Who can live or reside in the UAE?

Foreigners can live as residents in the UAE if they are:

• employed by a company in the UAE - in this case, the company will apply and sponsor your residence visa while you are in the UAE.
• employed by the government sector - in this case, the government entity will apply and sponsor your visa while you are in the UAE.
• investors in a business in the UAE - in this case, the investor himself will process and apply for his own visa under the sponsorship of his company’s registered name.
• buy a property in the UAE - in this case, the property owner’s residence visa will be sponsored under the property he owns.
• dependents that are sponsored by:
  • someone who is employed in the UAE
  • an investor/business owner in the UAE
  • a property owner in the UAE.

    Dependents include children, parents, maids and close relatives.

• university students sponsored by their universities in the UAE - in this case, the university will apply and sponsor your visa under the educational institution’s name.
• retired residents – in this case, special conditions apply.

Note that a residence visa is issued to a foreigner when he/she is already inside the country after entering the UAE via an entry permit, short or long-term tourist or visit visa. 

Conditions for getting a residence visa

A residence visa requires applicants who are 18 and above to undergo a medical test to prove that they are medically fit. They must also pass a security check and apply for an Emirates ID card from Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.

Validity of a residence visa

The validity of stay on a residence visa varies according to its type and the sponsor. It can be for 1, 2 or 3 years, or up to 5 or 10 years without a sponsor.

According to recent changes, a residence visa can also be issued for 5 and 10 years subject to certain conditions. Learn about long-term residence visas, and 5-year retirement visa in the UAE.

Learn also about 5-year retirement visa in Dubai and long-term golden visas in Abu Dhabi (Thrive in Abu Dhabi Programme).

Benefits of having a UAE residence visa

Being a legitimate resident in the UAE will entitle you to:

• open a bank account
• access financial facilities
• apply for a driving licence
• access government health services and health insurance
• register his/her children in government schools and in private schools
• work and invest
• travel visa–free to certain destinations (check with foreign embassies in the UAE).

Read:

• Visa system in the UAE
• Apply for a UAE visa
• Track your visa application