According to the most recent news, the 3 month visit visa UAE has been discontinued. This means that the UAE will not issue it anymore. Thus, it offers other options for travelers and visitors interested in getting to know this amazing destination in the Middle East.
In this article, you are going to learn more about the alternatives to the UAE 3 month visit visa and how you can enter the UAE and even stay for a long term. Moreover, you will see which new visas have replaced the 3 month visit visa.
Long-Term Visas
According to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, the 3 month visit visa UAE is no longer available, as it was announced by a call centre executive from that governmental department.
Also known as the long-term tourist visa, the 3 month visit visa UAE price was AED 600, for a single entry and AED 1740 for multiple entries. Thus, it was a great option for those visitors who wanted to stay for a longer period in the UAE and get to know it better.
But, according to the recent changes to visa regulations, visitors can now only apply for a 30- or 60-day visit visa. Therefore, they can only stay in the UAE for one or two months.
However, this is not the first time this has happened, as the 3 month visit visa UAE was also discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, the 60-day visa was introduced. But after a while, the 3 month visit visa was reintroduced and available.
Currently, individuals cannot apply for a UAE 3 month visit visa, as it is only available for those individuals who have a first-degree relative residing in the UAE.
Nonetheless, there are also many other long-term visas available for individuals who want to enter the UAE. The following are the other visa options for foreigners:
- Job exploration visa
- Residence Visa
- Property Visa
- Silver visa
- Golden visa
- Long-term tourist visa (5 years)
Job Exploration Visa
Also known as the jobseeker visit visa, this document is aimed at those who want to enter the UAE to look for a job opportunity. In this case, there are three types of this visa:
- 60-day job seeker visa (single entry)
- 90-day job seeker visa (single entry)
- 120-day job seeker visa (single entry)
In terms of requirements, to apply for this visa you should meet the following criteria:
- Be classified as a professional in the first, second, or third skill level as per MOHRE, or having graduated within the past 2 years from any of the top 500 universities in the world, according to the list by the Ministry of Education.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or another one that is equivalent
- Fulfill the financial guarantees established by the UAE. Thus, these are a security amount of AED 1000, a warranty service fee of AED 20, and a fee for collection and return of AED 40.
If you are going to apply for this visa, you can do it through the ICP for any of the Emirates, or through the GDRFAD if you want to look for a job in Dubai.
Compared to the UAE 3 month visit visa price, the visa to explore job opportunities is cheaper. The following are the costs for these visas:
- 60-day visa: AED 200
- 90-day visa: AED 300
- 120-day visa: AED 400
On the other hand, there is also the UAE Freelance Visa, in case you want to work independently in the Emirates.
Residence Visa
There are several types of UAE Residence Visas available for individuals, which are the following:
- Residence visa for living and working in the UAE
- Residence visa for foreigners employed outside the UAE
- Green Visa
- Residence visa for the retired
- Residence visa for doing business in the UAE
- UAE Residence Visa for studying
- Residence visa for family members
In this regard, individuals can apply for the one that adapts to their needs. Thus, the 3 month visit visa UAE was not an option because it did not allow people to stay for a longer period.
Depending on the type of residence visa, the applicant has to submit the required paperwork and meet established criteria.
For instance, employers in the UAE can request a residence visa for their employees so they can live and work. In this case, they have to submit all the employment documentation such as the contract, qualifications, and more.
In the case of an employment visa for virtual work, individuals have to fulfill the salary requirement of earning USD 3500 or its equivalent to be able to apply.
So, as you can see, you have to check the specific requirements for each residence visa so you can know for which one you can apply. Also, they have varied costs, not like the 3 month visit visa UAE price.
Lastly, one of the advantages of having a residence visa is that you can also apply for a UAE Family Visa for your relatives. Thus, you can all reside together and enjoy the high quality of life of the thriving cities of the UAE.
Property Visa
The UAE Property Visa is another option for residing in the UAE, as individuals who have invested in real estate can reside in the Emirates. It is a great option for the Authorities as motivates foreign investment and thus contributes to the development of the cities.
It allows you to reside in the country for 5 years. Furthermore, you can renew it as long as you continue meeting the same conditions. It is a much better option than a 3 month visit visa UAE.
You do not need a sponsor to apply for this visa, but you have to meet the following criteria:
- Have a minimum investment in real estate of AED 2,000,000 or its equivalent which is around USD 545,000.
- Purchase a property with a loan from a bank that is approved by the local entity.
On the other hand, investors can apply for a 2-year visa if they meet the following criteria:
- Own a property valued at no less than AED 750,000
- If the property is mortgaged, the individual must have paid 50% of the value of the property or the equivalent of AED 750,000
Silver Visa
The UAE Silver Visa is another type of residence visa. It is very similar to the Golden visa but with slight differences in terms of requirements. It is valid for 5 years in which the individual can work and live in the UAE.
To be able to apply for this visa, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Property investment: individuals must own a property valued at no less than AED 1 million.
- Investors: those with an investment of no less than AED 1 million in the UAE can apply for this visa.
- Retired individuals: those who are over 55 years old and own a property in the UAE valued at no less than AED 1 million. Or having savings AED 1 million at least, or a monthly income of no less than AED 20,000.
- Talented individuals: people who have special skills in technology or science can apply for this visa by obtaining approval from the respective authority in the UAE.
Golden Visa
The UAE Golden Visa is also a residence visa. But in this case, it is for individuals who meet specific criteria, also known as highly specialized foreigners.
This visa is valid for 5 or 10 years, and it offers a wide variety of privileges. FOr instance, you do not have to count on a sponsor to obtain it. Therefore, it is an exclusive visa, not like the 3 month visit visa UAE which almost anyone could apply for.
The following are the individuals who can apply for a 10-year golden visa:
- Investors in public investments: having an investment of at least AED 2 million in a deposit or a capital investment in a business with an industrial or commercial license, or paying AED 250,000 in taxes annually.
- Individuals with outstanding or specialized talent: doctors, scientists, athletes, PhD holders, engineers in tech and software fields, and others. Thus, they must provide the required qualifications.
- University students: study in a class A or B university and have a GPA of no less than 3.5
- Pioneers of humanitarian work.
The 5-year golden visa is available for the following individuals:
- Real estate investors: owning one or more properties valued at no less than AED 2 million
- Entrepreneurs: having a project with a value of no less than AED 500,000 or that belongs to the technical or future category.
- Inventors: have a letter from the Ministry of Economy
- Creative individuals: have an approval letter from the Department of Culture and Arts
- Executive directors: earn a salary of AED 50,000 monthly at least
5-year Multiple Entry Visa
The 5-year multiple entry visa is a long-term tourist visa for those interested in visiting the Emirates several times. The benefits of this visa are not needing a sponsor being able to stay in the UAE for 90 days and requesting an extension for 90 more days.
As you can see, this visa is very similar to the 3 month visit visa UAE because you can stay for 90 days, but the main difference is that you do not have to apply for another visa to come back. You still can use your visa to return to the UAE in the following 5 years.
In terms of costs, the UAE 3 month visit visa price is cheaper because it was just a single entry. Thus, this 5-year multi-entry visa has the following fees:
- Issue fee: AED 500
- Request fees: AED 100
- Security deposit: AED 3,025
- E-service fee: AED 28
- ICP fee: AED 22
- Smart Service fee: AED 100
The following are the requirements to apply for this visa:
- Having a bank balance of USD 4,000 or its equivalent
- Valid health insurance in the UAE
- Return ticket and enter ticket to the UAE
- Proof of stay in the UAE, such as a hotel or residential address
As you can see, it is a great alternative to a 3 month visit visa UAE, as you can stay for 90 days, but you can come back within 5 years.
Explore Visa Options for Investment Opportunities (single entry)
If you are considering investing in the UAE, then you have to look for a visa that allows you to test the market so you can see what type of business you can incorporate.
In this case, the 3 month visit visa UAE was not useful, as there is a designated category for investors and you can stay even for a longer time.
One of the benefits of this visa is that you do not need a sponsor or a host. The usual processing period for extending a UAE tourist visa is 3-5 working days, but it may extend during peak seasons. Therefore, you can carry out the application process by just meeting the following criteria:
- You should be financially solvent, or hold a talent or a high qualification.
- Be a professional in your home country in the prospective business
- Meet the financial guarantees. Thus, these are a security amount of AED 1000, a warranty service fee of AED 20, and AED 40 for a fee for collection and return of the guarantee.
Once you have met the criteria, you just need to have the required documents: a colored photo, a passport copy, and an attested qualification certificate.
Therefore, you can apply for any of the following types of visit visa for investment opportunities:
- 60-day visit visa to explore establishment opportunities
- 90-day visit visa to explore establishment opportunities
- 120-day visit visa to explore establishment opportunities
Keep in mind that if you want to apply for a visa, you have to take into account the UAE visa rejection reasons. Thus, you can stay aware and ensure you get positive feedback and your documentation to travel to the UAE.
How can Royal Visa Assist You?
Now that the 3 month visit visa UAE has been discontinued, the good news is that you have many other visa options available to enter the UAE. However, keeping up-to-date with the regulations and changes to these visas may seem a challenge.
For this reason, if you want to avoid having to deal with complex processes and paperwork for your visa application, you have to contact us. Our experts can provide curated visa solutions and expert guidance for you to get your visa smoothly.
