The UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) has recently issued a resolution related to visa regulations and clarifications for expats.
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Sponsoring family members in the UAE
To sponsor their family members, expats in the UAE who are related to Emiratis must provide proof of their family relationship. As for those who are related to UAE residents or their spouses, they must have a specific degree of kinship, which includes their father, mother, or younger siblings, provided they can financially support them, or their wife's parents.
In addition, the expat must demonstrate that they have adequate housing and a monthly income to support their relatives or their wife's relatives. According to the report, they can sponsor up to five individuals if their monthly income is at least AED10,000, and up to six individuals if their monthly income is AED15,000. If they wish to sponsor more than six individuals, the ICP chairman will determine their eligibility.
ICP chairman Ali Mohammad Al Shamsi released Resolution No. 74 of 2022, which covers the conditions and controls specified in Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022 that came into effect on October 3, 2022.
This latest resolution provides guidance on the procedures to be followed in the event of the loss or damage of passports or identity cards for expats, regardless of whether it occurs within or outside the country.
Expats with lost passports/IDs
As per the report, expatriates who have lost their passports or ID will now be permitted to enter the UAE. However, they must initiate an entry request via the smart services platform and fulfill the necessary procedures within three working days by visiting the appropriate department.
Additionally, the decision specifies certain requirements for tourist visa issuance. These entail the sponsor or host being affiliated with a tourism-related institution, company, or registered body in the accredited facility card system and providing a tourism program.
Arriving in the UAE via Border Ports
An entry visa valid for 90 days may be granted to foreigners at land entry ports near the border. Visa holders can make multiple entries as long as the visa remains valid, with each stay not exceeding 48 hours.
Expats required by UAE authorities, based on official requests, may receive an entry visa from the Director General of Residence and Foreigners Affairs.
Moreover, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) is empowered to issue a "private entry permit" to individuals accompanying heads of state and ministers during their official visits to the UAE.
UAE Entry Visas
The issuing authority determines the number of entries granted to holders of visit visas for the UAE, which can be either single or multiple. However, the visa holder is not permitted to remain in the country for more than 180 days.
According to a recent resolution, entry visas are valid for 60 days from the date of issuance, and the duration of the visa holder's stay is dependent on the type of visa issued.
Furthermore, new regulations have been implemented for individuals seeking a visit visa to come to the UAE to visit friends or family. These guidelines supplement existing requirements.
To be eligible for the visa, the visitor must be either a friend or family member of a UAE citizen, irrespective of their relationship, or a close relative of an expatriate who holds a first or second-level job in the UAE.
Exceptions
The decision specifies three groups of individuals who are exempt from having their residence visas cancelled even if they remain outside of the country for more than 180 days. These include holders of golden visas and their families, green visas and their families, and those who have obtained exemption from the GDRFA and paid the necessary fee. They can keep their residence permits until they expire.
Furthermore, the decision identifies six categories of foreigners who do not need to satisfy the passport validity requirement while entering the UAE, as long as their passport is valid for at least a month. These groups include airplane crews, sailors, workers on tourist and picnic ships, individuals with emergency entry, transit, and entry visas, and those entering adjacent areas.
Additionally, the decision categorizes five groups of individuals who can remain in the UAE for up to 180 days after the expiry or cancellation of their residence permit. These groups consist of holders of golden and green visas along with their families, foreign widows and divorced expats living in the UAE, students pursuing further studies after graduation, and spouses, parents, and children of Emiratis or foreign passport holders.
However, only two categories of people, namely skilled professionals from the first, second, and third levels, and property owners, are permitted to stay in the UAE for 90 days after their visa cancellation or expiration. People with visas issued by sponsors or hosts can remain for 60 days, while all other categories are only allowed to stay for 30 days.
News Source: Al Khaleej
