Dubai Residence Permit Conditions and Application Procedures
Dubai Residence Permit Conditions and Application Procedures
Dubai residence permit is also known as Dubai residence visa. Foreigners who want to live and work in the United Arab Emirates for a long time; They need to obtain a UAE residence visa, which allows them to live, study and reunite with their families in the UAE.
The United Nations Happiness Index has ranked the UAE as the 14th happiest country in the world in recent years. Dubai's high standard of living attracts foreign nationals to work, live and study in the country. The UAE has a population of around 10 million, with more than 88% of its residents being foreign nationals from abroad.
Strategically located between Europe, Asia and Africa, Dubai is an ideal location for many business activities including international trade, import, export, logistics, tourism and hospitality. Since the crime index in Dubai is one of the lowest in the world, security problems are almost non-existent. The absence of a taxation system in Dubai makes Dubai an attractive destination for foreign investors. The Dubai residence visa allows opening a current account in UAE banks, renting a long-term apartment, entering and exiting the UAE multiple times and obtaining a visa.
To obtain a Dubai residence permit, foreign nationals must meet certain conditions, such as receiving a job offer in Dubai, gaining acceptance from a university, or investing in one of the emirates.
Who is Eligible for a Dubai Residence Permit Visa?
Persons who can obtain a Dubai residence permit visa are listed below.
- Individuals who will work in a government agency or a private company in the UAE
- People who will study in UAE educational institutions
- Persons related to a UAE national or UAE resident (child, parent, servant or close relative)
- People investing in UAE
- People buying property in the UAE
- People looking to retire in the UAE
What are the Residency Permit Requirements in Dubai?
The requirements for a residence permit in Dubai are listed below.
- To obtain a residence visa, you must be 18 years of age.
- Applicants must undergo medical testing to prove they are medically fit.
- People applying for a residence permit in Dubai are required to undergo a security check.
- Applying for an Emirati ID card from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship is one of the prerequisites.
What are the Types of UAE Residency Permits to Live in Dubai?
Types of UAE residence permits to live in Dubai are listed below.
- United Arab Emirates green residence visa
- United Arab Emirates golden visa
- United Arab Emirates work and residence visa
- United Arab Emirates family reunification residence visa
What is the United Arab Emirates Green Visa?
The UAE green visa is a residence visa that allows the holder to sponsor themselves for 5 years, eliminating the need for a UAE national or employer to sponsor them. Freelancers and self-employed individuals, skilled workers, investors or partners are eligible to apply for a UAE green visa.
What is the United Arab Emirates Golden Visa?
The UAE golden visa is a long-term residence visa that allows foreign talents to live, work or study in the UAE, as well as enjoy many special benefits.
The United Arab Emirates golden visa offers individuals a long-term, renewable residence visa opportunity valid for 10 years. Entrepreneurs, investors who meet the United Arab Emirates investor requirements, individuals with extraordinary talents, scientists and professionals, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers, and individuals who lead in global crises can obtain a United Arab Emirates golden visa.
What is a United Arab Emirates Work and Residence Permit?
A United Arab Emirates work and residence permit is the type of permit that people who apply for a job in Dubai and are accepted as a result of their application must obtain.
According to the 2015 Council of Ministers decision, a worker whose employment has been terminated due to the termination of his/her contract, regardless of whether it is limited or unlimited, can obtain a new work permit when he/she wants to start a new job. Provided that unqualified workers have completed at least six months of work, a new work permit can be issued if the workers and employer mutually consent to the termination of the contract within the period. The ministerial decree approves the granting of a work permit in Dubai to a worker who has been unfairly dismissed by his/her employer without having to complete six months .
Skilled workers are exempt from the six-month work requirement if they qualify for skill set series 1, 2 or 3, as classified by a ministerial decree, indicating that they have a university degree, post-secondary diploma or high school diploma.
What is the United Arab Emirates Family Reunification Residence Permit Visa?
The UAE family reunification residence permit visa supports employers and employees with a valid UAE residence visa to sponsor a residence permit for their families. Male residents working in the UAE can sponsor their immediate family members, such as their spouses and children, for a minimum of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. In Dubai, a woman can get special permission from the DNRD to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than AED 10,000.
There is no age limit for foreigners living in Dubai to sponsor their single daughter(s), while foreigners can only sponsor their son(s) up to the age of 18. Foreign workers living in Dubai can sponsor both parents if they can prove that they are the sole supporter of their parents and that there is no one else at home to look after them.
How to Get a Dubai Residence Permit?
The Dubai residence permit application cannot be made by the applicant personally; it is made through a sponsor. Employers, schools and family members living in Dubai can sponsor.
In order to apply for a Dubai residence permit, the applicant must first apply for an entry permit and come to Dubai. A Dubai entry permit is a type of permit that is granted according to the holder's travel purpose and is valid for a certain period of time. After receiving the entry permit and arriving in Dubai, the sponsor's Dubai residence permit application must be reported to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) of the relevant emirate.
The application fee required for a Dubai residence permit varies according to the validity period of the permit; the application fee for a 1-year residence permit is AED 100. During the Dubai residence permit application, the UAE residence visa fee is paid by the sponsor, depending on the validity of the visa. Once the Dubai residence permit application is approved, a residence visa is attached to the passport and a UAE ID valid for the same period as the visa is issued.
How to Get Dubai Entry Permit for Dubai Residence Permit?
The Dubai residence permit application for Dubai entry permit is made by the sponsor on behalf of the applicant. The sponsored person or persons can notify the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship through the e Chanel portal or mobile applications for Apple and Android, and by applying online or in person at the General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners' Affairs.
The sponsor must apply for a Dubai entry permit in person through one of the GDRFA’s licensed writing centres in each Emirate or one of the Amer centres in Dubai.
What are the Required Documents for Dubai Residence Permit Application?
The documents required for a Dubai residence permit are listed below.
- UAE visa application form obtained online or through the relevant writing centre
- Passport
- Biometric photo
- Dubai entry visa
- Proof of sponsor's legal residence and UAE citizenship
- Proof of passing the medical fitness test
- Proof of UAE health insurance plan
- Documents showing proof of family ties, such as birth and marriage certificates for family visas
- Photocopies of the work contract with the sponsor for a work visa, the company's valid trade license and valid company card.
How Much Is the Application Fee for a Dubai Residence Permit?
Dubai residency visa fees vary depending on the duration of the visa. The Dubai residency visa application fee for one year is AED 100. Depending on the application method, a processing fee is also required, which can range from AED 70 for in-person applications to AED 40 for online applications.
It should be noted that additional fees may be paid for health examinations and health insurance for the Dubai residence permit.
How Long Does It Take to Complete a Dubai Residence Permit Application?
Dubai residence permit application evaluation processes take between 3 and 20 days on average.
How Long Is the Dubai Residence Permit Visa Valid?
The validity period of the Dubai residence permit visa varies from 1, 2 or 3 years depending on the purpose of the trip. Investment and retirement visas in Dubai are issued for 5-10 years and can be renewed.
How to Renew Dubai Residence Permit Visa?
The UAE Government gives residents of the emirates a 30-day grace period to stay in the UAE after their visa expires. To avoid paying fines in Dubai, the residence visa must be renewed before it expires.
Sponsored individuals are required to renew their Dubai residence visa before it expires. The Dubai residence visa renewal procedure is similar to when the visa was first obtained, with the sponsor applying to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai.
Can Divorced or Widowed Women Renew Their Dubai Residence Permit?
The UAE government introduced a new immigration rule in 2018 that allows widows or divorced women to stay in the country without a sponsor for one year, starting from the date of their husband’s death or divorce proceedings.
Can a Dubai Residence Permit Visa Be Cancelled?
Yes, Dubai residence permit visa can be cancelled.
Dubai residency visas can be cancelled by the sponsor. Sponsors of spouses, children and other dependents must cancel the visas of their dependents before cancelling their own Dubai visas. Dubai residency visa cancellations are carried out through the GDRFA, which initially approved the residency visa.
What are the documents required for Dubai Residence Permit Cancellation?
The documents required for Dubai residence permit cancellation are listed below.
- A cancellation form signed by the sponsor must be submitted.
- If the sponsor is a company or firm, the cancellation form must be signed and sealed with the company stamp and a permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization must be attached.
- The sponsor's original passport must be attached.
- Original ID card of the sponsor must be presented.
- If sponsors are outside the UAE, they are required to submit the original, passport or computer printout of their residence visa. To obtain a computer printout of the residence visa, the Naturalization and Residency Department should be contacted.
What are the advantages of Dubai Residence Permit?
The advantages of Dubai residence permit are given below.
- It allows opening a bank account in Dubai.
- Provides advantage in accessing financial opportunities
- It is possible to apply for a driving license in Dubai.
- Access to Dubai state healthcare services and health insurance is gained.
- Dubai residence permit holders have the opportunity to enroll their children in public and private schools.
- Freedom to work and invest in Dubai is gained.
- Free travel visas are available to certain destinations.
Which Countries Can I Visit Visa-Free with a Dubai Residence Permit?
The countries that can be visited without a visa with a Dubai residence permit are listed below.
- Maldives
- Georgia
- Azerbaijan
- Sri Lanka
- Mauritius
Can I Get Citizenship with a Dubai Residence Permit Visa?
It is possible to obtain Dubai citizenship through naturalization by obtaining a Dubai permanent residence permit. In order to obtain Dubai citizenship, it is necessary to live in Dubai or another emirate for at least 30 years or to get married. The period of obtaining citizenship through marriage in Dubai is 5 years.
To obtain citizenship with a Dubai residency permit, doctors, scientists and other professionals must have at least 10 years of experience in their field and their skills must be in high demand in the UAE. Inventors must have at least one patent approved by the Ministry of Economy in the UAE, and creative people and intellectuals must have at least one international award proving their talent. Citizenship is granted to children of UAE citizens born abroad who can apply for a UAE passport after reaching the age of 18.