Visa

Mayroong ilang iba't ibang mga paraan upang makakuha ng isang pagbisita visa para sa Dubai at iba pang Emirates sa United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ang isang pagbisita visa at isang tourist visa ay hindi magkapareho, bagaman ang mga ito ay parehong entry permit para sa mga bisita ng UAE. Ang Karaniwan ay isang visa ay may-visit visa 60 araw bago entry sa Dubai, maaari lamang gamitin para sa isang solong entry, at pagkatapos lumabas ang bisita ay dapat na lumayo mula sa UAE para sa 30 araw bago muling nag-aaplay para sa isang bagong visa (may ilang mga eksepsiyon) . Para sa mga indibidwal o kumpanya ang sponsorship ng isang UAE bisitahin ang visa, sponsor ay dapat na batay sa ang UAE, at magkaroon ng UAE residence visa kung ang sponsor ay isang tao. GCC mga nationals ko hindi kailangan ng isang pagbisita visa upang ipasok ang UAE. Residente ng GCC, o mga bisita kasama nationals GCC ay maaaring magagawang upang makakuha ng isang pagbisita visa mas madaling makipag-ugnay sa isang UAE immigration departamento.


UAE property owner visa - new in 2009, not clear if regarded as a visit visa or residence visa by the UAE immigration authorities (probably a visit visa), multi-entry, valid 180 days, renewable

UAE tourist visa - valid 30 days, renewable once, available to most nationalities, sponsored by an airline (UAE based airlines only?), travel agent in the UAE, or hotel in the UAE.

UAE transit visa - not really a visit visa but might be an easier option for short stays of less than 4 days.

UAE visit visa on arrival - valid 30 days, "renewable" (new visa issued each time) indefinitely, available to some nationalities only, obtain at passport control on arrival at any UAE border entry point (airport, land, or sea), new visa can be issued immediately after exit (30 day waiting period outside UAE not required).

UAE visit visa - 30 days or 90 days, not renewable (usually), sponsored by company, relative, or friend (sometimes).

UAE visit visa for GCC residents (unconfirmed) - 30 days, renewable once, costs 100 dhs. Restricted to certain high-level professions (doctor, teacher, manager, lawyer, etc). Visa fee might be higher than 100 dhs. Some sources say this visa is not renewable but that might be old information.

UAE visit visa for visitors with GCC nationals (unconfirmed) - 30 days, renewable once, costs 100 dhs

UAE visit visa sponsorship

For visitors not from one of the countries that can obtain a visit visa on arrival, they need to find a UAE based sponsor to apply for a visit visa for them. The sponsorship possibilities are (updated after new UAE visa rules in July 2008):

• Company sponsorship UAE visa - UAE based company needs to have a deposit with the UAE immigration authority, this type of visit visa is intended for business visitors to the UAE that have some type of relationship to the company. Proof of this might be requested (a business card on arrival for example).
• Friend sponsorship UAE visa - possible under certain conditions: minimum salary, limited number of professions, might be difficult for males attempting to sponsor unrelated females or vice versa. The minimum salary figure was 10,000 dhs per month in 2008 but might vary, or be applied inconsistently.
• Relative sponsorship UAE visa - easy for first degree relatives (mother, father, son, daughter, husband or wife, brother or sister), more difficult for second degree relatives - will probably require special permission from the immigration department.

Documents and requirements needed for individual sponsoring a visit visa

• Resident's passport with valid UAE residence visa.
• Resident's labour contract or salary certificate as proof of minimum salary.
• Proof of relationship of family member, documents will probably need to be attested.
• Proof of medical / health / accident insurance for the visitor.
• Copy of visitor's passport (should be valid for at least 6 months after expected date of entry to the UAE).
• Visa application form - obtain at the typing center at the immigration department (DNRD in Dubai, or other UAE immigration office).
• Relevant visa fees.
• Refundable deposit (might be AED 1000 or AED 2000 - different information seen).
• Minimum salary requirement as follows (treat figures as approximate):

Visit visa fees table based on Department of Naturalisation and Residency Dubai information (modified to remove typos and change display order of some information)

Procedure to obtain visit visa for Dubai and other UAE emirates:

• The person or PRO of the company sponsoring you needs to go to the immigration department of the emirate which issued their residence visa (or trade licence). It might be possible to apply in a different emirate if the sponsor has a good reason for that e.g. they live in a different emirate to the one that issued their residence visa (in which case they should bring a copy of their tenancy contract, DEWA or telephone bill as proof they live in a different emirate, or labour card as proof they work in a different emirate), but they might still be told to go to the emirates that issued their residence visa.
• The process starts at the typing center where the visa fees are paid and the application form will be filled in. The typing center will direct the applicant to the next relevant counter for document submission and processing.
• Visit visa should be issued within a day or two, possibly the same day if urgent processing fees are paid.
• After receiving the visit visa, either the original or a copy should be sent to the visitor.
• If only the copy is sent, then the original visa needs to be deposited at the Dubai airport DNATA counter at least three hours prior to arrival of the visitor. There is also a Visa Delivery Service available at the DNATA counter at the DNRD (but visa needs to be left with them a day before arrival of the visitor).
• For other emirates, ask when the visa is collected from the immigration department, where the visa needs to be deposited for collection by the visitor on arrival.

Visit visa cancellation and deposit refund, and overstaying a visit visa

• When the guest leaves the UAE, the visa is automatically cancelled.
• Any overstaying fines are paid on departure - allow AED 100 for overstaying plus AED 200 per day (it might still be AED 100). Entry day and exit day are counted, and remember the "one month visa" is actually only valid for 30 days.
• Overstaying a visit visa in the UAE - there is possibly a grace period of 10 days but don't count on it, it seems to be a bit of a lottery as to whether you get fined during this period or not - it might depend on the mood of the official at the gate, your mood, your nationality, the weather, and so on. Confirmation of this grace period not found on official General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners Affairs (immigration department) websites for the UAE. There were reports in early 2012 that the grace period for overstaying had been cancelled, but nothing official found or supplied.
• After the guest has left, the sponsor needs to go back to the immigration department where the visit visa was issued, and present their deposit receipt to get a refund. Their computer system will be automatically updated when the visitor departs, proof of departure should not be needed.

How to Sponsor Housemaid Visa:

Families living in Dubai UAE can sponsor a maid or nanny. Bachelors cannot. There are criteria and restrictions that apply. Note that this information is for Dubai but should be similar for Abu Dhabi and other UAE emirates. Check with the UAE immigration department of the emirate in which you live for the latest rules and procedure. In Dubai, visit the Dubai Naturalization and Residence Department (DNRD).

• Minimum salary requirement for the sponsor (usually the male head of the family) must be AED 6000 per month, or AED 5000 per month if accommodation is supplied by the company, for them to sponsor a housemaid (there was a proposal by the FNC to increase the minimum salary requirement to AED 15,000 reported in December 2008).
• Bachelors are not able to sponsor a maid. Women with children who don't have a husband in the UAE might be able to sponsor a maid or nanny.
• The maid must be a national of one of these countries: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka. It is possible that nannies (rather than maids) of other nationalities can be employed in the UAE but the process of obtaining a visa for them is not clear. There are nanny agencies based in the UAE and other countries that might be able to help, however, at present we don't have enough information about them to make any recommendations with confidence. Majestic Nannies or Nannies Incorporated might be worth trying (both have offices in UK and UAE). Or try reading through some of the expat forums such as Abu Dhabi Woman and Expat Women to get more information. But do make sure you are confident that any visa arrangements are legally acceptable in the UAE.
• Each country may have certain restrictions on employing their nationals as maids, for example minimum salary, minimum or maximum age. You will need to check with the embassy or consulate of that country for the details. Most minimum salary requirements are over AED 1000 per month.
• If you live, work, and have a residence visa in different emirates, go to the immigration department that issued you your residence visa. If you live in a different emirate, you could try the immigration department of that emirate.
• There is a standardized or unified labour contract ("employment agreement") for maids and other domestic workers, and their sponsors as of 01 April 2007, which is issued by the immigration or residence department at the time of visa application. This contract specifies vacation time, airline tickets, and other details of employment.
• Maids that are the same nationality as the sponsor need special approval from the DNRD in Dubai, and you will need a document from your embassy/consulate to prove that the maid is not related to you.
• More than one maid per family is possible but will depend on salary and size of family. Approval is at the whim ... er discretion of the immigration department.

To sponsor a house maid, you will need to have a UAE residency visa (this is not the same as an employment visa or work permit). Once you arrive for the first time in the UAE, allow at least a month before your own residence visa is issued. That varies substantially and depends mostly on how efficient your company is at processing the paperwork. Some companies delay the process by several months.

Arranging maid sponsorship is a two step procedure. First you need to obtain an entry permit / employment visa so she can enter the UAE. Then you need to apply for a UAE residence visa for the maid. The DNRD will issue a residence visa, labour card, and labour contract for the maid.

A similar procedure applies for sponsorship of other domestic helpers, workers, and servants e.g. a houseboy / house boy.

Documents required for UAE maid residence visa

Not all of these documents will be needed for the entry visa but bring them just in case

1. Your own salary certificate and labour contract.
2. Your tenancy agreement.
3. Your passport (and a copy).
4. Copy of the maid's passport (and original passport with entry permit after arrival in the UAE).
5. Passport photos of the maid (4 should be enough but bring a few extra).
6. If you (the sponsor) and the maid are the same nationality, then you will need an affadavit from your embassy or consulate to certify you are not related to the maid.
7. AED 5000 deposit for entry visa. Changed to AED 2000 for expat sponsors according to a Gulf News report 19 November 2009 (unconfirmed). Deposit of AED 2000 required from Emirati sponsors remains unchanged.
8. AED 5100 for residence visa (annual cost).
9. AED 300-400 for health card (annual cost).
10. AED 500 for other fees (approximately). Add AED 100 here and there for urgent processing.

UAE entry visa application for maid or nanny

1. Go to the DNRD in Dubai (near the Trade Center roundabout), or immigration department of the emirate which issued you your residence visa, and find an authorized typist to fill in the application form. Allow about AED 150 dhs for form and typing fees, add 100 dhs if you want to make an urgent application.
2. Submit the documents at the immigration department along with a deposit of AED 5000. If you've paid the urgent fee, the entry visa should be processed while you wait, otherwise it may take a few days.
3. Send the visa or a copy to the maid so she can present it at the departure airport (if she doesn't, the airline may not allow her to board the flight).
4. If you send the copy, then you need to leave the original at Dubai airport (or Abu Dhabi airport or other arrival airport) at least a couple of hours before she arrives. She will need it to clear immigration procedures. In Dubai, there is a DNATA visa desk at the airport. You may also be able to leave it at the DNRD or one of the other DNATA offices (Sheikh Zayed Road near Safa Park interchange, or Deira).

UAE residence visa procedure for maid or nanny

1. Once your maid arrives in the UAE, she will have a 30 day visa within which time you will need to obtain her residence visa and labour card / work permit.
2. Go to a typist at the immigration department (DNRD in Dubai), pay fees, take the typed form to the relevant counter at the immigration department (the typist will tell you where to go) to get a stamp.
3. Go to a government hospital with your maid and documents for a medical test and health card application. You can also do this at the Iranian Hospital on Al Wasl Road in Dubai. Results of test and issue of card will take a few days (quicker and more expensive at the Iranian Hospital).
4. Go back to the DNRD or immigration department with health card, medical test results, and other documents. Don't forget the maid's original passport with entry permit. Bring the maid too.
5. The DNRD should ask you what salary you are going to pay your maid, the amount will be entered by them into a labour contract, copies of which need to be signed by you and the maid (which is why you should bring her).
6. Go round in circles a few time to buy stickers, get documents stamped, and stand in queues.
7. Eventually you should end up back at a counter where everything is "halas" (finished). The maid's passport will get a residence visa stamped in it, you and her will get copies of the labour contract, she will get a labour card, and you can go home and rest while she cooks dinner. You may not get all documents immediately in which case you'll have to return for collection (this is where payment of an urgent processing fee should have made a difference).
8. Collect Deposit refund (ask the immigration official where to go). Deposit not refunded not until maid leaves the UAE according to 19 November 2009 Gulf News report.

Renewal of UAE maid visa (needs to be done annually)

1. Go to an official typist at the DNRD or UAE immigration department.
2. Pay renewal fees of about AED 5100 and receive renewal application form and medical forum. Add AED 100 if you want urgent processing.
3. Go to government hospital (or Iranian Hospital) for medical tests. Pay fees of about AED 300-400 dhs. Test results should take a day or two.
4. Go back to DNRD or immigration department with maid and all relevant documents. Sign new labour contract and receive new visa and labour card (while you wait if you paid urgent processing fees, after a few days if not, or it will be sent to you).

Cancel maid visa in Dubai / UAE

1. Go to DNRD / immigration department typist and ask for visa cancellation form to be filled out. You will need a copy of maid's passport (or original), and a one way ticket for the maid back to her home country. Bring your own passport and copy, and maid's labour card also.
2. Take maid, her passport and labour card, your passport, and visa cancellation form to airport on departure day (arrive at least 3 hours before departure time, or more if check in counter opens more than 3 hours before departure - for Emirates flights you can check in 8 hours before flight departure)
3. Check in maid and obtain boarding pass.
4. Go to the airport immigration counter with maid, boarding pass, labour card, and passport to cancel visa. They will keep labour card and may want to see your passport.
5. Say goodbye to maid, then go home and wash your own dishes until you find a new housemaid.