United Arab Emirates
Apply for UAE Visa
This section provides information on how you can apply for a UAE residence visa. Find out about the eligibility and the requirements to work, invest, study and live in the UAE.
Who can live or reside in the UAE ?
Foreigners can live as residents in the UAE if they are:
- Employed by a company in the UAE - in this case, the company will apply and sponsor your residence visa while you are in the UAE.
- Employed by the government sector - in this case, the government entity will apply and sponsor your visa while you are in the UAE.
- Investors in a business in the UAE - in this case, the investor himself will process and apply for his own visa under the sponsorship of his company’s registered name.
- Buy a property in the UAE - in this case, the property owner’s residence visa will be sponsored under the property he owns.
- Dependents that are sponsored by:
- someone who is employed in the UAE
- an investor/business owner in the UAE
- a property owner in the UAE.
Dependents include children, parents, maids, and close relatives.
Conditions for getting a Residence Visa:
A residence visa requires applicants who are 18 and above to undergo a medical test to prove that they are medically fit. They must also pass a security check and apply for an Emirates ID card from Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.
Validity of a residence visa
The validity of stay on a residence visa varies according to its type and the sponsor. It can be for 1, 2 or 3 years, or up to 5 or 10 years without a sponsor.
According to recent changes, a residence visa can also be issued for 5 and 10 years subject to certain conditions. Learn about long-term residence visas and 5-year retirement visas in the UAE.
Learn also about 5-year retirement visas in Dubai and long-term golden visas in Abu Dhabi (Thrive in Abu Dhabi Programme).
