Immigration Consultancy

The Visa Route:-

Depending on the purpose of your travel, the UAE government grants a variety of visas and entrance permits. They are the following:-

• Business visas:-

A business visa is part of the Golden Visa programme, which allows foreign nationals to apply for a long-term visa for themselves and their families. Its goal is to make the UAE’s economic growth more appealing to enterprises. Professionals with entrepreneurial experience from any nation are eligible to apply for the business visa.

Apart from the proof of entrepreneurship by being a majority shareholder of a start-up or a member of its senior leadership to be eligible for consideration for the grant of a Business Visa, you must be first willing to relocate to the UAE and legally establish a business in one of the seven emirates and should have a business idea or a business plan. Further a nomination approved by an incubator supported by the UAE Government is necessary. Presently there are two such the AREA2071 in Dubai and HUB71 in the Abu Dhabi.

Once your nomination gets approved by the Incubator, if you live outside of the UAE, you will be granted a six-month visa to visit, explore, and settle in the UAE. You will need to change your temporary visa into a resident permit before it expires. And if you are currently a resident in the UAE, you will be issued a one-month temporary visa that must be converted into a residence permit before it expires. Further the Visa Holder can nominate up to three of his business’s senior staff to obtain residency and can sponsor his depends subject to the conditions and requirements as set out by Federal Authorities.

• Tourist visas:-

Tourist visas are for visitors who do not qualify for a visa on arrival or visa-free entrance to the UAE. Individual travellers from all around the world can apply for a tourist visa. Unless they are travelling with their parents, females under the age of 18 are not eligible to apply for this form of visa. Children under the age of 18 who are accompanied by adults can acquire a free visa for their stay from July 15 to September 15 each year, according to a Cabinet decision signed in July 2018. Citizens of all nationalities may now apply for a new multiple entry tourist visa, which will make the procedure easier for tourists and visitors. The five-year visa allows travellers to enter the nation on their own behalf several times and stay for up to 90 days on each visit, which may be extended for another 90 days.

One pertinent aspect that should be kept in mind which applying for Tourist Visas is that the Embassies of the UAE does not issue Tourist Visas. For getting a Tourist Visa an individual may contact any:-

1. Airlines(Etihad Airways, Emirates Airlines, Fly Dubai, Fly Arabia);
2. Localised Travel Agents and Hotels;

And these Airlines or Tour agencies and Hotels will apply for your Visa to the authorized Visa issuing authorities such as the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) of the individual emirate. If you purchase a ticket in their Airline or when you book a room in their Hotel; these entities will apply on your behalf. 

• Transit visas:-

The UAE offers two types of transit visas: a free visa which is valid for 48 hours; and another that costs AED 50, which remains operative for 96 hours. Only UAE-based airlines can sponsor Transit Visas, which must be completed and granted before entering the UAE. There are no extensions available for any sort of Transit Visa.

• Student visas:-

Expat students over the age of 18 who are residing in the UAE are granted a student visa. Outstanding students may be eligible for a 5-year visa.

The eligibility criteria for a five year visa are:-

1. Students must graduate with a grade of at least 95% from secondary schools, whether public or private.
2. And if the students are graduates they must have must have a GPA of at least 3.75 from the University in whey they graduated from.

Apart from the aforementioned criteria which is applicable for outstanding student visa, the other criteria that must be met for securing any student visa are:-

1. passing medical fitness test
2. having a visa sponsor, either the university itself or a parent or relative

• necessary approval of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs(GDRFA) of the concerned Emirate.

Male students over the age of 18 can continue to remain on their parents’ residence visa sponsorship if they can show proof of attendance at a higher educational establishment for a course which is not less than one year in duration. If the child of an expatriate is female,  regardless of such female’s age, expatriate parents may continue to support their child for studies.

• Retirement visas:-

Retired residents over the age of 55 can apply for a 5-year long-term residence visa in Dubai and the may be renewed before expiry subject to meeting certain elegibility criteria.

If any of the following criteria is satisfied the resident is eligible to get a 5 year long term residence visa:-

1. If the subject resident has a yearly income of AED180,000 (approx. US$49,000) and above or a monthly income of AED15,000 (approx. US$4,100) and above.
2. If the subject resident has invested an amount of AED1 million (approx. US$275,000) or more in a 3-year fixed deposit.

• If the subject resident has invested an amount of AED1 million (approx. US$275,000) in property.

1. And if the subject resident vide the combination of Options 1 and 2, has deposits valued at a minimum of AED1 million (approx. US$275,000) secured in a 3-year fixed deposit facility and property, worth AED500,000 each.

• Entrance permits for the patient and his or her partner:-

Foreign patients can enter the UAE for treatment if they are sponsored by the medical facility including Governmental or Private, where they will be treated. The patient’s companion’s entrance permit can only be renewed once if a legally documented medical report shows that the patient requires further treatment and that his companion is required in the UAE. These permits are of two types in Dubai:- Single entry Permit and Multiple entry Permit, and in case of both, the holder is entitled to enter the UAE within 60 days from the date of issue and stay for a period of 90 days from the date of entry. The permit is extendable subject to certain meeting certain criteria. Further the documents like the Patient’s passport copy, A letter from a registered hospital explaining reasons of visit, Patient’s health insurance, proof of patient’s Financial security are needed to process the entry permit.

• Resident visas:-

1. Green Visas:-

The Green visa in the UAE is a form of resident visa that allows its bearer to sponsor oneself or herself for a period of five years, removing the need for a UAE national or employer to sponsor his or her visa. The Green Visas are given to Free lancers/self-employed people who have an annual income of not less than AED 360,000, for the past two years, or prove financial solvency throughout their stay in the UAE. Further Resident visas are also given to skilled employees and Investors if they meet certain criteria.

1. Golden Visas:-

The Golden visa is a long-term residence visa valid for 10 years with benefits like doing away with resident sponsor, eligibility of stay in UAE for 6 months in a year etc. These Visas are granted to foreign talents enabling them to live, and work or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits. Further such visas are also granted to Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes.

• Cultural Visas:

The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) in collaboration with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai (GDRFA), issues visas which are valid for 10-years. These are granted to accomplished creative talents in the fields of literature, culture, fine arts, performing arts, heritage, history, and knowledge-related sectors, as well as intellectual and creative industries. The visa is currently only accessible to UAE residents and are granted only if the criteria related to residency in the country, record of knowledge-related and creative achievements are met.