United Arab Emirates: Employment Residence Permit Validity Reduced to Two Years for Applicants in Free Zones

Effective immediately, UAE employment residence permit applicants in free zones are no longer eligible for a permit with a three-year validity; instead, the maximum validity has been shortened to two years. This stems from the recent amendment of immigration regulations which reduced UAE residence permit validity to two years maximum, matching the mainland’s current two-year maximum validity. However, there are other factors that may affect permit duration, including visa category or the applicant’s age. Dependent family members will typically be issued a permit with corresponding validity to the principal applicant’s permit. Upon completing the UAE immigration process, foreign nationals will also be issued an Emirates Identity Card with matching validity to the residence permit.