How to Get a UAE Residence Visa?

The UAE has created a legacy of its own that is unlike anything that the world has ever seen. From breaking the norm of only idolizing the West for a luxurious dream lifestyle, the UAE has set standards of urban development that are now being modelled by countries around the world, including Europe and the Americas. The country is the gateway to the Middle East and rightfully is the blueprint for upscale rapid development.

With unprecedented employment opportunities, relaxed taxation policies, low crime rates, high-end opulent properties, advanced infrastructural development, and modern medical technologies, along with a favourable business climate, it is no surprise why this is the country to go to for experiencing the ultimate urban ecstasy of living. And experiencing this lifestyle is far more possible, even if you are not a citizen of the UAE.

Yes, that is right! With the help of the various UAE residence visas, living in the UAE for foreign citizens is not a distant dream. The avenues for procuring such residency visas have also multiplied over the past several years. In this space, we are going to discuss them all and help you get acquainted with how easily you can get them. So, follow through!

An Overview of the UAE Residence Visa

Although the tourism industry of the UAE is one of the strongest suites of its economy, the country is more than just a tourist destination. This thriving nation attracts conglomerates, businesses, and entrepreneurs to its shores owing to the endless possibilities it holds. Therefore, thousands of foreign nationals around the world are making it their home every year.

All these are possible with the help of the various UAE residence visas that allow their holders the right to live, study, and work in the UAE for a varied time. If you are someone who is considering making the UAE your permanent home, these visas can serve you well by granting you the eligibility to live in the country for a few years and helping you acclimatize to its climate. 

These residence visas can be procured in a variety of ways and are available to people of distinct professions. From investing in the real estate sector to exceptionally contributing to the sustainability and protection of the environment, these visas can be obtained in a myriad of ways. As you can see, these not only benefit the holders but also help the UAE in multiple ways, whether through positively bringing revenue to the national economy or through the inflow of skilled professionals.

These visas have also paved the way for fostering healthy relationships with foreign countries for the UAE, helping build symbiotic exchanges with them. Therefore, many of these visas have been regarded as path-breaking in nurturing foreign relations as well as rewarding people with the experience of living in this developed nation.

10 Proven Ways of Getting a UAE Residence Visa

We are presenting before you some of the most efficient and reliable ways to obtain a residency visa in the UAE that will allow you to live in one of the most advanced, developed, and vibrant countries of the world. These are extremely diverse in their implementations and fields of degrees, enabling a large pool of interested foreign nationals to apply for a UAE residency visa. 

Investing in Real Estate

The real estate sector of the UAE is undoubtedly one of its most prolific pillars of success. With the world’s leading property developers establishing their presence in the UAE, the country has a plethora of luxurious residential and viable commercial properties. Additionally, the high Return on Investments (ROI) of the properties in the country ensures your investment is profitable in the long run. 

If you are someone who is looking forward to benefiting from the financial opportunities and economic stability of the UAE, then investing in the real estate sector of the country is an ideal option. When you invest in a property or a group of properties worth at least AED 2 million, it makes you eligible for the UAE golden visa that allows you to live in the country for up to 10 years. On its expiry, you can renew the visa as well.

As this visa doesn’t require a local sponsor, you can enjoy complete autonomy over your business operations. Additionally, holders of the UAE golden visa get exemptions from various employment restrictions and access to premium healthcare facilities along with a complimentary Esaad Privilege Card, among other benefits.

Starting a Business

The favourable business climate of the UAE emerges from it being at the crossroads of three continents – Asia, Africa, and Europe. The inflow and outflow of trade and commerce to and from the country makes it a strategic location for businesses to thrive successfully. Foreign entrepreneurs can not only benefit from access to a wide global target audience in the UAE but also from the eligibility for long-term residency visas by starting a business in the country.

Free zones in the country offer tax exemptions and custom-free imports and exports. Furthermore, foreign citizens are eligible to get complete ownership of their businesses. Investors who participate or engage in commercial activities in the UAE are eligible for the UAE green visa that offers long-term residency of five years without requiring a sponsor. 

As long as you get the approval of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) on your investment as per the investor’s rating system, show proof of your investment, and get approval from competent local authorities, you are eligible for this highly- beneficial visa option. This new visa replaces the earlier residency visa that was valid for only two years. Also, this visa can be renewed upon its expiry for another five or ten years. 

Investing in Public Investments

As we have discussed above, the avenues for procuring a UAE residency visa are extremely versatile. The aforementioned UAE golden visa not only rewards people investing in the real estate sector of the country but also those who invest in public investments. You will be eligible for a visa of 10 years without requiring a sponsor if you invest in an investment fund.

You must own the invested capital completely, and it shouldn’t be a loan. You must provide proof of medical insurance for yourself and your family (if any). There has to be a submission of a letter from an investment fund accredited in the UAE that states that you have a deposit of AED 2 million or a submission of a valid industrial or commercial license and a Memorandum of Association (MOA) that states that you have a capital of at least AED 2 million.

Furthermore, you also need to submit a letter from the Federal Tax Authority that states that you annually pay the government not less than AED 250,000. Therefore, along with profiting from the stable economy, you will also get the privilege of residing in this land of opportunities. 

Getting Employed

The UAE, as a country, welcomes skilled employees to its shores and rewards them with a long-term residency visa. The aforementioned UAE green visa that we discussed earlier is also valid for skilled employees on self-sponsorship. This means that if you hold this visa, you can sponsor yourself for five years without requiring a UAE national or employer to sponsor you.

For this green visa, skilled employees must have a valid employment contract, hold at least a degree of bachelor’s or its equivalent, and have a salary of at least AED 15,000 per month.  They must also be classified at the first, second, or third occupational level as per the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). The visa is renewable upon its expiry for the same term.

You can also get a normal employment visa known as the standard work visa which applies to the employees of the government and the free zones as well as the private sectors. The domestic worker’s visa allows domestic helpers to live and work in the country. There is also a remote work visa valid for one year that foreign citizens employed outside the UAE can use under self-sponsorship. It is also known as a virtual work residence visa. 

Becoming a Freelancer 

The Government of the UAE is known for taking progressive steps to help foreign citizens obtain a residency visa conveniently without any hassle. As such, even if you are a freelancer or someone who is self-employed, you can still become eligible to apply for a residency visa in the UAE. This is possible through one of the conditions of the UAE green visa.

Along with skilled employees that we discussed in the previous point, the green visa also accommodates freelancers and self-employed individuals under its wings. All you need to provide is a freelance or self-employment permit from MOHRE and a proof that you hold a degree of bachelor’s or a special diploma.

Additionally, you also need to show evidence of the fact that your annual income for the past two years from self-employment amounts to at least AED 360,000 or a proof of your financial solvency throughout your stay in the UAE. The visa is valid for five years and doesn’t require any local sponsor. It can be renewed upon its expiry for the same term.

Studying in the UAE

The student visa provides a short-term residency in the UAE for one year at a time that can be renewed for the same term if you provide a proof of continuation of the study issued by the educational institute you are studying in.  Students can reside in the UAE through the sponsorship of their accredited university or college or the sponsorship of their parents who must be residents of the UAE. Expat residents can sponsor their male child up to the age of 25 and female child, regardless of her age, until she is married. 

On the other hand, the UAE golden visa applies to outstanding students. If you are a high school student and a national-level topper, you will be eligible for this visa which is valid for five years. This duration can be extended if you enrol on one of the majors or colleges in the UAE that requires a study period of more than five years. 

You don’t need a sponsor for it; just a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Education (Emirates Schools Establishment). Outstanding university students can also apply for a golden visa that remains valid for 10 years without a sponsor. This is also applicable to outstanding students of foreign universities.

Getting Retirement in the UAE

There is no right age to decide and move into the UAE, and the government has made note of it. This is why, it has paved the way for a UAE residence visa for retired individuals. Valid for a long-term period of five years, retired foreign citizens can apply for a residence visa through property investments or adequate financial stability.

To be eligible for the retirement visa in the country, you must have worked for at least 15 years in or outside the UAE and must be at least 55 years of age at the time of your retirement. As long as you own a property or a group of properties of at least AED 1 million, you will qualify for this visa. 

However, if you don’t have any property investment of such stature, then you can still qualify for the retirement visa if you have financial savings of at least AED 1 million or a monthly income of AED 20,000 (AED 15,000 for Dubai).  At the end of the five years, there is a possibility of its renewal if you fulfill the eligibility criteria once again. 

Getting Sponsored by a Family Member

Another simple way to earn a residency visa in the UAE is through family sponsorship. If you have a family member who is already a resident in the UAE, you can rest assured that finding a long-term visa won’t be a trouble for you. The UAE is one of the safest countries in the world due to the low crime rate and strict regulation by the government to protect its residents. As such, many high-net-worth families often move into the country. 

Employers, as well as employees who hold valid UAE residency visas, can sponsor residency visas for their families. Irrespective of their job titles, employees can sponsor their families as long as they have a salary of at least AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. Please keep in mind that the family members who are to be sponsored and who are above the age of 18 years have to undergo and pass medical fitness tests.

A UAE citizen can sponsor their spouse, parent or child who holds a foreign passport and help them get a residence visa for five years without having to work in the UAE. A UAE resident can sponsor their parent on a yearly basis. The golden visa allows family members to stay in the UAE until the end of the expiry of the permit duration even if the holder of the golden visa passes away.

Having Exceptional Talent

The UAE recognizes and appreciates foreign citizens with exceptional talents and rewards them with the eligibility to apply for the golden visa. Outstanding individuals with specialized talents in the field of doctors, inventors, scientists, creative people of art and culture, executives, athletes, doctorate degree holders, and engineers, among others, can get a golden visa for 10 years.

The subjects related to the engineering and science fields include artificial intelligence, big data, epidemiology and viruses, electronic engineering, electrical engineering, software engineering, computer engineering, and genetics and biotechnology engineering. You will get an entry visa for six months with multiple entries along with a renewable long-term visa and won’t need a sponsor. 

Depending on your area of expertise, you may have to provide an approval letter and a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Emirates Council of Scientists, the Ministry of Economy, the Department of Culture and Arts, or the Ministry of Education, and so on. 

Exceptionally Contributing Towards Environment’s Protection and Sustainability

Giving back to the environment and Mother Nature is pivotal in the UAE. Even though it is one of the most developed nations in terms of infrastructure, it has not shied away from adopting eco-friendly practices and upholding conservation. This is reflected in its offer to those who are supporters of environmental action. 

The UAE blue visa is a one-of-a-kind visa that is specially designed for those who make exceptional contributions to the protection of the environment and sustainability, irrespective of whether they do it in or outside the UAE. It allows its holders a long-term residency program of 10 years. Additionally, it also connects interested candidates to important environmental projects of the UAE that are aimed at protecting the environment. 

Members of international companies, international organizations, associations and non-governmental organizations, along with distinguished researchers and activists and global award winners, are eligible for this visa. To get this visa, you can directly apply to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. You can even be a nominee by a competent authority in the UAE that will make you eligible for the visa.

To Conclude

As you can deduce from the discussion above, the UAE is not called a land of opportunities out of any fluke. It truly goes beyond its way to recognize talented individuals and give them a chance to experience living in this highly-advanced nation. With the possibilities of obtaining a residency visa spread out across varied fields, the world is your oyster. 

So, whether you are a student or a freelancer, a real estate investor or a retired individual, an environmental activist or a non-working individual whose family member is a UAE resident, all of you can apply for a residency visa in the UAE. You can study, work, and live in the country for long-term periods through visas that are often renewable upon the expiry of their terms. 

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about the UAE Residence Visa

How many types of visas are there in the UAE?

There are numerous types of residency visas available in the UAE, with the notable ones among them being the golden visa, green visa, blue visa, student visa, retirement visa, and standard work visa, among others.

How much does a residence visa cost in the UAE?

The cost of a residence visa in the UAE is extremely subjective since it is dependent on the type of visa you are procuring as well as the duration of the visa, along with other extenuating factors. For instance, the UAE green visa can cost you AED 2,280, excluding medical services fee and ID card fee. 

How can I get a UAE residence visa without a job?

You can get a UAE residence visa without holding a job by getting sponsored by a family member who is a UAE resident. The student visa also allows residency programs for students who are studying instead of working.

How much property value is required for a Dubai residence visa? 

If you own a property in Dubai worth at least AED 750,000, then you will be eligible for a 2-year investor visa that can be renewed upon the expiry of its term. The 5-year retirement visa can be claimed by a retired individual who owns a property or group of properties worth at least AED 1 million. It can be renewed upon the expiry of its term as long as the eligibility criteria are met.

For a much longer stay, the golden visa gives a 10-year residency permit to those who own a property or a group of properties that are worth at least AED 2 million. It is also renewable on expiry. 

What documents are required for a UAE residence visa?

The kind of documents you need for a UAE residence visa depends on the type of visa you are trying to obtain. However, in general, you would need the following set of documents.

• A recent coloured photo with a white background
• Application receipt of Emirates ID
• A copy of the passport of the dependent
• Housing lease contract
• A  copy of the sponsor’s passport with a valid residence permit
• Employment contract
• Entry permit
• Attested birth certificate of dependent child
• Medical insurance
• Certificate issued by university or educational institute 

Please note that you don’t need all these documents for every type of visa. You might even have to present additional documents. This is just to give you a broad idea of the kind of documents your concerned authorities might ask for.