The UAE Digital Government has announced a significant change in residence visa regulations, eliminating the requirement for expatriates to hold specific professions or jobs to sponsor their families.
Now, foreign residents in the UAE can obtain family residence visas as long as they hold valid residencies within the country.
According to the new guidelines, the family head must meet certain criteria, including a minimum monthly salary of 4,000 dirhams or 3,000 dirhams plus housing. Additionally, all family members over the age of 18 must undergo a medical fitness examination at approved health centers in the state.
Exceptions may apply, allowing mothers to sponsor their children under specific circumstances determined by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security. Residents can also sponsor their parents, and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security grants residence visas annually, irrespective of the sponsor's duration of stay.
Residents seeking to transfer their family's sponsorship from temporary entry permits to residence visas must complete the status adjustment process within 60 days of entering the country. Furthermore, residence permits will not be issued to individuals deemed medically unfit, except in cases of old or inactive pulmonary tuberculosis, where a one-year residence visa may be granted, subject to treatment.
It's emphasized that medical tests, including those for pulmonary tuberculosis, should ideally be conducted in the applicant's home country before arrival in the UAE.
The terms and conditions for residence visas may undergo periodic updates, and individuals are encouraged to consult the relevant authorities for the latest procedures. Various government centers facilitate physical fitness examinations, residency medical examinations, and visa applications through electronic channels such as e-channels, official websites, and mobile applications.
Starting in October 2022, the UAE implemented an updated visa system aimed at enhancing entry and residence procedures for foreigners. This system introduces diverse residency types tailored to investors, entrepreneurs, scholars, specialists, students, humanitarian workers, and skilled professionals, while simplifying processes, reducing burdens, and enhancing benefits for residency holders. This initiative aims to elevate the living, working, and investment experience in the UAE, fostering happiness and prosperity for residents and businesses alike.
