The United Arab Emirates has rolled out a significant update to its visit visa regulations, establishing new minimum income requirements for residents who wish to sponsor family and friends. The changes, announced by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), are part of a broader initiative to modernize the country’s entry permit system.
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New Income Thresholds for Sponsoring Visitors
Under the revised guidelines, a resident’s monthly salary will determine their eligibility to sponsor a visitor. The new structure is tiered based on the relationship between the sponsor and the visitor.
- Immediate Family: Residents must have a minimum monthly salary of Dh4,000 to sponsor immediate family members.
- Second- or Third-Degree Relatives: The income requirement increases to at least Dh8,000 per month for sponsoring more distant relatives.
- Friends: To sponsor a friend, a resident must earn a minimum monthly salary of Dh15,000.
These salary requirements are designed to ensure that sponsors have the financial capacity to support their guests during their stay in the UAE. The ICP stated that these measures aim to improve transparency and streamline the visa application process.
Expansion of Visa Categories and System Enhancements
Beyond the salary rules, the UAE has also introduced four new visit visa categories to attract specialized talent and support key economic sectors. These new permits are available for:
- Experts in artificial intelligence
- Professionals in entertainment
- Specialists in events
- Crew members of cruise ships and luxury yachts
These new permits are available for experts in artificial intelligence, entertainment, and events, as well as for crew members of cruise ships and luxury yachts.
Other notable amendments include a new business exploration visa for entrepreneurs and a humanitarian residence permit. Provisions have also been made to allow foreign truck drivers to obtain single or multiple-entry visas under specific conditions.
Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of the ICP, explained that these updates are the result of extensive studies on local and global residency trends. He noted that the changes are intended to enhance the quality of life, boost trade, support technology sectors, and strengthen the UAE’s economic competitiveness on a global scale. The decision also considered feedback from customer councils and other stakeholder platforms to ensure the new system is efficient and user-friendly.