Among expatriates who hold residency in the United Arab Emirates, many do not live there all year round and frequently need to travel. Whether for professional reasons or simply for leisure, their numerous trips can quickly become a source of concern regarding the validity of their UAE residence.
Their absence from the United Arab Emirates may sometimes last more than 6 months, which is why the validity of their residence visa is a major concern.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has added 5 new exceptions to the 6 existing exceptions, bringing the total number of exceptions to 11. These 11 exceptions allow expatriate UAE residents to retain their visa even if they remain outside the country for more than 6 months (up to 1 year).
Basic rule: How long must you stay in Dubai to retain your residence visa?
As a UAE resident, you are subject to certain mandatory regulations regarding the validity of your residence visa.
As a reminder, the general rule regarding visa validity is that if an expatriate resident stays outside the UAE for more than 180 consecutive days, their residence visa will automatically be cancelled.
For example, if you hold a valid work or residence visa in the United Arab Emirates and, for any reason, you need to remain outside the Emirates continuously for more than six months (or 180 days) and wish to re-enter the country, you will find that your visa is invalid or expired. You will therefore need to restart all the procedures involved in applying for a new residence visa in the United Arab Emirates.
However, an exception applies to company partners holding an investor-type residence visa, for whom the limit is extended to one year instead of 180 days.
Similarly, Golden Visa holders are not subject to the 180-day restriction.
Stay outside the Emirates for more than 6 months: the 11 exceptions
If a person holding a UAE residence visa remains outside the country for more than 6 months, their residence visa will be automatically cancelled. However, there are exceptions to this rule that allow residents to remain outside the country for more than six months without their visa being cancelled.
We have listed the 11 exceptions that allow an expatriate resident to remain outside the Emirates for more than six months. These exceptions therefore allow them to stay outside the country for more than 180 days while maintaining the validity of their visa.
The 11 exceptions are as follows:
- A foreign wife sponsored by her Emirati husband;
- Domestic workers accompanying an Emirati student abroad;
- Domestic workers accompanying an Emirati patient receiving treatment abroad;
- Expatriate residents and their companions sent abroad for medical treatment, provided that they present a medical report approved by the medical authorities of the United Arab Emirates;
- Domestic workers accompanying members of diplomatic and consular missions representing the Emirates abroad, and employees of these missions holding a residence visa;
- Expatriate residents working in the public sector who are sent by their employer to attend training or specialised courses, or who work in their employer's offices abroad, as well as their family members holding a valid UAE residence visa;
- Expatriate students studying at universities or institutes abroad;
- Domestic workers employed in the homes of the royal family abroad who hold a valid UAE residence visa;
- Students enrolled in educational institutions abroad who hold a valid UAE residence visa;
- Investors holding a valid UAE residence visa;
- Residents sponsored by UAE diplomatic and consular representatives, and their dependants, may stay outside the UAE for six months while maintaining the validity of their residence visa.
Residence visa procedures and applications with Merritt
Our team specialises in assisting with the acquisition of residence visas, regardless of your status.
We handle residence visas for investors, employees, families, maids, etc.
Our firm provides assistance, and a member of our team can meet with you from Monday to Thursday, from 9:00 to 18:00, at our offices in JLT.
For more information, please email us at
support@merritt.group
