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Fact-checked by Priyanshu Raghav Updated 14 August 2026

UAE Residency Visa

Priyanshu Raghav
Priyanshu Raghav 14 August 2026 5 min read 135 views 0 comments
Everything in Detail About UAE Residency Visa

Residence Visa is issued to an outsider when he has entered the country already. To enter the UAE, you will need an entry permit. A resident of the UAE must sponsor her entry permit. A UAE Residency visa is beneficial if you want to settle in UAE for a longer duration. Let us read in detail about the UAE residency visa.

  • Permit to reside in UAE.
  • Benefits of UAE Residency Visa
  • UAE residency visa validity
  • The renewal process of the UAE residency visa

Permit to live in UAE

UAE has permitted foreigners/outsiders to stay longer by applying for a UAE residency visa. The residency visa is issued if you have already entered the country.

You will be permitted a residency visa only if you have been:

  1. Employed by the government sector: Here, the government will apply and sponsor your UAE Visa
  2. Operated by a company that is in UAE: Here, the company will use and support your visa in UAE
  3. Invested in business in UAE: Here, the investor will process for application on his own, but the visa has been under the sponsorship of his company’s registered name.
  4. Own / Buy a property in UAE: The visa will be sponsored under his property.
  5. University students: They are sponsored by their universities in UAE under the educational institution’s name.

Benefits of UAE Residency Visa

By having a residency visa in UAE, you will have the benefits of the following:

  • Opening a bank account
  • Apply for a driving licence
  • Access financial facilities
  • Get your child enrolled in government / private schools
  • Can easily access government health services and insurance
  • Get a permit to travel to visa-free countries

Read Also: Apply for UAE Visa Online

UAE Residency Visa Validity

UAE residency visa validity may vary according to the type and sponsor. A visa can be for one, two or three years. According to a recent update, a UAE residency visa can also be issued for five or 10 years, subject to certain conditions.

Condition for residency visa: The applicants who are 18 and above years have to undergo a medical test to prove they are medically fit. The report of the same has to be submitted.

The Renewal Process of the UAE Residency Visa

Your sponsor must renew your UAE residency visa before the first visa expires. The GDRFA – General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs allows a grace period of 30 to stay in UAE after the visa has expired. If your visa has expired and you haven’t renewed it, then you will not be allowed to continue your stay in UAE, and you will be charged with acceptable charges and might also face legal consequences.

Note: When the residency visa expires, your Emirates ID card issued by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship will also expire. The time limit to get your expired visa renewed is 30 days from the date of expiry of the first visa.

Basic requirements for renewal of UAE residency visa:

  1. A sponsor that must have a valid residency visa permit available
  2. Insurance Card
  3. Medical fitness certificate
  4. Renewed ID Card by ICA 

Required Documents:

  • Application form (online or offline) signed by the sponsor.
  • Original passport of your sponsor
  • Photo of your sponsor.

Read Also: UAE Visa Online Services

If you are working in the private sector, then your sponsor company must submit the following:

  • Copy of firm card
  • Copy of trade licence
  • Copy of sponsor’s renewed labour card

If you are sponsoring your family, then you must submit the following:

  • Legal marriage certificate
  • The employment contract of the company
  • Salary certificate
  • Registered tenancy contract
  • Latest utility bill

Read Also: UAE Family Visa

Priyanshu Raghav
Written by

Priyanshu Raghav

Priyanshu is a travel and visa content specialist focused on Dubai and UAE travel information. His work covers visa requirements, application processes, visa extensions, transit visas, entry rules, airport procedures, and practical travel guidance. He researches official updates and industry information to create clear, accurate, and easy-to-understand content that helps international travellers plan their Dubai journey with confidence.

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Previous UAE Tourist Visa for 30 Days: Everything You Need to Know Next in this guide UAE Visa Policy: Exploring the Types of UAE Visas in 2024

Frequently asked questions

Residents of the United Arab Emirates have 30 days after their visa expires to either change their status and obtain a new residence visa or leave the country. During the grace period, there are no fines.

The sponsoring company must submit the following supplementary documents for employers in the private sector:

  • A duplicate of a current business card.
  • A recent business licence copy.
  • A copy of the sponsored renewed labour card.
  • A copy of the labour card renewal receipt for those who have achieved the age of (60).

Those sponsoring their families, including their spouses, children, parents, and siblings (first- and second-degree relatives), must be present:

  • For investors, a copy of the husband's/work wife's contract or company contract.
  • An employer's wage certificate detailing the employee's monthly income.
  • A marriage certificate that has been legalised.
  • A tenancy agreement that has been registered.
  • The most recent utility bill.

Yes, The UAE government permits the extension of residency visas for divorced women or widows. With the renewal, they are permitted to stay in the country for another year from the time of the death of their husband or divorce without needing a sponsor. The visa also includes their children.

  1. Online: The sponsor has to process the cancellation online through the GDRFA portal or through Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.
  2. Registered typing center: The sponsor will have to visit the official office of GDRFA. The typing center will fill in the details in the cancellation form and process it online.
A two-year UAE residence visa costs around AED 5,000 in total, covering the work permit, visa stamping, medical test, Emirates ID and health insurance. The employer usually pays this cost rather than the employee. The exact figure depends on the worker's skill category and the sponsoring company's classification, so confirm the current fee with your employer or MOHRE before relying on it.

Yes, all expatriates applying for work permits or residence visas in the UAE must be certified as medically healthy and free of contagious diseases. Foreign nationals must submit confirmation of this in the form of medical reports from UAE medical examination institutions.

All expats, male and female, must undertake and pass medical fitness tests at government-approved health centres in the UAE for the UAE to grant or renew a residency visa.

If you are applying for a visit visa or a tourist visa, or if you wish to renew one, you will not be required to take a medical exam.

To maintain the UAE community's health, standard medical screening includes testing for infectious diseases like hepatitis, HIV, leprosy, syphilis, and TB.

A UAE Residency visa is for those who wish to move to the UAE. But before applying for a residency visa, you must obtain an entry permit. UAE Entry Permit is a document that is needed to obtain a visa to enter the UAE. The validity is for a certain period. Validity depends upon the purpose of travel. Your sponsor can get your entry permit arranged by the GDRFA General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. UAE Residency Visa is a document needed after you have entered the UAE and want to stay longer than the days permitted. Your sponsor will have to apply for your residency visa. You need to know that without having an entry permit you cannot proceed with applying for a UAE residency visa.

Documents required for a medical examination to obtain a UAE residence visa:

  • Copy of a valid passport
  • A photocopy of a current visa or residency permit
  • 2 photos (passport size) with a white backdrop
  • a copy of a valid Emirates ID (only for the renewal of residence visa)

Even though the visa's expiration date has passed, it must be terminated in all situations. A person's visa may become invalid after 180 days outside the country, but it is not automatically terminated.

If it is necessary to renew it a few months sooner, it can be done easily two months before the expiration date. In certain circumstances, authorisation from the GDRFA authorities is required to renew it before the six-month expiry period.

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