How To Get Residence Visa In Dubai
Are you thinking of moving to Dubai? It is not easy to get a resident visa in the UAE. Everyone wants a residence visa and everyone wants to live in Dubai. If you have a job offer, bring your family or know someone who can sponsor you, it is much easier to get a resident visa (no worries if you don’t have these things, I’ll show you how you can get a home visa).
Are you planning to invest, buy a property or want to start a business in Dubai? If yes, then you will require a residence visa in Dubai. Obtaining the residence visa in Dubai is not a walk in the park. There are strict rules and all the applicants needs to fulfill each and every criterion which is necessary to get this residency visa. Here we will look into the documentation, procedures and steps involved while applying for a residence visa in Dubai.
Congratulations! You have a job offer in Dubai. So you really need this Residence Visa? Read on to find out how to get it.
Obtaining a residency visa in Dubai can be tricky. There are numerous steps involved and at times, it can be an expensive process. If you’ve ever looked into getting a residence visa in Dubai, I’m sure you have your own horror stories to tell. I know I do!
How To Get Residence Visa In Dubai
Obtaining a residence visa in Dubai is relatively simple, assuming you have the requisite cash and meet other criteria. First, some background. Family members of a person who works or resides in the UAE are allowed to obtain residence visas without having to leave their home countries. In most cases, these visas are obtained through the sponsoring spouse in Dubai, though there’s nothing stopping a company based in other emirates from sponsoring an employee’s family member. The cost of obtaining a three-year residence visa will vary depending on the employee’s salary; however, it can be as low as $100 per annum for employees earning a basic salary of $10,000 or more.
The possession of a residence visa offers you a unique opportunity to live in the UAE. A resident lives in the UAE and can visit most of the other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries without further visas.
Foreigners who want to live and work in the United Arab Emirates long-term need a UAE Residence Visa. A residence visa for the UAE offers the holder a lot of benefits, including:
- You can open a bank account
- You can get a bank loan (personal or car loan)
- You have visa-free access to several countries
- Your children can attend government or private schools
- You can get a driver’s license
- You have access to government health services and health insurance
However, to be able to get a Residence Visa for the UAE, you must meet certain eligibility criteria, such as finding a job or investing in one of the emirates.
Who is eligible for a UAE Residence Visa?
To qualify for a UAE Residence Visa, you have to fall under one of the following categories:
- You will work in the UAE, under a governmental office or in a private company.
- You will study in a UAE educational institution
- You are the dependent of a UAE citizen or foreign resident (child, parent, maid, or a close relative)
- You have made an investment in the UAE
- You have purchased property in the UAE
- You will retire in the UAE
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.
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.
UAE Residence Visa application
You have to apply for a Residence Visa once you’re already in the UAE, meaning you have to enter with an entry permit first. Additionally, just as with the entry permit, in most cases, you cannot apply for your own residence visa: you need a sponsor to apply on your behalf, such as your employer, spouse, etc.
Who can apply for my UAE Residence Visa?
You can only apply for a Residence Visa through a sponsor. However, in certain cases, you may be your own sponsor.
- For a UAE Work Visa, your employer is your sponsor
- For a UAE Student Visa, your school is your sponsor
- For a UAE Family Visa, your family member is your sponsor
- If you are an investor or buy property in the UAE, you can apply yourself and your company/property serves as sponsorship
How to apply for a UAE Residence Visa?
First, your sponsor has to get an Entry Permit for you at one of the following:
- The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship
- The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – GDRFA either online (see the websites below) or in-person. If your host applies in-person they must do so through one of the licensed typing centres of the GDRFA in each Emirate or through one of the Amer centres in Dubai.
- GDRFA Dubai mobile apps for Apple and Android
Once you are in the country, your sponsor has to apply for your Residence Visa at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) of the relevant emirate in which you will live.