There are many expatriates who are residents in UAE. In general, expatriate residents should not be outside the UAE for more than 6 months in order for their residence visa to remain valid. A special entry permit is required to be able to return to UAE after six months.
There are circumstances that going back to UAE every 6 months is just not practical. This procedure applies to the following:
- Foreign wives of UAE nationals
- Domestic workers accompanying local students who are studying or undergoing medical treatment abroad
- Expatriates seeking medical treatment outside the country along with those in their company
- Those who are employed in the UAE public sector and are overseas for work or sent abroad on training courses
Six months is not actually 6 months
UAE immigration calculates six months as 180 days. This means that a resident with a valid visa should return to UAE before 180 days. They will not able to return to enter UAE after 180 days without a special permit.
How to get an entry permit after six months away from UAE
- Go to a typing centre and ask for an Arabic letter address to Immigration. It should state that the resident has been away from UAE for 6 months or more and request for an entry permit.
- At least 15 days before arrival in UAE, submit the letter to the Immigration along with dependent passport copy / visa page copy and flight details. Salary certificate or Trade License is also required.
- Get approval from immigration by paying Dhs.130/- per person (if dependent completes 6 months out of country); however 7 months onwards will be charged 100 AED extra for each month.
- Entry permit must be sent to the dependent. It will be required by the Airline during check in.
No other action is required once back inside the UAE. It starts all over again the next time a resident leaves the country with a valid residence visa.
If a resident is mostly outside of the UAE, it may not even be practical to maintain a residence visa. Obtaining a tourist visa have never been easier.
The above instruction is the current known process and subject to change.
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My daughter is studying in Australia having UAE resident visa now planning to visit UAE after 9 months. Is any approval /permit required to reenter UAE ?
No as long as she brings proof of that she is studying. A letter from the institute that is attending and an Id.
my family having residency visa but they stuck in INDIA from 24th Dec-2021 to tll now, uptp 24th Jun-2021, total time exit from UAE more than 108 days, please advise what i to do to enter in UAE, Now
There has been no announcement regarding dispensation due to flight ban. Please contact GDRFA/Amer for guidance.
Hey Alvin; is the 180 days rule still valid to return to Dubai. My wife is stuck in india
Yes, There has been no announcement regarding dispensation due to flight ban. Please contact GDRFA/Amer for guidance.
I am in pakistan and I am in vacation but here complete 180 days so now what I do because airlines all was closed because of COVID-19
So what the process now about that
Hi Alvin, I have a residence visa in Dubai up to 31-Dec-2021. However, I last exited UAE on 13-Feb-2020 to come to India. After that I am stranded here due to COVID-19 lockdown. The Government of India has banned all commercial international flights until August 31, 2020, although there are some special flights operating. I am not getting exact information from Amir regarding the exact last date before which I should return to UAE. Can you please provide me the exact information? Thanks
There is no exact date, check with Emirates and try booking your ticket with them, they will arrange for the GDRFA permit to return. Or you can apply for permit yourself then book a flight. I believe the permit is valid for 21 days. Please also check the requirements here https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/help/travel-requirements/?#81344
Sir Alvin
ICA APPROVAL is still need to enter
ABU DHABI?
Hi, I have a Dubai visa and have been out of UAE from November 2020. I have a return flight on June 2021, but my 180 days will be exhausted by then.
You have mentioned the steps in your article on how to get an entry permit, but is it the same if my point of arrival is Abu Dhabi?
Yes, it is the same but they have more Covid related rules in Abu Dhabi.
Hi Alvin, Can you please guide that my children went Pakistan in Dec 2019, now they have spend more then 180 days outside UAE, can they travel to Abu Dhabi UAE now? or i will be needed to apply entry permit? I have Abu Dhabi visa
Shahab, use this page to check if your children can come back. https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/residents-entry-confirmation based on your data entry the system will advise if your children can come back. If yes, you will need to schedule a PCR test, based on when the result will be released you may book a ticket taking into account that flight date and time should not exceed 96 from the date and time of the PCR test.
Sir, this is the response of my ICA;
Dear Valued Customer
We will considered the possibility of rescheduling your travel date after 60 days in order to preserve your safety. We thank and appreciate your understanding.
you have to follow that instruction. Keep trying at least ones a week, things might change.
Latest Update: Passengers arriving in Abu Dhabi no longer required to obtain ICA approval.
I am outside the ABU DHABI
for almost 8mos.
My VISA will expired on
JANUARY 2022
I am a Kadama.
Can I return to Abu Dhabi?
Is ICA APPROVAL still need to return?
You may return to using any of the UAE airport, all you need to do is update your information in the ICA https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/residents-entry-confirmation
You will also need a to provide a negative PCR test result, test date should not exceed 96 hours before time of departure.
Thank you so much for the information!
Is there still a three month grace period for Residence Visa expiration after 180 days out of the country? Or is it conditional now? Are they still processing this extension through Twajudi?
Thank you!
Yes, it is still being processed in Twajudi. If granted approval, the visa holder have one month from date of arrival to renew the visa validity.
Dear Alvin,
Thank you for helping us figure out all our doubts.
Is the 3 months extension still in place for residents outside Dubai for more than six months?
If yes, is this extension automatic or I have to register with Twajudi services to obtain the extension?
Thanks!
The period to return to UAE is based on aerospace opening and flight operations between UAE and the country where the resident is stranded. Please contact AMER or ICA to find out the specific timeline based on where the resident is stranded.
Hi Alvin I’m a bit confused – I’ll be out of the country for 180+ days in another 3 days time. I have a GDRFA approval that is valid until the end of August. Does that mean I can still re-enter in this time? And my residence visa is valid until 2022 – what kind of renewal would I need to do if I were to come in a few days late?
If you are outside of the country for more than 180 days, your visa is automatically cancelled, The approval from GDRFA is just a grace period. You will need to start the complete renewal process.
hi my parents went to Kerala, India on March 2nd, but because of the lockdown they haven’t travelled back yet. Since both of them are 60 plus we want them to travel a little later and not rush down. They both are valid Residency visa holders living in the UAE since last 40 years. On September 2nd, it will be 6 months that they ve exited. Is it fine if they travel after this 6 months period? Please advise.
Decision to travel back will be based on UAE authorities approval. Please register using Twajudi service. If approval is granted to return after 180 days outside UAE the resident must renew their visa within one month of date of arrival.
Hi, good day!
I need to clarify this.
I’m from PHILIPPINES
My VISA will expired on 2022…
But my problem is I’m about 6months on August 10,2020 after this date my VISA will INVALID.
Can I returned to ABU DHABI even I’m over 6months outside in UAE.
Pls I need your answer…
As long you have ICA approval, you can return to UAE and have One month upon re entry to renew you visa.
With the changes for returning Redidents (Uk Passports) that prior to flyinmg from Scotand to Dubai a valid PCR Sceening showin g negative is required in the departure country, to follow the process and get an appointment with approved will try several day then 2 – 4 days to await resul;ts we can then book a flight with Emirates to return. These changes will take use opver the 180 ay outside. I have a registered company in DWC and wife is on my sponsership. Will our residence be cancelled if so what can we do approiciate your guide.
You will still be allowed to return to UAE and you will have one month from the date of return to the UAE to renew your residence visa.
Dear sir,
I am mohamed last Dec-28 i am coming to india covid-19 problem so filght not aviabile now filght will strat i am going UAE any problem my visa expiry October 22 please advice me
There are no scheduled flights between India and UAE at the moment. That is probably the reason why your ICA application is getting rejected. I believe the UAE have granted a 3 month grace period on visa validity. However, this can change as the situation evolves. I think the issue regarding flights is subject to Indian Government approval. You should seek assistance of your local authorities who can escalated to higher Government officials.
My brother has gone to Pakistan on 03/01/2020 (mean more than six moths) and still he is waiting for entry permit approval. Can he come back or not? his visa is from Dubai is valid until 2021.
Please apply for entry permit from GDRFA using this link https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Smart_OTCServicesPortal/ReturnPermitServiceForm.aspx
I have the same situation, and really looking for a clear response here. I read there was a waiver, and we can enter UAE anytime before December. Need to know if this is still valid
Yes, as long as the visa is valid. Please register on GDRFA, link provided earlier.
Hi
my daughter is having residence visa valid upto 2021, she traveled to India in February, now she want to return back to uae. As it is less than 6 months or 180 days what is the procedure to come abu dhabi in coming few days. Is ICA permit is necessary?
For arrival into Abu Dhabi, yes ICA permit is necessary.
How many days to get the approval of ICA?
It should be processed within 48 hours.
SIR if within 48hours no response.
What is the best thing to do?
First is to check your spam email folders and other email filters to ensure that there are no reason why you would not receive email from ICA. Due to the volume of applications, the 48 hour response time is not guaranteed, I would encourage patience if for another 48 hours, you still have not received a response, then you may try and submit an application again but double checking that the information was entered correctly.
Hi Alvin, I am in similar situation. Wife went to india for delvier on 6th March along with 7yrs old daughter. i have 3 month old baby. is the concession on special case like this ? i want them to travel month of December 2020 [More than 180 days].
Can you pls assist on this situation ?
For travel to Dubai, GDRFA approval is required, Emirates can facilitate obtaining the approval, I don’t know about other airlines. Kids under 12 does not require approval if the parent is approved. You will need to apply for entry permit for your 3 month old baby.
If traveling to other Emirate, you need to update traveler information in the ICA webpage. A negative PCR test result is mandatory for entry into UAE.
Hi how are you
Am Patrick from Uganda
I hav spent 8 months outside Dubai my visa still have one year and two months validity
How can I get back to Dubai?
If your visa is from Dubai, apply for re-entry approval using this link https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Smart_OTCServicesPortal/ReturnPermitService.aspx. The permit is valid for 30 days from date of issue. If your visa is from another Emirate, please apply for approval to return using this link https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/residents-entry-confirmation.
Hi Friends, Can anyone suggest me. My wife is pregnant and has gone to india,by this December end she will complete 6 months, if she required to stay outside UAE for more than 6 months and to return to UAE, what is the procedure.
You have 2 options. apply for entry permit bringing with you the attested and translated medical report 15 days before intended travel back to UAE. The second option is to cancel her residence visa and apply for a new entry permit whenever she is ready to travel back.
Hi Alvin, I exit from UAE in the jan 2020, my visa still active until May 2021, can I re enter in uae during jan 2021. Or there is any time limit. Please guide me.
It depends on where you are coming from. If from a country with travel restrictions to UAE, might be possible if there are no more travel restriction you will need to apply for re-entry permit.
Dear All – I am trying to register but after 75% it does not progress forward
it says try after some time
can anyone advise the reason for this
they rejected my first application
Can you try now, the issue with registration seem to have been fixed based on other people who registered today.
hi, i’m a UAE residency visa holder and currently abroad. My visa will expire in 2 months, what must i do so that it won’t expire ? i’m currently not allowed to come due to the travel ban.
You need to register to Tawajudi service and wait for instructions on the validity of your visa.
The UAE Government have announced that all Visa/Entry Permit expired/expiring from 01-Mar-2020 will be considered as valid until end of 2020.
so no need to register anywhere if person with resident visa stays abroad for more than six months
The extension is only about the validity of the visa for re-entry, I am not aware of any relief related to those who have been outside of the country for more than 6 months. I think that is why those who wish to return back needs to register in the Twajudi Resident Service