Apply for visa

LIVING IN THE UAE

HOW TO'S

A comprehensive step-by-step instruction guide to setting up in the UAE, from applying for your residence visa and resident ID to renting a home and opening a bank account.

Open a Bank Account (1/19)

Take the medical test (2/19)

Apply for visa (3/19)

Renew of visa (4/19)

Apply for a resident ID card (5/19)

Renew a resident ID card (6/19)

Apply for a health card (7/19)

Apply for Mobile (8/19)

Connect Electricity & Water (9/19)

Connect Internet (10/19)

Apply for a landline (11/19)

Subscribe to satellite / cable TV (12/19)

Buy a property (13/19)

Apply for UAE driving licence (14/19)

Transfer a foreign driving licence (15/19)

Buy a new vehicle (16/19)

Buy a second-hand vehicle (17/19)

Have a baby (18/19)

Obtain a Birth Certificate (19/19)

Overview

To live in the UAE, you need a residence visa. There are two types available: one is for those sponsored for employment, and the other is for residence only. The visa permits you to live in the UAE, and you can live and work in different emirates; some people, for example, choose to work in Dubai and live in Sharjah due to cheaper rents there.

The validity of the visa is two years, or three years if you work in some free zones or government jobs. Both visas are in line with the validity of the labour card. Consequently, any family member that you sponsor will then receive a residence visa on the same time frame as yours. If you leave the UAE for a period of more than six months at any one time, your residency will lapse.

Prerequisites

Aged under 65 years old
Minimum six months validity on passport
Have a job offer or be currently employed
entry permit (organised by employer)
Medical completed (and passed)
Resident ID application is underway

What to bring

Passport (original)
Resident ID application form certified by the Registration Centre at the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA)
Entry permit
Medical test certificate
Attested education certificates
Company’s establishment immigration card and trade licence (copies)
Five passport-sized photos
Dhs.310 fee (plus typing fees)

Procedure

Your company’s PRO (public relations officer) should handle and process all the paperwork, meaning you won’t have to visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) yourself for an employment sponsored residence visa.