United Arab Emirates: Re-Entry Permit Now Available for UAE Residents Who Stay Outside the Country for Over Six Months

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (FAICCPS) announced that UAE residents who have been outside the country for more than six months can obtain a re-entry permit to re-enter the country through the FAICCPS portal. The re-entry permit will allow the UAE resident to return to the UAE and reactivate the validity of their residence permit, provided they have a valid reason for why they were unable to return within 180 days. In order to obtain a re-entry permit, the following requirements apply: an application must be submitted from outside the United Arab Emirates after 180 days of the individual staying outside the country; a valid reason for stay outside the country must be given and required supporting documentation will vary based on this reason; and applicants must provide their and their sponsor’s passport, residence permit and Emirate’s identification details. The application fees are AED 150 and once the application is approved and the re-entry permit issued, the individual must re-enter the United Arab Emirates within 30 days; failure to do so will trigger a penalty of AED 100 for every additional 30 days spent outside the country. 
 
It is currently unclear whether the re-entry permit will be available to all categories of residence permit holders, however, there are several categories of individuals who are exempt from the restriction to stay outside the country for more than six months and who therefore do not have to obtain a re-entry permit. It is our understanding that the re-entry permit is currently available only to foreign nationals who hold a dependent residence permit, but further clarity is expected to be available shortly.