How To Apply Residence Visa In Uae

In United Arab Emirates (UAE), anyone who is not a citizen or an Emirati national is required to have a residence visa before he could live in the country. The specific type of residence visa one should apply depends on their reason for living in UAE and duration of their stay. In this article, we will discuss residence visa options available to expats.

If you have decided to settle in the UAE and live there for a longer period of time, one of the first things you will need to do is to obtain a proper residence visa. Below you will find all the details about visa requirements for applying for residence in UAE, including the type of residence visa available, documents you will need to bring when applying for a UAE residence visa, application fee and approximate processing time.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) immigration is welcoming successful entrepreneurs looking to set in the Emirate. The UAE residence visa procedure falls under two categories. There are people who need a working visa to carry out their job and there are individuals who want the economic residence permit.

In the UAE, it takes a mandatory approval from the Ministry of Labour and other departments to approve the residence visa. While foreigners reside in the country for business or work, there are some special rules that are required to obtain approval for the residence visa.

What’s the difference between a residence visa and an employment visa in the UAE?

If you are relocating to the UAE for work, the first step is applying for a work permit application to enter the country from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). This is an entry permit that you use to arrive in the Emirates that your company must procure for you. This work permit is valid for two months from its issue date, and once in the UAE, you must work towards converting this work permit/entry visa into your residence visa. 

If you are seeking to work in the UAE, your employer must sponsor you and bear the costs of the procedures. We’ll go into greater detail about the steps involved in cementing your UAE residence visa later in this article.