United Arab Emirates: Update on Discontinuation of Residence Visa Stamp Endorsement

UAE authorities have implemented the process which employs the Emirates Identity Card as the only proof of residency status. Previously, foreign nationals received UAE Residence Visa stamps in their passports as proof of residence status. Now, the Emirates identity card will serve as the sole residency document. This new regulation will eventually benefit all categories of residence permit applicants, but for now, only individuals in select jurisdictions can benefit from this streamlined process. This includes employment residence permit applicants in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, whose original passports are not required for the visa sticker endorsement. Instead, their residence permits are issued electronically. This new update implies that the original Emirates Identity Card is a requirement for international travel for foreign nationals. The electronic version of the residence permit will not be sufficient to enter or exit the United Arab Emirates. Extended waiting times for appointments (currently up to five weeks) for collecting biometrics necessary for the issuance of the Emirates Identity Card continue to delay the process for obtaining the card and make it difficult for some foreign nationals to travel internationally. To expedite the process, select free zones in Dubai, including the Jebel Ali Free Zone and Dubai International Financial Centre, are exploring the option of opening their own centers to issue Emirates Identity Cards. Further details related to this development are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.