All You Need to Know About UAE Visas

Like any country, a visa is required to enter the United Arab Emirates. In the UAE, the Department of General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs is responsible for issuing visas and setting up relevant regulations. Millions of foreigners visit the UAE annually for business, tourism, education, and other purposes. A visitor can apply for different kinds of visas, depending on the duration and the purpose of their visit. The set of required documents & the eligibility criteria for application are different for each type of visa. So are the benefits of getting them and the restrictions involved. For example, anyone with a UAE tourist visa will not be permitted to work there. So, it is important to understand the type of UAE visa that suits your needs, before applying for it. 

The types of visas offered by the UAE to foreigners can be distinguished into short-term and long-term visas, based on their durations. Each of them is for a limited time and needs to be renewed after the end of that period. Some of them allow multiple entries into the country within the time. Some of the visa requires sponsorship of the applicant by a UAE-based company or a resident of the UAE. Also, the visa rules are different for citizens of different countries. 

The passport holders of a few countries can get a free visa on arrival after landing in any UAE airport. For the citizens of some countries, this visa is valid for 30 days and it is a single-entry visa. The citizens of some countries are even eligible to access a 90-day multiple-entry visa on arrival. The only condition is, that the visitor must present a passport with at least six months of validity. You can check if your country’s passport is eligible for a visa on arrival in the UAE. For citizens of other countries and for those who want to visit for a longer duration and official purposes, there are different types of visas.

Types of UAE visas

Based on the duration, first, let’s look at the different types of short-term visas that the UAE offers,

Tourist Visa – UAE offers tourist visas for multiple durations. A tourist can apply for a 48-hour or 96-hour non-extendable visa. Those who are looking for a longer stay can apply for 30 days or 90 days tourist visa. The option to extend the duration is also available. 

5-year multiple entry visa – As the name suggests, this type of visa allows foreigners to visit the UAE multiple times within 5 years. A visitor can stay for 90 days on each trip. Additionally, the stay duration can be extended for 90 days. This visa doesn’t require any sponsorship. 

GCC visa – The residents of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, like Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia can apply online for a GCC visa to enter UAE. The application can be made through the Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs websites. The visa is valid for 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days.

Job seeker visa – The UAE offers a visa for those who are planning to seek a job in the UAE. It is valid for 60, 90 or 180 days. The applicant must have an undergraduate degree and must earn at least AED 5000 per month to become eligible for this visa.

Transit visa – People who are planning to visit the UAE for a short time while in transit to a different destination can apply for this visa. The 48-hour long transit visa is free of cost while the 96-hour transit visa costs AED 50. 

Those who want to reside in the UAE for a long time can apply for a long-term resident visa. Entrepreneurs, investors, professionals and students who are willing to work and study in the UAE can apply for these visas. Retirees who want to spend their retirement life in the UAE are also eligible for visas. Here are the long-term visas that you can consider, 

Golden visa – The UAE Golden visa allows the holder to reside, work or study in the UAE for 10 years without any local sponsor. The time can be extended by a renewal of the visa. The golden visa provides multiple benefits for its holder, like 100% ownership of business in UAE, sponsoring family members and domestic helpers to live and work in the country, and multiple entry and exits. This is the most common type of visa for entrepreneurs working in the UAE. 

Green visa – The UAE Green visa is a 5-year resident visa for professionals and students. This visa doesn’t need any sponsorship from any UAE resident. After the visa period is over, it can be extended for 90 days. 

Investor visa – Any investor who is interested in investing in any UAE-based business or property can apply for this visa. The valid duration is usually 5 or 10 years. This visa grants some exclusive benefits to the investors, like residency. 

Student visa – Anyone who is willing to study in the UAE can apply for a student visa. The applicant must be above 18 years of age, must have an admission letter from a UAE-based educational institution, or have a parent residing in the UAE who can sponsor. 

Retirement visa – Anyone who is above 55 years old and has work experience of above 15 years in or outside the UAE can apply for this visa. The valid duration is 5 years and it can be renewed after the end of the term. 
So these are the entry and resident visas that the UAE offers. The process of application, cost and the required documents for each type of visa differ. The process of renewal of these visas also requires proper application. For a better chance of approval, it is always advisable to take the help of a professional agency that can help you out with a golden visa UAE application.