Obtaining a visa in the UAE is not a time consuming process if you meet all the necessary requirements. If you are planning to move and buy apartments in Dubai, there are numerous ways to achieve a residency visa.
Living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while working or doing business is an appealing option. With a booming expat community, a nightlife that rivals that of London and New York, and no income tax, many people are drawn to this Middle Eastern country.
Not only this, buying a property in Dubai is also a comparatively easier process. Whether it’s a house, villa or a luxury apartment for sale in Dubai, you have a multitude of options to choose from and obtain a residency visa in Dubai.
Dubai’s immigration office has altered the visa application process. With the introduction of the UAE vision system, applicants no longer need to visit the immigration department to apply for a visa. The entire procedure is straightforward and simple. It is even possible to use it online.
Process of Getting Visa
- Gather all the necessary documents
- Visit an authorized typing center
- Handover all the documents
- The typing center scans documents and types in forms
- Get the Immigration approval
- Receive a message saying your application has been approved
- Collect your passport via Zajil (a government appointed courier) or visit the immigration department to get your visa stamped.
Integration of a residence visa with an Emirates ID
Since 11 April 2022, Emirates IDs have officially served as residency credentials for UAE residents, replacing visa stickers printed on passports.
Furthermore, with the exception of Dubai, residency visa stickers were formally replaced by Emirates ID cards on May 16, 2022. This means that an individual’s residency information will now be stored on their Emirates ID. Residents will no longer need to apply for two separate processes: Emirates ID and residency visa issuance/renewal.
When submitting an issuance or renewal request, applicants can also acquire a floppy copy of their Emirates ID. The new generation of Emirates ID cards will be able to save all information, including personal, professional, and other relevant information.
Changes and Updates to Emirates ID Information
The UAE digital government has stated that residents and citizens must notify the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) of any modifications or updates to the data on their Emirates ID cards within 30 days of the alteration.
This is true for Emirates ID cards issued to natives and expatriates. According to officials, UAE residents and citizens can use the ICP website or its smart application (iOS, Android) to edit or amend any details on an existing and valid Emirates ID card without presenting any documentation.
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According to the ICP, the Emirates ID data must be updated in the event of marriage or any changes in the wife’s last name (adopting a maiden name) for specific countries. If there is no change, the information on the ID card and the population registration must be updated.
Who is eligible for a UAE resident visa?
Foreign nationals who fall into one of the following categories may be eligible for a residence visa:
- Employees of a UAE company who are foreign nationals. It is the company’s responsibility to apply for and sponsor their residence visa.
- Foreign nationals working in the government sector It is the responsibility of the government body to apply for and sponsor their residence visa.
- Foreign investors in a UAE firm. Foreign nationals purchasing property in the UAE must participate actively in the visa application process under the sponsorship of their company’s registered name.
- The sponsorship will be under the property that the property owner owns, whether it’s a villa, a townhouse or luxury apartments for sale in Dubai.
- Foreign nationals who are sponsored by: someone who works in the UAE; an investor/business owner in the UAE; or a property owner in the UAE.
- Children, parents, domestic workers, and close relatives are examples of dependents.
- International university students The students will be supported by their various universities in the UAE.
- Residents who are retired
What is the validity of a UAE residence visa?
The validity time of a resident visa is determine by the type of visa. The Golden Visa, for example, is valid for five or ten years, depending on the applicant’s educational, professional, or business experience. Other visas, such as the student visa, are valid for one year and can renew if proof of continue study is provided.
Validity Period of Residence Visa after Staying Abroad
Most residence visa holders are only permit to leave the UAE for six months before losing their status. The following visa holders, however, are exclude from this visa validity rule. These are some examples:
- Holders of a Golden Visa
- Investors with a valid residency visa, government officials sent abroad for medical reasons or on assignment.
- A foreign national who is the wife of an Emirati citizen and is sponsor by him.
- Emirati citizens are accompanied by domestic helpers.
- People sponsored by the UAE’s diplomatic or consular representative
- Foreign national students studying at a university or institute in another country – this relates to Dubai
How can I determine the validity of a UAE residency visa?
If you already have an entry permit/residence visa to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, you can verify the validity of your visa on the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship- ICA website (the eChannel for residency and citizenship). Check the validity of your visa through Amer-GDRFA in Dubai if you already have an entry permit/residence visa in Dubai.
Alternatively, contact ICA at the toll-free number 600522222 or via the ICA feedback site if you have any questions on visa issuance, kinds, or validity.
What are the different types of UAE residency visas available?
As previously stated, the sorts of resident visas are link to an applicant’s eligibility. As a result, the following categories of UAE residency visas are available:
- Golden Visa, grant for a period of five or 10 years to a select group of applicants that includes investors, entrepreneurs, specialized skills and researchers in various disciplines of science and knowledge, and brilliant students with promising scientific abilities.
- Green Visa, a new residency visa that does not require job or sponsorship. This visa allows holders to sponsor their immediate families, such as parents, spouses, or children. The Green Visa is only available to investors, entrepreneurs, highly qualified individuals, top students, and graduates.
- UAE Work Visas are provided to foreign nationals working in both the business and public sectors.
- UAE Student Visas are grant to international students seeking higher education in the UAE.
- UAE Family Visa is grant to dependents of a resident visa holder. Children, parents, domestic workers, and close relatives are consider dependents.
- UAE Investment Visa (long-term residency) granted to foreign people who make significant investments in the UAE.
- UAE Retirement Visa, granted to older foreigners who wish to retire in the UAE and have the required financial resources to do so.
- UAE Remote Work Visa, granted to foreigners who wish to work remotely in the UAE.
