Visa rules for UAE residence visa holders travelling abroad

If people who hold a UAE residence visa live outside the UAE for more than six months continuously, their residence visa will be automatically nullified. However, there are some exceptions to the rule. These are explained on this page.

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The general rule is that if expatriate residents, that is, people who hold a UAE residence visa, live outside UAE for more than six months continuously, their residency visa will be automatically nullified. If this happens, they will have to apply for a new entry permit to enter the UAE again.

 

However, there are some exceptions to the rule, which allow the resident expatriate to stay outside the UAE for more than six months and at the same time maintain the validity of his residence visa. They include:

• foreigner wife of an Emirati citizen who is on the sponsorship of her husband
• expatriate government employees sent abroad for treatment, provided they submit a medical report approved by Ministry of Health and Prevention or other medical authorities in the UAE.
• domestic helpers accompanying Emiratis for studies or medical treatment
• domestic helpers accompanying members of diplomatic and consular missions representing the UAE abroad and employees of such missions holding residence visas in the UAE
• expatriate residents working for the public sector sent by their employers to attend training or specialist courses, or those working in their employers' offices abroad and their families who are holders of valid residence visas in the UAE
• expatriate students studying in universities or institutes abroad (as per Dubai rules). Check with the GDRFA if this applies to your emirate of residence.

Updated on 25 Aug 2020

Sponsoring family residency visa by expatriates in United Arab Emirates

Both, employers and employees with a valid UAE residence visa can sponsor residence visas for their families. Unlike before, employees can sponsor their families regardless of their job titles if they earn a minimum salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. Clearing medical fitness examination applies to all newcomers who have completed the age of 18.

Sponsorship requirements

Expatriate residents, both employers and employees, may sponsor their families in the UAE provided they have a valid residency permit.

 

Male residents who are employed in the UAE can sponsor their immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions which include minimum salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation.

 

Since March 2019, the type of profession is no longer a condition for an expatriate worker to be able to sponsor his family visas. The UAE government amended its previous provision under which only listed professions could apply for family sponsorship visa. Now, a foreign worker can bring over his family members to the UAE and sponsor their residence visas regardless of his profession as long as he maintains the ‘income criteria’ i. e. the minimum wage requirement, which is a minimum salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. Check with the relevant GDRFA for more information.

 

Further, if the father of the family is residing in the UAE and meets the conditions for sponsoring his children, the mother is not allowed to sponsor them.

  

A resident sponsor has 60 days to apply for his dependents’ residence visa after they enter the UAE and modify their status from an entry permit holder to a residence visa holder.

 

Family members are issued visas for one, two or three years depending on the nature of the work and labour contract of the sponsoring member and his capacity as an employee or employer.

 

In general, expatriate employees are issued residency visa for one year or two years based on their labour contract, while expatriate employers are issued residency visa for three years.

 

Sponsored residents except adult males who are continuing their education and sponsored parents can enjoy the same visa duration as their sponsors. For the adult males and parents, the residence visa is granted on a yearly basis regardless of the sponsor’s visa duration.

 

The conditions are subject to change from time to time. Kindly check with Dubai GDRFA or the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.

 

Medical fitness requirement

In order for the UAE to grant or renew a residence visa for family members, males and females who have completed the age of 18 need to undergo and pass medical fitness tests at government approved health centres in the UAE.

 

All applicants of visa, whether for first time or for renewal, will be tested for two communicable diseases: HIV (by testing their blood) and pulmonary tuberculosis (by taking an x-ray of their chest). Those found to be HIV positive or having tuberculosis will be considered medically unfit and therefore will not be granted a residence visa. They will be deported immediately by the UAE's authorities.

 

Residents who are detected with dormant or inactive pulmonary tuberculosis are also considered medically fit. In this case, they are granted a one-year ‘Health Fitness Certificate for Residence’ subject to treatment and follow-up by the Department of Preventive Medicine or equivalent government health authority. Hence, if you suspect to be suffering from a communicable disease it is advisable to get yourself tested in your home country first.

 

Locate government medical fitness centres:

Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah have several medical fitness centres. Check also medical examinations centres for residency offered by the Ministry of Health and Prevention - Preventive Medicine Department.

 

Useful links:

• Apply for medical examination for expatriate residence visa - Ministry of Health and Prevention
• Health conditions for a UAE residence visa - UAE Government portal
• Resolution No. 5 of 2016 amending provisions of the Cabinet Decree No. 7 of 2008
• Communicable Diseases Bulletin (PDF 2.65 MB)-Department of Health – Abu Dhabi

Sponsoring your wife and children

An expatriate resident may sponsor the residence visa for his wife and children if he fulfils the above mentioned sponsorship requirements set by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

 

To sponsor his wife, the expatriate resident must prove an existing marital relationship by submitting an authenticated marriage certificate in Arabic or duly translated into Arabic by a certified translator.

Sponsoring two wives 

In strict cases, a Muslim resident may be allowed to sponsor his two wives, if he meets certain terms and conditions set by the respective GDRFA.

Sponsoring daughters

An expatriate resident can sponsor his daughter/s only if she/they is/are unmarried.

Sponsoring sons

A resident can sponsor his son/s only up to the age of 18. If after the age of 18, the son is studying in the UAE or abroad, he can be sponsored until the age of 21 on providing the proof that he is studying. However, for his residence visa to stay valid, he has to enter the UAE at least once every six months. The residence visa is granted on a yearly basis, renewable until the person finishes his education.

 

Note: New rules for children’s visa sponsored by parents

Starting from 21 October 2018, students who graduate from their universities or secondary schools or complete 18 years of age will be granted a one-year residence visa, renewable for another year from the graduation date or on completing 18 years.

 

For this type of visa, parents are not required to place bank deposits. The visa will cost AED100 for first time issuing and renewal.

 

To avail this service, parents must present duly attested graduation certificates from universities or schools, whether inside the country or abroad.

 

Source:

• Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship
• Emirates News Agency-WAM

Sponsoring stepchildren

An expatriate resident can also sponsor his stepchildren, subject to GDRFA’s conditions which include a deposit for each child and a written no-objection certificate from the biological parent. Their residence visas are valid for one year; renewable annually.

 

Required documents to sponsor wife and children include:

• online application or through a registered typing office
• passport copies of the wife and children
• photos of the wife and children
• medical clearance certificate for the wife and children above 18
• copy of the husband's employment contract or company contract
• salary certificate from the employer stating the employee's monthly salary
• legalised marriage certificate
• registered tenancy contract
• latest utility bill.

 

Sponsoring your parents

An expatriate employee can sponsor his parents for a year's stay by paying a deposit as a guarantee for each parent as stipulated by the respective immigration department.

An expatriate employee cannot sponsor only one of his parents. He needs to sponsor both parents together. He also needs to provide proof that he is their sole support and that there is no one to take care of them back home.

If one of the parents has passed away or if the parents are divorced, he has to show the related official documents as justification to sponsor only one of his parents. 

To sponsor parents, the employed expatriate resident must earn the minimum salary stipulated and obtain a medical insurance policy for parents with the minimum coverage stipulated for each, to be renewed each year.

According to the website of Dubai Government, DNRD in Dubai stipulates a minimum salary of AED 20,000 or a monthly pay of AED 19,000 plus a two-bedroom accommodation to sponsor parents’ visa. Check terms and conditions in other emirates. 

Woman sponsoring her family

In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating that she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any other profession related to the medical sector and if her monthly salary is not less than AED 10,000 or AED 8,000 plus accommodation. She needs to provide additional documents as stipulated by the respective authority.

In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in one of these categories she may still get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than AED 10,000 and with a special permission from the DNRD. 

A single mother can sponsor her child. The authorities might ask for documents similar to those required to sponsor stepchildren.

 

Validity and renewal

The duration of residence visa depends on the type of sponsor and the person sponsored. It is issued for one, or two or three years. Visa is renewed subject to conditions similar to those of fresh visas.

The family's residence permits are linked to the residence permit of the sponsoring expatriate employee. If the sponsoring family member's visa is cancelled, it requires cancellation of the visas of the dependents.

Dependents are granted a 30-day grace period from the date of expiry or cancellation of their visa to obtain a new residence permit. If the employee fails to renew or cancel the visa of his dependents, the dependents would be deemed illegal residents and could be liable to pay a fine.

Updated on 19 Jul 2020

How To Apply For a Work Permit in Dubai Step by Step Guide

Applying for a residence visa

In order to get a work permit, the employee must first be granted a residence visa, which is typically valid for a period of three years. There are different types of residence visas. The documents required for a residence visa include:

• An application form, completely filled out

• Several passport-size photographs. Specific photograph requirements for the application 

• Employee’s original passport with a copy

• Copy of a valid company card 

  
  
  

• Valid commercial license of the company 

  
  
  

• Application fee

• Valid health certificate 

  
  
  

• Entry permit issued by the Ministry of Labor

Although a residence visa is not the same as a labor card, the employer usually applies for the visa on behalf of the employee. 

Medical Requirements for Residence Visa 

A valid health certificate is required for the issuance of a residence permit; this requires applicants to undergo a health check at any government hospital or medical clinic. The test must be conducted once the applicant is in the country; tests from outside the country are not accepted.

The medical check includes a chest X-ray and blood tests to check for certain communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, leprosy, Hepatitis and tuberculosis. Positive results on any of these tests will result in a denial of the residence visa and immediate deportation. At present there is no appeals process for this in Dubai.

Procedure for entry permits and work permits

• The first step towards getting your work permit is to get approval from the Ministry of Labor. The employer will apply for this on behalf of the employee. If the approval is for application in any of the free zones, approval must be granted before the employee enters the UAE. During this approval process, the Ministry of labor usually bases its decision by checking that there are no unemployed UAE citizens who are able to perform the relevant job.

• Upon receipt of approval, the Ministry issues an Entry Permit visa (also known as a pink visa) which allows applicants to legally enter the UAE. This permit is valid for 2 months from the date of issue and allows the holder to remain in the UAE for a period of 30 days, extendable twice.

• After the employee enters the country, the employer then begins the application process for the labor card. For free zone employment an ID card will be issued; both IDs and labor cards are typically valid for 2 years. Once the employee enters the country, he has sixty days in which to complete all the formalities required to get a residence visa. It is advisable to get these procedures done as soon as possible rather than waiting till the last moment.

• The employee then needs to go to the Emirates ID service center after getting the relevant form typed up at any typing center. Original valid passport and valid entry permit are required.

• The employer can now apply to the Immigration authorities for the residence visa; the employee needs to go to any of the government hospitals for their medical fitness tests. (See section on Medical requirements for Residence Visas). Certain professions also require employees to provide relevant educational qualifications which will be authenticated by the UAE embassy in your home country as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE.

• Once the employer has the results of the medical fitness test, he can then go to the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai (DNRD) with all the supporting documents and the visa can be stamped on the employee’s passport.

Documents required for Labor Card (Work Permit)

• Applicant’s photographs

• Residency Visa

• Valid Passport (minimum six month validity required)

• Valid health certificate

• Three copies of the employment contract – one for the employer, one for the employee and one for the Ministry of Labor

• Education certificates and other evidence of professional qualifications

• Sponsoring company’s valid trade license

A quick note to end: Visa requirements may be changed without updating relevant websites so applicants should always check with their respective consulates or embassies for the latest requirements.

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