Major UAE visa update: Expats need AED10,000 salary to sponsor family

Resolution No. 74 of 2022, issued by ICP chairman Ali Mohammad Al Shamsi, covers the conditions and controls specified in Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022, which became effective on October 3, 2022.

This new decision outlines all procedures associated with the loss or damage of passports or identity cards for expats, whether they occur within or outside of the country.

Lost passport/ID holders can enter UAE

According to the report, the UAE has made a decision to allow expats who have lost their passport or ID to enter the country.

These expats must submit an entry request through the smart services platform, and visit the competent department within three working days to complete procedures.

The decision also outlines conditions for granting tourist visas, including that the sponsor or host should be a tourism-related institution, company, or registered body in the accredited facility card system, and provide a tourism program.

Entering UAE through border ports

Foreigners may be granted an entry visa at adjacent border areas of land entry ports for a 90-day period.

Visa holders can enter the country multiple times as long as the visa is valid, and stay every time for a period not exceeding 48 hours.

The Director General of Residence and Foreigners Affairs may issue an entry visa to expats who are required by relevant authorities in the UAE based on an official request.

In addition, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) is authorised to issue a “private entry permit” to individuals accompanying heads of state and ministers during their official visits to the UAE.

Entry visas to the UAE

Visit visas allow their holders to enter the UAE once or multiple times, as determined by the issuing entity. However, the visa holder is not allowed to stay in the country for more than 180 days.

Entry visas are valid for 60 days from the date of issuance, and permit the holder to stay in the country in accordance with the type of visa issued, the report said, citing the new resolution.

Additionally, there are new rules for granting a visit visa to someone who wants to come to the UAE to visit a friend or family member.

These rules are in addition to the requirements that were already announced.

To be eligible for the visa, the visitor must be a friend or family member of a citizen of the UAE, regardless of their relationship.

Alternatively, the visitor must be a close relative of an expat who is living in the UAE, and the expat must have a job that is classified as either first or second level.

Humanitarian cases

The decision outlines the issuance of a residence permit that is valid for one renewable year, subject to the availability of a sponsor or host.

The decision also lists five conditions that must be met to issue a residence visa for expats from countries affected by wars, disasters, or unrest.

The decision specifies that those wishing to bring their relatives or their wives’ relatives must meet certain requirements to obtain a residence permit.

To meet the requirements for residency in the UAE, one must have the following: Citizenship of a country that is not classified as being in a state of war, disaster, or unrest by the authority’s chairman, physical presence in the UAE, adequate financial stability and appropriate housing arrangement, the report said.

Sponsoring in the UAE

If the foreigner is related to a UAE resident or their spouse, they must have the following degree of kinship: the foreigner’s father, mother, or underage siblings, provided that they can financially sponsor them, or the wife’s father and mother.

If an expat in the UAE is related to an Emirati, they need to prove their family relationship. If the expat is related to a UAE resident or their spouse, they can bring their father, mother, underage siblings (if they can support them financially), or their wife’s parents.

Moreover, the expat needs to have sufficient housing and a monthly income to bring their relatives or their wife’s relatives, the report said.

They can bring up to 5 individuals if their monthly income is AED10,000 and up to 6 individuals if their monthly income is AED15,000. If they want to bring more than 6 individuals, the chairman of the authority will decide if the applicant is eligible, the report added.

Exempt cases

The decision also outlines 3 categories of individuals exempt from having their residence visa cancelled if they stay outside of the country for more than 180 days.

People who hold golden visas and their families, green visas and their families, and those who have been granted exemption by the GDRFA for valid reasons and have paid the required fee will be allowed to keep their residence permits until they expire.

In addition to the previous decision, there are six groups of foreigners who don’t need to meet the passport validity requirement while entering the UAE, as long as their passport is valid for at least a month, the report said.

These include airplane crews, sailors, and workers on tourist and picnic ships. Also, individuals with emergency entry, transit, and entry visas, and those entering adjacent areas are exempt.

Moreover, the decision has categorised five groups of individuals who can stay in the UAE for up to 180 days after the expiration or cancellation of their residence permit.

These groups consist of the holders of golden and green visas along with their families, foreign widows and divorced expats residing in the UAE, students pursuing further studies after graduation, and the spouses, parents, and children of Emiratis or foreign passport holders.

However, only two categories of people, namely skilled professionals from the first, second, and third levels, and property owners, can stay in the UAE for 90 days after their visa cancellation or expiration.

People with visas issued by sponsors or hosts are allowed to stay for 60 days, while all other categories are only permitted to stay for 30 days.