Applying For Residence Visa In Dubai

Applying for residence visa in Dubai is a process which any non-Emirati resident needs to go through before they start living in Dubai. Due to the growing expat population, the demand of the residence visa has also been increasing. That’s why it is important to understand what are the requirements, documents and procedures to apply for a residence visa in Dubai and to receive one within six weeks.

Have you ever asked yourself the question, how to apply for a residence visa in Dubai? Nowadays, people want to live and experience something new, hence they want to move out of their country to a new place that will offer them greener pastures.

Who can apply for a residence permit for the UAE in 2022?

There are several conditions under which a foreigner can apply for a residence permit in the UAE. These conditions also depend on the applicant’s nationality. The following requirement must be met when applying for a Dubai residence permit:

• citizens of other nationalities than Gulf Cooperation Council countries are required to apply for a residence permit when moving to Dubai;
• in case of a residence visa obtain through employment, it will be the employer to apply for the visa on behalf of the foreign citizen;
• the residence visa is necessary for various actions, such as setting up a bank account in Dubai, or buying various goods, including automobiles;
• the validity of the passport when applying for the Dubai residence visa must of at least 6 months.

Our Dubai company formation consultants can offer detailed information on all the benefits a foreign citizen can obtain once he or she has obtained a residence permit for the UAE.

New requirements for obtaining a residence visa for Dubai

In 2018, the UAE government has changed a few of the requirements related to obtaining Dubai residency. Under the new conditions, foreign citizens applying for a residence permit in Dubai based on a work contract must also submit a certificate of good conduct which must be obtained from their countries of residence. In the case of those who change jobs, this certificate is not required.

A new requirement for foreign citizens applying for residence permits in Dubai is having a valid email address, they will be sent an email by the local authorities in which they will be notified about their visas.

Relocating to a free zone in Dubai

It should be noted that not all residency regulations apply in the case of foreign citizens moving to a Dubai free zone. The free zone authorities are in charge of the issuance of residence permits in Dubai which are easier and faster to obtain here.

In the case of residence permits obtained through employment, the free zone authorities will issue the visas as soon as the employed submit all the documents required to start working, while in the case of company incorporation of a company in a Dubai free zone, the residence permit is part of the registration procedure. In case you need assistance for opening a company in another jurisdiction, for example in Singapore, we recommend our partners – OpenCompanySingapore.com.

Obtaining residency through employment in Dubai

The most common reasons foreign citizens apply for residency are when starting to work for a company in Dubai or when joining other family members who work and live in the city. Apart from the employer’s sponsorship, a foreign citizen may also obtain residency, if a UAE national will sponsor him or her when moving to Dubai.