Extension Of Residence Visa In UAE
Do you know that you can extend your residence visa in UAE up to 5 years? The procedure is simple and hassle-free. The process for extending a residence visa in the UAE is different for each category of people and the rules are according to the public or private sector where the person is working.
The rules pertaining to extension of visit visa Of Residence in Dubai & UAE has been changed several times. This happens due to some reasons, like to prevent illegal stay of expatriates in the country, or sometimes its due to political issues between the countries and other factors like security policies.
Touriangle affords you unrestricted access to a litany of relevant information on UAE residence visa renewal online, how many days before visa expires can I travel UAE, can UAE visa be extended, and so much more. Take out time to visit our catalog for more information on related topics.
UAE Residence Visa Extension New Rules 2022
Moving to a new house or living in a different place always entails emotional upheaval and monetary pressure. The extension of residence visa in UAE is mainly granted by the officials if one is working or having business in the emirate. In Dubai, foreign nationals can file either for a renewal or extension of residence visa with the respective department in Dubai; this facility is provided under the directives of Ministry of Interior (MoI) of UAE. Most of the time, expatriates have to leave the UAE when their visa expires. But there is a way to stay in the country after the expiration of your visa. It is called the extension of residence visa in UAE which allows you to stay beyond your UAE visa expiry date. In this post, you will learn how you can apply for an extension of residence visa in UAE.
Foreign nationals who have valid residence permits for the UAE are eligible to extend their stay for a period of up to 12 months on condition that the entry visa used in the first entry presents valid and not expired.
How To Extend UAE Residence Visa
Renewing your residence visa
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 relevant General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) allows residents a grace period of 30 days to stay in the UAE after their visas expire.
As per the UAE immigration’s fines system, the penalty to stay on after the expiration of the grace period is:
- AED 25 per day during the first 6 months (180 days)
- AED 50 per day during the second 6 months (180 days)
- AED 100 per day after passing a year and more.
Remember that when the visa expires, your Emirates ID card issued by Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security (ICP) also expires.
How early can a residence visa be renewed?
The time limit to renew an expired residence visas is 30 days from the date of expiry. However, if there is a need to renew it a few months earlier (one to six months) for travelling reasons, you must first take special permission and approval from the relevant General Directorate of Residency and Foreigner’s Affairs in the emirate that issued your visa.
Types of UAE Residence Visas
The types of UAE Residence Visas are divided depending on the purpose of your travel. As such, there is the:
- UAE Work Visa, which is issued to foreigners who have found employment in the UAE and obtained a Work Permit.
- UAE Student Visa, which is issued for foreign nationals who have been accepted into a UAE educational institution
- UAE Family Visa, which is issued to the close family members of UAE citizens or foreign residents
- UAE Investment Visa (long-term residence), which is issued to foreign nationals who make a substantial investment in the UAE. This type of visa is issued for a longer duration than other types of residence visas (up to ten years)
- UAE Retirement Visa, which is issued to elderly foreigners who want to retire in the UAE and have the necessary financial means to do so.
- Work Remotely from Dubai program, which is issued to foreign freelancers who want to work in Dubai remotely.
UAE Residence Visa Process Step By Step
What are the requirements for a UAE Residence Visa?
When applying for a UAE Residence Visa, you must have several supporting documents, such as:
- The UAE Visa Application Form, obtained online or through the relevant typing center
- Your original passport
- Two passport-size pictures, in line with UAE visa photo requirements
- Your entry visa
- Proof of your sponsor’s legal residency / UAE citizenship
- Proof you have passed a 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 related to your purpose of travel. For more, see:
- UAE Work Visa
- UAE Family Visa
- UAE Student Visa
- UAE Investment Visa
- UAE Retirement Visa
*All foreign nationals who want to live in the UAE on a Residence Visa have to pass a medical exam proving their fitness.
Can UAE Visa Be Extended
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.
Basic requirements are:
- a sponsor with a valid residency permit
- passing a medical fitness test for those above 18
- insurance card (mandatory in Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
- a renewed identity card issued from ICP, or an original receipt that you have registered with ICP to get a renewal.
The following documents are needed:
- online application or application through a registered typing office for renewal of residency permit signed by the sponsor, whether public sector, private sector company, or personal sponsor
- original passport of the sponsored
- photo of the sponsored.
For employers working in the private sector, the sponsoring company must submit the following additional documents:
- a copy of a valid firm card
- a copy of a valid trade licence
- a copy of renewed labour card of the sponsored
- a copy of labour card renewal receipt for those who reached (60) years and above.
Those sponsoring their families: spouse, children, parents and siblings (relatives of first and second degree) must present:
- a copy of the husband’s/wife’s employment contract or company contract for investors
- a salary certificate from the employer stating the employee’s monthly salary
- a legalised marriage certificate
- a registered tenancy contract
- latest utility bill.
They must also meet the
- sponsorship requirements for wife and children
- sponsorship requirements for parents
- sponsorship requirements for a woman sponsoring her family.
During this period of containing the spread of COVID-19, labourers and support service staff such as domestic workers whose work permits have expired would be exempt from medical tests for renewing their work permits and residence visas.
Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation and Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) announced that the work permits and residence visas of labourers and support staff will be issued and renewed automatically.
The fees for these services will be collected through the authorised payment channels. Once the fee is paid, the workers will remain legitimate residents of the UAE.
In April 2020, ICA took a decision to extend the visas of foreigners in the UAE and residents whether inside or outside the UAE. This was done to support the residents and visitors following the suspension of air traffic. The decision specifies:
- residents whose residence visas expired in early March 2020 or are due to expire later will receive an extension of their visas until the end of December 2020. This measure applies to both residents inside and outside the UAE.
- foreign visitors to the UAE who couldn’t leave the UAE and whose visas expired in early March 2020 or are due to expire later, will also have their visit visas extended until the end of December 2020.
In addition, residents whose Emirates ID cards expired in early March 2020 or later will also have their validity extended until the end of the current year.
How Much Is Visa Extension In UAE
How much will the renewal of the visa cost?
A cost of 500 AED will be charged for renewing a visa in the immigration office without having to leave the country.
UAE Residence Visa fees
The fees for a UAE Residence Visa change depending on what duration your visa is issued for. For one year, the UAE Residence Visa fee is AED100.
Additionally, you will also have to pay a processing fee which also changes depending on where you apply, which can range from AED70 if applying in person or AED40 if applying online.
Please keep in mind that the visa fees are subject to change and that you will have to pay additional fees for medical exams and health insurance as well.
How much is the overstay fee charge?
The fees for overstaying your UAE Residence Visa is AED 50 per day after the grace period.
UAE Residence Visa overstay fee
The fees for overstaying your UAE Residence Visa are as follows:
- For the first 6 months (180 days) – AED 25 per day
- For the second 6 months (180 days) – AED 50 per day
- For every day after 1 year has passed – AED 100 per day
UAE tourist visa renewal
All forms of visit and tourist visas can be renewed for another 30 days once they have been applied for and approved by the competent authority. This can be accomplished without leaving the country.
Before the initial renewal expires, visitors and tourists can apply for a second renewal for AED 600 each time. Overstayers who do not renew their visas will be fined AED 100 for each day they are overstaying, starting 10 days after the visa expires.
However, the new rule for extension does not apply to the following categories:
- visitors and tourists who are residents in GCC countries
- residents accompanying GCC nationals
- those on special entry permits
- those on 96-hour permit for special missions.
