With many changes that came this year, the UAE made several announcements pertaining to all the new visas in 2021.
From the 10-year golden visa to an option for expats to now sponsor their parents, all these visas have come with added benefits and as an initiative to boost the economy.
To delve into the eligibility for each visa, Emirates Woman has curated a list of all the new ones to take note of.
Golden visa
Launched as part of a programme in 2019, however, effective in full force this year, the aim of the visa is to encourage the world’s most innovative and brilliant talents across all fields to become residents in the UAE.
During the pandemic, doctors and several healthcare workers became eligible to apply for the golden visa. From Ph.D. holders to engineers and graduates with scores of 3.8 GPA, the 10-year visa was granted to many expats in the UAE as they’ve made this country their home.
Per WAM, the UAE’s state-run news agency, the visas will be granted to students who are deemed to have performed outstandingly in their general secondary certificate assessments or its equivalent, receiving at least 95 per cent. Students eligible can be from either private or public schools.
Various celebrities and many UAE-based content creators have already received the Golden visa such as Ola Farahat, Chef Izu, Christiano Ronaldo and Najwa Karam, with many more in the pipeline.
Green Visa
Under a new scheme entitled ‘Projects of the 50’ – a series of new initiatives to expand the UAE’s development and expansion – this new visa was announced. The ‘green visa’ was unveiled by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of State for Foreign Trade for the UAE, and would be available to investors, entrepreneurs, highly skilled individuals, top students and graduates. The green visa will allow its recipients to effectively sponsor themselves.
The visa will also enable its holders to sponsor their parents and children under the age of 25. In addition, the green visa will also offer the holder an extended grace period of 90 to 180 days if cancelled due to job loss or retirement.
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UAE retirement visa
In November, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, unveiled plans for the new UAE retirement visa during a cabinet meeting at Expo 2020 Dubai.
“Today, we also approved the conditions for granting residency to retired foreigners, where they can complete their stay with us in the UAE. We welcome everyone to our country,” His Highness said.
Further expanding on the details of the new UAE retirement visa, the Dubai Media Office outlined the criteria that needed to be met in order to be eligible for a visa.
“The criteria are: a single property or more than one property worth Dhs1 million (evaluation to be carried out by the related entity in each Emirate), or a bank deposit of no less than Dhs1 million, or an active income of no less than Dhs180,000 per annum,” Dubai Media Office outlined.
If an individual intending to apply for the visa meets one of the above stipulations, they will be eligible for the UAE retirement visa.
Multiple-entry tourist visa
In October, the UAE launched a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa for Dhs650 this year. Tourists won’t have the added hassle of constantly applying for separate visas into the country. Per an announcement by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), these five-year visas can be issued for all nationalities.
In regard to this visa, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, shared a post on Twitter saying, “We also approved a multiple-entry tourist visa for all nationalities to strengthen the UAE’s status as a global economic capital.”
Tourists can enter the country multiple on self-sponsorship and remain in the country for not more than 90 days on each visit, with an extendable option for another 90 days on the website.
For those who wish to apply, the requirements are coloured photographs, a passport copy, medical insurance and bank statements from the past six months. After submission of the documents, a payment of Dhs650 is required. Once approved, the e-visa shall be sent via the registered email.
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