UAE residents outside the country for more than six months can reactivate visas online

Move aims to speed up process for people planning to return to the Emirates

The UAE has updated visa rules for residents planning to return after spending six months or more abroad. Bloomberg

UAE residents who spend six months or more outside the country can now reactivate their visa status online.

New rules introduced on Friday by the Federal Authority for Identity and Nationality, Customs and Port Security, also known as the ICA, will ease the process of re-entering the Emirates for those who spent an extended period overseas due to work, studies or medical treatment.

The authority said the updated protocols do not apply to golden visa holders, who are able to freely live outside of the country for this period.

Residents will now be allowed to reactivate their current residency status — and return to the Emirates under the same permit — following official approval.

Applications can be made on the ICA's website.

Previously, people with lapsed visas would have to reapply for residency to regularise their status.

UAE visa rules — in pictures

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  The UAE is offering new types of visa, including options for long-stay tourists, jobseekers, accomplished professionals, star students and high-net-worth individuals. Wam

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  A 60-day visit visa for tourists is now standard instead of a 30-day one. Christopher Pike / Bloomberg

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  The Job Exploration Entry Visa was created to attract young talent and skilled professionals. Photo: Dubai Airports

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  Holders of the Green Visa for Skilled Employees and Freelancers will be able to bring any first-degree relative to live with them. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  A five-year multi-entry tourist visa has been introduced. This does not require a sponsor and allows the holder to stay in the country for up to 90 consecutive days, as long as they have $4,000 or its equivalent in their bank account. Christopher Pike / Bloomberg

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  A Green Residence visa for an investor or partner in a company provides five-year residency. It replaces the previous residence permit, which was valid for two years. Photo: DMCC

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  The five-year Green Residence for Skilled Employees visa is to attract experienced professionals, freelancers, investors and entrepreneurs. AFP

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  The 10-year Golden Residence Scheme visa is open to investors, entrepreneurs, scientists and certain other professionals; humanitarians, first responders, and outstanding students and recent graduates. Photo: National Geographic

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  The Golden Visa for Outstanding Students and Graduates is available to secondary school pupils and undergraduates of exceptional academic ability, as well as outstanding graduates of UAE universities and the best 100 universities worldwide. Pawan Singh / The National

Permit requests must include a copy of the applicant's Emirates ID, their passport and a statement explaining why they were delayed in returning to the country, state news agency Wam said.

At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, people with visas that had expired were permitted to enter the UAE after global travel restrictions and lockdowns to slow the spread of Covid-19 prevented residents from reaching the country in time.

But pre-existing procedures were gradually brought back into effect in 2021.

The six-month rule

Last year, The National spoke to Haider Hussain, a partner at immigration services company Fragomen, to explain the purpose of the six-month residency rule, which is in place in many countries around the world.

“It is important for people to be aware of the six-month rule and plan accordingly,” he said.

“They also need to understand the basis of the rule and why authorities have put it in place.

“For individuals on an employment residence permit with accompanying dependants, the expectation is that they will stay in the UAE.

“If they are outside for six months, this is quite a significant period and then that brings into question of whether they are real residents.”