United Arab Emirates allows expatriates to stay outside the country for 180 days. UAE’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs (GDFRA) requires foreign residents to return within 30 days of application approval. So, the government issues UAE re-entry permit after 6 months for foreign residency visa holders, to return to the country.
The only major exception in the outside stay limit is for the UAE Golden Visa holders. UAE Golden Card holders can stay abroad for longer periods of time, without affecting their residency visa status. However, other regular residency visa holders (UAE’s green visa holders) have to follow the re-entry, o rule before 6-month timeline expiry.
Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) has a service for expats with invalid residence visas. Known as “Issue permit for staying outside UAE over 6 months”, the service is available on the ICP website. Accordingly, foreign nationals can reactivate their residency visas and re-enter the UAE.
Applicants must provide necessary information, sponsors, passports, and the UAE residency details. The procedure of the UAE re-entry approval takes about five days. So, only after receiving a confirmation email from the ICP, can the applicant re-enter the UAE.
Implementation of the new entry permit system by the UAE, is resulting in an increase in visa and residency fees. United Arab Emirates no longer extends the visit visas, Thus, the holders must return with a fresh visa.
The UAE is reducing the fine for overstaying visas to AED 50 a day. Whereas, the UAE is doubling the penalty for resident visa holders from Dh25 to Dh50. This article covers the rules, and regulations for expats about UAE re-entry permit after 6 months outside the country.
Requirements for the UAE readmission permit application
These are the requirements to apply for the UAE re-entry permit after living over6 months outside the country.
- Application for readmission into the UAE needs submission from abroad.
- You can file the request after 180 days of living outside the UAE.
- Disclose a valid reason for staying outside the UAE for more than 180 days.
- You must have over 30 days left in the UAE residency period before filing the re-entry application.
- Foreigners overstaying outside the UAE for 6+ months can ask their sponsors for the re-entry application.
- A fine of AED 100 applies for each 30-day period spent abroad.
- UAE residents exceeding 180 days abroad limit have to pay the fines after their grace period ends.
- You have to enter the UAE within 30 days, after the approval of the application.
- Fee refunds are only possible in the event of the disapproval of the application.
Registration process for the UAE re-entry permit
Residents who stay outside the UAE for more than six months, have to apply for a re-entry permit. They have to completely fill the application form and submit it with obligatory legal paperwork. These are the ways to perform this procedure.
- Registering at Customer Happiness Centers, or Typing Centers
- Applying through the ICP Smart Services
- Registering through the GDRFA website
Now, we look upon these options to go through the process to get the UAE re-entry permit after 6 months.
Registering at Customer Happiness Centers, or Typing Centers
They can do it in-person by going to the Customer Happiness Centers, or the Typing Centers. Physically, they can get the Arabic language immigration application form through the Customer Happiness Centers, or the Typing Centers. So, after paying the service fee and accompanying dues, they get the UAE re-entry permit after the regulatory approval.
Applying through the ICP Smart Services
They can choose to do it electronically through the ICP Smart Services, or the UAEICP mobile application.
- Go to the website of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP).
- Select the “Residents Outside the UAE” feature.
- Fill out the necessary fields, including identity number, nationality, passport details, and the reason for longer stay abroad.
- Upload necessary documents, review the application details, and pay the fee.
- You can also visit a nearby typing center for assistance.
Registering through the GDRFA website
UAE residents away for over six months, can also conduct the procedure for the re-entry permit through the GDRFA website.
- Register on the website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
- Log in the GDFRA website, and select the “Services” feature.
- Choose the “Visa Issuance for Foreigners linked with Job Contract” feature.
- Foreign workers can also request their sponsors to apply for their UAE re-entry on their behalf.
- Complete the process, submit the documents, and pay the fee.
- Upon the authority approval, they will get eligible for the UAE readmission.
Necessary documents for UAE permit application
The application for the UAE re-entry permit requires the following documents.
- Copy of the passport
- A valid UAE visa
- Trade license or salary certificate
- Proof of the reason of the overstay abroad
- An active IBAN
- Emirates ID of the sponsor
Expats permitted to stay outside UAE for over 6 months
UAE residence visa holders staying outside the country for over six months invalidate the visa. Nonetheless, some exceptions exist due to the valid reasons. Thus, the eligible foreigners can maintain the validity of the residency visa after the 6+ months overstay abroad.
For example, foreign national wives whom their Emirati husbands sponsor, can stay in their home countries for 6+ months. Similarly, expatriate government employees whom their departments send abroad for medical treatment, can stay outside UAE for 6+ months. However, they have to submit a valid medical report with approval by the Ministry of Health, or other UAE authorities.
UAE nationals delegated to study abroad, and accompanied by servants and domestic workers are included in this list. Public sector employees, diplomatic and consular missions’ employees, branch offices’ foreign employees, if they’ve valid residence visas in the UAE. Expatriate students studying in universities or institutes abroad are also part of this list.
FAQs about UAE re-entry permit after 6 months outside stay
These are the short answers to questions regarding UAE re-entry permit after 6 months outside the country stay.
2014 UAE government decision allows residents, public-sector employees, and investors to remain abroad for over six months without affecting status.
If you stay outside the UAE for over six months, then the authorities cancel your residence visa. Upon revocation of the residency, you must apply for an re-entry permit to return. Only then, you can again come to the UAE.
If foreign workers leave UAE without formally resigning, their employers may report them as absconding. Subsequently, they can request the UAE authorities to cancel the work visa. If the employees try to re-enter the UAE later, they may face legal repercussions.
After receiving your UAE re-entry permit, book a flight back to the United Arab Emirates. Also, timely inform your sponsor about the reactivation of your residency status. Ensure you carry all necessary documents during your travel to the UAE.
The authorities will refund the fee, if the UAE re-entry application is disapproved. However, the refund amount varies depending on the government channel used for this purpose. You can reapply after resolving the objections, to improve your chances of the UAE readmission approval.
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