The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has quickly become one of the most sought-after destinations for tourists. Cities like Dubai are the epitome of luxury and innovation, where you can experience cutting-edge technology or adventure experiences in the expansive desert surrounding it, while Abu Dhabi offers tourists access to stunning cultural attractions like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and nature attractions like the Mangrove Marine National Park.
For the more business and investment-oriented, the UAE also has numerous programs and incentives to attract foreign investors. If you are interested in the UAE as your next holiday destination or plan on making your next big investment, this guide will discuss all the different types of visas in the UAE, including how you could potentially obtain a residence permit in the UAE and what a UAE residence permit is.
- The UAE offers numerous visa options tailored to tourists, expats, investors, and entrepreneurs, making it a global hub for business and travel.
- Residency visas, such as the Golden Visa, Green Visa, and others, provide ways to obtain long-term residency, aimed at professionals, students, retirees, and investors.
- Work visas offer flexibility, with options for freelancers, skilled workers, and remote workers.
- For specific interests, the UAE provides multiple-entry tourist visas and single-entry visit visas, including visa-on-arrival options and long-term multiple-entry permits.
- The UAE incentivizes foreign investors with programs such as the UAE Golden Visa that offer long-term residence through real estate, business, and sustainability investments, making it a lucrative destination for global investors.
- Family sponsorship is available, allowing valid residence permit holders to sponsor family members who meet the residency conditions.
Residency Visas
The UAE makes use of a residency system that allows foreign nationals to live, work, and invest in the UAE for extended periods. Depending on the conditions under which a person gets the visa, it can be valid for one to 10 years.
Residency is a great way for foreign investors and skilled workers to look at opportunities abroad.
Types of Residency Visas
The UAE has many types of visas that provide residence opportunities, the UAE Golden Visa being the most popular one.
UAE Golden Visa
The UAE Golden Visa is a unique long-term residence visa that aims to attract foreign investors and talent. This visa is ideal for investors, scientists, programmers and many other industry specialists. To learn more about the specific requirements of the UAE Golden Visa read this article.
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Blue Visa
A 10-year residence visa is designed to recognize individuals who have contributed significantly to the environment’s protection, sustainability, or other climate-related projects. This visa is generally given to nominated individuals.
Retirement Visas
This 5-year renewable residence visa is aimed at individuals 55 years and older. To apply, you must own a property/properties worth more than AED 1 million or you must have a monthly income of more than AED 20,000.
Student Visa
A long-term residence visa aimed at higher education (college/university) students. The visa is valid for as long as the student is studying.
Family Visa
Expatriates who live in the UAE can sponsor family members if they have a valid residence visa. To qualify, the sponsor must have a salary of at least AED 4,000 a month.
General Requirements
While the specific requirements for each visa differ, there are some general requirements when applying for all these visas. The requirements are as follows:
- Medical check (for all applicants older than 18)
- ID Photo with a white background
- Emirates ID Application Receipt
- Copy of the sponsor's passport and valid residence permit (if applicable)
- Entry Permit
- Medical Insurance or health plan details
- Proof of residence or lease contract
- Marriage Certificate (if Spouse is added)
- Birth Certificate (for any supporting Child added)
Work Visas
The UAE offers many residence visas that don't require a sponsor; however, this is not the case for work visas. Fortunately, the UAE has taken a very modern approach to its visa system and covers almost every professional working case. This modern system provides opportunities for skilled professionals working online or those interested in starting a new career in the UAE.
Types of Work Visas
Green Visa
A five-year residence visa is designed for freelancers, self-employed individuals, and skilled professionals. The visa does not require a sponsor and extends to family members, allowing the holder to sponsor their family members who fit the residency criteria.
Freelance Visa
To qualify for this visa, individuals will need to find sponsorship from a company in one of Dubai's free zones. This visa is aimed at contractors working on specific projects and is typically valid for up to three years.
Business Visa
This visa caters to Entrepreneurs and businessmen/women who want to explore the possibility of establishing a business or getting involved in one. The investment requirements for this visa are less than the UAE Golden Visa and do not offer a residency or the benefits of the prestigious Golden Visa.
Special Talent Visa
Specialists in various STEM industries can apply for this visa and will require a sponsor. This visa requires endorsement based on outstanding achievement and is therefore not a common option for many people.
Virtual Work Visa
This one-year residence visa allows individuals who work online to live in the UAE. To apply for this visa, you need to earn more than $3,500 a month. This visa is aimed at digital nomads who do not have a set employer or work location.
Mission Visa
This is a short-term visa that is valid for 90 days. This is typically for temporary projects and requires a UAE-based company as a sponsor.
General Requirements
When it comes to the different types of work visas, in the UAE each visa has its own specific requirements. However, all these visa categories share the following main requirements:
- Original passport and copy
- ID Photo with white background
- Academic Qualifications that will need to be authorized by a UAE embassy or consulate.
- Medical Certificate
- Sponsor details and employment information
Visit Visas
The UAE offers numerous visit visas that cater to the diverse needs of international travelers. Whether you're exploring career opportunities, seeking investment opportunities, undergoing medical treatment or just planning on visiting, the UAE visa system covers it all.
Types of Visit Visas
Job Seeker Visa
Individuals looking for work in the UAE can apply for this visa. The visa is valid for 60 to 120 days and is only valid for a single trip. To apply for this visa, you will need to have a bachelor's degree, you need to qualify at a certain skill level, prescribed by the Ministry of Human Resources in Dubai, or you should have graduated from one of the top 500 universities in the world and must have graduated within the last 2 years.
Investment Opportunity Visa
This single-entry visa is also valid for 60 to 120 days and is targeted toward providing potential investors with a way to explore the various investment opportunities in Dubai. To qualify for this visa, applicants will need to prove that they are in a good financial situation, that they hold a special skill, or have a high qualification.
Patient and Companion Visa
Foreigners seeking to travel to the UAE for medical treatment can apply for a medical visa with the medical institution as a sponsor. This permit can either be single or multiple entries, depending on the case and what is requested by the medical establishment. A companion can be included in this application to ensure the applicant is taken care of during their trip.
e-Visa for GCC Residents
The GCC e-Visa offers citizens from countries that are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) a 30-day extendable visiting visa. The visa process is all handled through an online process.
General Requirements
Due to the wide range of visit visas and the situations they cater for, the general requirements are not standard across all of these visa types. To better understand the specific requirements, conditions and which visa would suit your individual needs best, book your free consultation with Mirabello Consultancy.
Tourist Visas
The UAE boasts some of the most well-known attractions in the world, from the iconic Burj Khalifa to the extreme luxury offered by the Palm Jumeirah. For adventures and those interested in culture, the UAE has that in abundance as well.
As part of the UAE's effort to diversify away from a primarily oil-centered economy, the government has put a large emphasis on tourism. The tourist visa system in the UAE is designed to meet all travel needs. Below is an overview of the key tourist visa types available for those looking to spend their next holiday in this amazing country.
Types of Tourist Visas
Visa on Arrival
For citizens of countries on this list, the UAE has an agreement that allows tourists to receive a 30-day tourist visa on arrival. Citizens of countries from this list can receive a 90-day tourist visa on arrival.
Multiple Entry Five-Year Tourist Visa
This is a multiple-entry visa that is valid for 5 years. The visa allows a holder to enter the UAE for 90 days at a time, which can be further extended for another 90 days. To obtain a multiple-entry tourist visa, applicants will need to meet the following requirements:
- Proof of funds of at least USD 4,000
- Health insurance or travel insurance
- Travel tickets to and from the UAE
- Proof of residence during the stay
Transit Visa
This visa is typically for travelers who do not live in one of the countries that form part of the visa-on-arrival or visa-free entry programs. A transit visa can be issued for 48 hours or 96 hours and will need to be arranged through the UAE-based airline that you are traveling with. This visa provides holders with longer layover times at the airport, and an opportunity to explore the city.
UAE Golden Visa: How Mirabello Consultancy Can Help You
If you are considering a long-term residence visa, the UAE Golden Visa is perfect. The Golden Visa not only offers a robust and proven system to acquire citizenship through investment but also provides unique incentives to attract foreign investors. It can however be difficult to navigate the laws and regulations around investing in a foreign country. For such a large undertaking, you need someone to trust. That is where Mirabello Consultancy comes in.
Mirabello Consultancy is a Swiss-based company that specializes in residence and citizenship by investment solutions. And as experts in the industry, not only can they walk you through the processes involved in getting a residency, but also help establish a new business, buy real estate or even get involved in renewable energy projects.
FAQ
A visit visa in the UAE is a short-term visa focused on providing foreigners ways to visit the country for specific reasons, such as medical treatment, job seeking, etc. A tourist visa, on the other hand, is focused on providing foreign travelers with a hassle-free way to spend their holiday in the UAE. Tourist visas are either granted on arrival or a five-year multiple entry visa will need to be applied for.
Anyone who holds a valid residence permit in the UAE can sponsor their family members’ visa applications to the UAE. In fact, this is one of the main reasons the UAE Golden Visa has become such a popular option. To find out about all the benefits of the UAE Golden Visa read this article.
Depending on the size of your investment, the long-term UAE Golden Visa is either valid for 5 or 10 years. To learn more about the requirements for each of these options read this article.
Real estate investment in the UAE has become one of the most exciting opportunities in the world and is one of the key investment avenues for both the UAE Golden Visa and other residence visas in the UAE. For an in-depth look at the real estate opportunities available in the UAE, read this article.
