Impact High

Immigration

UAE | Visa extension introduced for GCC residents and dependents of GCC nationals

Summary

The UAE Government has recently announced changes to the e-Visa regulation for residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and dependents of GCC nationals. Effective immediately, GCC residents and family members of GCC nationals can extend their duration of stay in the UAE for a period of 30 to 60 days.

The detail

Residents and dependents of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia can apply for an e-Visa to enter the UAE. The online application can be submitted through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) platform in Dubai or through the smart channels of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Once the application is approved, the approval notification will be sent directly to the registered email address used in the application.

Please find an overview of the key changes below:

Eligibility criteria:

• Applicants must have a valid GCC residence permit which is valid for a minimum of one year from their date of entry into the UAE;
• GCC residence permits must clearly state the applicant’s profession as well as the validity of the permit;
• The passport used in the application must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the UAE; and
• A recent digital photograph must be submitted which meets ICP’s photograph specifications.

GCC residents:

• The entry permit will be valid for 30 days from the date of issuance, allowing a duration of stay of 30 days from the date of entry into the UAE, which is now extendable for an additional 30 days while inside the UAE.
• The UAE authorities reserve the right to refuse entry if any of the below scenarios occurs:

  • – The applicant’s profession changes prior to their entry into the UAE;
  • – The applicant’s entry permit expires before their entry into the UAE; and
  • – The applicant’s entry permit gets cancelled before their entry into the UAE.

Dependents of GCC citizens not holding valid GCC passports:

• The entry permit will be valid for 60 days from the date of issuance, permitting a duration of stay of 60 days from the date of entry, which is now extendable for an additional 60 days.
• The application must be sponsored by a GCC citizen who holds a valid GCC family book, passport or national ID card.
• The sponsor must accompany the applicant to the UAE and this information must be declared on the application form.
• This e-Visa application is applicable for family members of a GCC citizen, holding passports of countries who do not enjoy Visa on Arrival privileges in the UAE and are required to secure pre-approved UAE Visit Visa to enter the UAE

What this means

Dependents of GCC nationals and residents of GCC (nationals that require pre-approved visas for travel to the UAE) can now apply to stay in the UAE for up to 60 days from the date of first entry into the UAE, without having to leave the UAE and apply for a new entry permit. The extension granted by the UAE Government offers GCC residents and dependents the flexibility to remain in the UAE for a longer period of time.

Nationals that are eligible for a Visa on Arrival can continue to travel to the UAE and do not need to apply for a pre-arranged Visit Visa, as these individuals will be granted a multiple-entry Visit Visa upon arrival which will be valid for a total of 180 days from the date of entry, for a total duration of stay of 90 days.

How we can help

At Vialto Partners we possess the necessary expertise to help you navigate the ever-changing Immigration landscape within the UAE and we can support you with understanding how these changes could impact your business. We can advise you as to the visitor and business visa requirements, conduct assessments and ensure overall Immigration compliance.

We will continue to closely monitor and provide timely guidance on updates and changes announced by the UAE Government.

Contact us

For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:

Anir Chatterji
EMEA Immigration Partner

Rekha Simpson
Director, Middle East Immigration

Umme Salma
Senior Manager, Middle East Immigration

Nasrine Abdi
Manager, Middle East Immigration

Further information on Vialto Partners can be found here: www.vialtopartners.com

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