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Dubai Visa Rules and Procedures

This blog will help you to find the rules and procedures for obtaining various types of visas- Resident visa,visit visa, parent visa, maid visa, mission visa etc to enter Dubai.

Updated: 2009-11-17T21:59:05.137-08:00

Expats face swine flu ban after holidays abroad - Healthcare - ArabianBusiness.com

2009-07-28T03:04:54.491-07:00

Expats face swine flu ban after holidays abroad - Healthcare - ArabianBusiness.com: "Expats face swine flu ban after holidays abroad"
Expatriates in the UAE on holiday abroad will have to produce a medical certificate proving they are not infected with swine flu before returning to the country, according to a report on Tuesday.From August, any person with swine flu symptoms without the certificate would be refused entry to the UAE , said a source from the National Committee for Combating Swine Flu.

“Accordingly, any company or establishment will have the right to cancel sponsorship if the worker conceals an infection intentionally," the unnamed source was quoted as saying in a report by UAE daily Gulf News.The step was part of strict measures needed to contain the H1N1 virus, the source added.Quarantining people infected with the virus and not allowing them to come into contact with others in public locations such as markets, malls, cinemas and worship areas was vital to curbing the spread of the virus, the source said.The National Committee for Combating Swine Flu is a government organisation set up to fight the spread of the virus.

Dual residency backed by GCC immigration chiefs

2009-06-03T05:56:27.980-07:00

Moves to introduce dual residency for professional expatriates living in the GCC have been officially backed by the Gulf’s immigration chiefs, at a meeting in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The reccomendation will now be sent to each government and if approved would see all expatriates with “first degrees”, such as doctors, engineers, businessmen and lawyers, being free to live and work in all six Gulf states without having to gain new residency permits. This would make it easier for companies to deploy staff to different offices in the region, agreed delegates at the 24th meeting of the GCC director generals of naturalisation and residency departments.

Acting director general of the UAE's Ministry of Interior Naturalisation and Residency Department said he strongly supported the move in an interview with UAE daily Khaleej Times.Brigadier Nassir Al Awadi Al Menhali told the newspaper the UAE was already studying how to implement the system."The UAE supports all the ways to facilitate the expatriates and nationals movement among the GCC countries," Al Menhali said.However, it would be up to each country to set up agreements with other Gulf states to establilsh double residency visas, he added."The GCC director-generals agreed that the GCC residents can enter as usual under the current laws, while each country has the right to approve the mutual residency with the other countries, according to the naturalisation and residency laws and regulations," he explained.GCC residents looking for new jobs would also be allowed to enter other Gulf states on visit visas, before securing employment, he said. "We allow the GCC residents to enter the country on visit visa(s) in accordance to the naturalisation and residency law, and in case of finding a job they can apply to get the residency." Roll-out across the GCC of the e-link immigration system set up between the UAE and Oman was also in the process of being finalised, said Colonel Ahmed Fahd Bu Hindi, deputy secretary general of security affairs at the General Secretariat of GCC.

New visa law 'soon' for Dubai property buyers

2009-04-29T04:56:58.786-07:00

A new law that would clarify the rules on issuing residency visas to property buyers in Dubai could be introduced this year, it was reported on Wednesday.

Business leaders say they have raised the issue with government officials who have told them that new regulations will be brought in "soon".

"We believe this has to be cleared. We raised it to the government and the government came back and said there is a law that will come very soon and we feel it has to come," said Hamad Buamim, director general of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry."The law will clarify who deserves a visa in terms of their investment in the real estate. We don't know when it will be out but the government says it will be soon. I think soon means within this year," he told the paper.

Previously, most real estate advertisements boasted of 99-year visa for purchase of freehold property but officials say such guarantees are not within the jurisdiction of any property firm.

Dubai: In a bid to improve the conditions of labourers, the UAE is set to introduce new rules regarding their accommodation and a mechanism for electronic payment of their salaries.

"Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of UAE, will sign a draft resolution on criteria for workers' accommodation," Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash said on Monday. "The requirements will be circulated to all municipalities across the country so as to enforce them on housing facilities of workers," the minister told a seminar on Labour and Human Rights here. "The criteria will provide adequate hygienic and humane conditions for the comfort of workers. The government will not accept less than those conditions," he affirmed.

The minister said electronic payment of workers' salaries will be implemented in the next few weeks. "This will be made possible through a joint initiative between the ministry, banks, money exchange houses and the Central Bank of the UAE," he said. "The project, a core element in the ministry's strategy, will prevent delays in payment of salaries. About 500,000 workers will benefit from this project, he said.

Gobash also announced the Ministry had issued 662,000 labour cards and cancelled 405,000 in the six months from October 2008 up to March 2009. "This means incoming workers continued to outnumber departing peers. The workforce rose by 27 and 32 per cent in 2007 and 2008 respectively," he said.

UAE Labour Law - Gratuity Calculation

2009-03-29T23:53:32.409-07:00

As per Article (132) of the UAE Federal Labour Law, and in respect to the end-of-service gratuity we quote the following: A worker who has completed a period of one or more years of continuous service shall be entitled to severance pay on the termination of his employment. The days of absence from work without pay shall not be included in calculating the period of service. The severance pay shall be calculated as follows: 21 days' remuneration for each year of the first five years of service. Thirty days' remuneration for each additional year of service provided that the aggregate amount of severance pay shall not exceed two years' remuneration.

UAE work visas- the grace period for cancelled visa may be extended

2009-03-29T21:40:29.982-07:00

Individuals whose work visas have been cancelled, following redundancy, may soon be able to stay in the UAE for a longer period of time to find work, according to a report in Emirates Business.At present, UAE labour and immigration laws require expats who have lost their jobs, to find work within one month - or leave.The newspaper quoted Hani Rashid Al Hamli, Dubai Economic Council (DEC) Secretary-General, who said Dubai, along with the federal government, is "working on" stretching the grace period for holders of cancelled visas. The length of the likely extension wasn’t given.

The report added that the new policy, which may be announced in the first half of this year, is expected to address the potential cases of job cuts due to the financial crisis. "This is one of the top and urgent issues that we are tackling at the Dubai branch and at the federal level - to have a longer (grace) period. They are working on that, I can assure you of that," Al Hamli told the newspaper. Al Hamli, when asked whether the new policy would take affect in the second half of the year, indicated it would be earlier than that, perhaps in one month or two months, although he couldn’t go into specifics due to the government having to upgrade the immigration laws, which will take a measure of time

Residency visa clarity to boost realty sector

2009-03-10T02:47:10.631-07:00

Resolving issues linked to the residency status of expatriate property purchasers will provide a floor to the Dubai realty market, according to a new report."Measures such as a removal of the current link between employment and residency status, and a clarification of the law providing for residency for expatriate purchasers may be required to provide a floor to the market," Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a real estate advisory firm, said in a report titled "Dubai City Profile – A Review of the Dubai Property Market."The report expects activity in the residential sector to slow further in the first half of the year as nervous investor sentiment coupled with lower rental rates will encourage residents to lease rather than buy. As investors continue to adopt the "wait and see" approach, landlords are also becoming more flexible with payment terms, accepting cheques on a quarterly or even monthly basis. The government is taking various measures to try and alleviate the effect of the global financial crisis such as the rental cap has been replaced by a rent freeze. Rents can only be increased where they are significantly below the average as set out in Real Estate Regulatory Agency's recently launched index. According to JLL, the residential market is currently undergoing a price correction and rental yields have fallen from around nine per cent to six per cent over the past six months. Since the third quarter of 2008, asking prices for both villas and apartments have seen an average decrease of 10 per cent to 20 per cent, but prices of villas have declined by less than those of apartments due to their limited supply. "Given the absence of speculators and the inability of end users to raise finance, it is not surprising that transactional prices have declined even further over the past six months, with transaction prices typically 30 per cent to 50 per cent below asking prices." Rental rates registered an average increase of around 20 per cent for both villas and apartments in the third quarter, but decreased by four per cent to eight per cent in the fourth quarter. "We estimate that market-wide physical occupancy currently averages around 70 per cent for residential units that have been completed and handed over, although this figure is significantly lower in some projects."According to JLL, approximately 32,000 new residential units were completed in 2008, bringing the total residential stock across to around 253,000. The majority of completions were in projects such as Discovery Gardens, International City and the Marina Promenade.

Gowealthy Capital Ltd started functioning

2009-03-02T01:23:32.660-08:00

Gowealthy Capital Limited is an investment company registered with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and regulated by Dubai Financial Security Authority (DFSA). Gowealthy Capital Ltd operates under a “Category 3” asset management license permitting trade in a number of financial instruments apart from its core activity, that being the Operation of Collective Investment Funds. It is a specialist service provider to the Real Estate industry – strategically focusing on the Asset Management component deliverables and will be instrumental in the establishment of a number of real estate funds

The six-month labour ban in Dubai may be revised or scrapped

2009-03-02T00:24:01.708-08:00

The six-month labour ban in Dubai may be revised or scrapped altogether, a senior official said. The move comes in the wake of thousands of expatriates losing their jobs in Dubai due to tough economic conditions.Abdul Razaq Qamber, training head at the Inspection Department at the Ministry of Labour (MoL), said the ministry is set to revise a ministerial decision imposing a six-month ban on expatriate workers, XPRESS reported.Employees working outside the free zones and who resign or lose their jobs are automatically slapped a six month ban, preventing them from moving from one company to another.Qambar was speaking during a discussion on workers’ wages held on Sunday at the Ministry of Labour in Dubai.

Six Month Immigration Ban to Continue in Dubai

2009-01-20T03:02:16.742-08:00

Ministry of Interior used to put an automatic six-month ban on expatriates if they cancelled their employment / residence visas or left their jobs. The decision to lift the immigration ban that came into effect on 21 st August 2005 has brought some relief to expatriate community. It would enable the people to return to UAE on a visit visa even if they got a labour ban. The main advantage of the new decision is that people can still come back and visit their friends and relatives. But expatriates who violated the country’s Immigration and Residence Laws would still face the entry ban.
Article 6 of the Cabinet Decree No. 18 of 2005 annulled Decree No. 30 of 2001 pertaining to the entry ban. The Cabinet also authorized the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to put together necessary regulations to implement the decision on the ban.
Subsequently, iris scanning has also been stopped. Besides, the names of expatriates with cancelled visas will no longer be on the administrative lists nor will their passports be stamped with the ban. The ban to enter the UAE will only be applicable on expatriates who violate laws governing the entry and residence of foreigners. Such violators would face the entry ban administratively for a multitude of reasons and in line with existing laws and regulations.
Domestic help have been excluded ‘temporarily’ from the new decision and their case will undergo further scrutiny by the authorities.
But, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs will not issue a new work permit to workers whose visas have been cancelled unless at least six months elapse after the cancellation date of the worker’s labour card. The decision came in Article No. 11 of a Ministerial Order Decision No. 826 issued on 11.9.2005 by the UAE Minister of Labour and Social Affairs.
The six-month waiting period does not apply to government departments or free zones

Lifting Labour Ban In Dubai - is it possible

2009-01-11T23:20:34.348-08:00

The Ministry of Labour has amended the labourers' Visa Transfer Law, which, I believe, are in favour of both - the labourers and the labour market. The ministry has ceased the previous condition that obligates the labourer to complete one year continuous service for his/her employer before being permitted to transfer his/her visa to another employer.

According to the new rule, the Ministry of Labour no longer requires such a condition. So, any labourer who has not completed a year's service for his/her employer may transfer to another employer after obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the employer to transfer the visa to another employer, provided that the newly imposed fees should be settled. Such fees are called "the one year non-completion fees" which is calculated at the rate of Dh500 per month. For instance, if the employee continues a period of two months service only then he/she would be obliged to pay a fee of Dh5,000 for 10 months.

Now any labourer, who completes a period of three years service and who could not obtain an NOC, can resign and can approach the Ministry of Labour and the ministry - as per his demand - will cancel the visa and apply a six-month ban. With the new rules and upon completion of three years' service, this ban can be lifted and the employee can transfer to another employer without the need to obtain such NOC from the previous employer, provided that the newly imposed fees should be settled in addition to the visa transfer fees. Such new fees are called 'ban lifting fees'. Worth saying is that this new law is not applicable in Abu Dhabi but might be in the future. Therefore, the reader as per the new law will not have any problem as long as the company has promised to grant him a n NOC to transfer his visa.

Employee Banned In UAE

2009-01-07T01:29:56.762-08:00

If an employee has been deemed an absconder, is the lifetime ban in effect to the whole of UAE or all the GCC countries?

The lifetime ban which may be imposed on the employee, is applied only in UAE, and is not applied in all GCC countries.

Sponsor’s nod not needed on visa transfer in six conditions in UAE

2008-12-31T01:08:57.606-08:00

The sponsorship transfer will be granted without the need to get the first sponsor’s approval in six conditions. The ministerial order which came into effect from 10 th September 2005 in implementation of Article No. 5 of the Cabinet Decision No.18 of 2005 has specified six conditions when the Ministry will grant sponsorship transfer without the need for the sponsor’s approval :
· For unpaid workers in the private sector, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs will grant sponsorship transfer to them if their complaints of pending wages for three months or more are upheld after a joint investigation by the Labour Relations and Inspection Departments of the Ministry.
· If the worker filed a complaint to the Ministry which was later transferred to the Court, the Ministry will grant the worker a sponsorship transfer based on a relevant judicial order.
· Sponsorship transfer will also be granted by the Ministry in case of the closure of the company following the death of its owner. The closure should be documented before the Ministry.
· Sponsorship transfer will be granted by the Ministry should the ownership of the company be transferred to another establishment. This means that the worker of a sold company will be transferred by the Ministry without the approval of the seller, under the name given by the buying company. This is also applicable in case of mergers between companies. The ownership transfer of the company should be proved in documents before the Ministry. If part of the company was sold to another company, workers of the sold part of the company can be granted exemption for sponsorship transfer.
· The closure of the company against an administrative or judicial decision gives the Ministry the right to grant sponsorship transfer to the workers.
The Minister will endorse sponsorship transfer for cases that are recommended and submitted to him by the concerned departments of the Ministry.
The other conditions referred above in the first paragraph on this chapter should also be fulfilled.

Work permit and residence visa cancellation Dubai UAE

2008-12-28T22:48:14.815-08:00

Normally your employer will arrange cancellation of your residence visa and work permit when the time comes to leave the UAE, or when changing jobs. The procedure will usually involve closing bank accounts, returning credit cards, cancelling telephone subscriptions, electricity and water accounts, moving out of company provided accommodation, and anything else for which the employers sponsorship was required. If you are remaining in the UAE, you will have to negotiate some way of retaining bank accounts, telephone lines etc, with your employer.It's worth considering carefully your departure procedure before you hand in your resignation notice, because once you do tell your company, certain events may be set in motion which can cause complications for you, especially if you have a less than harmonious relationship with your employer. These are some items to deal with:Money in the bank - will you still have access?Outstanding loans - do they need to be paid off and when?Credit cards - will they be cancelled, and when do they have to be fully paid off?Final salary and bonus / gratuity - how will it be paid and when?Accommodation (if company provided) - when do you have to move out or can you stay if you want to, and how are the lease terms affected (rent may go up, there may be a transfer cost to change name)?Telephone, internet, water, & electricity connections - if you want to retain them, how, or when are they cancelled?Shipping goods to another country if you are leavingSchool fees if paid by companyResidence or employment ban - will you be subject to either or both?Changing jobs - will you transfer sponsorship, or will you leave country and return and make a new application?Doing a runner - no we're not advocating this method, or telling you how to do this, just saying that you should consider the implications carefully if you choose this option - it's likely you'll be banned from re-entering the UAE forever, or for a long time at least. You'll of course lose any gratuity and final salary the company might owe you.Telephone linesEmployers may not have a problem with you keeping your telephone line, but if they do, a possible alternative is to transfer the number to a friend who has a residence visa in the UAE, or visit Etisalat and leave a hefty deposit as a temporary solution while changing sponsorship (note that it is unknown if this method is an officially sanctioned option, or just luck of the draw depending on who you talk to at Etisalat). Note that prepaid subscriptions (Al Wasel with Etisalat) should not need to be cancelled anyway, and some people get a second line as a back up in case their main mobile phone account is cancelled.Bank accountsBank accounts are a different story, it would be unusual for an employer to allow you to keep an account open once you're off their sponosrship. As soon as you inform your employer that you will be leaving, it is common for them to notify your bank of your departure, and it is possible that your account gets frozen. Therefore you may want to withdraw any cash before you let your employer know of your departure, unless you're fairly certain that access to your account won't be prevented.You could also consider opening another account at another bank before you inform your employer of your departure. A company may only be interested in the bank account where your salary is deposited.AccommodationIf you are in company provided accommodation, then you are supposed to be allowed to stay there for up to 30 days (not 1 month) after cancelling your work permit but check your contract carefully.Visa cancellation grace periodOnce your residence visa is cancelled, you also have up to 30 days (not 1 month) to exit the country, otherwise you will be considered[...]

UAE- Mission Visa - 90 to 180 days

2008-12-28T22:38:39.716-08:00

This is a relatively new visa arrangement intended for people working in the UAE temporarily with the permission of the Labour Ministry. The DNRD website information is not very clear - this information comes from articles in the press.

Visa is issued for 3 months, cost is 600 dhs. Extension for another 3 months costs 1200 dhs. Maximum stay is 180 days (so if you stay 6 months, you may be in trouble for the extra couple of days although there is apparently a grace period of 7 days for 3 month visas - may not apply for the second 3 months).

Apparently you need to get a Temporary Work Permit from the Ministry of Labour first before applying for the Mission Visa. MOL website does not have further information about a TWP (at least, not in English).

According to the Interior Ministry, it is only available to expatriate doctors, engineers, lawyers and technicians.

Residency Visas with property purchases in Dubai and Ajman

2008-12-28T22:35:47.912-08:00

If you own property in Dubai, Ajman, or Ras Al Khaimah then you are probably entitled to apply for a residency visa. There are some conditions and restrictions thoughThe residency visa is only available to the first named owner of the property (consider which name to put first if it's a joint purchase).The residency visa is not available until after the property is completed.You can only apply for a residency visa under this scheme if you don't have any other way of obtaining a residency visa.There will be a charge (about 5000 dhs in January 2008) for the residency visa application. For that, the developer makes the application on your behalf. That's not something you have a choice about.Owning a property does not guarantee successful application for a residency visa. The immigration department decides that, not the property developer.The residency visa only entitles you to live here, not to work here - you still need to apply for a work permit for employment.Expat residents can still be deported for the normal deportation reasons.In early 2008 there was a report that residence visas could be applied for before completion of property but no further information found to confirm that. Treat with skepticism any comments from property agents that indicate you can do this.In mid-2008, the whole residence visa with property thing was in a state of flux in Dubai, due mostly to property developers and real estate agents misleading customers by advertising a "guaranteed residence visa" with property purchases, when there was no way they could "guarantee" a visa. Some developers have put applications on hold, and some reports say that authorities are no longer issuing residence visas on this basis. Get information from either the DNRD or the master property developer before committing to a purchase if your decision depends on whether or not you are eligible for a residence visa. Treat whatever a real estate agent or developer says (other than the master developer - and even then be careful) with a pinch of salt.Residency visas have been on hold or suspended since around mid-2008 for most/all Dubai and Ajman property purchases - check with the master developer or the relevant government authority (RERA in Dubai), don't take the word of the real estate agent or property developer as some have been issuing misleading advertisements about the residence visa eligibility. Ras Al Khaimah property purchases may still allow application for a residency visa.[...]

The Federal National Council calls for tightening of sponsorship rules in UAE

2008-12-17T02:16:21.599-08:00

Abu Dhabi: The Federal National Council (FNC) on Tuesday proposed increasing the minimum salary requirement to sponsor families of expatriates in the UAE. According to the proposal, the minimum salary required for an expatriate - without company accommodation - to sponsor a family should be Dh10,000 and an expatriate with company accommodation, Dh8,000. The FNC resumed its session yesterday after National Day and Eid holidays. An ad-hoc committee of the House also suggested that family-visa applicants should be asked to submit bank statements of six months, detailing salary transfer. In its first ever open session to discuss the demographic structure of the UAE since its establishment in 1972, the House also suggested that an only an expatriate with a minimum salary of Dh15,000 should be allowed to sponsor housemaids. It also recommended increasing the annual fee for sponsoring a housemaid to Dh7,000. According to a report worked out by the committee, there are 5.5 million foreign workers, including 3.1 million workers registered with the Ministry of Labour and 2.4 million registered with the Ministry of the Interior, while the total population was 6.3 million by the end of last year. The legislature said the Labour Ministry issued 640,000 work permits over the first four months of this year, an increase of 100 per cent compared with the same period last year. These include 525,000 work permits for individual workers and 115 group permits. The House expected that 1.920 million permits would be issued by the end of this year, taking into account the visas issued by the Ministry of Interior. The House was told that foreign workers account for 90 per cent of the total workforce in the UAE at the end of 2006. Asian workers represented 87.1 of the labour force, while workers of other nationalities including Arabs account for 12.9 per cent. An estimated 98.7 per cent are concentrated in the private sector, namely in the construction, agriculture, retail business, and also restaurants, hotels, fisheries, security and guarding and cleaning companies.[...]

Residency Visas - 3 years

2008-11-23T07:39:02.106-08:00

Note that you cannot open a bank account, register a car, get a telephone connected, and so on until you have a residency visa or permit.

Usually residents will be sponsored by their employer (or an employed member of their family). The sponsor will normally make the visa arrangements and explain to you what documents you need. For those employed from overseas, the employer is responsible for all costs associated with obtaining your work permit (or labour card) and residency visa.

If you are sponsoring family members, cost is 300 dhs for each visa, valid for 3 years but it expires if the person is out of the UAE for a period more than 6 months.
It is possible to sponsor parents but a special request needs to be made. If successful, a deposit of 5,000 dhs (refundable) for each parent is required, visa validity is one year (renewable) and cost is 100 dhs per year.

Residency Visas for free hold property purchases - 3 years

2008-11-23T07:36:24.709-08:00

If you own property in Dubai, Ajman, or Ras Al Khaimah then you are probably entitled to apply for a residency visa. There are some conditions and restrictions though.The residency visa is only available to the first named owner of the property (consider which name to put first if it's a joint purchase).The residency visa is not available until after the property is completed.You can only apply for a residency visa under this scheme if you don't have any other way of obtaining a residency visa.There will be a charge (about 5000 dhs in January 2008) for the residency visa application. For that, the developer makes the application on your behalf. That's not something you have a choice about.Owning a property does not guarantee successful application for a residency visa. The immigration department decides that, not the property developer.The residency visa only entitles you to live here, not to work here - you still need to apply for a work permit for employment.Expat residents can still be deported for the normal deportation reasons.In early 2008 there was a report that residence visas could be applied for before completion of property but no further information found to confirm that. Treat with skepticism any comments from property agents that indicate you can do this.In mid-2008, the whole residence visa with property thing was in a state of flux in Dubai, due mostly to property developers and real estate agents misleading customers by advertising a "guaranteed residence visa" with property purchases, when there was no way they could "guarantee" a visa. Some developers have put applications on hold, and some reports say that authorities are no longer issuing residence visas on this basis. Get information from either the DNRD or the master property developer before committing to a purchase if your decision depends on whether or not you are eligible for a residence visa. Treat whatever a real estate agent or developer says (other than the master developer - and even then be careful) with a pinch of salt.[...]

Dubai visa List and fees

2008-11-23T07:31:28.715-08:00

TypeLengthCostRenewEffectiveNotesConference Visit Visa30 daysDh100no01 Aug 2008 Employment Visa30 days employer arranges, not a work permit, entry onlyExhibition Visa see Conference VisaFamily Visit Visa60 daysDh100 *not availablemin 3-6k salary requirement, Dh2000 depositFriend Visit Visa30 days 01 Aug 2008min 10k salary, Dh1000 deposit, not confirmedFriend Visit Visa60 daysDh100 *not availablemin 3-6k salary requirement, Dh2000 depositInvestor Visa3 yrsDh300 invest Dh70k in company with UAE NationalMedical Visit Visa90 daysDh1000yes, 1x01 Aug 2008renewal Dh500Mission Entry Visa14 daysDh220no*not availableonly from hotels or companiesMission Visa90 daysDh600yes, 1x*not availablerenewal Dh1200, need Temporary Work Permit first?Mission Visa90 daysDh200no01 Aug 2008 Multi-entry Visa180 daysDh1000 *not available30 day max per visit, company application onlyMulti-entry Visa180 daysDh2000yes, ?x01 Aug 200814 day max stay each visitParent Visa1 yrDh100yes01 Aug 2008deposit Dh5000, need special FNRD permissionRelative Visa see Family VisaResidents Permit see Residence VisaResidence Visa3 yrs yes employer should arrangeResidence Visa - property3 yrsDh5000*yes *estimated, may varyResidence Visa - family1-2 yrs Dh5000 deposit neededStudent Visa (residence) ask college or university when applying for entryStudent Visit Visa60 daysDh1000yes, 2x01 Aug 2008UAE university registration, renewal Dh500Tourist Visa30 daysDh120no*not availableonly from hotels and tour operatorsTourist Visa30 daysDh110yes? 1x01 Aug 2008only from hotels and tour operatorsTransit Visa96 hoursDh30no*not availablemay be free - conflicting information seenTransit Visa96 hoursDh100no01 Aug 2008need outbound ticket, some reports say 14 daysVisit Visa 30 days30 daysDh500no01 Aug 2008 Visit Visa 30/60 days30 daysfree*yes, ?x *see free visit visa nationalities list, may be 60 daysVisit Visa 60 days60 days yes, 2x*not available Visit Visa 90 days90 daysDh1000no01 Aug 2008 Visit Visa GCC residents?30 daysDh100yes, 1x01 Aug 2008renewal Dh500Visit Visa GCC nationals*30 daysDh100yes, 1x01 Aug 2008renewal Dh200, *visitors with GCC nationalsVisit Visa extension30 daysDh500no*not available Work Permit not a visa, employer arranges after arrival in UAEWork Visa see Work Permit or Employment VisaThis information is correct to the best of our knowledge as of Tuesday 30-Sep-2008* in "Effective" column means that visa type is expected to be no longer available after 01 August 2008.* Residence Visas available via property purchases are in a state of flux with some reports saying they are not available. Whatever the true story is, no developer can "guarantee" a visa, and never could. They could only ever apply on your behalf to the UAE immigration / residency department, which would make the final decision.Nationalities eligible for free visit visas on arrival will continue to be able to receive them after 01 August 2008, according to statements reported on 09 June 2008.Visitors from countries which get a visit visa on arrival may still have a 60 day visit visa after 01 August 2008, even though passport will be stamped with a 30 day visa. Ask when you arrive how long it's valid for ... and tell others in the visit visa discussion.If "Effective" column is empty, then that visa type will continue to be available as far as we know.Most Visit Visas will require a deposit of 1000-2000 dhs to be left with the Naturalisation and Residency Department, refunded after visitor departs the UAE.Limitations on renewal for free visit vi[...]

How to avoid Labour Ban In Dubai

2008-08-21T00:41:15.760-07:00

I am working for a private sector company in Dubai, but I wish to join another company. What do I have to do? If I leave my present company they will ban me so I cannot come back immediately. So kindly advise me on how to break the ban.

I would like to say that if the questioner resigns from their current company then he will be subject to either a six-month ban in case of an ordinary cancellation which does not include any violation of the labour law, or a one-year ban if he has breached his labour contract.

Therefore, I advise the questioner to seek an amicable agreement with his employer in order to be granted a no-objection certificate (NOC) to transfer his visa. His employer might accept this if the employee, for instance, compensates him for all expenses incurred in issuing his visa and other expenses.

Lifting Labour Ban in Dubai

2008-08-21T00:29:58.258-07:00

I am currently working with my employer but I want to work for another company once I complete one year of service. The other company asked me if my current one could provide a No Objection Certificate. I consulted our administration personnel who told me they could provide one. Am I safe doing this? What else do I need to consider, to avoid being banned?

The Ministry of Labour has amended the labourers' Visa Transfer Law, which, I believe, are in favour of both - the labourers and the labour market.

The ministry has ceased the previous condition that obligates the labourer to complete one year continuous service for his/her employer before being permitted to transfer his/her visa to another employer. According to the new rule, the Ministry of Labour no longer requires such a condition. So, any labourer who has not completed a year's service for his/her employer may transfer to another employer after obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the employer to transfer the visa to another employer, provided that the newly imposed fees should be settled.

Such fees are called "the one year non-completion fees" which is calculated at the rate of Dh500 per month. For instance, if the employee continues a period of two months service only then he/she would be obliged to pay a fee of Dh5,000 for 10 months.

Now any labourer, who completes a period of three years service and who could not obtain an NOC, can resign and can approach the Ministry of Labour and the ministry - as per his demand - will cancel the visa and apply a six-month ban. With the new rules and upon completion of three years' service, this ban can be lifted and the employee can transfer to another employer without the need to obtain such NOC from the previous employer, provided that the newly imposed fees should be settled in addition to the visa transfer fees. Such new fees are called 'ban lifting fees'.

Worth saying is that this new law is not applicable in Abu Dhabi but might be in the future. Therefore, the reader as per the new law will not have any problem as long as the company has promised to grant him a n NOC to transfer his visa.

Residence visa renewal linked to tenancy contract in Sharjah

2008-08-10T23:14:47.540-07:00

Thousands of families who live in shared accommodation in Sharjah will be hard hit by the new rule of the Sharjah Naturalisation and Residency Department requiring a tenancy contract in the applicant's name or his close relative. According to the new regulations, those applying for residency visas for their families should produce a copy of their tenancy contract. The contract, which is considered proof of one's eligibility to afford a family, must be attested by the Sharjah Municipality. Residents said they will have to send their families back home as it is no longer affordable to rent a one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment in Sharjah.Many said since the rents started skyrocketing in Sharjah in the last two years by more than 30 to 50 per cent, people have opted for shared accommodation. Under the new rule they will not be able to renew their residency permits without having tenancy contracts in their names. Lieutenant Colonel Salim Ali Mazaini, head of the visa section at the Sharjah Naturalisation and Residency Department, told Gulf News that the rule has been introduced to ensure that only those who are financially capable of providing decent accommodation can bring their families to the emirate. "We are not insisting that the tenancy contract should be in the applicant's name. The contract can be in the name of his close relatives also, such as a brother or sister," said Mazaini. He added that it is acceptable to share living space with one's own family members, but not with friends. According to him, the rule is not applicable to professionals like doctors, engineers and people in managerial positions because they earn enough money to sponsor their families. "We are being very flexible and taking each application on a case by case basis. For example, if a family does not have children, a studio flat in their name is more than enough to get a family residence permit. Or if a family with one or two children can show that they are sharing a three-bedroom apartment with a close relative, it will also get them the residency status," Mazaini said. However, some residents said their applications have been rejected even after they produced tenancy contracts of their relatives. Hussain, a Sharjah resident who refused to give his second name, said his application to sponsor his family was rejected because he could not produce a tenancy contract. "Now with this new rule, I doubt whether I can bring my wife and child to the UAE," said Hussain who works as an administrative assistant. Another resident, Riyas Mohammad from Pakistan, said he has shelved his plan to bring his family because of the new regulations. New categories: Renewal for one year only The Sharjah Naturalisation and Residency department has also issued a list of 60 categories of low income groups including hairdressers, butchers, shop assistants, chefs, clerks and others for whom residency permits will be renewed only for a period of one year. These categories must also get prior approval before their applications are typed. The typing centres have been instructed that the categories listed below need prior approval before applications are typed. Beauty therapistSpice/pulse grinderWatchmanDining-room servantFishmongerFishermanCalligrapherDiggerPorterOffice boyPipe fitterCobblerSailorPipe filerGrocerTyre repairerShoemakerManicuristHairdresserClerkFollow-up clerkArchive clerkTinkerMechanic assistantIronsmithWelderCarpenterBuilderShop attendantsLight vehicle driverBarberMakeup artistJanitorShift o[...]

Get a Dubai visit visa for a family member

2008-07-30T06:06:54.046-07:00

Last updated: July 28, 2008

Please note the new changes to the procedures and fees effective from 29th July, 2008

Criteria:

Visit visas for immediate family members can be obtained by residents (called sponsors), whose monthly salary is not less than AED 4000 or AED 3000 + accommodation.

Validity of Visa:

Short term visa: 30 days
Long term visa: 90 days
No extensions are permitted beyond this period.

Fees
• Short term visa: AED 620 application fee + typing fees
• Long term visa: AED 1120 application fee+ typing fees

Documents Required:
• Typed Application form
• A copy of the sponsor’s passport & family member's passport
• 1 photo of the family member (may be required)
• Marriage contract attested from Ministry of Foreign Affairs or UAE Embassy (for sponsoring a wife or husband)
• Attested birth certificates (for sponsoring children)
• Relationship proof attested from the Embassy (in case relationship cannot be proved from family names in sponsor and relative's passport)
• Attested work contract if the sponsor is working in a private company or a salary certificate if working in government.

Procedure:
1. Go to any authorized typing office & get application form typed.
2. Go to DNRD & submit along with your documents to Visa Section.
3. Send either original or copy to your relative. If only copy was sent, then deposit original at the airport or the DNATA counter at DNRD.

DNRD to Implement New Visa Rules from July 29 In Accordance with Ministerial Decisions

2008-07-28T01:51:17.065-07:00

Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) has completed all preparations for implementing the Council of Ministers’ Decision No. 16 for the Year 2008 and the Ministerial Decision No. 322 for the Year 2008 regarding amendments to certain provisions of the law of entry and residence of foreigners. Brigadier Obaid Moheir Bin Suroor, Deputy Director of DNRD, said that the new visa rules will be effective from July 29 (Tuesday) at all ports and entry points. Bin Suroor confirmed that all entry permits issued before the implementation of the new law will remain subject to the current rules and regulations, until the expiry of their dates. Brigadier Bin Suroor pointed out that the earlier procedure of issuing entry permits on arrival to citizens of 33 countries remains unchanged with no fees for these visas upon issuance. However these entry permits can only be renewed for an additional period of 30 days only, instead of the current 60 days, for a fee of AED620. Brigadier Bin Suroor revealed that the law of entry and residence of foreigners laid down that the cost of establishment card insurance is AED75,000 in addition to the AED1,000 payable for each tourist permit. Brig. Bin Suroor confirmed that the mechanism for collecting the insurance charges will be implemented at a later stage. Major Mohammed Al Hammadi, Manager, Entry Permits Department, said as per the new regulations, the cost for issuing tourist visa is AED210 if processed online and AED220 if submitted by hand at DNRD offices. The tourist visa is valid for 60 days prior to entering the country for a stay of 30 days, renewable once, for a period of 30 days at the charge of AED610 if processed online and AED620, if submitted manually at DNRD offices. Major Hammadi added that the above mentioned fees included all federal and service charges. Al Hammadi also revealed that according to the new regulation, the tourist visas that were previously issued for 79 nationalities only will now be available for all nationalities. In addition to that, the new rule allows tourism companies to apply for two kinds of permits – Tourist Visas and Mission Visas. In case the holder of either type doesn’t enter the country during the validity period, a new application should be submitted.

Visiting Dubai- Visa rules

2008-07-21T01:23:39.779-07:00

Thank you for visiting this page. At the bottom you will find a link to download a visa application form and also links to the UAE's Embassies and Consulates around the world. Many people consult this page in order to find information on how to apply for a visa to enter the UAE. The good news is that the UAE authorities have taken many steps to make this process as straightforward as possible. Apart from the fact that citizens of 39 countries (i.e. GCC nationals plus nationals of listed countries) do not require visas prior to arrival at a UAE airport, there are efficient systems in place to facilitate visitors not falling into one of the above categories. If you are coming to work in the UAE you will require a visa that can only be obtained on your behalf by your employer or sponsor. As noted above, the kind of visa that you require for entry into the UAE depends on several different factors such as your nationality, the purpose of your planned visit and its planned duration. Please read the following notes carefully. You may also find information on this subject in our news archive. Regulations do change from time to time and, whilst we do endeavour to keep up to date with these note, please do not rely uon them for complete accuracy. You should also check with your airline and regional UAE embassy or consulate. - If you are a national citizen of a GCC country you do not require a visa to visit the UAE. You will simply need to produce your GCC country passport upon arrival at the point of entry into the UAE - The following categories of visitors may receive their visit visa at the airport, upon arrival. 1. AGCC Residentswho are not GCC nationals but who have a high professional status such as company managers, business people, auditors, accountants, doctors, engineers, pharmacists, or employees working in the public sector, their families, drivers and personal staff sponsored by them, are eligible for a non-renewable 30-day visa upon arrival at the approved ports of entry. 2. National citizens of the following countries: UK(with the right of abode in UK), France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Finland, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and holders of Hong Kong SAR passports will be granted a free of charge visa for a single visit upon arrival in the UAE. It should be noted that this list may vary slightly from time to time and it is therefore best to check with your local UAE embassy or the airline that you are using to fly to the UAE. - If you do NOT fall into one of the above categories, you will require a visa and a sponsor for your visit. The sponsor normally applies for the visa on your behalf. Valid sponsors may be as follows:- a - Hotels & Tourist Companies can apply, on your behalf, for a Tourist Visa (valid for 30 days); or a Service Visa (valid for 14 days); or a Visit Visa (valid for 30 days and can be extended for other 30 days) b - Airlines & Airlines Handlers apply on behalf of their crew members for a 96-hour Transit Visa. [...]

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