The UAE grants women an extension of one year on their residence visa, if they are divorced or widowed.
According to the official UAE government portal, the extension starts from the date of the death of her husband or the divorce, is renewable for one time only and does not require a substitute sponsor.
The extension applies to the woman’s children as well, provided they were on their father’s visa at the time of their father’s death or their parents’ divorce.
According to the website:
- The visas of the woman and her children must have been valid at the time of the death or the divorce.
- The duration of the child’s/children’s residence visa should not exceed that of the mother.
Residency rules for widowed and divorced women in UAE
As per the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) website, the residency of widowed and divorced women and their children are subject to a set of conditions and rules including that the widow or divorced women and their children must have had their residency visas sponsored by the deceased or former husband at the time of death or divorce.
According to a statement made by Brigadier Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, Acting Director-General for Foreigners Affairs and Ports at ICP in 2018, the mother’s and her children’s residence visas must also be valid at the time of death or divorce and that the children’s residency period does not exceed that of the mother.
He also said “a widow or divorcee can benefit from such facilitations of the Decree even if she has no children.”
Women can apply for the extension under the Decree on the relevant form, and submitting a proof of divorce or death for a widow, the statement said.
Women must also submit a proof of house availability, proof of ability to earn a living, and a certification of medical examination for the mother and children over 18 years.
They must also submit their ID and health insurance cards, as applicable in the UAE.
As for the fee, Brigadier Al Rashidi has said that the ICP will request each beneficiary to pay the normal fees levied for the services provided by ICP, which are the cancellation fees for the previous residency visas of the widow, divorcee, and children, and one-year residency fees of AED100.
However, ‘in lieu of leaving’ fees will not be collected for such case because it is related to the extension of a residency visa in accordance with the Cabinet Decree, the statement said, citing Brigadier Al Rashidi.
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