Overseas Filipinos in the UAE hail the country’s comprehensive new visa system that gives all residents new opportunities to stay longer in the country and bring their families here.
To come into effect in September this year, the UAE government introduced a sweeping visa and residence reform spanning 10 types with more benefits and simplified requirements.
This, together with a new 10-year residence program, known as Golden Visa, aims to recruit and retain entrepreneurs and elite talent, particularly in the tourist, economic, and educational sectors.
Most types of the newly launched visas no longer require a host or sponsor; are now multi-entry and have a 60-day validity period, as well as a single application platform. These include green residence visas for skilled workers, freelancers, and investors; job exploration visas; business entrance visas; tourist visas; visiting relatives/friends visas; temporary work mission visas; and study/training entry permits.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
One of the main reasons why Filipinos head to the UAE is to look for opportunities – and the country’s new job exploration entry visa is seen as a possible solution to help give them opportunities to live and work in the country. However, UAE authorities have set strict guidelines for this category in order to prevent misuse and abuse.
“It is granted to those classified in the first or second or third skill level as per the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the fresh graduates of the best 500 universities in the world and the minimum educational level should be a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent,” the Cabinet decision states.
Visitors and vacationers can now enter and stay in the country for 60 days, as opposed to the 30-day visit visa on arrival that was previously needed for most countries prior to the new law’s adoption. The decision effectively extends the amount of time visitors may spend in the UAE. Previously, there was only a nine-day grace period before incurring overstaying fees—Dh200 on the first day and Dh100 on each following day.
Meanwhile, additional privileges will soon be provided to allow family members stay in the nation, including lengthier flexible grace periods of up to 6 months to stay in the country after a residence permit is revoked or expired, as well as easing and simplifying the conditions for all sorts of residency.
The new system gives immense benefits to family members of green residence visa holders, allowing residents to quickly issue residence permits for their family members, including their spouse and children. Children who can be sponsored are now allowed to be 25 years old (up from 18 years old), with no age limit for unmarried daughters. Regardless of their age, children of determination are granted a residence visa.
Holders of Green Residence Visas are permitted to give residence permits to first-degree relatives, with the residency of family members having the same validity as the original residence holder.
The Golden Residence visa program has been broadened. Now, regardless of their age, a Golden visa holder can sponsor his or her family members, including their spouse and children. They can also sponsor and support domestic workers without putting a restriction on the number of people they can hire. There are also no time limits on how long you may stay outside the UAE to maintain your Golden Residence active.
10 NEW ENTRY AND RESIDENCE VISAS
1 Green Residence for Skilled Employees
This new program offers talented workers a five-year residence without the need for a sponsor or employer. According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, candidates must have a valid employment contract and be classed in the first, second, or third occupational level. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required, and the compensation should not be less than Dhs15,000 per month.
2 Green Residence for Freelancing and Self-Employment
In accordance with the rising relevance of flexible work patterns, this route offers freelancers and self-employed persons a 5-year residency in the UAE without the need for a sponsor or employer. It necessitates obtaining a freelance/self-employment permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, a bachelor’s degree or specialized diploma, and annual self-employment income of not less than Dhs360,000 for the previous two years or Dhs 15,000 per month, or the applicant demonstrating financial solvency throughout his or her stay in the country.
3 Green Residence for Investor or Partner
The purpose of this residence permit is to stimulate investment by granting a five-year residency to investors who start or participate in commercial activity. It replaces the previous residence visa measure, which was only valid for two years. Approval and evidence of investment are the two main requirements for this visa. The total invested capital will be determined if the investor (partner) owns more than one license. The approval of the appropriate municipal authorities is required.
4 Job Exploration Entry Visa
This visa was created with the intention of inviting young talents and skilled professionals to the nation to explore career prospects. It does not require a sponsor or a host. It is given to people rated in the first, second, or third skill levels by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, as well as new graduates of the world’s top 500 institutions, with a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent as the minimum educational level.
5 Business Entry Visa
This visa allows investors and entrepreneurs to seek business and investment prospects in the UAE without the need for a sponsor or host.
6 Multi-Entry Tourist Visa
A five-year multi-entry tourist visa was created in addition to the ordinary tourist visa sponsored by tourism enterprises in the UAE.
This kind does not require a sponsor and permits the individual to stay in the nation for up to 90 days in a row, with the option to extend for another 90 days, as long as the total stay does not exceed 180 days in a year.
This visa requires verification of a bank balance of US$4,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies for six months before application submission.
7 Entry Permit to Visit Relatives or Friends
A visitor can apply for this entrance permission if he or she is a family or acquaintance of a UAE citizen or resident.
For Filipinos, the Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration often requires an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee as an additional supporting document, consistent with the Philippines’ anti-human trafficking, human smuggling, and illegal recruitment laws.
8 Entry Permit for a Temporary Work Mission
This visa is intended for employees who are on a temporary job assignment, such as probation testing or a project-based mission, and who are sponsored by their business. It necessitates a temporary employment contract or a letter from the employer outlining the purpose of the visit, as well as proof of physical fitness to work.
9 Entry Permit for Study and Training
This category is for people who are enrolled in training and study courses, as well as those who are completing internship programs. Universities, educational and scientific institutes licensed in the nation, as well as government and commercial enterprises, can serve as sponsors. It requires a letter from the entity outlining the study, training, or internship program’s details as well as its duration.
10 Expanded Golden Residence
The Golden Residence Scheme has undergone significant changes to streamline the eligibility conditions and increase the categories of recipients. Investors, entrepreneurs, remarkable talents, scientists and professionals, great students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers, and frontline heroes are all eligible for this long-term 10-year residency.
The executive regulations of the Federal Decree-Law on Entry and Residence of Foreigners shall come into force after ninety days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
