Visa Regulations in Dubai

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As the emirate of Dubai strives to expand and diversify its economy, foreign investments in the trade, tourism, and financial services sectors have been coming in abundance. These investments have created a surplus of better employment opportunities, thus attracting foreign expatriates to work and live in the city, either for the long-term or permanent status.

The resulting influx of foreign expatriates has caused its population to grow at a remarkable rate of 5.8% per annum, subsequently reaching its present figure of 1,570,779 in just a few years. Over 90% of this figure is made up of expatriates of various nationalities.

Another factor contributing to this growth is the relatively straightforward foreign residency regulations in Dubai. Generally, Dubai and the whole of the United Arab Emirates issue two main types of visa. These are visit and resident visa, both of which require a sponsor, which can be a person holding a resident visa or a company/establishment. These sponsors are responsible for all the legal aspects of the invitee.

Types of Visa

Visit Visa

Visit visas are issued for the purpose of short visits, and are generally sponsored by companies operating in the UAE. The following are the different types of visit visas issued in the UAE:

Tourist Visa

This visa is valid for only 30 days and may not be extended. Oftentimes travel agencies, airlines, and hotels are sponsors for this type of visa. Visa status may not be CHANGED TO A VISIT OR RESIDENCY VISA.

Visit Visa

Validity lasts from the date of arrival to 60 days, and may be extended for a total of 90 days. Eligible sponsors for this visa include both companies operating in the United Arab Emirates and UAE citizens.

Citizens of certain countries have the privilege to obtain a 30-day visit visa free-of-charge upon arrival, where by entitling them to stay for 60 days in the UAE. These countries include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Malta, France, Belgium, Sweden, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Greece, Cyprus, Monaco, Portugal, Spain, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, San Marino, Canada, United States, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. A visitor may subsequently extend the visa for another 60 days by leaving the country for a short while and then returning. The process may be repeated twice. Once the third visit visa has expired, the visitor must leave the country for at least a month before returning.

Multiple Entry Visa

Business visitors of reputable UAE companies usually obtain this type of visa, where in the visitor may stay in the country for a maximum of 6 months. However, this 6 month duration is lessened by a month with each visit. A business visitor may initially enter the UAE with a visit visa, and may only apply for a multiple entry visa when he or she is already in the country.

Mission Visa

This newly introduced visa is created for temporary and short-term employment contracts in the country, wherein the visa stays valid for 6 months.

Transit Visa

These visas are issued to travelers transiting through UAE airports, wherein they are usually sponsored by airline companies. Transient visas are valid for 96 hours or 4 days and cannot be renewed.

Special Mission Entry Visa

This type of transient visa allows the holder to stay in the UAE for 14 days and shall be provided entry through the country’s border. This visa is granted to a transient traveler upon the request of any licensed company authorized to apply for these types of visas, such as a company or a hotel operating in the UAE.

Residency Visa

This type of visa is required from any expatriate who may wish to engage in certain legal activities in the UAE, Such as leasing a home or office, getting a driver’s license, opening a bank account, or sending their children to school. Residency visas are valid for three years, and may be renewed on its third year. The Visa becomes invalid when the holder leaves the country for more than six months. The following are the different types of resident visas issued in the UAE:

Investor/Partner Visa

This visa is required when establishing a company or buying a property in the UAE. Holders of this type of visa are not allowed to be employed in companies other than their own

Employment Visa

This visa is granted to foreigners who will be employed by a valid company operating in the UAE. The hiring company acts as the sponsor and will be responsible for all the legal documents necessary to secure this visa for the newly hired employee.

Family Visa

Any male holder of any of the two aforementioned types of resident visas, together with a written consent from the employer for the latter, are eligible for sponsoring his family members for residency in the UAE. The visa holder must earn 14,000 AED monthly before he is eligible for such sponsorship. These family members include his wife, unmarried daughters, and sons below the age of 18. The emirate of Dubai, on the other hand, allows for a female visa holder to sponsor her family for resident visa provided that she earns a salary more than 12,000 AED monthly. She is eligible to sponsor her husband and children.

Visa Requirements

The process of obtaining a visa to enter any emirate in the UAE can be quite straightforward. The visa regulations and sponsors are employed by the government in order to control the city’s population and avoid illegal immigrants. With all documents in proper order, a visa could be released within 72 hours of application, and with certain special cases, the visa could be issued within a day. The Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department (DNRD) of the Ministry of Interiors is the only government agency in charge of issuing visas to foreign visitors who may wish to visit or reside and work in the UAE.

It is always prudent to check the UAE’s regulations when traveling to Dubai as visa requirements vary between different nationalities. Currently, all nationalities would require a visa before entering the country. An exception to this rule are citizens that are member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, expatriate residents of GCC member countries, and UK citizens and residents.

Some citizens from certain European countries, on the other hand, receive visas on arrival to the country. These countries include France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Finland, Norway, Italy, Andorra, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Ireland, Greece, Monaco, Portugal, San Marino, and the Vatican. Other countries whose citizens receive visas on arrival include the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea.

GCC citizens may stay in the UAE without restrictions on their length of stay, while UK citizens may stay for a month and then apply for a visa for another two months. American, European, Australian, and South African citizens require a visit visa which they can obtain from UAE embassies in their respective countries. Israeli citizens and travelers whose passports bear Israeli stamps will be denied a visa an entry into the country.

Regulations and Documents for Visa Applications

Discussed below are some of the major visas issued to tourists or expatriates seeking to work or relocate in Dubai.

Transient Visa

The visa is issued upon arrival to the airport.
Visa applicants must have onward booking and a minimum of 8 hour transient break.

Visit Visa

Personal Sponsorship

Application form for the entry permit should have completed typed data.
A salary certificate should be presented, with a monthly salary not less than Dhs. 4000 in case of wife sponsorship and not less than Dhs. 6000 for first relative sponsorship.
The original marriage certificate and a certified copy should be presented in case of wife sponsorship.
A copy of the sponsored passport is required.
Fee: Dhs 100

Company/Establishment Sponsorship

Application form for the entry permit should have completed typed data.
Establishment card and its copy are required, as well as a copy of the sponsored passport.
Fee: Dhs 100

Renewal of visit visa

The original entry permit is the only document required for renewal.
Fee: Dhs 100

Extension

The original copies of the entry permit and sponsored passport should be presented.
An accomplished extension application form must also be presented.
Fee: Dhs. 500