As UAE continues to grow on all fronts, so does the number of applications for residence visas. If you too wish to start a new life in UAE, you must get a residence visa. Most UAE residence visas are issued for a set period, and you can continue renewing them if you meet all the visa renewal conditions. There are different residence visas for students, professionals, the family of UAE residence visa holders, etc., so be sure to apply for the correct visa.
The UAE government has segregated residence visas based on the purpose of one’s travel. Currently, there are six main UAE residence visa types, as discussed below:
Foreign nationals willing to work and stay long-term in UAE must have a residence visa and a valid work permit. To get a UAE residence work visa, you must be at least 18 years of age and have a job offer. The employer will obtain a work permit on your behalf, which will be valid for 60 days once issued.
You can enter the country once your work visa gets approved. Upon landing in the UAE, your employer will have 60 days to stamp the residence visa and obtain the Emirates ID. Once this process is complete you enjoy the benefits of a UAE resident. The residence visa will be valid for 1, 2, or 3 years, depending on your travel purpose, and can be renewed on expiry.
Expats having a residence visa can bring their dependents on a UAE Family Visa. Under this visa, an expat can bring their spouse and children. To become eligible to sponsor dependents, male expatriates should be earning at least AED 4,000/month or AED 3,000/month plus accommodation. Women expatriates can sponsor their family members if they earn at least AED 8,000/month plus accommodation or AED 10, 000/month. If all the remaining terms and conditions are met, you can bring your dependents to UAE.
Expats can also sponsor their parents. As the rule of law, if both your parents are alive, you will have to sponsor both. This rule does not apply to expats having a single parent. To become eligible to sponsor parents, male expatriates should earn at least AED 20,000/month plus accommodation. While the women expat should earn at least AED 10,000/month plus accommodation. If all the remaining terms and conditions are met, you can bring your parents to UAE.
Wealthy and highly skilled individuals can obtain a long-term residence visa even if they don’t have any sponsor in UAE. Such people are given a 5 – 10year long residence visa, depending on their qualification. Popularly known as the golden visa, it lets top-level investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, doctors specializing in viral Epidemiology, Ph.D. degree holders from top institutes, well-known global artists, etc., get a long-term visa based on their merit and investment capabilities.
Foreign nationals, excluding those belonging to the GCC region, must obtain a UAE student visa to pursue studies in this country. Only students selected by higher education institutions are eligible for a student visa as the visa application process will be processed by the UAE higher educational institute on your behalf. As the UAE student visa is a residence visa, you can get it only after visiting UAE on an entry permit.
The UAE retirement visa is issued to elderly foreign nationals and retired expats who wish to settle in Dubai and have the necessary financial means. You can get a UAE retirement visa if you’re at least 55 years of age and fulfill any one of the following conditions:
The Remote work visa is aimed to attract talents and expertise from all over the world, enabling employees to work remotely from the UAE. The one-year visa allows foreigners to enter the UAE under self-sponsorship and work, if they fulfill the following conditions:
If you are an employee, you need to:
If you are a company owner, you need to:
Though the purpose of all these visas is to get you a residency in UAE, the eligibility criteria, documents required, and visa approval process vary. If you need any professional assistance in this regard, you can contact us today.
Prior to COVID-19, people were first required to enter the country on an entry permit. Once in UAE, the sponsor was required to apply for a residence visa at a GDRFA office of the relevant Emirate. As countries have started relaxing COVID-19 travel restrictions, some Emirates in UAE are sticking to the usual rule to obtain a visa, while others have changed the previous rule for safety purposes. You will have to enquire about the new visa acquiring process, depending on the Emirate you will be landing in.
You must renew your visa a month before the scheduled expiry date. Failure to do so will attract a penalty of AED 25/day for the first six months, AED 50/day for the next six months, and AED 100/day after a year has passed. Though the authorities provide a 30-day grace period, try to get your visa renewed before that. It will save you from hassles at a later stage.
If you’re not confident in handling the entire residence visa application and renewal process, you can take professional help. At Zenesis Corp, we have a pool of visa experts that will do your work in the most hassle-free and economical way. Have queries?
Contact us now at: +971 4 447 4997, WhatsApp: +971 58 914 2200 or email: info@zenesis.ae
Disclaimer: As a precautionary measure, due to the current COVID scenario, the UAE has restricted issuing visas to certain nationalities outside the country. This will change over time as the situation comes under control.
