‘What’s the difference between entry permit and residence visa?’ An oft-asked question by those headed to the UAE. The emirates often pave the way for professionals and top businesses to enter into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market. Hence, a huge number of expats head to the country hoping to turn their dreams into glorious reality. The UAE government has always welcomed professionals and businesses to its shores. Similarly, relevant UAE visa procedures have been made transparent and swift to facilitate such moves.
Read on for everything you need to know about the difference between an Entry Permit and Residence Visa in the UAE:
SHOULD I APPLY FOR AN ENTRY PERMIT OR RESIDENCE VISA?
To help you understand the difference between Entry permits and residence visa, we’ll discuss the different aspects in detail. Read on to find out which one you need for yourself or a family member.
ENTRY PERMIT
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) issues entry permits allowing foreigners to enter the UAE and stay in the country legally for a specified time period. The document can be issued as a hard copy or online.
FAQS ABOUT THE UAE ENTRY PERMIT
DO I NEED ANY ENTRY PERMIT FOR UAE?
GCC Nationals don’t require a visa or an entry permit to enter the UAE as their passport or National ID will suffice. Similarly, citizens of the following countries are issued a visa on arrival for 30 days:
- Andorra
- Australia
- Brunei
- Canada
- China
- Hong Kong
- China
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Macau
- China
- Malaysia
- Mauritius
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- Republic of Ireland
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Ukraine
- The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
- United States of America
- Vatican City
The following passport holders are issued a visa on arrival for 90 days:
- Argentina
- Germany
- Paraguay
- Austria
- Greece
- Poland
- Bahamas Islands
- Honduras
- Portugal
- Barbados
- Hungary
- Romania
- Belgium
- Iceland
- Russian Federation
- Brazil
- Italy
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Bulgaria
- Kiribati
- San Marino
- Chile
- Latvia
- Serbia
- Costa Rica
- Liechtenstein
- Seychelles
- Croatia
- Lithuania
- Slovakia
- Cyprus
- Luxembourg
- Slovenia
- Czech Republic
- Maldives
- Solomon Islands
- Denmark
- Malta
- South Korea
- El Salvador
- Montenegro
- Spain
- Estonia
- Nauru
- Sweden
- Finland
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
- France
- Norway
- Uruguay
In addition, Indian passport holders with a valid US visit visa, a US green card, UK residence visa or EU residence visa, are also granted a UAE visa on arrival.
Note: Your passport must have a validity of at least six months from the date of your entry into the UAE. The list of exempted countries is fluid and regularly change, so it is strongly suggested that you check with the UAE Embassy in your home country before travelling.
WHO CAN APPLY FOR AN ENTRY PERMIT?
Those invited by an individual residing in the UAE or any organisation (could be a public or private enterprise, a relative, a tour operator, a hotel or a UAE-based airline) can apply for an Entry Permit.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENTRY PERMIT?
There are various types of Entry Permit. You can apply for the one that best suits your purpose of the trip. Entry Permit categories include:
- Employment
- Family visit
- Tourism/transit
- Treatment
- Mission
- Attending conferences
HOW LONG IS THE ENTRY PERMIT VALIDITY?
Entry Permit validity depends on the type of permit issued. For example, if the reason provided for entry permit is employment, the validity is likely to be two months. Within these two months, the employer would have to apply for a residence visa to avoid any penalties or fines.
The validity period may differ for other permit types.
HOW MUCH IS THE ENTRY PERMIT FEE?
The Entry Permit fee is AED 500 (charges may vary according to the visa type). The sponsor has to pay the Entry Permit fee.
Entry Permit extension is allowed twice for a period of 30 days respectively. Each renewal costs AED 600. Overstayers are fined AED 100 for each day after a grace period of 10 days.
RESIDENCE VISA
Foreigners who are staying in the country legally with a valid Entry Permit can apply for a Residence Visa. So, in many cases, obtaining a Residence Visa is the natural next step after getting an Entry Permit. That distinction is important to note when establishing the difference between an Entry Permit and Residence Visa.
FAQS REGARDING RESIDENCE VISA
WHO CAN APPLY FOR A RESIDENCE VISA?
Residence Visa application can only be made by sponsors who meet the GDRFA criteria. This can include companies or individuals. For example, universities can apply for visas for students. Similarly, companies can get visas for the individuals they hire. Lastly, individuals living in the UAE can obtain Residence Visas for their family members.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER REQUIREMENTS?
Residence Visa applicants have to undergo a medical and security test.
HOW LONG IS THE RESIDENCE VISA VALIDITY?
Residence Visa validity depends on the type of visa and the sponsor. It could be one, two or three years.
WHAT IS THE RESIDENCE VISA FEE?
Residence Visa fee varies according to the type of Residence Visa being applied for.
CAN I TRAVEL OUT AND RETURN TO THE UAE ON THE RESIDENCE VISA?
Yes, one can travel out and return to the UAE as long as their Residence Visa is valid. The period of travel cannot exceed six months or the document would be considered void.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ACQUIRING OF A RESIDENCE VISA?
If you plan to stay in the UAE for a long time, you would need a Residence Visa. Residence Visas allow people to open a bank account, acquire a bank loan, apply for driving licences, access health services, and enjoy visa-free access to many other countries.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESIDENCE VISAS?
There are several different types of residency visas. The list includes:
- Investment Visa
- Work Visa
- Student Visa
- Family Visa
- Retirement Visa
WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED FOR A RESIDENCY VISA APPLICATION?
Documents required to be submitted with a Residence Visa application include:
- Passport
- Two passport-size photos
- Entry Permit
- Proof of your sponsor’s legal residency (if applicable)
- Medical fitness test
- UAE health insurance plan
- Birth/marriage certificate (for family visa)
- Work contract, trade licence, and firm card (for a work visa)
I HAVE A SPECIFIC QUERY, WHO CAN I CONTACT?
You can call the GDRFA on 511-1800.
That completes our blog highlighting the difference between entry permit and residence visa. UAE visa laws are fairly easy to understand. Just make sure that, as an applicant, you apply for the right category and provide the correct mandatory documents. If you are currently residing in Dubai, you can check your visa status online to avoid overstaying.
There are different types of Dubai visas that can be applied for and they often have different application requirements. For example, the requirements for a Dubai tourist visa differ great to those for a Dubai transit visa.
Interested in the long-term UAE visa situation? Check out our guide to UAE long-term golden visas.
For more information regarding visas, visit MyBayut.
