In the world, the United Arab Emirates is one of the few countries that offer a variety of visa options for different individual requirements. Catering to a diverse range of people, it provides long-term residency visas for investors and short-term visas for job seekers. If you are planning to go to the UAE, you must know the types of visas it offers and the right one you should apply for. In this article, we have mentioned everything you need to know about visa types in the United Arab Emirates and which one suits your needs.
Transit Visa – Going to UAE As A Tourist
If you are flying to another country and have a short layover in the UAE, you can apply for a transit visa of 48 hours or 96 hours. Transit Visa is not extendable or renewable, and you have to leave the country within the specified time. To get a transit visa, you can contact a UAE-based airline or a travel agency.
Tourist Visa
Want to unwind yourself after tiring months of work? UAE offers a 30-90 day tourist visa on a single or multiple entry. You can avail Visa as per your requirements. You can submit visa applications through airlines, travel agencies, hotels or through a sponsor such as a family member or a friend.
You can apply for tourist visas through online platforms that are operated by UAE immigration authorities.
Five-Year Multiple Entry Visa
This five-year entry visa is designed for people frequently visiting UAE for personal reasons or business purposes. With this Visa, you don’t have to worry about applying for a new entry permit every time you enter the country. You can apply for this Visa through Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) official website.
According to ICP, the individual can stay up to 90 days in UAE on each visit and can even extend their stay for an additional 90 days. The requirement for a Five-year Multiple Entry Visa is to submit a bank statement of the last six months of a minimum balance of $4,000.
GCC Residents’ E-Visa
From the ICP or GDRFA website, GCC residents can apply for an e-visa. The validity date for this Visa is 30 days, and to apply for it, one must have a GCC residency visa of at least three months from the date of arrival.
Job Seeker Visa
For Job Seekers, The UAE government introduced a new visa. Now, job seekers can easily come to the UAE for job hunting and explore opportunities for jobs, business and investments in the country without the need for any host or sponsor. Just like anything, it also has eligibility criteria. To be eligible for this Visa, you must belong to the first, second or third skill level as per the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. If you are a fresh graduate from the top 500 universities in the world, you can easily apply for this Visa. Having a bachelor’s degree is a must.
Employer-Sponsored Visa
To work or reside in the UAE, you have to secure a job offer letter from a company in the UAE, as it is the prerequisite for an Employer-Sponsored Visa. The company will issue an entry permit after you accept and sign the offer letter, and you will be allowed to travel to the UAE. Upon reaching UAE, you will be able to apply for the visa application process, which includes undergoing a medical fitness test, providing biometrics for Emirates ID, and getting a visa stamp on the passport and Emirates ID card.
Family-Sponsored Visa
Want to bring your family to the UAE? Family-Sponsored Visa is for you! If you are employed or own a property in the UAE, you can easily apply for this Visa and bring your family to the country.
Golden Visa
A visa that is linked with owning a property in the UAE is the Golden Visa. This type of visa provides you with a five-year validity period, thus eliminating the need for visa renewal every two years. With this Visa, you can spend unlimited time outside of the country without returning within six months. To be eligible for the Golden Visa, you must own a property worth Dh2 million in the UAE.
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered different types of visas available in the UAE. Whether you want to visit UAE for tourism or job hunting, UAE has got tons of visa types for the people. To cater to different ranges of people, it provides short-term visas for job seekers and tourists and long-term residency visas for investors and property owners. You can apply for the Visa that meets your requirements.
