Long term visa proposed in UAE

Great news for Expats. The UAE Cabinet has approved the recently announced long-term visa system, which includes 10-year residency visa for investors and specialists and five-year visa for exceptional students.

The long term visas will facilitate investors, entrepreneurs, specialized talents, researchers – including their spouses and children – and create an encouraging environment for the growth of business for investors, entrepreneurs and professional talents.

Long Terms visas in UAE

Investor Visa (10 year visa)

Investor visa will be a a visa of up to 10 years of validity, provided to two categories of investors:

– Investors making investment in a property of a value of Dh5 million or more will be granted a residence for five years
– Investors indulged in public investments through a deposit, an established company, business partnership of Dh10 million or more, or a total investment of not less than Dh10 million in all areas mentioned as long as non-real estate investments will be granted a renewable residency visa every 10 years.

Conditions for UAE Investor Visa:

– The amount invested shall be wholly owned by the investor and not loaned, and should be proven by supporting documents

– Investment retention for at least three years

– A standard financial liability with a financial solvency not exceeding Dh10 million

– The long-term visa could also be extended to include business partners, provided that each partner contributes Dh10 million, the spouse and the children, as well as one executive director and one advisor.

However, the decision allows investors to enter the country for a six-month period, multiple entry, to apply for the long-term visa requirements.

Outstanding students visa

Outstanding students with a grade of at least 95 per cent in public secondary schools in public and private schools, and a distinction of at least 3.75 GPA upon graduation from universities within and outside the country will be granted a 5-year visa to. Benefits include families of the outstanding students.

Entrepreneur Visa (5 year visa)

Entrepreneurs will be granted a 5-year visa with a possibility for upgrading to an investor’s visa provided they meet the requirements. The decision also includes the terms to grant long-term visa to two categories of entrepreneurs; having a previous project with a minimum of Dh500,000, or having the approval of an accredited business incubator in the country.

The benefits of the entrepreneurial visa include entrepreneurs, partners, three executive directors, spouse and children. The entrepreneur is allowed entry into the country for six months, multi-entry visa period, with renewal for another six months.

Specialized talent Visa (10 year visa)

A 10 year visa will be granted to specialized talents and researchers in the fields of science and knowledge for doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, as well as creative individuals in the field of culture and art. The visa’s advantages include the spouse and the children.

All categories are required to have a valid employment contract in a specialized in fields of priority for the UAE, and the conditions for each category are defined as follows:

Scientists:

– To be accredited by the Emirates Scientists Council

– Holders of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence.

Creative individuals in culture and art

– Accredited by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development

Inventors

– Obtain a patent of value added to UAE’s economy with the approval of the Ministry of Economy

Exceptional Talents

– Those who have exceptional talents that are documented by patents or scientific research published in world-class journals

Executives

– Owners of leading, well-known and internationally recognized companies

– Holders of high academic achievement, professional experience, and position (Example, an engineer in a rare specialty with a university degree and working in a private company in the UAE). The inclusion of this category aims at maintaining current competencies and attract new competencies

Criterion for doctors and specialists

Requires at least 2 of the conditions mentioned below:

1-Holder of a PhD degree from one of the top 500 universities in the world

2- Holder of an award or certificates of appreciation for the work in the applicant’s jurisdiction

3-Contribution to a major scientific research related to the work of the applicant

4-Published articles or scientific books in distinguished publications in the field of work of the applicant

5-Membership in an organisation related to the work of the applicant, which requires excellent work to accept membership

6- A PhD degree in addition to 10-year professional experience in the applicant’s field of work.

7-Specialization in areas of priority to the UAE (additional requirement for the doctor)

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