Applying for a UAE Residence Visa With a Free Zone Company
Over the years, UAE has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Equipped with up to date infrastructure, technologies, having a stable economy and tax-free environment, UAE has become a fantastic place to live and work in. With its safe and secure environment and excellent business potential, UAE is surely the land of opportunities.
Though, when it comes to obtaining a UAE Residence Visa those who have tried to get it on their own are already aware that the procedure is slightly exhausting and it for sure will test your patience.
The benefits that you gain after obtaining a UAE Residence Visa include a rewarding lifestyle, tax exemptions, numerous job opportunities, and other incentives, that will help you establish a happy and comfortable life. Thus, whether to apply for a UAE Residence Visa is out of the question, the concern might be whether to apply on your own or outsource certified PRO services.
Making use of such services makes your process stress and hassle-free as, after an online payment, you usually just wait and receive the desired visa. According to our experience, we have seen quite a few entrepreneurs who got rejections of their Visa Applications due to their lack of knowledge of local procedures. That is why we have made up our mind to share our valuable experience with everyone who would decide to apply for the UAE Residence Visa on their own to secure them from unnecessary spends and mistakes.
The 6 Ways to Get a UAE Residence Visa
Depending on your current situation, there are different pathways you can choose to get a UAE Residence Visa. Here are the most prominent one’s for you to know:
- By obtaining a job in UAE, you can apply for an Employment Residence Visa.
- By enrolling in an International University in UAE, you can get a Students Residence Visa.
- After applying for a Freelance license, you can get a Freelance Residence Visa.
- Set up your own business for an Investor Residence Visa.
- You can apply for a Family Residence Visa if your closest relative has an official Employment or an Investor Residence Visa in UAE.
- Buy a property worth at least 1 million AED to get a Residence Visa.
The visa application procedure differs when applying for an LLC or UAE based Free Zone Company. The application cost can change over time depending on the Free Zones. To get updated with the different application expenses, you will have to contact the related departments for any change in policies.
You need to take the process step by step to avoid any inconveniences that lead to visa rejection. Furthermore, you should collect the relevant documents in time to meet the requirement for a smooth and comfortable process. Here are the steps that you need to follow that might be crucial in saving both your time and money.
| STEPS TO BE TAKEN | NECESSARY DOCUMENTS |
|---|---|
| STEP 1: Entry Permit (also named as a UAE Residence Permit) | |
| An Entry Permit is a momentary visa given to enter the country. The relevant authorities were your sponsor/company is registered will take up to 48 hours to forward the application to immigration for approval. The Immigration department then handles the next step which can take up to 7 days for approval. The approval period is extendable as the department has the authority to question the applicant’s file for security purposes. After final evaluation, the application is either processed or rejected as per the deduction of the Immigration department. There are two kinds of Entry Permit Visa applications which you should be aware of:
Any applicant inside UAE can get the Entry Permit Visa. The individual will have to leave and then |
✓ Your latest photographs with a mandatory white background. A photo with a white shirt or jewelry is not acceptable. ✓ An apparent and colored Passport copy that is valid up to at least eight months. ✓ Attestation of your educational documents by the UAE Consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs present in your country. This is valid for employees applying for managerial positions and any other specified job label. Furthermore, the process is for those individuals who require a specific employment label. ✓ A valid license copy of the company. ✓ Current Valid Visa copy (if applicable). ✓ Valid Company Establishment Card copy. ✓ In the case of Employment Visa, the employer’s offer letter is required. It should consist of stamps, the required letterhead and signatures of both the employer and employee. ✓ In the case of Investor Visa, the share certificate copy is compulsory. |
| STEP 2: Employment Agreement – only for employment visas |
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| According to recent changes in the policies, UAE is now demanding electronic applications. Employment contracts are accessible from only those authorities in which the submission of the application takes place. For the application to go through, the organization stamp and the employer and employees’ signatures are compulsory. Some authorities have started to provide guides to get the required information to make things relatively easier for you. |
✓ Employment Agreement Offer letter is required. |
| STEP 3: Visa Status Change | |
| This is valid for internal applicants who are not required to leave the country. You can avail the automatic status change option to speed things up in the Immigration System. You will have to visit the authority where you applied for the Visa. You might have to pay some additional charges depending upon the complexity of the process. Another way to take this step is to leave the country and then re-enter using the issued entry permit. This will only include your travel charges. |
✓ Original Passport Copy and the Entry Permit |
| STEP 4: Medical Test Application | |
| The first thing to do is to submit your medical test application online by making use of an appropriate typing center. You can choose from two different medical applications types. The first one is the VIP application which costs up to 750AED. In this, the issuance of the medical result takes less than 4 hours. The alternative to this is the standard application option. It is a requirement for you to pay about 340AED to get your result in 5 business days. After the completion of the typing process, you will need to visit a proper Medical Fitness Center. There will be several different medical procedures conducted including X-rays and blood tests. |
The online typing requests require: ✓ Entry permit visa copy ✓ Your original passport ✓ Your latest photograph (with a white background) During the medical test, the required documents are: ✓ A printed copy of the online application provided by the typing center. ✓ Your original passport. |
| STEP 5: Emirates ID Application | |
| For obtaining an Emirates ID, you have to submit your Emirates ID application online by making use of an appropriate typing center. After submitting the required documents, you will have to visit the Emirates ID department offices. This |
✓ Entry permit visa copy ✓ Original passport |
| STEP 6: Medical Health Insurance | |
| Medical Insurance is mandatory for all UAE residents. For that reason, it is important that you seek the services of the approved insurance companies. There are different options available that differ by their cost. A more expensive package provides more good incentives than an inexpensive package. You will have to make sure that the company agrees to the rules and regulations of UAE for approval. You can choose according to your preferences here |
✓ Medical Test Results ✓ Original Passport ✓ Health Insurance Certificate/card ✓ Original Employment Contract/Agreement ✓ Original Entry Permit ✓ Emirates ID application form ✓ Two latest photographs (with white background). |
| STEP 7: Residence Visa Stamping | |
| This step requires the presence of all the original and relevant documents. The period of time needed for the process is around five business days. You will receive an SMS from the Immigration department regarding your immigration approval. In this term, you should not book any flight until and unless you receive official confirmation. |
✓ At this stage you don’t need to carry any documents, as all required documents are already in the system of authorities. |
| STEP 8: Emirates ID card | |
| You can only get the Emirates ID card after the completion of the previous steps. The EID Authority issues the ID after it receives official confirmation from immigration. The total time taken to complete the procedure is about 7 business days. You can collect it from the impost where you applied from.
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✓ At this stage you don’t need to carry any documents, as all required documents are already in the system of authorities. |
Get Answers to All Your Questions
The UAE Residence Visa application process can be quite confusing and many questions might pop up in your mind regarding the processes.
To get professional assistance in obtaining a UAE Residence Visa, feel free to contact our Immigration Support specialists my emailing at [email protected] or message on WhatsApp directly +971 55 1479 576