New law to offer residency visas to home owners

VISA MOVE: A new six-month renewable residency visa will be available to home owners in the UAE, including Abu Dhabi under a new proposal. (Getty Images)

A new federal law is set to be introduced granting residency visas to owners of freehold property in the UAE, in a move designed to boost the struggling real estate market.

The ruling, which is likely to come into power within the next year, will allow the owners to obtain a six-month renewable residency visa, said Brig Gen Nasser al Minhali, the acting director general of the federal Department of Naturalisation and Residency (DNR) in comments published by UAE daily The National on Tuesday.

He said the aim was to create a unified visa system related to home purchases and that the visa would be available to all nationalities and would not depend on the value or size of the property owned.

Residency visas granted in the past would remain valid, he told the paper.

Prospective homeowners seeking residency in many parts of the UAE have relied on property developers to act as sponsors for visas.

The three-year visa, which allowed the holder to live in the emirate but not to work, was a significant incentive for many buyers, especially those from Iran, Pakistan and India.

The new nationwide visa system aims to cut out confusion caused over whether a developer could actually guarantee visas, as some promised, and whether the DNR would grant the visa.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Resudence Visa
Posted by Anig, Sofia, Bulgaria on Thursday 19 February 2009 at 13:36 UAE time


When I bought my apartment in UAE, I was promised to grant a three years visa, that is even written in the contract. But the company just give me 1 year and every time I have to go to Dubai to renew after 1 year. But when suddenly there was a new rule to STOP issuing a visa, the company also stop renewing my visa, although the three years that said in my contract when I bought the apartment was not yet completed! That makes me MAD! Now that they are straggling, they changed again the RULES! That very unstable and unfair! Therefore investors don't trust!

Practical difficulties of short visas
Posted by Sharif, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 19 February 2009 at 09:49 UAE time


The issuance of visas to property owners is a much needed move, however the validity of the visa needs to be longer for practical reasons. First you cannot get a visa for any country or travel if your residency is valid for less than 6 months.
With all government departments now being on line, it would be simple for the Lands Department and Immigration databases to be linked, i.e. before you go to sell your property, you should have cancelled your visa / dependants visas and could be given three months time (for example) to exit the country. This would also mean that all properties should be registered with the Lands Dept which in itself is better for owners/buyers.
Also, it is essential that the new rules allow an owner to obtain visas for his/her dependents including parents.
The authorities should carefully review the practical difficulties of a short-term visa of 6 months before implementing the new rules. The new rules obviously have to protect the UAE interest, but should also be practical and fair to people who have invested in the country. A balanced and consistent approach is the need of the hour.

visa for property
Posted by julia, orlando, usa on Tuesday 17 February 2009 at 19:39 UAE time


foriegners will eagerly buy property if one time visa is given and remains valid so long as property ownership is held.
visa should expire 3 months after property is sold and sale proceeds realized

Lines similar to UAE id
Posted by Eswar S B, Sharjah, UAE on Tuesday 17 February 2009 at 19:25 UAE time


After property boom is down, it is nice to note somebody addressing on the visa issue. But to when this rule will be valid. Every six months, costs ??? who is bearing it? Already the property firms are hiking in the name of maintenance charges. Is this stimulus package for income to spend or a bonus to the investors? Very doubtful.

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