UAE visas: how to get a visa in Dubai and other emirates

Residence visa

A residence visa is an open category document, in which the document is provided in the form of a sticker on the corresponding page of the passport. Along with the visa, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship provides expats with an Emirates ID, which is an identity card that is valid throughout the UAE. Inside the country, as well as when crossing the borders of the UAE through the electronic gates, it can be used instead of a passport. The validity period of the residence visa depends directly on its category. This permission applies to all family members of the applicant, including the wife/husband, children (boys under 18 years old and girls until they get married), as well as parents, with the possibility of unlimited renewals. The visa for family members can only be processed after the primary applicant has been granted a residence status.

Keep in mind that family members of the primary applicant will need to provide documents confirming their relationship with the applicant. This can be a marriage certificate or birth certificates of children, translated into Arabic and certified by your country's consulate.

Obtaining a residency visa in the UAE is a lengthy and complex process, especially for citizens who are facing this procedure for the first time. The team at Metropolitan Premium Properties will help you go through this as quickly and easily as possible. Our representatives will provide comprehensive support and guarantee full assistance throughout the entire document processing period - from obtaining the necessary grounds for visa issuance (company registration or real estate investment) to receiving the passport sticker.

We will help you go through the entire process in the minimal amount of time, prepare and submit the required documents on your behalf, organize optimal conditions for a medical examination, and ultimately personally hand over your passport with your Emirates ID.

Brief instructions for applying for a visa and applicant requirements

Please note that for different visa categories, the list of required documents may vary. You will need:

• Entry permit issued by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. This is required when the applicant is outside the UAE at the time of application.
• Scanned copy of passport and original visa.
• Studio quality passport photo on a white background (provided in electronic format).
• Copies of passports and birth certificates of children for applicants moving to the Emirates with their families. All documents must be translated into Arabic and legalized at the consulate.
• Foreigners moving to the Emirates for employment must provide a diploma (and other documents confirming their level of professional qualification). The diploma should also be translated into Arabic and legalized at the consulate.

After the visa approval and issuance, the resident applicant must undergo a medical examination at one of the authorized clinics in the UAE. The medical exam includes tests for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, X-ray, blood analysis, and biometric identification for your Emirates ID.

Important! When applying for a visa, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the intended date of departure.

When it is necessary to cancel a visa

If a foreign citizen with a resident status in the UAE intends to permanently leave the country, they must cancel their visa. Before initiating the cancellation procedure, it is necessary to take care of other formalities, including closing all accounts in any of the local banks, terminating your lease agreement and ensuring the absence of debts for utilities, etc.

If you are in the country on a work visa, you cannot cancel it yourself. Only a company or an individual acting as your sponsor can submit the appropriate request. However, holders of an investor visa can cancel them themselves. To do this, you can use one of the following options:

• Submit an application with the appropriate package of documents to the visa centre (in-person or online).
• Contact a qualified intermediary. Our company offers full legal support for opening, obtaining, and closing a resident visa.

Note! If a UAE resident stays outside the Emirates for more than 180 days, their visa becomes invalid. To return to the country, it will be necessary to first cancel the old permit, and only then submit a new application for entry. For example, if you arrived in the country on a work visa and left the UAE without an official termination, your employer has the right to file a report that you have obsconed. Such circumstances can lead to legal difficulties when applying for residency status in the Emirates again.

Important! In case an expat decides to leave the UAE without properly closing their visa, they risk being banned from entering the Emirates for a certain period of time or being denied the issuance of a new residency visa when they return. To avoid potential difficulties in the future, it is necessary to ensure timely cancellation of the visa and keep the documents confirming its cancellation (a certificate or stamp in the passport).

Changes in residence status

Holders of UAE work visas have the right to:

• Transfer from one Emirati company's work visa to another. In most cases, these issues are handled by a PRO or the HR department of the relevant company, not by hired workers.
• Switch to a family visa provided that the sponsor is a direct relative (spouse, or a child/adult with a permanent high income) who has UAE residency status.
• Replace a work visa with an investor visa.
• Reapply for a visa from an expired passport to an active one with corresponding changes made to the immigration file.