So, I just filed to renew my UAE resident visa under my spouse’s sponsorship, and I was granted a three-year UAE visa. I’ve been renewing my resident visa for the previous several years, and if you’re curious about the procedure, it’s really pretty simple if you go to the Amer typing centre in Dubai.
If you live in Dubai and wish to apply for a 3-year residency visa, please follow the procedures I’ve given to see how I did it.
Disclaimer: This method is based on our experience applying for a resident visa for myself and may differ from yours. Policies in the UAE frequently change and are modified without warning. It is preferable to contact the appropriate authorities.
Because laws vary from time to time, it is better to contact authorities or ask Amer centres directly if the service is accessible.
Qualifications for Getting UAE Visa
It was considerably easier to apply for renewal because I had had previous resident permits issued/approved. The following are the general requirements for obtaining a UAE visa:
According to the most recent change, INCOME, NOT PROFESSION, is now the primary criteria for you to be qualified to sponsor your family. To apply for a residence visa for family members, you just need a minimum salary of 4000 AED without lodging (or 3000 AED with accommodation).
First and foremost, you must ensure that you are qualified. The following requirements must be met in order to process a resident visa for your spouse:
Wife Sponsored by Husband in UAE
A husband’s salary must be at least 4000 AED in order for him to sponsor his wife (or 3000 AED with Accommodation Allowance from his company)
Husband Sponsored by Wife in UAE
A wife’s salary must be at least 10,000 AED in order for her to sponsor her husband. A woman’s salary should be at least 4000 AED in order for her to sponsor her children (or 3000 AED with Accommodation Allowance from her company).
It should be noted that there may be humanitarian instances when the sponsor is unable to satisfy the income criteria. As regulations change and cases are handled on a case-by-case basis, please contact the Amer Typing Center or the DNRD for more clarity.
Requirements for UAE Residence Visa in Dubai
The following are the documents I provided in order to apply for a three-year resident visa:
- Form of Application (Done at Amer Typing Center
- Sponsor’s Salary Certificate (in Arabic)
- Certificate of Marriage (Attested by MOFA – Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- Contract of Tenancy (Attested by Ejari)
- The most recent DEWA Bill
- Passport photocopy (Sponsor)
- Photocopy of Sponsor’s Visa Page
- Passport photocopy (Dependent)
- Cancelled Dependent Visa Page (if already in UAE had a previous visa)
- Sponsor’s Passport Photographs
Step by Step Process for UAE Residence Visa in Dubai
Once you have the document requirements, you may follow the steps below to apply for the 3-year visa in Dubai.
- Request a Medical Fitness Exam
I went to the Amer typing centre to get my application for the medical fitness exam processed. The fitness test will take place at a Dubai Health Authority facility. There are other alternatives available, including a 24-hour rush result or a 3-5-day wait for the standard test result.
- Obtain an Emirates ID.
While you’re in the Typing Center, you may apply for an Emirates ID. You can also wait for the results of the medical test to be passed before applying for an Emirates ID. You will receive your Emirates ID by postal mail.
- Apply for Health Insurance
Get health insurance because it is required for all Dubai residents. In the Amer Center, there is a Health Insurance application counter where you may apply for health insurance. The lowest one I found was AED 900 for a one-year policy from Orient Insurance. Keep in mind that if you have a UAE visa that is valid for more than one year, you must accept responsibility for renewing your health insurance every year. It is also critical to get at least basic insurance since you may require it in the future if you need to see a doctor. (Because this is insurance, it is preferable to pay a flat price rather than paying every time you need to see a doctor.)
- Apply for the UAE- 3 year Visa
After you have secured all of the documents, bring them to the Amer Typing Center. They will inquire as to the sort of visa you require. When they inquired if my sponsor worked for the government, the staff told me that I may receive a three-year visa. As a result, I chose this choice.
- Stamped Passport
Your visa will be stamped after it has been processed and accepted. As a result, there are two options:
RUSH – If you choose RUSH, the visa stamp will be completed within 24 hours. Once accepted, you can take your passport to the closest office to get the visa sticker stamped.
REGULAR — The REGULAR process will take around 3-5 days, during which Zajel Courier delivery services will pick up your passport at your residence and return your visa within 5 days.
I picked the standard option because I wasn’t in a rush. I did, however, need to contact Zajel Courier Services to ensure that I was able to schedule the pick-up of my passport. Zajel’s phone number is 04 701 8000.
Payment of Fees for 3 Year UAE Dubai Residence Visa
Below are the fees that I paid for this 3-year visa:
- Medical DHA Fitness Exam – 322.50 AED
- Emirates ID (3 Years) – 405.63 AED
- Health Insurance (1 year – Orient) – 900 AED
- Visa Fee (3 Years) – 559.90 AED
- Total: 2188.03 AED
Important Reminders for 3 Year UAE Dubai Residence VISA
So this is the process of applying for a new visa that is valid for 3 years. Here are some important reminders:
- Policies might change without prior notice as Dubai rules keep changing.
- There are other visa options like a 1-year visa, 3-year visa, or even a 10-year visa. So please ask the Amer typing centre what are your options and how much each one costs
- You have a strong chance of being granted a three-year visa, especially if your sponsor works for the government. However, these are addressed on a case-by-case basis.