The Overhaul of the Emirati Visa Residency System

The UAE Cabinet has approved the overhaul of the visa residency system that will make the life of arrivals and expats easier and more comfortable. It’s supposed that new rules of entry and residence will attract more investors, talents and professionals from other countries.

Thus, ones who are coming to the Emirates as visitors, will have an opportunity to stay in the country for 60 days from September 2022. Currently, visitors can only stay 30 days on a tourist visa. In addition to a regular tourist visa, one will now be able to get a multi-entry tourist visa as well, which will allow individuals to stay in the Emirates for 90 days and extend their stay for the same period of time. However, the total number of days spent in the UAE on this type of visa should not exceed 180 days in a year. To obtain such a visa, the applicant should show proof of at least USD 4K (or the equivalent) in a bank statement, at least six months before the application.

Parents will be able to sponsor their son’s until the age of 25 years old which will allow boys to stay in the Emirate after their 18th birthday and continue their education here. A parent also has the right to sponsor an unmarried daughter for as long as they wish. Children with disabilities can obtain a permanent residence permit, no matter what age they are.

Jobseekers and graduates will have a unique opportunity to get a job exploration entry visa. The aim of such a change is to attract young professionals and talents to the region, which means this category of people will no longer need a host or a sponsor anymore. This visa will be given to the latest graduates of the TOP-500 universities in the world who have completed bachelor’s studies, as well as to those who have been classified by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation in the first, second or third level.

The 10-year Golden Visa has also undergone some changes, as now the holder of this visa can sponsor their spouse and children regardless of their age, as well as sponsor their domestic helpers without limitation in number. There is also no limit on the length of stay outside the UAE. In the case of the death of a Golden Visa holder, family members have the right to remain in the country until its expiration. The 10-year Golden Visa is available to talented professionals, scientists, entrepreneurs and those who have made an invaluable contribution to humanitarian aid, etc. or investors in real estate in the emirate, planning to obtain residency for investment.

There has been an expansion to the category of skilled professionals that can obtain the Golden Visa in all disciplines including medicine, education, law, culture, social sciences, engineering, IT, business and administration, etc. The applicants should have at least a bachelor’s degree and their salary should be from AED 30K (USD 8.2K) per month.

For real estate investors who wish to obtain a Golden Visa by buying a property that is worth at least AED 2M (USD 545K), new amendments were also made. From today, they can obtain a visa even while purchasing property with a loan/mortgage, however, this has to be from specific local banks.

The new entry and residence scheme offers 10 types of entry visas with simplified requirements and additional benefits. In addition to the above-mentioned types of entry visas it is worth mentioning:

• Golden Residence for Entrepreneurs, for which the entrepreneur must own/be a partner in a startup, registered in the country in the category of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and generates an annual income of at least AED 1M (USD 272,5K). If the person concerned is the founder of an earlier entrepreneurial project that was sold for at least AED 7M (USD 1,91M), he or she will also be able to qualify for Golden Residence. For all projects/ideas, the approval of the Ministry of Economy or the competent local authorities will also be required.
• Green Visa for skilled employees and freelancers provides 5-years of residency in the UAE without the need for a sponsor or an employer. To obtain a green visa, one should have at least a bachelor’s degree and a salary that is no less than AED 15K (USD 4.1K). Investors who are establishing or taking part in commercial activities have the right to obtain a 5-year residence too, instead of the previous 2-year residence permit.
• Green Visa for investor or partner, which is introduced to encourage investment. This visa is also available for 5-years (previously only for 2 years) for investors establishing or participating in commercial activities. The key requirement is the approval and confirmation of the investment. If the investor has more than one license, the total invested capital will be calculated.