Are you looking to migrate to the United Arab Emirate (UAE)? Are you worried about the quantity or quality of medical service in the UAE? Well, as it turns out, your worries can be laid to rest because there is a 5 year retirement visa available in the country which grants you all access to The Khalifa Health Insurance. This is a document that almost every emirate resident enjoys, but now all expats have the right to this health care insurance too.

In this article, I will describe how to get 5 year retirement visa in UAE. Many expatriates want to retire or do business in the UAE. Those who want to retire will want to live for 5 years in Dubai and send their children abroad for education at most of the time. There are few options available for 6-month, 1-year and 3-year visa. We will base our discussion today on – 5 Year Retirement Visa In Uae. But, other resources which you can find on our website include some frequently asked questions such as: uae retirement visa benefits and uae retirement visa requirements

5 Year Retirement Visa In Uae

Retirement Visa

Ever wished you could retire in the UAE after being a long-term Dubai resident? As of now, you may be able to apply for the Dubai retirement visa if you qualify.

As part of Dubai’s new retirement scheme, ‘Retire in Dubai,’ those 55 years and older are allowed to reside in the emirate on a retirement visa. Interested parties worldwide are welcome to participate, including long-term residents of Dubai. In Dubai, retirees can apply for a retirement visa, a first-of-its-kind scheme in the region.

ALL ABOUT THE RETIREMENT VISA IN DUBAI

Designed to assist ex-pats and foreigners living in Dubai after retirement, the scheme was launched upon the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

In recent decades, Dubai has become a popular destination for young professionals. As they near retirement, most ex-pats return home.

Expats can now retire to Dubai permanently with the introduction of the five-year Dubai retirement visa. Expats from Dubai who meet specific retirement criteria can participate in this scheme.

For the initial phase, the retirement visa scheme will be restricted to Dubai residents living in the emirate for over ten years. However, the scheme will provide long-term residents with a hassle-free retirement option.

Additionally, in September 2018, the UAE Cabinet approved a law granting a long-term visa to retired residents over 55. Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria may renew their visas.

A retiree must meet the following criteria to qualify for a 5-year renewable retirement visa:

Invest in a 2 million AED property
Savings of no less than 1 million AED
An active income of at least AED 20,000 per month is required.

The visa is valid for 5 years and can be renewed upon meeting the eligibility requirements.

Thousands of expatriates over the last ten years have been making the transition to U.A.E. and with many new opportunities opening up year on year there is no stopping this trend. Retiring or leaving your previous country for a comfortable lifestyle in a hot country like UAE isn’t just about sun, sand, sea and palm trees.

HOW DO I OBTAIN A 5 YEAR RETIREMENT VISA IN UAE (DUBAI OR ABU DHABI)?

The UAE Retirement Visa recently announced allows retired residents over 55 years old to be eligible for a long-term visa of 5 years.

The Visa allows individuals who meet the criteria to retire in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the wider UAE.

The retirement visa holder can also then sponsor (and obtain a UAE resident dependant visa for) their spouse and children, at school age or student age.

In order to obtain the UAE 5-year retirement visa the individual retiree will need to meet the criteria below:

You must be at least 55 years old
You must have a valid Health Insurance in the UAE (the individual will need to obtain their own local UAE health insurance policy)

Additionally, the individual retiree must be able to meet one of the below financial criteria:

Receive a monthly income of at least AED 20,000 in the UAE (evidence of income for the past 6 months is required)
Have at least AED 1 million in cash savings held in a UAE bank (letter from the bank is required)
Own a property worth at least AED 2 million in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or the wider UAE (provide a copy of your property value deed – the individual retiree must show equity value of at least AED 2 million, unmortgaged)

The visa can be renewed after 5 years if the criteria above continues to be met.

Note that the individual retiree can still work whilst holding this retirement visa, the individual will self-issue an NOC letter to allow them to continue to work in the UAE if they wish to.

If you need assistance and are looking to obtain a UAE 5 year retirement visa, or if you need assistance with staff, family and dependant visas and health insurance any other related company set up, restructuring, local partner or PRO support matter in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, the wider UAE, Oman or Qatar, then please do get in touch with us on +971 (0)4 456 1761 for Dubai or +971 (0)2 448 5120 for Abu Dhabi, email us at info@ppg.ae or complete the contact form below and we will be delighted to assist you.

Dubai Retirement Visa Requirements

To be eligible for a Dubai Retirement Visa, you must be at least 55 years old and meet one of the following conditions:

You purchase property in Dubai worth at least AED 2 million
You have financial saving that account to at least AED 1 million
You have an active income of at least AED 20,000 per month from investments or pensions.

The Retirement Visa for Dubai is issued for five years, and it can be renewed for another five if you still meet the eligibility criteria.

How to Apply for a Dubai Retirement Visa?

Depending on where you are living, there are a few possible methods through which you can apply for a Dubai Retirement Visa:

If you’re currently living in Dubai on a work visa, you must approach the branch of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai
If you are abroad, you may need an entry visa to enter Dubai, which is when you can apply for the Residence Retirement Visa
- Some nationalities may enter without a visa or get a visa on arrival (see here) but still have to apply for the Residence Visa once in Dubai

It is the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) that is in charge of issuing visas for the UAE, including Dubai.

As such, when you want to apply for the visa, you should approach the Dubai branch of the GDRFA or one if its typing centers.

Retirement Visa UAE 2022: How and Where Can Expats Apply for UAE’s Retirement Visa?

It’s common knowledge that Dubai appeals to expats, professionals and entrepreneurs seeking to advance their careers and to take advantage of its income tax-free policy. Additionally, Dubai has also established itself as an ideal place to live for people at all stages; from school to retirement.

Lately, with the UAE government further facilitating retirees to enjoy the fruits of their hard work in a relaxed and comfortable environment, many internationals are considering Dubai as their ideal place to retire.

Here’s all you need to know about the UAE retirement visa.

What is the retirement visa UAE?

The retirement visa UAE is essentially a 5-year renewable visa granting expat retirees residency status within the UAE.

The UAE defines an expat retiree as someone who is older than 55 years old and in possession of a letter of retirement from their previous employer or company.

The retirement visa reflects the UAE government’s commitment to welcoming everyone to live within its borders.

Who is eligible for the retirement visa?

Generally, the retirement visa UAE is available for all retirees able to meet its requirements including their spouse and dependents. Among the requirements are the age of the applicant which must be at least 55 years old and is able to fulfil certain financial criteria.

What are the financial criteria?

An applicant will be considered eligible if they are able to meet ANY ONE of the following financial criteria:

Option 1. An income of at least AED 180,000 (approx. USD 49,000) a year or AED 15,000 (approx. USD 4,100) per month.
Option 2. AED 1 million (approx. US$275,000) savings in a 3-year fixed deposit
Option 3. AED 1 million (approx. US$275,000) mortgaged/unmortgaged property for which the payment to date is at least AED 1 million.
Option 4. A combination of Options 1 and 2 valued at a minimum of AED 1 million (approx. US$275,000) in a 3-year fixed deposit and property, worth AED 500,000 each.

How do I apply for the retirement visa?

The application process for the retirement visa would depend on the option that you’ve chosen to pursue. There are two options as follows:

For Options 1 and 2, which is the income and savings applications, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) will be the determining authority.
For Options 3 and 4, which relate to property applications, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) will be the relevant authority.

For GDRFA:

Visit the GDRFA portal
Select the ‘Individuals’ login option
Register and log in to your dashboard to start a new application
Follow the prompts to complete and submit the online form

For DLD:

Visit the real estate regulatory agency’s office in person to proceed with your property application

Required documents

Upon a successful application, all retirees are required to purchase medical insurance as a condition of completing the process. As for the documents, the following are the general requirements:

Current visa copy: for UAE residents and their dependents
Passport copy: for the applicant and their dependents, including their spouse and children
Marriage certificate: in case the applicant is sponsoring their spouse
Emirates ID copy: an applicant who is UAE resident will need to provide copies of their Emirates ID (including their dependents ID’s).

Apart from these, there are additional documents required for each option:

Option 1

Proof of income letter

You must provide documents confirming your chosen financial route. The document should have the beneficiary’s name and the date of commencement. You can either provide:

A letter from the relevant entity which provides the source of income (e.g., pension scheme); or
A letter from your previous employer if they are providing you with monthly income after retirement; or
Supporting document to prove that you have a sustainable income.

Bank statement

Minimum deposit of AED 15,000 monthly or AED 180,000 yearly from the pension scheme/social service in your account on a monthly basis for the last 6 months (stamped by the bank). You can still submit your documentation for consideration if you cannot satisfy this explicit requirement.

Option 2

Proof of retirement letter

You must prove that you are an eligible retired individual who has worked in the past with the following:

– End of service letter issued by your last employer with details such as the number of years of service, and it must validate that you are a retiree or;

– A letter from your social services or an equivalent entity detailing that you are a retiree.

Proof of savings letter

For applicants who apply via the savings route (AED 1 million), it is required that the AED 1 million be secured as a 3-year fixed deposit in a UAE-based bank. Applicants must obtain a stamped letter to that regard from the bank, addressed to GDRFA in Arabic (both Arabic and English on the same letter is acceptable).

Option 3

For applicants that apply via the property route, please note that the property must:

Have a minimum value of AED 1 million as per the title deed
Have a minimum share value of AED 1 million by the applicant (and spouse collectively), in case there are multiple owners
Be in the name of the applicant (not the applicant’s spouse); if owned by a company, the company must be 100 percent owned by the applicant
Be fully paid, if unmortgaged
If mortgaged, the payment amount to date should be no less than AED 1 million
Not be off-plan
Located in Dubai

Multiple properties with a combined value of AED 1 million may be used, as long as they meet the above criteria. Please provide a copy of the title deed(s).

Option 4

Copy of title deed

Your property should fulfil the following criteria:

Property should be located in Dubai and issued by DLD
The property value (and not mortgage value) as per the title deed must be at least AED 500,000.
The property should be 100% owned by the applicant.
If there are shared owners, the applicant’s and spouses’ share must be at least AED 500,000.
The property should not be off-plan.

Proof of savings letter

Applicants who apply via the savings route (AED 1 million), it is required that the AED 1 million be secured as a 3-year fixed deposit in a UAE-based bank. Applicants must obtain a stamped letter in that regard from the bank, addressed to GDRFA in Arabic (both Arabic and English on the same letter is acceptable).

What is the cost of the retirement visa?

The initial non-refundable fee of the retirement visa application costs USD 25 per applicant and dependent. In the event the application is approved by the GDRFA or DLD, then a total amount of AED 3,714.75 (approx. US$1,011) per applicant and dependent must be paid.

The total cost covers the entry permit, visa status adjustment and residency stamping, as well the Emirates ID, medical examination and management fees.

Note that this does not include any costs associated with health insurance, which is mandatory.

How long will the process take?

Once you’ve been notified that your application is complete, the application process may take up to 15 working days.

What are the benefits of the retirement visa?

Apart from being able to live in Dubai and enjoy the privileges of a resident, holders of the retirement visa may also take advantage of the following.

Sponsor their spouse and children

Retirees are allowed to sponsor their spouse and children with no limit to the number of children. Note that to be able to sponsor your children, they must be under the age of 18 for boys while girls can be sponsored until the age of 21. If they are older than the specified ages, they are not eligible for the sponsorship and will need to apply for their own visa. Sponsored children will be eligible for study in Dubai.

Multiple entries to the UAE

Holders of the retirement visa are fully regarded as a resident of the UAE. Thus they are entitled to enter and leave the UAE at their convenience for as long as the retirement visa is valid. Additionally, unlike a standard residency visa, retirees will not be required to spend a minimum period of days in the UAE within the year.