UAE residency is highly sought after. However, that\u2019s not to\nsay to process of obtaining it is overly challenging \u2013 as evidenced by the fact\nthat around 80-90% of the nation\u2019s total population are expatriates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Providing you seek the right guidance and meet the country\u2019s\ncomprehensive entry criteria, applying for, and obtaining, a UAE residency visa\ncan be very straightforward. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about UAE visa\nrules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How can I get a residence visa in Dubai?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before applying for your UAE residency visa, you should\nfirst check that you are eligible to reside in the UAE. Foreign citizens are\npermitted to live as residents providing they fit into one of five categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As well as meeting the criteria above, you must also abide\nby the UAE visa rules. These require you to be over the age of 18 (unless you\nare a dependant), pass a security check, submit biometric information and pass\na medical test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n UAE visa application process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The UAE visa application process consists of four key stages\n\u2013 entry permit, status change, medical test and visa stamping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first step is to apply for an entry permit. This is\nessentially a temporary visa that allows you access to the UAE for up to 60\ndays. Once you have obtained your entry permit you can enter the country to\nmake your full visa application. It is best not to leave the UAE and re-enter\nuntil you have obtained your residency visa. Doing so can cause difficulties\nwith immigration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your application is successful, you will receive your\nentry permit via email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have your entry permit, you must activate it. This\nis known as a status change and can be done in one of three ways. You can opt\nfor an in-country status change which requires you to send your passport to UAE\nimmigration services who will stamp and activate your visa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternatively, you can activate your entry permit via an out\nof country status change \u2013 this an option if you are out of the country when\nmaking your visa application. Here you simply present your passport and entry\npermit to immigration at a UAE airport. It is then stamped and activated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, you can activate your entry permit via what is\nknown as a border run. Here you would leave the UAE by land and then re-enter,\nonce again presenting your visa to an immigration official who will stamp and\nactivate it. This option is only available if you already hold a passport that\npermits visa-on-arrival access to the UAE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With your entry permit activated, you will then need to\nundergo a standardised medical test. This includes a blood test and x-ray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Providing you pass your medical you can then apply for an\nEmirates ID card. As part of this process you may be required to visit an\nimmigration centre to submit biometric information such as your fingerprints\nand eye scan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, your residence visa will need to be issued and\nstamped. To complete this final stage you must submit your passport to\nimmigration. They will then affix and stamp your visa in your passport before\nsending it back. This process usually takes around two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can I get permanent residency in Dubai?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While permanent residency in Dubai is theoretically\npossible, at this stage it is not easy to obtain. In May of this year, His\nHighness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced the \u201cGolden Card\u201d\npermanent residency scheme via his official Twitter account, saying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe permanent residency \u201cGolden Card\u201d will be granted to\nexceptional talents and everyone who positively contributes to the success\nstory of the UAE. We want them to be permanent partners in our journey.\nResidents are an indispensable part of our country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is understood that the first stage will see a few\nthousand foreign residents issued with permanent residency. Currently, Golden\nCards are limited to those who have invested over AED 100bn into the UAE\neconomy. It is unclear at this stage whether that criteria will be relaxed in\nfuture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Benefits of a UAE visa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many great benefits of holding a UAE residency\nvisa. As well as being able to live and work in the Emirates, as a resident you\nare also able to open a bank account and access other financial facilities,\napply for a UAE driving license, access government health services and\nfacilities, enrol your children in government and private schools and travel\nvisa free to destinations including Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obtaining your UAE residency visa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Providing you meet the entry criteria and understand each\nstage of the process, applying for a UAE residency visa doesn\u2019t have to be\ndifficult.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" UAE residency is highly sought after. However, that\u2019s not to say to process of obtaining it is overly challenging \u2013 as evidenced by the fact that around 80-90% of the nation\u2019s total population are expatriates. Providing you seek the right guidance and meet the country\u2019s comprehensive entry criteria, applying for, and obtaining, a UAE residency visa can be very straightforward. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about UAE visa rules. How can I get a residence visa in Dubai? Before applying for your UAE residency visa, you should first check that you are eligible to reside in the UAE. Foreign […]<\/p>\n