UAE Residence Visa 2024: How to Apply for a Residency in the UAE?

Understanding UAE residence visa

A residence visa is a vital document that formally grants permission to a foreign national to live in the UAE for an extended duration. It signifies legal authorization and enables individuals to establish a stable and secure presence within the country’s borders, facilitating various aspects of daily life such as employment, education, and access to essential services.

Unification of residency visa with Emirates ID

For UAE residents, the Emirates ID now officially serves as their residency documents, having replaced the visa stickers stamped onto passports.

 

Residence visa stickers have been officially replaced by Emirates ID cards across the UAE, with the exception of Dubai. This means that the residency information of an individual will now be stored on their Emirates ID. The change also eliminates the need for residents to apply for two different processes; Emirates ID and residency visa issuance/renewal.

Applicants may also obtain a soft copy of their Emirates ID upon submitting their issuance or renewal request. The new generation of Emirates ID cards will be able to accommodate all details, including personal, professional, and other pertinent data.

Emirates ID detail change and update

The UAE digital government has clarified that residents and citizens will have to notify the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) of any changes or updates regarding the data contained in their Emirates ID cards within a period of 30 days from the date of the change. This applies to Emirates ID cards issued to nationals and expatriate residents.

According to authorities, UAE residents and citizens can apply to change or update any details for an existing and valid Emirates ID card through the ICP website or its smart application (iOS, Android) without the need to submit any documents. The Emirates ID data, as stated by the ICP, must be updated in case of marriage or regarding any changes in the wife’s last name (adopting a maiden name) for some nationalities. However, in case there is no change, the data in the ID card and the population registry must be updated.

The service fee for changing or updating the details of an existing Emirates ID card through the ICP website is AED 50 (USD 13.61).

UAE five-year residence visa for retired expatriates

As announced by the UAE Digital Government, retired expatriates over the age of 55 can now apply for a 5-year residence visa in the UAE. However, to be eligible to obtain this type of residence visa, a retired expatriate must fulfill the following criteria:

• their service before retirement must be no less than 15 years inside or outside the UAE
• they must be no less than 55 years old
• they must either:
  • own real estate or more worth no less than AED 1 million, or 
  • have financial savings of AED 1 million, or
  • get a monthly income of AED 20,000 (AED 15,000 in Dubai)
• they must submit a bank statement for the past six months

Moreover, Dubai residents can choose from the following options:

• they can either have a minimum yearly income of AED 180,000 (or AED 15,000 per month)
• savings of AED 1 million in a 3-year fixed deposit
• own a property valued at AED 1 million, or
• have a combination of options, such as a 3-year fixed deposit and property, both totalling at least AED 1 million (with the fixed deposit and property each worth AED 500,000)

Retired expatriates are required to visit the Visit Dubai website to learn about the programme in Dubai and how to apply for the 5-year residence visa.

Please note that foreigners, as well as their wives and children, can be eligible for a 5-year residence visa, which can be renewed as long as the retiree meets the eligibility requirements.

Eligibility 

A residence visa requires applicants who are 18 and above to undergo a medical test to prove that they are medically fit. They must also pass a security check and apply for an Emirates ID card from the ICP.

Foreign nationals may be eligible for a residence visa provided they are covered in the following categories:

• foreign nationals employed by a UAE company. The company is responsible for applying for and sponsoring their residence visa
• foreign nationals employed by the government sector. The government entity is responsible for applying for and sponsoring residence visas
• foreign investors in a business in the UAE. Investors must take an active role in the visa application process under the sponsorship of their company’s registered name
• foreign nationals purchasing property in the UAE. The property owner’s sponsorship will be under the property they own
• foreign nationals who are dependents and are sponsored by:
  • someone who is employed in the UAE
  • an investor/business owner in the UAE
  • a property owner in the UAE
  • dependents include children, parents, domestic workers and close relatives.
• foreign university students. The students will be sponsored by their respective UAE universities.
• retired residents 

Please note that a residence visa may only be issued to a foreign national once they have been granted entry to the UAE via an entry permit, short or long-term tourist or visit visa. 

Types and benefits

Being a legitimate resident in the UAE will entitle you to:

• open a bank account
• access financial facilities
• apply for a driving licence
• access government health services and health insurance
• register his/her children in government schools and in private schools
• work and invest
• travel visa–free to certain destinations (check with foreign embassies in the UAE).

To access these advantages, applicants can choose from various types of residence visas. The eligibility criteria, as previously mentioned, determine the specific types of UAE residence visas that are accessible. Thus, the available types of UAE residence visas are as follows:

• UAE Work Visa, issued to foreign nationals employed in both the private and government sector
• UAE Student Visa, issued to foreign students pursuing higher education in the UAE
• UAE Family Visa issued to dependents of a residence visa holder. Dependents are defined as children, parents, domestic workers and close relatives
• UAE Investment Visa (long-term residence), issued to foreign nationals making substantial investments in the UAE
• UAE Retirement Visa, issued to elderly foreigners wishing to retire in the UAE and possess the necessary financial means to do so
• UAE Remote Work Visa allows you to live in the UAE while you continue to work for your existing employer outside the UAE

Golden Visa and Green Visa

Apart from the aforementioned, there are also other types of residence visas:

• Golden Visa, issued for five or ten years to a special category of applicants, including investors, entrepreneurs, specialized talents and researchers in various fields of science and knowledge, and bright students with promising scientific capabilities.
• Green Visa, a recently launched residence visa not reliant on employment and sponsorship. Holders of this visa may sponsor their immediate families, such as parents, spouses, or children. The Green Visa is reserved for investors, entrepreneurs, highly qualified people, top students and graduates.

Five-year residency visas for children of Emirati women

The UAE has started issuing five-year residency visas for children of Emirati women with foreign nationals, whose validity was previously three years.

This directive will improve the lives of many and is widely regarded as a progressive step towards improving the rights of the children of Emirati mothers born to foreign fathers, granting them the same benefits as other citizens in healthcare and education.

Five-year residency visas for retired expats

Expats in the UAE, along with their spouses and dependents, have the opportunity to obtain a 5-year residency visa, which can be renewed, provided that the retiree meets certain eligibility criteria. To be eligible, the retiree must be at least 55 years old and satisfy one of the following conditions:

• maintain a minimum yearly income of AED 180,000 (USD 49,000) or AED 15,000 (USD 4,100) per month.
• possess savings of AED 1 million (USD 275,000) deposited in a fixed account for a period of 3 years.
• own property valued at AED 1 million (USD 275,000).
• combine Options 1 and 2, with a total value of at least AED 1 million (USD275,000), consisting of a 3-year fixed deposit worth AED 500,000 and property worth AED 500,000.

 

Validity period

The validity period of a residence visa is contingent on the nature of the visa.

For example, the Golden Visa is valid for either five or ten years, depending on the applicant’s educational, professional, or business background. While other visas, such as the student visa, are valid for one year and can be renewed upon proof of continuation of study.

Validity period of residence visa after staying abroad 

Most Residence visa holders are only allowed to spend 6 months outside the UAE before they lose their residency. However, the following categories of visa holders are exempt from this visa validity rule. These include:

• Golden visa holders
• investors with a residence permit under an approved classification, and government employees sent abroad for medical reasons or on assignment.
• a foreign national wife of an Emirati citizen sponsored by her husband
• domestic helpers accompanying Emirati citizens
• people sponsored by the diplomatic or consular representative of the UAE
• foreign national students enrolled with a university or institute abroad — this applies to Dubai

However, the UAE has now launched a reentry permit which allows residency visa holders staying outside the UAE for more than six months to reenter the country. The reentry permit will allow UAE residents staying outside the UAE for over six months to reenter the Emirate within 30 days from the date of approval of the permit.

Hence, with the Dubai and UAE re-entry permit, residents can now stay outside the UAE for more than 6 months without getting their residency canceled.

How to check the validity of a UAE residence visa?

• if you already have an entry permit/residence visa to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, check your visa validity on the website of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship- ICP (the eChannel for residency and citizenship).
• if you already have an entry permit/residence visa in Dubai, check your visa validity through Amer-GDRFA in Dubai.

Alternatively, for any inquiry regarding visa issuance, types and validity, communicate with ICP at the toll-free number 600522222 or through the ICP feedback platform. 

For Dubai visas, contact Amer service on the toll-free number 800 5111 if you are living in the UAE. If you are outside the UAE, call Amer on the toll-free number +9714-313-9999.

For more information, please contact:

• The UAE Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship
• General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai

 

UAE residence visa application guide

Navigating the process of obtaining a UAE residence visa can seem daunting, but with the right guidance, it becomes straightforward and manageable. Let’s walk you through every step of the application process, from gathering the necessary documents to understanding the fees involved and the time it takes to process your application.

Required documents

Here are the general documents needed for applying for a UAE residence visa to ensure a smooth and successful application process:

• the UAE visa application form obtained online or through the relevant typing center.
• a valid passport
• two passport-size pictures, in line with UAE visa photo requirements
• an entry visa
• proof of your sponsor’s legal residency/UAE citizenship
• proof of medical fitness test
• proof of UAE health insurance plan
• for family visas, include proof of family ties, such as birth/marriage certificates
• for a work visa, your sponsor must include the work contract and copies of the company’s valid trade licence and valid firm card
• any additional documents in accordance with the type of residence visa

Application steps

In the UAE, you can only get a residency visa through your sponsor, who is usually your employer. For example, your employer will apply for and sponsor your residence visa as their responsibility.

Despite the Emirates ID replacing residency visas, the application process and fees for residency permits, including golden visas, remain the same.

You are required to obtain the necessary entry permit to the UAE, which can be obtained from one of the following:

• the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) portal 
• the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), either online or in-person 

Once you’ve entered the UAE, your sponsor is the one who has to apply for your residence visa at the GDRFA of your emirate.

Work Bundle

The UAE government’s recent introduction of the Work Bundle offers a range of services, including residency visa issuance. Companies can leverage this initiative to hire overseas employees as most government services are now consolidated into a single digital platform, indicating the future direction.

Recruiting an overseas employee entails completing the unified application, securing a work permit, and then ensuring the employee undergoes mandatory residency procedures, like a medical examination and obtaining the Emirates ID card.

 

In the UAE residency visa application process, only five documents are now necessary, a reduction from 16, significantly easing the process. The UAE Work Bundle notably simplifies the application process for employers across all emirates.

Processing fee

As confirmed by a typing center agent at the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), the fees for the UAE residence visa have gone up by AED 100. Therefore, currently, the price of a UAE residence visa fee for one year is AED 200.

Nonetheless, the fees will change depending on the duration of the issued visa. Please note that this may be subject to change, and you must also factor in the costs of medical insurance and insurance. 

As for the Golden Visa, the prices are AED 650 and AED 1,150 for the five and ten-year visa, respectively.

Processing duration

Private firms, individuals, and investors can streamline crucial employment and residency procedures through WorkInUAE.ae, a unified platform. Previously, tasks that took up to 30 days can now be accomplished in just five days.

Application tracking

To track your visa application, you need the application number and reference number. When you submit your visa application to any visa service provider, ask them to give you the application number and reference number so you can track the visa yourself through the channels mentioned herein.

• if you applied for a visa to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, track your visa application on the website of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship- ICA(the eChannel for residency and citizenship).
• if you applied for a Dubai visa or through Amer centers in Dubai, track your visa application through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai (Vision eForm.)

Managing UAE residence visas

Renewal process

As announced by the ICP, the grace period after the residence visa expiry or cancellation in the UAE for expats has been extended from 30 days to 6 months. Therefore, expats now have 6 months to either amend their status and get another residence visa or leave the country. Fines do not apply during the grace period. The residence visa has to be renewed before the end of that period to avoid incurring fines.

Your sponsor must renew your residence visa before it expires. A renewed visa will let you continue living legally in the UAE without incurring fines or facing legal consequences for the same.

The ICP has now standardized the overstaying fines in the UAE. According to the new rules, those overstaying on a UAE residency visa will have to pay AED 50 per day instead of the previous AED 25. Please make sure to remember that when the visa expires, your Emirates ID card also expires.

 

Residence visa renewal grace period 

Expatriates need to either exit the country or get a new visa within the grace period after the visa is canceled.

The grace period to exit the UAE after a residency visa cancellation has been increased to up to 30, 60 and 180 days according to the category of the visa. The validity of the different types of visa are as follows:

1. Golden Visa holders and their family members: 180 days 
2. Green Visa holders and their family members: 180 days 
3. widows or divorcees: 180 days 
4. students who have completed their studies: 180 days 
5. skilled professionals (first and second level in the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation classification): 180 days
6. skilled professionals (third level in the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation classification): 90 days
7. property owners: 90 days
8. normal residencies: 60 days
9. other categories: 30 days

The time limit to renew expired residence visas has now been extended to 6 months from the date of expiry. However, if there is a need to renew it a few months earlier (one to six months) for traveling reasons, you must first take special permission and approval from the relevant General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in the emirate that issued your visa.

 

Requirements for renewal

The conditions for renewing the residence visa are similar to those for sponsoring family members, getting a work permit and when your visa was issued for the first time. The following documents are needed: 

• a recent coloured personal photo with a white background for the dependent
• a copy of the passport of the dependent
• Emirates ID application receipt
• housing lease contract (certified) or proof of owning a residence
• a copy of the sponsor’s passport with a valid residence permit
• job contract of the sponsor
• a medical fitness certificate (for dependents above 18 years)
• entry permit
• attested birth certificate of the dependent (children)
• mother’s residence photo (for the newborn)
• medical insurance or health card
• divorce or death certificate (for divorced women and widows)
• proof of housing (for divorced women and widows)
• a proof of the woman’s ability to earn a living (for divorced women and widows)
• a certificate issued by the university or institute specifying the duration of the study (for students).

How to apply for a renewal of the UAE residence visa?

To renew the service, the company owner fills out the unified application, after which the employee undergoes a medical examination and receives the Emirates ID card.

Dubai & UAE re-entry permit

The travel and typing center agents in Dubai have confirmed that residency visa holders staying outside the UAE for more than six months can now reenter the country by applying for a reentry permit. The reentry permit will allow UAE residents staying outside the UAE for over six months to reenter the Emirate within 30 days from the date of approval of the permit.

Hence, with the Dubai and UAE re-entry permit, residents can now stay outside the UAE for more than 6 months without getting their residency canceled. However, to be eligible to apply for this new permit, residents must provide:

• a reason for having stayed outside the country for over six months and must furnish proof of the same.

The reentry permit can be applied for through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) official website.

You can find out more about the Dubai and UAE reentry permit from our dedicated article below:

 

Cancellation process

To initiate the cancellation of an employment visa in the UAE, the company must follow a specific process. Firstly, they need to submit an application to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) to terminate the employee’s labor contract and labor card. This application requires the employee’s signature as well. Following this, the employer should apply to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) to cancel the visa.

Additionally, the company is responsible for canceling the work permit. To do this, they must provide a letter to MoHRE, signed by the employee, confirming that all dues, wages, and end-of-service benefits have been settled.

For individuals sponsoring dependents such as spouses or children, it’s essential to cancel their dependents’ visas before canceling their own. The process usually incurs a fee of around AED 110.

According to UAE Digital Government procedures, only the sponsor or a delegated representative can initiate the cancellation of a sponsored person’s residence visa. The sponsored individual cannot proceed with the request without the sponsor’s permission and signature.