How to Obtain a Residency Permit in Dubai?

To obtain a residence permit in Dubai, you must first have a salaried job, a business, or make investments such as purchasing property of specified value as determined by the Dubai government. After obtaining a residence permit in Dubai, you can also sponsor residence permits for your first-degree relatives. To receive information and support regarding buying a house in Dubai or setting up a company in Dubai to obtain a residence permit, you can connect with our “Dubai Dream” services by writing to us using the WhatsApp icon located at the bottom left. You must make payments for each person you sponsor. These payments range from approximately 4,000 to 6,000 AED. There is no unlimited residence permit in Dubai; therefore, you will need to renew your residence permits periodically for 1-2-3 years. Only golden visa holders can obtain residence permits valid for 10 years. To obtain a golden visa, you must purchase property worth at least 2 million AED. For more information about buying a house in Dubai or setting up a business in Dubai, you can write to us via the WhatsApp line at +971 50 528 6444. Foreigners who wish to live and work in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and thus Dubai, need an UAE Residence Visa. An UAE Residence Visa offers many advantages, including: - The ability to open a bank account - The ability to obtain a bank loan (personal or vehicle loan) - Your children can attend private schools - You can obtain a driver's license - You will have access to government healthcare services and health insurance. However, to obtain an UAE Residence Visa, you must meet certain eligibility criteria, such as finding a job in one of the emirates or making an investment. To qualify for an UAE Residence Visa, you must fall into one of the following categories: - You must be employed in a government office or a private company in the UAE. - You will be studying at an educational institution in the UAE. - You must be a dependent of a UAE citizen or a foreign national (child, parent, servant, or close relative). - You must make an investment in the UAE. - You must purchase property in the UAE. Types of UAE Residence Visas are categorized as follows: - UAE Work Visa given to foreigners who have found employment in the UAE and obtained a Work Permit. - UAE Student Visa issued to foreign students who have been accepted at a UAE educational institution. - UAE Family Visa issued to immediate family members of UAE citizens or foreign nationals. - UAE Investment Visa (long-term residence) given to foreign nationals who invest significantly in the UAE. This type of visa is issued for longer periods (up to ten years). - UAE Retirement Visa given to older foreign nationals who wish to retire and have the necessary financial means. - Dubai Remote Work program given to foreign freelancers wishing to work remotely from Dubai. Requirements for an UAE Residence Visa are as follows: - An online UAE Visa Application Form. - Your original passport. - Two passport-sized photographs that meet UAE visa photograph requirements. - Your entry visa. - Proof of your sponsor's legal residence / UAE nationality. - Evidence that you have passed the medical fitness test. All foreign nationals wishing to live in the UAE with a Residence Visa must undergo a medical examination proving their fitness. - A UAE health insurance policy. - For family visas, proof of family ties such as birth/marriage certificates. - For work visas, copies of your sponsor's employment contract and the company's valid trade license and valid company card. After entering the UAE, you must apply for a Residence Visa, which means you must first enter with a visa and, in most cases, you cannot apply for your own residence visa. You need a sponsor, such as your employer or spouse, to apply on your behalf. You can only apply for a Residence Visa through a sponsor. However, in some cases, you may be your own sponsor. - Your employer is your sponsor for the UAE Work Visa. - Your school is your sponsor for the UAE Student Visa. - A family member is your sponsor for the UAE Family Visa. - If you are an investor or purchased property in the UAE, you can apply yourself, and your consulting company will perform the sponsorship role. To apply for an UAE Residence Visa, first, your sponsor must obtain a Giriş İzni (Entry Permit) for you from one of the following: - The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. - ICA’s eChanel portal. - The General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs. - If you are applying in person and are a homeowner, you can do this through one of the Amer centers in Dubai. Once you arrive in the country, your sponsor must apply for your Residence Visa at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) of the relevant emirate. During the application, they will also pay a fee for the UAE Residence Visa depending on the validity period of your visa. Once your application is approved, you will receive an Emirates ID that is valid for the same period as your residence visa. The difference between the UAE Entry Permit and the Residence Visa is, as the name suggests, one merely allows entry into the country, while the other allows you to reside there. The Entry Permit allows a person to enter the UAE and is valid only for a limited period (generally up to three months). Entry permits are issued based on the purpose of your travel. For example, a tourism entry permit is a UAE Tourist Visa. Your sponsor must apply for your entry permit before you enter the UAE. After you enter with the entry permit, your sponsor can then apply for your residence visa. The Residence Visa allows a person to reside for a long term in the UAE. After entering the country, your sponsor must apply for your residence visa through the relevant authorities, as described above. The duration of UAE Residence Visas varies; they are granted for 1, 2, or 3 years and are renewable. However, Investment Visas or Retirement Visas are also granted for 5-10 years and are renewable. Your sponsor must renew your Residence Visa within 30 days before it expires. However, your sponsor can also renew your visa after it has expired in the UAE. The procedure for renewing your UAE residence visa is similar to that when you first obtained your visa: your sponsor must apply to the Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs in the relevant emirate. UAE authorities provide expatriates with a 30-day grace period after their visas expire. This means that even if your visa has expired, you can stay for another 30 days; however, if your visa has not been renewed by then, you must leave the country and re-enter using an entry permit. If you stay longer, you will incur a penalty for each additional day. The penalties for overstaying your UAE Residence Visa are as follows: - For the first 6 months (180 days) – 25 AED per day - For the second 6 months (180 days) – 50 AED per day - For each day after one year – 100 AED per day In October 2018, the UAE government issued a new immigration rule allowing divorced or widowed women residing in the UAE to stay in the country for one year without sponsorship from their husband following the death or divorce. This rule also applies to the children of such women, if applicable. To be eligible, women and/or children must have been under the husband’s visa at the time of death or divorce and must hold valid visas at the time of application. Those affected can apply to the GDRFA by providing: - Death or divorce certificate (if available) - Proof of accommodation - Evidence that the woman is financially self-sufficient - Emirates ID Card - Medical fitness certificates *This type of visa can only be extended once. If I leave the UAE for more than 6 months, what happens? (UAE Re-entry Rules) If you reside in the UAE with a residence permit and leave the country for more than 6 months, your permit becomes invalid and you cannot re-enter without applying for permission again. In such a case, your sponsor can apply for a residence permit on your behalf again. The following categories are exempt from the six-month residence rule: - Golden visa holders and their family members (10-year visa holders). - Public employees who are abroad for medical reasons or work duties. - Investors with residence permits under approved classifications. - The spouse of a UAE citizen. - Individuals supported by UAE embassies or consulates. - International students registered abroad (if they reside in Dubai). - Local employees accompanying their employers abroad. How can I obtain a residence permit in Dubai? Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Therefore, the process of obtaining a Dubai Residence Visa is the same as in other emirates in the UAE. You must have a sponsor (or invest/purchase property there). Then, your sponsor must apply for your entry permit and residence visa at an Amer center in Dubai.