Dubai skyline at sunset
The UAE government announced new visa rules applied on October 3, 2022.
It’s a part of the Emirates’ strategy in building a bigger “knowledge economy”.
The government hopes to attract more highly skilled people to live in the Emirates. This significantly applies to scientists, coders, and tech workers. But any international talents and creative freelancers are also welcome.
Population growth is also high on the agenda. Dubai alone due to its Urban Master Plan wants to boost its 3.5 million residents to 5.8 million by 2040.
So, new residency visas through real estate investments are on the table as well.
Tourism is a part of the new visa policy, too. UAE wants to rapidly bounce back from the Covid disaster, welcoming back millions more tourists and allowing people to stay for longer periods.
The new Entry and Residence Scheme offers 10 types of entry visas with simplified requirements and more benefits:
- New visas require no host or sponsor
- More flexibility
- Multi entry
- 60 days validity
- One unified platform to apply at
New Visa Rules in Details
New Tourist Visas
- Tourist visas will be valid for 60 days instead of 30 days.
- A 5-year, multi-entry tourist visa will allow visitors to stay up to 90 continuous days in the UAE. However, they can’t exceed 180 days in a year.
UAE Golden Visa Expansion
The range of beneficiaries is expanded offering more benefits including 10 years of renewable residence.
- This long-term 10-year residence is granted to investors, entrepreneurs, exceptional talents, scientists and professionals, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers, and frontline heroes.
- Real estate investors can obtain Golden Residence when purchasing a property worth no less than AED2 million.
- Investors are also entitled to obtain the Golden Residence when purchasing a property with a loan from specific local banks.
- Investors can also obtain Golden Residence when buying one or more off-plan properties of no less than AED2 million from approved local real estate companies.
- The benefits allow the Golden Residence holder to sponsor his/ her family members, including spouse and children regardless of their age.
- The Golden Residence holder is allowed to sponsor support services (domestic) laborers without limiting their number.
- There is no restriction related to the maximum duration of stay outside the UAE to keep the Golden Residence valid.
New 5-Year Green Visa
The five-year UAE green visa is a residency visa that allows its holder to sponsor him or herself for 5 years without the need for company sponsorship, as well as offering an array of benefits to family members.
3 categories of UAE residents can apply for the green visa:
freelancers or those who are self-employed
investors or partners in commercial businesses
highly skilled workers
Residency Permits
The new system for residence visas and entry permits offers new types of residence permits for investors, skilled employees, self-employment, and family members.
The new types provide customized benefits to each category.
- Several visas, including the 1-year remote working visa, 5-year retirement visa, and 2-year real estate owner visa require no sponsor and can be renewed for the same period.
- Residents will also be able to sponsor their unmarried sons until the age of 25, rather than 18, and unmarried daughters regardless of their age.