10 Things You Need To Know About New UAE Visa Process

This post was originally published on 12 April 2016 and the content may be outdated.

With the unveiling of the UAE Vision system last week, there have been some major changes to the procedure for visa services in UAE. Here are 10 things you need to know about the new UAE Visa Process:

1. No more visits to GDRFA

Residents are no longer required to visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs headquarters or any of its external branches in order to renew or apply for visas.

Instead, all transactions will be carried out through the approved typing centres.

2. Identifying approved typing centres

Residents can identify GDRFA approved typing centres by looking for the Amer logo. The logo will be clearly visible on the counters and on the staff uniform.

The logo is a badge of approval from the GDRFA, indicating that the typing centre is qualified to carry out visa-related transactions through the UAE Vision system.

3. 600 typing centres to be redesigned

A GDRFA official said that “in a couple of months” all 600 typing centres in Dubai will be redesigned to have the Amer logo, adding that while some centres have been carrying out the services for several weeks on a trial basis, the others are waiting to integrate their systems.

4. Available services through typing centres

The transactions include applying for a visa, renewing residency, applying for new residency, and visa cancellation, in addition to any other related services.

5. No changes in requirements

There have been no changes to the required materials or charges related to the visa transactions, GDRFA has confirmed.

6. Delivery modes

Those who apply for visit visa-related transactions will have it sent to their email and those applying for residency visa service will have it sent to them via Zajel courier service.

Visa applicants are strongly urged to provide accurate contact information to typing centres.

7. Zajel counters at typing centres

Zajel counters will be available at all the approved typing centres. Those applying for residency visas can hand over their passport to the counter after the application process is complete.

8. Residence visa renewal and cancellation

For residence visa renewal and cancellation, documents can be uploaded at the typing centre. Residents can use the Zajel courier service to submit the passport for visa stamping.

The users are then notified through SMSes once their applications are approved.

The Zajel courier service will then deliver the customer’s passport once the visa has been issued and stamped.
Alternatively, the courier service can also pick up the passport from any given destination, and deliver it to the GDRFA in order to issue the visa and stamp the passport before delivering it to the resident at the given address.

9. Visit visa application procedure

In cases of requesting a visit visa for family members, regular documents used in the previous manual system are required, and they will be uploaded online at the typing centre.

Submit visitor application form, passport copies of both the sponsor and visitor, an attested copy of the sponsor’s labour contract along with bank account IBAN numbers, sponsor’s visa copy, tenancy contract, and latest Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) bill, a photograph of the visitor, and proof of relationship.

Once all documents are uploaded at the approved typing centre, the user is notified through email and the e-visa is sent once the application is approved.

10. Services fees

Charges and visa fees remain the same. The visit visa fee is Dh400, along with a Dh1,000 deposit by the sponsor, and Dh220 as file opening charge.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

error: Content is protected !!
Scroll to Top