UAE residents and expats, including Filipinos, can now apply for their visa and residency permits in the most convenient way — online within just 10 minutes.
It means that people no longer need to allot much time and effort to head out to typing offices or customer service centers, as the UAE’s Ministry of the Interior (MoI) on Tuesday, August 1, launched “E-channels” that speeds up the visa and residency applications.
Through the website link https://echannels.moi.gov.ae residents and expats simply need register their e-mail address to become a member and log into the system.
Companies can also submit applications without having to visit General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs centers.
Under the slogan, “Smart Services with Future Vision”, the Ministry said the new system will guarantee speed and accuracy in terms of processing and issuing of documents.
The Ministry has worked in partnership with the Emirate Technology Solutions to develop the new electronic and smart services system, which will enable offices, companies and individuals, whether UAE or Gulf Cooperation Council nationals or residents, to easily apply for the documents they need.
Colonel Mansour Ahmed Al Dhaheri, Director General of the Residence and Foreigners Affairs Directorate in Abu Dhabi, explained that this system is being implemented under the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to achieve the UAE Vision 2021.
With its implementation, Al Dhaheri said, it will also reduce the need for residents and expats to appear at government centers by 80 percent.
The system will include advanced electronic features, such as its ability to automatically read official documents electronically, use fingerprint technology to identify people, and process routine requests, such as auditing, accounting, and quality control.
With the help of electronic gadgets, customers will be able to complete their transactions from any place.
An automated payment facility is linked to the external partners of the Ministry that provide the services.
The new system also aims to help ensure financial transparency and facilitate payments via IBAN details.
Residents can also get back their security deposit and transaction fees through the same channel without furnishing extra documents. Even fines can be paid through the same system.
