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UAE residence visas for owners, employees and families
A UAE residence visa lets a foreign national live in the country for a fixed period. Most are sponsored by an employer, by a company the holder owns or by a family member, and some long-term categories need no sponsor. Each one passes through an entry permit or status change, a medical fitness test and an Emirates ID application.
At a glance Fact sheet
- Federal authority
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
- Dubai authority
- General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA Dubai)
- Work permits
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), for mainland private sector employers
- Who can sponsor
- An employer, or a family member who holds a valid residence. Some long-term categories need no sponsor
- Sponsored visa validity
- One, two or three years, depending on the category
- Done in the UAE
- Medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics
Overview
Every residence visa starts with one question: who is the sponsor. An employer sponsors its staff, a company supports the residence of its owners and partners, and a resident sponsors a spouse and children. Long-term categories such as the Golden Visa stand apart because the holder needs no sponsor at all. The sponsor decides which authority receives the file and which documents it asks for.
The route is similar across categories. An entry permit brings the applicant into the UAE, or a change of status is filed for someone who is already here. Applicants aged 18 and over take a medical fitness test at an approved health centre, an Emirates ID application is filed with ICP, and the residence permit is issued and linked to the Emirates ID. The medical test and the biometrics happen in the UAE, so plan to be in the country for that part.
Three bodies appear in most files. ICP is the federal authority for residence and identity, GDRFA Dubai handles residence issued in Dubai, and MOHRE issues work permits for private sector employers on the mainland. Free zone companies apply through their own zone authority. Rules differ by category, emirate and authority, and your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
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What to know before you apply
The sponsor's file comes first
A company needs an establishment card with immigration before it can apply for anyone. A family sponsor needs a valid residence of their own.
Validity follows the category
Sponsored visas are issued for one, two or three years. Long-term categories that need no sponsor run for five or ten years.
Dependants follow the sponsor
A family member's visa cannot run longer than the sponsor's, and the sponsor has to cancel the dependants' visas before cancelling their own.
Long absences can end a visa
A resident who stays outside the UAE for more than six months in a row normally loses the visa. Some categories, including Golden Visa holders, are exempt.
The Emirates ID is tied to the visa
The card expires when the residence visa expires and is cancelled with it, so the two are always handled together.
How a residence visa is issued
Sponsor file is checked
Your consultant confirms the sponsor is eligible: a valid licence and establishment card for a company, or a valid residence and proof of income for a family sponsor.
Entry permit or status change
An entry permit is issued for an applicant abroad. Someone already in the UAE on another visa can apply for a change of status where the rules allow it.
Medical fitness test
Applicants aged 18 and over attend an approved health centre in the UAE for the test.
Emirates ID application
The application goes to ICP. You may be asked to visit a service centre to give your biometrics.
Insurance and final file
Health insurance is part of the residence file. Your consultant adds it to the test result and the Emirates ID application.
Residence issued
The authority issues the residence permit and the Emirates ID card is delivered. We record the expiry date for renewal.
Questions people ask
Who can sponsor a residence visa in the UAE?
An employer can sponsor its employees, a company can support the residence of its owners and partners, and a resident with a valid visa can sponsor a spouse and children if the conditions are met. Some long-term categories, such as the Golden Visa and the Green Residence, need no sponsor.
Do I have to be in the UAE to get a residence visa?
For part of it, yes. The application and the entry permit can be handled while you are abroad, but the medical fitness test takes place at an approved health centre in the UAE and Emirates ID biometrics are given at a service centre here. Your consultant plans these visits around your travel.
What is the difference between ICP and GDRFA?
ICP is the federal authority for identity, citizenship and residence, and it issues the Emirates ID across the country. GDRFA Dubai handles entry permits and residence for visas issued in Dubai. Which one receives your file depends on the emirate where the sponsor is registered.
Is a work permit the same as a residence visa?
No. A work permit from MOHRE allows a person to work for a specific mainland employer. The residence visa, issued by the immigration authority, allows the person to live in the UAE. An employee of a mainland private company needs both, and free zone employees are processed through the zone authority.
How long is a UAE residence visa valid?
It depends on the category. Sponsored visas are issued for one, two or three years, and a standard work visa runs for two years. Long-term categories that need no sponsor are issued for five or ten years. A visa can be renewed while you still meet its conditions.
What happens if I stay outside the UAE for a long time?
A residence visa is normally cancelled automatically when the holder stays outside the UAE for more than six consecutive months. There are exceptions for some categories, and Golden Visa holders can return at any time while the residence is valid. Tell your consultant before a long absence.
- UAE Government portal, residence visa provisions
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
- GDRFA Dubai
Reviewed by Caliph Business Solutions on . Rules differ by activity and by authority. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
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