a Child Travel to Dubai With Grandparents or Other Relatives?

Yes, can a child travel to Dubai with grandparents is one of the most common questions we receive, and the answer is mostly yes, provided the right documentation is in place. Since grandparents aren’t the legal parents, a signed consent letter for a child traveling to Dubai from both parents becomes far more important here, with the proof of the family relationship, such as the birth certificate.

We’d recommend treating this letter as important instead of optional in these cases, since immigration officers have no other way to ensure the traveling adult has permission to take the child across borders. If you’re planning a family trip, take a look at our Dubai family holiday packages. 

Child Travel Consent Letter for Dubai Visa: What It Should Include

A solid child travel consent letter for Dubai visa purposes includes the following:

  • Both parents’ full names and passport numbers.
  • Full name, passport number of the child, and date of birth.
  • Name and relationship of the accompanying adult.
  • Exact travel and return dates.
  • Both parents’ signatures, ideally notarized or witnessed.

This single document resolves more last-minute airport issues than any other piece of paperwork. If you’re not sure how to word it, get in touch with our visa team, and we can walk you through it.

Dubai Family Visa Requirements at a Glance

For families traveling together, Dubai family visa requirements are generally processed as a group application, which can simplify things. Each family member still needs individual documents, but submitting them together often speeds up approval and keeps the itinerary consistent across passports. It’s useful if you’re trying to avoid mismatched entry or exit dates. Read more about group processing in our full Dubai family visa guide.

Traveling to Dubai with a Child Checklist

Before you fly, run through this traveling to Dubai with a child checklist:

  • The passport should be valid for 6 months. 
  • Birth certificate.
  • Consent letter, notarised if traveling with a single parent.
  • Travel insurance including the child.
  • Any medication or medical letters should be clearly labelled.

The processing time can vary slightly based on the visa category and season if you’re applying for a Dubai tourist visa for minors from Turkey. Check our dedicated page on Dubai visa requirements for Turkish travelers to make sure you’re applying at the right time.  

Getting It Right the First Time 

Visa paperwork for children needs patience, and it isn’t that stressful. If you want a smooth airport experience, instead of doing it the week before departure, families put together their Dubai visa documents for families with children early. If you’re still not sure about which documents apply to your specific situation, contact our WhatsApp team directly, and we’ll sort out everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Does every child need their own Dubai visa, even infants?

Yes. Most nationalities expect to have a separate visa regardless of age, including infants, unless the family has a passport for visa-free or on-arrival entry to the UAE.

Q2. Is a notarised consent letter always required for Dubai travel with one parent?

Not always compulsory for every nationality, but it’s increasingly requested by airlines and immigration staff, so carry a signed or notarised letter.

Q3. Can grandparents take a child to Dubai without the parents?

Yes, this is usually permitted. A signed consent letter from both parents is strongly recommended.

Q4. How long before travel should we apply for a child’s Dubai visa?

It’s best to apply at least two or three weeks before departure, particularly during the peak travel days. 

Q5. What happens if we arrive without a consent letter and one is requested?

Immigration or airline staff may delay boarding or entry until this matter is resolved.