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3 Changes in the UAE Visa System and Their Requirements Effective on October 21

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is known to have a government that has a lot of goals for the betterment of the citizens, residents, tourists, and businesses in the country. It ensures that they have the best interests at heart of those aforementioned people.

Striving to be and staying as one of the most advanced countries in the world, the government of the UAE continues to find ways to completely change things here and there that would positively affect the country as a whole. From infrastructures to the tax system, the UAE always ensures that the economy of the country grows incessantly with every opportunity presented to them.

What’s with the Changes?

The UAE has been consistently progressing by expanding and growing from one sector to another. Its economic strides have helped for these changes to be possible. These changes are particularly for families, which is not a surprise as the country is known to be focused on family.

What are These 3 Changes?

1. Visa for widows and divorcees

Women in the UAE who suffer from a loss of their husbands or those who go through the divorce would be given a one-year visa extension starting from the date of the death of their spouse or the date of the divorce. They wouldn’t need to procure a sponsor for their visa application. This includes their children as well.

What are the Requirements?

  • Visa should not be expired
  • They should be under the visa of the husband
  • Proof of divorce or death of the husband should be presented
  • Extra money is not needed to be paid in leaving the country after the one-year visa expiration
  • Medical fitness certificates for widows/divorcees and the children (over 18 years old) should be presented as well as the Emirates ID
  • Proof of the mother’s capability to provide for her children
  • In some Emirates, health insurance might be asked
  • Payment of AED 100 for the one-year residence visa
  • Payment for the cancellation of the old visa of the mother and children
  • A tenancy contract under the name of the mother needs to be presented

2. Visa for Students

Students who have finished Grade 12 or university studies will be given a year-visa that is also renewable for another year. This gives the students the time to make plans and choose what they want to do in their lives.

This is particularly a useful change for the male students above 18 years of age as female students under the visa of their parents, and they can stay in the UAE until they get married. They can then be sponsored by their husband or company.

What are the requirements?

  • Students must be above 18 years of age—high school and university graduates
  • Attested education certificates need to be presented
  • Payment of AED 100 for the visa fee
  • AED 5,000 should be given by the parents as a guarantee deposit parent that can be refunded after the change of visa
  • Holders of this kind of visa are not allowed to stay outside the country for longer than six months

3. Visa for Visitors/Job Seekers

Holders of visit visas in the country are now allowed to apply twice for a 30-day visa extension without going out of the country for an exit. Job seekers are mostly benefitting from this change because they are given the chance to continue searching for a job while being spared from the burden of traveling, hotel expenses in the country they exit to, and other expenses. This will help them lessen their expense.

However, this can only be extended twice. After these extensions, the person in question needs to leave the country or face the possibility of paying for fines.

  • Payment of AED 600 for each extension
  • This visa extension needs to be extended through the travel agent that applied for the person’s original visa

Top Lawyers in Dubai for Visa Concerns

The UAE is full of changes in their laws. More often than not, updates straight from the government fill the news. We all need to stay on the loop for us to be not ignorant of the law.

HHS Lawyers and Legal Consultants in Dubai from top law firms in Dubai can help you be always updated and be the first one to know. We can be the medium that you need to be more informed about the changes and updates that happen in the country that may concern you personally or your business.

Our team is composed of advocates in Dubai that are willing to help you. We always ensure to have our line open for you when you have concerns to discuss with us.

You can book a free consultation now with one of the best lawyers in Dubai that we have in our team.

Hazem Darwish

Hazem Darwish, is a Senior Partner of HHS Lawyers in UAE. Practicing law for almost a decade, he has in-depth knowledge on UAE legislation with particular expertise on legal drafting, contract drafting, labor disputes, family law, and regulatory compliance for business organizations. Hazem Darwish also provides counsel on legal rights and obligations in the UAE to clients, including individuals and businesses subject to investigation or prosecution under Criminal Law by major regulators.