How to Get Permanent Residency in UAE – Meaning, Eligibility, Application & Different Pathways

UAE or United Arab Emirates is one of the most popular countries due to its tax-free status, more business opportunities, high standard of living and other benefits. As a result, people from all over the world wish to carry out their business and live as permanent residents. So, if you, too, are looking to settle in the country, here is an in-depth guide on how to get permanent residency in UAE.

We have covered the pathways one can take to attain it, the eligibility criteria, and necessary documents. So, keep reading to know more.

If you fulfil the following eligibility criteria, you will be able to get PR in UAE:

• The applicant is completing their studies in a UAE educational institution.
• You are a child, spouse, parent, maid or close relative of a UAE citizen.
• You are the owner of any UAE property.
• Make a significant investment in the country.
• You have a full-time job in the UAE under a private or Government Company.
• You will retire in the UAE.

The most important thing regarding permanent residency in the UAE is getting your sponsor's entry permit. They can do this online or in-person from GDRFA, through Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship or GDRFA mobile apps too. The rest of the steps are as follows:

Step 1: Your sponsor must apply for the Residency Visa at GDRFA or General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs.

Step 2: When submitting the form, they will also pay a certain fee as the UAE Residence fee. The amount will depend on your visa validity.

Step 3: After officials approve your application, you receive a Residence visa affix on your passport. Also, they provide you with an Emirate ID that contains the same validity as your visa.

To make sure you don't face any difficulty clearing the application process of permanent residency in UAE, get all the documents ready before applying:

• Two passport size photos
• Your original passport
• Appropriately filled application form
• Entry visa
• Proof that you are healthy and of good character
• In case an individual is entering with a family visa, then evidence of your family ties like birth and marriage certificate
• If an individual is entering with a work visa, provide a copy of your work contract, trade licence and firm documents.
• Additional documents for travel purposes.
• Proof of your health insurance policy.

The time frame varies for you to get permanent residency in UAE. For example, it can take 1, 2, 3, or even 5 to 10 years if entering without a sponsor. However, one cannot stay for so many years without any reason. They have to have either an employment visa, investor visa, or student sponsored by the university or retired resident. To know the pathways in detail, here are some mentioned for you:

1. Employment Visa Path
2. Investor Path
3. Company Registration Path
4. Family Visa Path
5. University Student Sponsor Path

Let’s learn about the individual pathways in brief below.

1. Employment Visa Path

One of the best pathways to get UAE permanent residency is getting employment. In contrast, you can also join your family business or job-based in Dubai. This gives you the hold of employer sponsorship. However, another document to obtain is a residency certificate.

Eligibility Criteria for Employment Visa Path

To obtain a UAE PR visa, the applicants must have a monthly income of a minimum of 3000 AED / month if the employer provides accommodation. However, if they have their own property, the monthly income requirement rises to 4000 AED /month.

How to Apply for PR in the UAE via Employment Visa Path?

Firstly, foreign citizens have to get an entry permit that allows them to stay in Dubai before being allotted a residency permit. Remember, if the employer requests an entry visa for a foreign citizen, the company also has to take permission before hiring the foreigner and must submit their business licence for the purpose.

Also, there is a time limit up to which entry permit is valid, i.e., for two months. So, individuals must obtain residency before that.

2. Investor Path

If you purchase real estate in Dubai, it serves as another way to get the country's permanent visa. Many foreign enterprises use this as their pathway even though it is for individuals with higher income only.

There is a two year validity period on the residence visa obtained from investing in Dubai's property. Also, it does not give the holder the right to work in the Emirate. However, the biggest advantage of this visa is that they do not have to register their company in the country.

Eligibility Criteria for Investor Path

The condition that will make this way available is you must purchase the property after its completion, and it should be above 1 million AED value.

3. Company Registration Path

This pathway opens when you register a company in the Emirate or any free zones. However, if you open an onshore company, it means getting sponsorship from a local partner. On the other hand, registering a company in a free zone area of Dubai means getting full ownership of the company.

The validity period for a residence visa through the company registration path is three years. However, one can easily renew it afterwards. Dubai company representatives provide full support for completing the process and the documents required.

4. Family Visa Path

This category is for the family members of the foreign citizen. Often people applying for UAE permanent residency want to take their family along with them. The good news is they can apply for a residence visa for close family-like spouses, children, and parents.

The documents necessary for completing the process are a residence permit for family, salary pay slip, marriage certificate of applicants, and any other identification paper that may be required. However, applicants must fulfil some eligibility criteria before bringing their family.

Eligibility Criteria for Family Visa Path

• The applicant's salary must be above 4000 AED or 3000 AED. In addition, there is also an additional funds requirement.
• If the plan is to bring a parent along, then the minimum salary of the applicant must be 10,000 AED.
• The entry residence visa must be applied from before, and there must also be a time gap of 30 days.

5. University Student Sponsor Path

This category is for students who have sponsorship from their universities in the UAE. Here, the university applies for your residence visa under the education institution's name. On the other hand, you can also qualify as an outstanding student if you are a secondary student at a private or state secondary school, having an average of a minimum of 95.

Also, it is applicable if you are a university student studying abroad or UAE, having a cumulative average grade point of 3.75 on a scale of 4 after graduating.

It costs you around 100 AED as a UAE residence visa fee for a UAE residency visa valid for up to one year. In addition, you may also have to pay a processing fee that depends on where you are applying. For example, if the platform is online, it includes 40 AED, and if offline, it can cost 70 AED.

Now speaking of the processing time, it varies upon the visa type. For example, a standard visa processing time ranges from 3 to 4 working days after submitting the documents. On the other hand, an express visa can take 36 hours after submission.

After you have followed how to get a residence visa in the UAE process thoroughly, now, you can also track the status of your application online. The process is straightforward. It includes:

Step 1: The applicant must visit this site.

Step 2: Click on the applicable 'Track your Application Status' option.

Step 3: The site will require your 'Request Number', fill in and click on the 'Submit' button.

Step 4: It will redirect you to a page that shows your application status.

Obtaining permanent residency in the UAE means that the individual can stay in the country without any interruption. In addition, they can also travel to different nations and carry out business with no restrictions. Not only this, but it gives them a sense of security while they stay in the country. Also, they enjoy perks that no temporary citizens can enjoy. Some of them are:

• Residents can enjoy healthcare, social security, and financial benefits.
• Live, work and study in the country.
• Get tax breaks and better-paying jobs.
• There will be compensation for illness too.
• It gives you the right to open a business or private account in the country.
• You can sponsor your family, children or spouse.