UAE announces new visa system to be effective by Aug 01

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government on the approval of Central Cabinet has launched 16 types of visas including four ‘visit visas’ under a new Visa System with enhanced fee structure that will be effective from Aug 01, 2008.

The UAE's Federal Naturalisation and Residency Department (FNRD) in this regard made announcement in the capital (Dubai) citing the new visa system viewing the current international scenario and increasing chances of tourism in the country.

Addressing to the media, Director General of FNRD, Lt. Gen. Al Khaili told that fee structures of the visas have been revised in the Central assembly as per cabinet approval.

In the new visa regime, now the visitors will have to pay more for every visa including visiting, student, medical and tourist visas.

There will be two kinds of visit visas in which one visa would be valid for 30 days and cost 500 AED (United Arab Emirates Dirham) or USD136 (Rs.5,750) but can be renewed while the other extended period visa would valid for 90 days and costs 1,000 AED (Rs.11,500).

A new multiple entry visa has been introduced giving 180 days of validity with 14 days of grace period in case of any mishappening that would cost 2000 Dirham (Rs.23,000) while the ‘Mission’ visa would be granted for any specific temporary project with a maximum validity of 180 days in two steps.

First it would be issued for 90 days with the cost of 600 Dirham (Rs.7000) and later renewed it for another 90 days with the cost of 1,200 Dirham (Rs.14,000). But for getting the work permit visa, the applicant would have to first get permission from UAE Labour Ministry.

Student Visa would cost 1,000 Dirham (Rs.11,500) with additional same amount of refundable fee. The student would have to prove his/her registration in any university of UAE and also submit the valid medical fitness certificate in the authority.

The visa for the medical treatment will also cost 1,000 Dirham with 90 days of validity, but can be extended up to further 90 days with additional cost of 500 Dirham.

Tourist Visa will be granted to sponsored tourist, who would be sponsored from any tour operating company or hotels in the country. The cost of this visa would be 110 (100+10) Dirham (Rs.1,250). The 100 Dirham as a fee for 30 days, while 10 Dirham for delivery. This visa can be extended one time further in an annum.

The travellers who stay few hours for catching another flight would get transit visa with maximum validity of 96 hours in sum of 100 AED (Rs.11,500) but the travellers must have the valid ticket for the next flight. Same fee would applicable for ‘Entry Visa for Expo and Conference’.

The Multipurpose visa would be issued for maximum 30 days of each visit with 6-months validity in the sum of 1,000 Dirhams (Rs.11,500).

The Investor visa is for the entrepreneurs who want to strike any business with the joint venture of any native company can get it by paying 300 Dirham (Rs.3,500) with validity of three years. But the foreign investor must hold a minimum stake of 70,000 Dirhams (Rs.8,00,000) in the share capital to be eligible.

The refugee having UAE resident visa can bring their parents by residence visa after special permission of renewable validity for one year at the cost of 100 Dirhams (Rs.11,500) per year per person. A refundable deposit of 5,000 Dirhams ($1,361) has to be paid for each parent. The refugee would have to pay 5,000 Dirham (Rs.55,000) per individual as a refundable additional charges.

Besides these, for government officers, leaders, delegates and celebrities, a complimentary visit visas can be issued by all government departments at free of cost, as per sources reported.