Mohammed issues Cabinet decision for executive regulations of decree-law on foreigners’ entry and residency

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued Cabinet decision no. 65 for 2022 for the executive regulations of federal decree-law no. 29 for 2021 regarding foreigners’ entry and residency.

The decision, which will take effect from September 5, 2022, stipulates that the provisions set forth in the appendix attached to this decision shall apply to the golden residency. The decision published in the recent issue of the Official Gazette sets regulations and procedures for embassies and consular bodies representing the UAE abroad to issue visas.

Types of Visas

The decision stipulates that the entry visa granted to a foreigner determines the purpose of the holder's entry into the country. These entry visas include visit visa, temporary or emergency entry visa, employment visa, residency visa, entry visa for the GCC residents and their foreign escorts.

It also states that the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) is authorised to issue, after approval of the competent authorities, a visa that allows a foreigner to enter the country for a temporary visit, whether for single or multiple entry.

The entry visa is classified according to the purpose of the visit, such as tourism, visiting a relative or friend, work assignment, exploring job opportunities, exploring business opportunities, medical treatment, study, training or qualification, and courtesy visa.

A visit visa may be issued by a decision of the ICP head or his authorised representative, for other purposes not mentioned in this article, provided the seriousness of the purpose of coming to the state is ascertained.

Duration and Validity

The decision stated that the duration of the visitor’s stay for the purpose of his/her coming to the country is determined by the ICP in this regard.

In all cases, the duration of stay should not exceed one year, with the necessity of paying the prescribed fee and guarantee. The part of a month is considered a month in determining the value of the fee to be paid, the decision added.

The ICP head or whoever represents him is authorised to extend the entry visa for visit for a similar period/s provided the seriousness of the reason for extending is ascertained with payment of the due fees.

The entry visit visa is valid for 60 days from the date of its issuance to enter the country. It can be renewed for similar periods after paying the prescribed fees. The ICP may also grant a foreigner an entry visit visa for the purpose of tourism, provided the guarantor / host is one of the establishments operating in the field of tourism in the county, after paying the prescribed fee and financial guarantee.

Fees:

The ICP has set fees for 10 entry permits to the UAE for various purposes, ranging between Dhs200 and Dhs1,500, when applying for the service of issuing entry permits through the ICP’s website www.icp.gov.ae or smart application UAEICP.

The ICP explained that the fees for issuing a residence entry permit for the family of a partner and investor are Dhs250, while the fees for a residence entry permit for the family of a resident working in government agencies are Dhs200.

The fees for a residence entry permit for the family of a resident working in the private sector or the free zone are Dhs250, while the fees of a long-term single visit visa – work or entertainment for a national sponsor or a resident – are Dhs550 and the fees of an entry permit for business or entertainment for the partner and investor are Dhs550.

The fees of a long-term multiple visit visa for work or entertainment for a partner and investor are Dhs1,500, while the fees of an entry visa for work or entertainment for a national sponsor or resident are Dhs1,500 and the fees of an entry permit for a long-term single visit (tourism) are Dhs550. The ICP added that fees should be paid only through a credit card or e-dirham and that the application form should be submitted via the website www.icp.gov.ae or the smart app UAEICP.

Employment visa

Pending the approval of the competent authorities, the ICP may grant an employment visa for the following categories: a foreigner employed by an employer under an employment contract and holders of green residency.

Green residency

The ICP may grant the green residency to a foreigner coming to the country to reside as an investor or partner in a commercial project if the following conditions are met: the authority’s approval of the investment is obtained and the value of investment or partnership is as decided by the ICP chairman.

It also stipulated that the ICP may grant a foreigner an employment visa without the need for sponsor/employer in the country if he is a skilled worker, provided the minimum educational level is a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, and the monthly salary is not less than Dhs15,000 or equivalent in foreign currencies.

The decision stipulates that the residency permit granted to a foreigner shall be considered as void if the period of his residence outside the country has exceeded 180 consecutive days. The residence permit shall remain valid until the end of its term for the following categories: citizens’ non-Emirati wives; domestic workers accompanying citizens on scholarships to study abroad; domestic workers of Emirati patients travelling for medical treatment abroad and foreign patients and their companions traveling for treatment abroad, who have valid residence permits, provided they submit a medical report certified by the competent authorities in the UAE.

Other categories include domestic workers for members of diplomatic and consular missions and their employees holding UAE residence permits; foreigners delegated by public sector institutions to join training or specialised courses; employees working in overseas offices of such institutions abroad and their families holding valid UAE residence permits and domestic workers for members of the ruling families working in their homes abroad and who hold valid UAE residence permits.

They also include students enrolled in educational facilities abroad who have valid residence permits in the country; investors holding valid residence permits; people sponsored by diplomatic and consular representatives and their escorts and any other categories pending a decision by the ICP, provided they hold a valid residency permit.