Entry Service Permit

This type of permit is valid for 14 days from the date of issue and allows visitors to stay in the country for a period of 14 days, not including arrival and departure days. Hotels and tourist companies or other organizations may apply on the individual’s behalf for this type of visa; a security deposit is required per person and this is refunded upon exiting the country. An entry service permit may be issued to delegations from companies or establishments required to carry out commercial activity within the UAE on an urgent basis. It applies to the following individuals and their family members: account auditors, company manager’s representatives and sales managers. This type of entry permit is usually only issued on an urgent basis for a fee and is non-renewable. Required documents include a copy of the applicant’s passport and flight arrival and departure dates. Passports should be valid for at least six months to be eligible for application of an entry service permit. Visa costs are non-refundable even in the event of a cancellation, rejection of visa or expiration of issued visa.

Visit Visas

Visit visas are issued to those who intend on staying within the country for more than 14 days, either as tourists, to visit friends and family or for long-term business visits. Visit visas require an eligible sponsor which can be either a hotel or company with a valid license to operate within the UAE or a UAE resident with a valid visa. The visit visa is valid for two months from the date of issue and allows visitors to stay in the country for a period of 60 days and can be extended for up to 90 days for an additional fee. Required documents include a copy of the applicant’s passport and flight arrival and departure dates and may also include sponsor’s passport and visa details. Passports should be valid for at least six months to be eligible for application of a visit visa

Tourist Visa

This is a special category of visit visa that requires the sponsorship of the tour agency or hotel that is bringing in tourists. It is issuable only to certain nationalities is non-renewable and allows the tourist to stay in the country for 30 days.

Multiple-entry Visas

These visas are issued mainly to business travelers who have a relationship with reputable local businesses and are frequent travelers to the country. Entry is required within 60 days from issuance of the visa and the visa is valid for 30 days without any extension. Visitors enter the country on a visit visa and obtain a multiple-entry visa (which will be stamped in their passport) once they are in the country.

Dependent Visa or Family Visa

A person married to a resident of Dubai is eligible for a dependent visa. This visa can also be used by parents who want to migrate to Dubai to be with their children or vice versa. In the case of parents sponsoring their children, the child must be less than 18 years old and unmarried.

Student Visas

Those wishing to pursue education in the UAE can apply for a student visa through an approved sponsor which can be an educational institution or a university licensed under the Ministry of Higher Education.

Visas for Medical Treatment

Public or private sector medical establishments can apply for special visas for those seeking medical treatment in the UAE. These establishments must be approved by the Ministry of Health. Medical treatment visas are valid for 60 days from the date of arrival into the country and can be renewed twice for a further sixty days.

All documents required for visa issuance should be scanned originals, clear copies and in color to avoid any risks of rejection by Dubai Immigration. Staying beyond the validity of the visa will incur a hefty daily fine, which will have to be paid when exiting the country.

Resident Visa

As Dubai hurtles into the 21st century at break neck speed, the demand for labor to sustain this rapid growth is exponentially increasing. With a burst in growth anticipated in almost all sectors driving the economy, the opportunity for employment is plentiful and thus the numbers of expats, both skilled as well as unskilled laborers, entering the country every year is on the rise.

Any foreign expat, who is not a UAE national, requires a residency visa to live and work in Dubai. The residency visa then allows employees to obtain a work permit or labor card, issued by the Ministry of Labour.

The majority of expats have already secured employment prior to arriving in Dubai and they do not have to deal with the relevant authorities for the work permit. The employer is required to take responsibility for the visa application process and applies to the relevant departments on behalf of the employee. Employers are also required, by law, to bear the financial costs related to the procurement of the visa.

There are different types of work permits required for employment in Dubai and these vary based on the type and duration of employment. The UAE government has tried to simplify the process of obtaining a visa but there are still several documents and legalities that must be conformed to.

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
• 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 centerafter 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.

Dependent Visa or Family Visa

A person married to a resident of Dubai is eligible for a dependent visa. This visa can also be used by parents who want to migrate to Dubai to be with their children or vice versa. In the case of parents sponsoring their children, the child must be less than 18 years old and unmarried. Some of the requirements for this visa are:

• The sponsor must earn at least AED 4,000 per month or AED 3,000 per month plus company sponsored accommodation to sponsor a spouse or child
• The sponsor must earn at least AED 20,000 per month to sponsor parents
• Both parents must be sponsored together. If the parents are separated or if one parent is deceased, documentary proof is needed of the same.

The documents required include:

• Completed application form
• Sponsor’s original passport
• Sponsor’s salary certificate or proof of job contract
• Passport photographs of the dependents
• Copy of the dependent’s passport
• Proof of relationship
• Proof that the sponsor is the sole provider for the dependents

A refundable processing fee is payable when applying for this visa to migrate to Dubai. This fee will be refunded when the visa is canceled. It is important to note that women cannot sponsor dependants.

Student Visa

Those wishing to pursue education in the UAE can apply for a student visa through an approved sponsor which can be an educational institution or a university licensed under the Ministry of Higher Education.

To apply for a student visa the applicant must be sponsored by a relative in Dubai or by the university. This visa is valid for one year and may be renewed later. The documents required include:

• Valid passport
• 4 copies of the passport
• 12 passport photographs
• Admission offer letter
• Proof of financial sufficiency
• Proof of accommodation in Dubai
• Copy of the tuition fee receipt
• Copy of visa fee receipt
• In the case of postgraduate students, a copy of the undergraduate degree is also needed.

On arrival, every student must undergo a health check. Anyone who tests positive for HIV, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis or leprosy will be deported.

Naturalization

Foreigners who migrate to Dubai are not granted citizenship often. Children born in the UAE  get citizenship by birth. Those born to UAE citizens outside the country may apply for citizenship after the age of 18 years. A woman can get citizenship by marriage if the marriage lasts at least 3 years.

Dual citizenship is not recognized in Dubai. It is also important to note that naturalized citizens do not have the right to stand for elections.

Foreigners wishing to apply for citizenship must meet the below criteria:

• The applicant must have lived legally in the UAE for at least 30 years
• The applicant must earn a good salary
• The applicant must have a good character
• The applicant must not have a criminal record
• The applicant must have sufficient knowledge of the Arabic language

Property Owner Visa

Investing in property in Dubai makes a person eligible for this visa. The minimum amount to be invested in this case is AED 10,00,000. This refers to the purchase value, not the current market value. The property must be a residential property and must be ready to move into.

The applicant must also have a monthly income of at least  AED 10,000. Once the applicant has received a residence visa he may sponsor his spouse and children to migrate to Dubai as well.

The documents required to apply for this visa include:

• Original passport
• Original title deed of the property
• Certificate of good conduct from the Dubai police
• NOC from the developer
• 6 passport sized photographs

Investor Visa

This visa is designed for people who invest a certain amount of money in Dubai. Investing in Dubai has many benefits including no personal income tax, no capital gains tax and no corporation tax. The immigrant may invest in an existing company based in Dubai or set up his own company.

The applicant cannot be employed by any other employer in the UAE without No-Objection letter. This visa is valid for three years and may be renewed. The exact amount to be invested varies from place to place within Dubai.