New procedures for visit visas are set to start soon.
By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter
Published: July 22, 2008, 22:22
Dubai: Applications can be filed starting next Tuesday for new visit visas that were revamped under a Federal ruling last June, a senior residency department official said on Tuesday. The new fee schedule for the visas, which range from visit visas to visas for medical treatment, should have started on August 1, according to an earlier announcement but has been pushed forward due to the weekend holidays.
July 30 is an official government holiday. The rules apply to nationalities who currently have to get sponsorship before arriving in the country. The Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) and the Economic Department will meet with representatives of hotels, tourist agencies, hospitals, and educational institutions on Wednesday to brief them on how the changes will be implemented.
Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, Director-General of DNRD, reiterated the fact that all visitors should have health insurance cover and sponsors have to pay a Dh1,000 refundable deposit.
He said the visit visa holder will be allowed to enter the UAE once within two months from the date of issue of the visa. According to the amendments, there will be 16 new types of visas. Residents can apply for a visa for their spouse or blood relative. Expatriates will not be allowed to sponsor friends, and sponsoring other blood relatives will require approval of a senior officer.
Under the new rules, expatriates cannot apply for relatives who wish to come to the UAE for medical treatment; only hospitals can.
"No instructions given"
Typing centres still do not have a clue about what applications to fill out when the new visa rules come into effect. "We are aware new visa rules will be implemented soon, but we are still working on the same old visa and residency applications," said Mohammad, an employee at a typing centre in Jafiliya, Dubai. "So far everything in our system is the same, including the online fees. So far, we have no instructions on the changes," said Ali at a typing centre in Sharjah. The Federal authorities announced 16 types of visas and new fees under the revamped rules earlier in June. These include visas for medical treatment to entry visas for students. Under the rules, expatriates are not allowed to sponsor friends to visit the UAE.
New visa fees in Dhs
- Short Entry (visit) Visa - 500 (1 month)
- Long Entry (visit) Visa - 1,000 (3 months)
- Multiple Entry Visa - 2,000
- Entry Visa for Study - 1,000
- Renewal of Study Visa - 500
- Entry Visa for Medical Treatment - 1,000
- Renewal of Medical Treatment Visa - 500
- Entry Visa for Expos and Conferences - 100
- Tourism Entry Visa - 100
- Renewal of Tourism Visa - 500
- Entry Visa for GCC State Residents - 100
- Renewal of GCC State Resident's Visa - 500
- Entry Visa for GCC State Resident's Companions - 100
- Renewal of GCC State Residents Companions' Visa - 200
- Mission Entry Visa - 200
- Transit Entry Visa - 100
By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter
Published: July 22, 2008, 22:22
Dubai: Applications can be filed starting next Tuesday for new visit visas that were revamped under a Federal ruling last June, a senior residency department official said on Tuesday. The new fee schedule for the visas, which range from visit visas to visas for medical treatment, should have started on August 1, according to an earlier announcement but has been pushed forward due to the weekend holidays.
July 30 is an official government holiday. The rules apply to nationalities who currently have to get sponsorship before arriving in the country. The Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) and the Economic Department will meet with representatives of hotels, tourist agencies, hospitals, and educational institutions on Wednesday to brief them on how the changes will be implemented.
Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, Director-General of DNRD, reiterated the fact that all visitors should have health insurance cover and sponsors have to pay a Dh1,000 refundable deposit.
He said the visit visa holder will be allowed to enter the UAE once within two months from the date of issue of the visa. According to the amendments, there will be 16 new types of visas. Residents can apply for a visa for their spouse or blood relative. Expatriates will not be allowed to sponsor friends, and sponsoring other blood relatives will require approval of a senior officer.
Under the new rules, expatriates cannot apply for relatives who wish to come to the UAE for medical treatment; only hospitals can.
"No instructions given"
Typing centres still do not have a clue about what applications to fill out when the new visa rules come into effect. "We are aware new visa rules will be implemented soon, but we are still working on the same old visa and residency applications," said Mohammad, an employee at a typing centre in Jafiliya, Dubai. "So far everything in our system is the same, including the online fees. So far, we have no instructions on the changes," said Ali at a typing centre in Sharjah. The Federal authorities announced 16 types of visas and new fees under the revamped rules earlier in June. These include visas for medical treatment to entry visas for students. Under the rules, expatriates are not allowed to sponsor friends to visit the UAE.
New visa fees in Dhs
- Short Entry (visit) Visa - 500 (1 month)
- Long Entry (visit) Visa - 1,000 (3 months)
- Multiple Entry Visa - 2,000
- Entry Visa for Study - 1,000
- Renewal of Study Visa - 500
- Entry Visa for Medical Treatment - 1,000
- Renewal of Medical Treatment Visa - 500
- Entry Visa for Expos and Conferences - 100
- Tourism Entry Visa - 100
- Renewal of Tourism Visa - 500
- Entry Visa for GCC State Residents - 100
- Renewal of GCC State Resident's Visa - 500
- Entry Visa for GCC State Resident's Companions - 100
- Renewal of GCC State Residents Companions' Visa - 200
- Mission Entry Visa - 200
- Transit Entry Visa - 100