The government of the United Arab Emirates recently announced major changes to visas in Dubai starting in September 2022. Like other lucrative visa and investment opportunities, these updates will allow the United Arab Emirates to continue attracting the best talent and profiles from around the world. These new visa measures in Dubai will make life easier for investors, students, and skilled professionals, among others.
What are the new residence visas in Dubai?
The new visa system introduced by the Dubai government is revolutionary. Whether you want a family member to join you in the Emirates or are coming to Dubai to look for a job, everything has been designed to make things easier for you.
The details have not yet been shared, but the main points have been announced.
Here is the list of these new visas.
Entry visa for job seekers
Many young professionals travel to the United Arab Emirates to find job opportunities and start or advance their careers. This new entry visa for job seekers was designed to make this process easier.
With this new system and visa, applicants will be able to sponsor themselves. No host or sponsor will be required.
Who can apply for this visa? Anyone who graduated from one of the world's top 500 universities and is classified in the first, second, or third skill level (according to the list of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation) will be eligible to apply.
Multiple-entry tourist visa
A new five-year tourist visa is also part of the new visa rules, which also means that tourists will no longer need a sponsor to apply. It will be possible to stay for 90 consecutive days, and this visa may be extended. However, note that the maximum number of days spent in the Emirates will be limited to 180 days per year.
Who can apply for this visa? Applicants will need to attach documents to their application. They must provide a bank statement from the last six months showing a minimum balance equivalent to USD 4,000, regardless of the currency.
Visas for family members
The new changes to visas in Dubai bring excellent news for residents' family members. Parents can now sponsor their unmarried daughters indefinitely and their sons until the age of 25. As a reminder, the age limit for boys was previously 18. All green visa holders will be able to bring any first-degree relative to the Emirates, and these relatives will be able to remain in the country as long as the holder's green visa remains valid.
In addition, children with disabilities will be able to obtain permanent residence permits, regardless of their age.
Golden visa
Golden visa - family and domestic workers
Changes have been made to the golden visa program. The aim is to expand the categories of beneficiaries and simplify the eligibility criteria.
A golden residence holder can sponsor family members, regardless of their age, as well as domestic workers. Compared with other types of visas, the main advantage is the ability to stay outside the country indefinitely without invalidating the golden residence.
Another significant advantage is that if the golden residence visa holder dies, their family members can remain in the country until the permit expires. No one will be forced to leave.
Golden visa - scientists
The Emirates Scientists Council may recommend leading scientists and researchers to apply for this type of visa. The basic requirement is a doctorate or master's degree in technology, engineering, natural sciences, or life sciences. People who have achieved substantial research results will be considered for this category.
Golden visa - skilled professionals
New professions have been added to the list of those eligible for the golden visa for skilled professionals. The list now includes science and engineering, medicine, information technology, education, business and administration, social sciences, law, and culture.
Who can apply for this visa? If you qualify for this type of visa, you will need to have a valid employment contract. In addition, your field of activity must be classified by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation as a first- or second-level profession.
Regarding qualifications, the applicant must hold a bachelor's degree, and their monthly salary must be AED 30,000 or more.
Golden visa - exceptional talents
This type of visa is granted solely on the basis of talent, regardless of the person's qualifications, monthly salary, or employment status. To qualify, the recommendation and approval must come from a federal or local government entity. Athletes, artists, digital technology professionals, people working in culture, inventors, and innovators can apply for this visa.
Golden visa - real estate investors
If you invest a minimum of AED 2 million, you may obtain a golden visa as a real estate investor. With this update to the visa system in the Emirates, investors can obtain a residence visa even when purchasing a property with a loan from local banks.
Likewise, it is possible to obtain golden residence by purchasing one or more off-plan properties worth AED 2 million or more from certain approved local real estate companies.
Golden visa - entrepreneurs
Anyone who owns or is a partner in a startup registered in Dubai in the small and medium-sized enterprise category may qualify for this visa. However, the company must generate annual revenue of at least AED 1 million.
Golden visa - students and graduates
This visa is intended for high-achieving individuals from secondary schools and universities in the United Arab Emirates, as well as the world's top 100 universities. The year of graduation, academic results, and the university's ranking are the basic selection criteria.
Green visa in Dubai
Green visa - skilled employees and freelancers
Skilled employees and freelancers will be the main beneficiaries of the new visa rules in the Emirates. Those who earn a minimum of AED 15,000 and hold a bachelor's degree can apply for a five-year residence visa for skilled employees. Applicants do not need to go through an employer or sponsor.
Green visa - investor or partner
The purpose of this residence visa is to attract and encourage investors. This five-year residence is intended for people who establish or participate in business activities in the United Arab Emirates. Previously, this visa was valid for two years.
We have summarized the different types of visas that will be implemented at the start of the next season (September 2022) in the simplest way possible.
These new rules are a boon for anyone planning to settle in Dubai and the Emirates. The possibilities are endless: job seekers, investors, students, skilled professionals, and more will all have the opportunity to qualify for one of these new visas.
Our firm specializes in company formation and obtaining residence visas. We can assist you in obtaining the visa of your choice. For more information, contact us:
support@merritt.group
