Over six-month stay abroad invalidates UAE visa

In case visa holders stay outside the country for more than six months they have to first cancel the residence visa and apply for a new one, as per a new procedure.

Dubai - It is no longer possible to prevent automatic invalidation of the residence visa if its holder stays outside the country for over six months, according to the Amer immigration helpline in Dubai (800-5111).

No change in procedure: MoI A senior official at the Ministry of Interior (MoI), however, said there is no change in procedure. Brigadier Dr Rashid Sultan Al Khadr, Deputy Chairperson of the Legal Council at the MoI, told KT that exempted categories are clearly stipulated in Article 61 of the Executive Bylaw of the Foreigners’ Entry and Residency Law. “As per the article, the residence visa shall remain valid until the expiry time for some exempted categories even if the visa holder stays outside the country for over six months.” These include foreign wives of Emirati nationals, domestic helps accompanying local students studying abroad or having medical treatment abroad, and expatriates going abroad for medical treatment and those in their company. “However, they must have a valid residence visa, and submit an official medical report attested by the Ministry of Health or medical services department of the armed forces or police,” explained Dr Al Khadr, who is also the Spokesperson for Immigration, Residency and Ports Affairs. Dr Khadr said the other categories excluded are employees and domestic helps accompanying the employees of diplomatic and consular missions in the UAE. “The expats employed in the UAE public sector and based outside the country as part of their job, or sent overseas on training courses, are also exempted. The same applies to their families, as well as eligible investors and students studying abroad with valid residence visas.” -news@khaleejtimes.com

A representative at the official helpline told Khaleej Times that the rule change applies to all residence visa holders, irrespective of their situation. So even if a woman who has gone home for delivery stays outside the UAE for more than six months, the visa will become invalid automatically.

Only certain categories are exempt from the rule. “(In case visa holders stay outside the country for more than six months) they have to first cancel the residence visa and apply for a new one, as per a new procedure,” the representative said.

S. Reddy, an Indian expatriate, told KT he checked with the Dubai immigration helpline and they confirmed the rule change. “The new procedure is not good because most of the expatriate families shuffle between two countries. Sometimes children are studying in different countries, and mothers are at times required to stay outside the country for longer periods. So the new rule can be very troublesome,” he said.

The change in procedure has been brought about “without any prior notice”. “If we were given sufficient time, we could have organised our family travel plans to suit visa requirements,” he said, requesting the authorities to restore the old policy.

Sherif Al Wakeel, an Egyptian expatriate, said the new rule will make things difficult for him, as his wife is expected to deliver next month. “She has been outside the country for almost six months now and can’t make it back to the UAE in time.”