How your son can stay in UAE after graduation

UAE law does not allow the resident expatriate to sponsor his male child who is above the age of 18 years.

Q- My son was admitted in a Dubai university in 2015 and completed his mechanical engineering (honours) in March 2019. He was on student visa and now the university has asked him to arrange his own visa or leave the country after three months. I am holding UAE resident visa and staying with my family in Dubai. Is it possible to apply for a resident visa for my son? I have heard the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs provides visa for six months to those students who graduate from UAE to search for job. Is this true, if so then what is the process to avail this facility?
Answer
It may be noted that the UAE law does not allow the resident expatriate to sponsor his male child who is above the age of 18 years. However, in the UAE, an expatriate parent may continue to sponsor him if such a child is attending his studies in a higher educational institute for a minimum of one year's course. Accordingly, you may be able to sponsor your son only if he meets this criteria. Further, if your son is able to find employment in the UAE, he may be able to obtain a residence visa under his employer's sponsorship.
Also, there is a new rule in respect of children's visa sponsored by parents. Starting from October 21, 2018, students who graduate from their universities or secondary schools or complete 18 years of age will be granted a one-year residence visa, renewable for another year from the graduation date or on completing 18 years.
Further, it is to be noted that on November 24, 2018, the UAE government approved a decision to grant a five-year visa to outstanding students who have graduated with 95 per cent from secondary schools and with a distinctive GPA of at least 3.75 from universities within and outside the country.
If you have any further queries, you may approach the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs in Dubai.
Know the law
An expatriate parent may continue to sponsor his son who is above the age of 18 years if such a male child is attending his studies in a higher educational institute for a minimum of one year's course
Ashish Mehta is the founder and Managing Partner of Ashish Mehta & Associates. He is qualified to practise law in Dubai, the United Kingdom and India. Full details of his firm on: www.amalawyers.com. Readers may e-mail their questions to: news@khaleejtimes.com or send them to Legal View, Khaleej Times, P.O. Box 11243, Dubai.