Everything you need to know about residence visa services

Ever since Dubai became, it has been a perfect place for doing business. Today, with the evident fact that science, technology, and commerce had developed rapidly, Dubai is the city to do business. This text talks about how Dubai becomes the business capital, leading to an increase in local and expatriate investors. The latter travel to Dubai to undertake business professionally, needing some permits to expand their businesses and live in Dubai. The residence visa is among these permits.

In this article we will explore the operation of a resident visa, its benefits and demerits, the procedures required to obtain it and finally what you need to know about the resident visa services. Let’s take a closer look at the information:

1. What is a residence visa in the UAE?

It is a work permit issued by the UAE government to an expatriate so he/she will live in the country for a specific period. Usually, it is 3 years long, but this may be extended without any restrictions until you no longer meet the conditions of being a resident.

Any foreigner who desires to stay in the UAE for whatever reason can secure this visa. You may obtain it at the initial stage and apply for a work visa. You may get it by investing in a company in the UAE or being a business owner.

2. Who is qualified to apply for a UAE residence visa?

There is a certain criterion for these types of visas as not everyone gets this type of visa. It is advisable to speak with a visa agent like Connect Business Center to find out if there are chances of getting a visa depending on the individual case.

2.1 Workers employed in the UAE

Anyone who is employed in any UAE company gets a residence visa. It allows you to stay in the country for two to three years with possibilities for renewal.

2.2 Entrepreneurs that invest in a property

When you decide to purchase and own a property, you apply for a residency visa which will be valid for 2 years.

2.3 Investors that register their own company in the UAE

You may apply for an investor visa by investing in a company within the UAE. It lets you stay in the UAE from 6 months to 10 years, depending on how much you invested.

2.4 Investors that will retire in the UAE

By following these requirements, you can obtain a 5-year renewable visa:

• If you had a previous residence visa, you apply for a retirement visa.
• You have to be over 55 years old
• Make an investment of at least AED 2 million
• Prove that you have enough income to support yourself as a retiree
• The income should be at least AED 20,000 per month

3. What are the documents needed to apply for a residence visa?

In most cases, you do not apply directly for the visa. You apply for the visa, and the entry permit, through a sponsorship.

To prepare for the visa process, the most important things are:

• you understand all the requirements
• have all your documents sorted out
  
  
• The first step to follow is to fill out the application for a residence visa in the UAE
• You will need to present:
  • a copy of your passport
  • two passport-sized pictures
  • the pictures should be in color and your full face should be seen.

• You will need your original entry permit and one copy of it
• You must also present legal proof of your sponsor’s residence
• A medical examination is also required to apply for the visa. Passing results of this exam must be submitted with the application.
• If you are going to reside in the country with an employment visa, your sponsor must also present the work contract.

The entry permit only lasts for three months.

4. How can you apply for a residence visa in the UAE?

Next, we show you some of the steps that you have to take in order to get the residence visa in Dubai.

4.1 Obtain your entry permit

As we mentioned before, you need your sponsor to request an entry permit. In order to do this, your sponsor must apply on the portal of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. They can also apply in person at one of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs typing centers.

4.2 Submit your application for the residence visa

Your sponsor has to complete your application process for the visa at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). You can also advise yourself with a residence visa service.

4.3 Pay the residence visa application cost

The application process is finalized with paying the fee. The total sum of money that you pay depends on the period of the visa and the reasons for the stay in the country.

• The employee’s residency visa is valid for twelve months
• An investor’s residency visa is valid for twenty four months

In this way, even though an investor visa is more expensive than the employment visa, this is deliberate. Fees may be around AED 4000 to as high as AED 7000. It means that a copy of the payment certificate should be included with the application for the visa. Note that the fee you pay to get a visa will be charged even when you apply for visa renewal in the future.

4.4 Emirates ID and visa stamping

The GDRFA will ensure that your visa passes through all necessary security and safety checks and then issue you a stamp in your passport; this means that your visa has been approved. The second one suggests that you are lawfully staying in the UAE. It is also important because through this you can travel widely in the country and abroad without worrying about any governmental problems.

You will also be entitled to an Emirates ID. This ID is your identification for any process and request that you must make within the UAE.

5. What are the benefits of having a residence visa?

A residence visa offers multiple advantages compared to others. With your Emirates ID:

• you get to have your own bank account
• you can get a driving license
• You can open a corporate account
• You can open a salary account
• You can also own properties within the UAE and invest in them

With the residence visa:

• you travel outside the UAE for a maximum period of 6 months without affecting the validity of your visa
• With a residence visa in the UAE, you also easily travel to countries close to the UAE, such as Saudi Arabia

Other benefits include:

• access to health insurance
• private or public schools for your children

6. How can your family obtain residency if you have a residence visa?

With a residence visa, you can apply for residence for:

• your wife
• your parents
• your children if they are under 18 years of age

This permit is a family visa. The request has to be made by the person in the family who has gained residency.

As for the residence visa, you follow certain steps to obtain the residence for your family:

• be legally employed within the UAE
• prove to the government that you have enough income to support your family during the process
• show that you possess the accommodations in your home for your family to live in it.

In particular, your monthly salary must be at least AED 3000, for male foreign workers, to be eligible to apply for residency for your family. For female foreign workers, your monthly income must be at least AED 8000.

In the event that both the mother of the children and the father have legal residency, it is the father who must apply for residency for the children.

As for the residence visa, the family visa must be requested with the relatives inside the country.

• Once inside the country, you have a maximum of two months to apply for their residency
• The family visa has a duration that can vary between 1 and 3 years with the opportunity for renewal
• present the same documents that you presented for your visa including medical exams

7. How can this agency help you obtain your residence visa?

A visa permit is issued to:

• Foreign investors
• Employees
• Students

It is advisable to seek services offered by an organization dealing with visas to avoid inconveniences.

Connect Business Center provides you assistance to get a residence and visa in no time. Besides, we also offer the services of investor visa and family visa to you. We also assist you in getting a golden visa to invest more capital in the UAE market and the opportunities it has to offer.

Ready to apply for your residence visa? Give us a call on +97143316688. Email us at info@connectbusinesscenter.com for any questions you have.