Latest Dubai Visa Rules 2023

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) has implemented significant changes to the UAE’s residency and entry permit regulations. These recent reforms have led to major revisions in the UAE’s visit visa system and the introduction of new visa rules. This guide aims to outline all of the changes that have occurred since October 2022, including the most recent increase in fees for issuing Emirates ID, visit, and residency visas in the UAE.

ICP Fee Increase

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security (ICP) has recently raised the cost of all its services by AED 100. The new regulations stipulate that this increase will apply to all ICP services, including the issuance of Emirates IDs, visit visas, and residence visas.

5-year Multiple Entry Visa

Upon receiving the visa, you can enter the UAE multiple times under self-sponsorship. The visa permits a stay of 90 days each time you enter the country. If you need to stay longer after the visa’s expiry, you can extend it for an additional 90 days. This visa is ideal for individuals who have family members living in the UAE, as it provides ample time to spend with them.

To apply for this 5-year multiple entry visa, you will need to provide several documents, including a bank statement for the previous six months, showing a balance of $4,000 or equivalent in foreign currency, proof of UAE health insurance, a copy of your flight ticket, and an invitation letter from friends or family members residing in the UAE, confirming your place of residence.

Standardization of Overstay Fine Fee

Exceeding the permitted duration of your UAE visa results in overstaying, and you will be subject to penalties. The UAE ICP has recently standardized all overstaying fines to 50 AED per day of overstaying.

These fines accumulate after the end of the grace period (which varies depending on the type of visa you hold). It’s important to note that you won’t be charged overstaying fees if you can’t leave the country due to flight cancellations or airport closures.

Dubai Exit or Leave Permit

Overstaying occurs when you exceed the allowed duration of your UAE visa. When departing the UAE via Dubai, an exit or leave permit must be obtained to fly out of the country.

It’s important to note that the exit permit is only required when leaving the UAE through Dubai, while other emirates do not require one. The Dubai exit permit can be obtained at the immigration counter in the airport or land borders. The leave permit can also be obtained through the Al Awir Immigration office. The cost of this exit permit ranges from approximately 200 AED to 300 AED.

60 Days Visas Resumed

Following the implementation of new reforms, the ICP introduced the 60-day visit visa on October 3rd, 2022. This visa provides holidaymakers with the opportunity to stay in the UAE for up to two months.

UAE Visa Stamping

To simplify the application process and reduce the time required, the UAE government has decided to discontinue stamping resident visas in passports and instead issue Emirates ID cards. This means that it will no longer be necessary to collect passports for stamping, and citizens of the UAE will be able to submit a single application to obtain their Emirates ID and residency visa.

The entry permit for visiting relatives or friends in the UAE.

If you have a friend or relative who is a citizen or resident of the UAE, you meet the requirements to apply for the UAE entry permit to visit them. The permit application does not require a travel agency or sponsor, and you can apply directly.

The extension of a visit visa in the UAE.

The UAE immigration departments across all emirates no longer offer visa extensions for visitors without requiring them to exit the country first. Instead, individuals with visit visas must leave the UAE, apply for an extension, and then re-enter the country once their application has been approved. One option for extending a visa in the UAE is through airport-to-airport services. This involves booking a flight through a travel agency, such as Arabiers, to a nearby Middle Eastern country like Oman. Once there, the visa extension application is processed within a few hours at the airport. If the extension is approved, the individual can then enter the UAE again with the new visa and book a return flight.

Golden Visa

The United Arab Emirates has recently expanded the eligibility requirements and categories for the Golden Visa program, also making significant adjustments to the Golden Residence Scheme.

The Golden Visa’s validity has been extended to ten years for all categories. The categories of people who qualify for the UAE Golden Visa include business investors, entrepreneurs, exceptional talents, scientific researchers, outstanding students and graduates, and skilled workers.

Under the new regulations, Golden Residence holders can now sponsor their immediate family members, regardless of their ages, including their children and spouses. Additionally, there is no limit to the total number of workers sponsored under domestic support services.

Golden Visa holders and their families now have a grace period of 6 months, an increase from the previous 3 months, after the visa expires or is canceled. During this grace period, individuals can either leave the country or switch their status to qualify for another type of resident visa.

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