KHALEEJ TIMES, Monday, Sep 6, 2021 | Muharram 29, 1443
UAE Golden Visa: Eligibility for long-term residency to be expanded
Emirates:
A string of UAE visa reforms was announced
on Sunday as the government introduced 13 of the 50 projects that will be
launched this month.
As part of the ‘Projects of the 50’, the entry and
residency system has been upgraded to confirm the UAE’s position as an ideal
destination for work, investment, entrepreneurship, education and life.
One new regulation expands the Golden Visa
eligibility to include managers, CEOs, specialists in science, engineering,
health, education, business management and technology. Additionally, the
procedure to get the long-term residency has been smoothened for highly skilled
and specialised residents, investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, pioneers,
leading students and graduates.
Golden Visas enable expats to live, work and study
in the UAE without the need of a national sponsor. These visas are issued for
five or 10 years and renewed automatically.
Residency reforms
Other regulatory changes announced on Sunday
include:
>> Extension of business trip permits from three
months to six.
>> Sponsorship of parents under the visa of direct
family members.
>> One-year residency extension for humanitarian
cases.
>> Extension of children’s age limit on parents’
residency from 18 to 25 years.
>> Extension of grace period to exit the
country after a job loss or retirement from 30 days to 90-180.
Green Visa, freelancers’ visa
The UAE government also announced a Green Visa,
which expands the self-residency status to investors, entrepreneurs, highly
skilled individuals, top students and graduates.
It also announced a federal freelancers visa for
self-employed workers based in the UAE and overseas in specialised fields such
as artificial intelligence, Blockchain and digital currencies.
The UAE Government Media Office said in a
statement: “The measures have been introduced to enhance the competitiveness and
flexibility of the UAE labour market, facilitate sector growth, spur knowledge
transfer and skills development, and create greater stability and security for
residents.”