United Arab Emirates: Expanded Entry and Residency Visa Rules Forthcoming

• • Expanded sponsorship. The amendments allow the sponsorship of children regardless of their age (currently the limit is 18 years old for sons); of parents and siblings, and of unlimited domestic workers. Additionally, dependents whose sponsor has died will no longer have their Golden Visa cancelled.

  • No out-of-country stay duration limit. The restriction on the maximum duration of stay outside the United Arab Emirates to keep the residence permit valid will be removed.

  • Reduced salary requirement for bachelor’s degree holders. The salary threshold will be lowered to AED 30,000 per month for highly skilled professionals with a bachelor’s degree (down from AED 50,000 for others) and for those with a valid employment contract in the United Arab Emirates.

  • Expanded eligibility for real estate investors. Real estate investors who have purchased one or more off-plan properties (those that are sold prior to completion) worth at least AED 2 million from approved real estate companies or a property at least AED 2 million with a loan from specific local banks will be eligible for a Golden Visa.

  • Expanded eligibility for entrepreneurs. Partners or owners in a start-up that generates no less than AED 1 million annually or who have approval for a start-up from authorities or who were a founder of a project that was sold for at least AED 7 million will be eligible for a Golden Visa.

     

• Golden Visa holders’ dependents will benefit from automatic immigration status under the main applicant, and will no longer need to apply for separate status to enter the United Arab Emirates.
• Golden Visa holders will benefit from increased travel freedom during their Golden Visa validity period.
• The pool of candidates for Golden Visa applicants will be expanded due to the lower salary threshold.
• The expanded eligibility for investors and entrepreneurs to enter the country without a sponsoring entity will create a more diverse labor market in the country, which is part of the government’s goal.

The new categories for long-term residence under the Green Visa will be:

• Skilled employees with a minimum salary of AED 15,000 per month with a bachelor’s degree and a valid employment contract in the United Arab Emirates;
• Freelancers and self-employed individuals who hold at least a bachelor’s degree or specialized diploma with proof of annual income of AED 360,000 for the previous two years; and
• Investors in commercial activities who can present proof of their investment.

• The pool of candidates for long-term Green Visas will be expanded, allowing employers more flexibility in their hiring decisions.
• The Green Visa encourages long-term stays for skilled foreign nationals in the United Arab Emirates.

This visa will allow job seekers to enter the United Arab Emirates without a sponsor, where this was previously not an available entry option.

This flexibility will assist job seekers in finding their niche in the country’s dynamic labor market.

With the sole purpose of encouraging investors and entrepreneurs, this visa will allow entry for investors and business owners without the need for a sponsor or a host.

The Business Entry Visa will prompt an influx of investments and business ventures in the United Arab Emirates.

Sponsorship by an educational or research institute with a valid government license is a prerequisite for this visa.

The Study and Training Visa will allow foreign nationals more access to educational and internship opportunities in the United Arab Emirates.