UAE Cabinet introduces major changes in visa Rules

The Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, adopted a number of strategic decisions with regards to foreign workers’ insurance in the private sector, as well as a legislative package of visa facilitations.

Major changes announced by UAE Cabinet

• UAE Cabinet announces decision to abolish mandatory bank guarantee for labour recruitment and replace it with a low-cost insurance system.

• New visa facilitation procedures for visitors, residents, families & people overstaying their visa also adopted. 

• UAE exemption of transit passengers from all entry fees for first 48 hours approved. Transit visa extension for up to 96 hours for a fee of Dh50.  

• Cabinet decision grants people overstaying their visa a chance to leave the country voluntarily without a "no entry" stamp on their passport. 

• New 6-month visa to be introduced for job seekers who overstayed their visa but wish to work in the country. Temporary visa to enhance the UAE's position as a land of opportunities, a destination for talents and professionals.

• UAE grants those who entered country illegally a chance to leave voluntarily with a 'no entry' stamp for 2 years, if they present return ticket.

• UAE Cabinet allows individuals wishing to adjust or renew their visa to do so for a fee, without having to leave and re-enter the country. 

• UAE Cabinet adopts resolution on empowering 'People of Determination', enabling them to equal access the job market. 

A new insurance scheme for workers’ guarantees has been introduced. The previous mandatory deposit of AED 3,000 per worker is now replaced by a new insurance that cost only AED 60 annually per worker.The value of the insurance policy in the new system is AED 60 per year for each worker and covers the workers' entitlements in terms of end of service benefits, vacation allowance, overtime allowance, unpaid wages, worker's return ticket and cases of work injury, in which the insurance coverage amounts to AED 20,000 per worker.

The Cabinet also adopted a number of visa facilitations for visitors, residents, families and people overstaying their visa to cater for a wider segment of the society. The Cabinet approved a new legislative package, including a review of the current residency system to allow a two-year extension of the residency period for the dependents of their parents after finishing their university studies.

 

A new decision has also been approved to exempt transit passengers from all entry fees for the first 48 hours. Transit visa can be extended for up to 96 hours for a fee of only AED 50. Obtaining transit visa will be facilitated by a number of express counter at the passport-control hall across UAE airports.

In the same context, the Cabinet adopted a decision to grant people overstaying their visa a chance to leave the country voluntarily without a "no entry" passport stamp. A new 6-month visa will be introduced for job seekers who overstayed their visa but wish to work in the country. The temporary visa enhances the UAE’s position as a land of opportunities and a destination for talents and professionals.

As for Individuals who entered the UAE illegally, they will have the chance to leave voluntarily with a "no entry" stamp for two years given that they provide a valid return ticket.

Equally, in a step aimed at simplifying the process and easing the financial burden on individuals wishing to adjust or renew their visa, they can now do so for a fee without having to leave and re-enter the country.

On the other hand, the Cabinet adopted a resolution on empowering "People of Determination" and enabling them to access the job market. The resolution provides them with the necessary support to obtain equal employment opportunities in various sectors in line with the Government's social development programs for all segments of the society.

UAE residence visa for your Parents

Who can sponsor parents in the UAE

UAE expatriates, holding valid resident visas having a minimum salary of Dh20,000 or a monthly pay of Dh19,000 plus a two-bedroom accommodation can get one-year renewable resident visas for their parents or parents-in-law.

Whom can you sponsor

As per new regulations, you have to sponsor both your mother and father together and show proof that you are their sole provider and that there is no one to take care of them in your home country.

However, if your parents are divorced or one is deceased, you should carry documentary proof when visiting Department of Naturalisation and Residency Dubai (DNRD) to obtain the entry permit visa, which is the first step before you can apply for a residence visa.

Getting the entry visa

Your parents have to enter the country on this visa and you should ideally get the residency visa sorted within 60 days from their date of entry.

Documents required

Typed application form from registered typing centres

Original passport of the sponsor and parent/s

One photo each of the parent/s

Attested proof of relationship from your embassy or consulate and proof that you are the sole provider and caretaker for your parent/s

Copy of job contract for the sponsor or salary certificate from employer. 

Steps to follow

Take the listed documents and go to General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai. Submit them along with a letter from your side appealing on humanitarian grounds for an entry visa for your parent/s. Also, enclose copies of all above documents along with your contact numbers. The Approval Committee will either confirm or reject your application within two weeks.

Have a registered typist complete the form after paying the fees.

Go to the residency section of DNRD and hand in the documents.

Entry Permit will be sent by Empost usually within 48 hours, or if you have applied for an urgent visa, then you should receive it from the counter in a few minutes.

 

Fees

Dh2,000 refundable deposit (keep receipt safely for renewal or reimbursement, as this is paid back only when the visa is cancelled or in case your parent dies)

Dh110 application fee + typing centre fee (or pay Dh100 for urgent application)

Getting the residency visa

Once you receive the entry permit, get started on the visa procedures to be completed within 60 days from the date of entry.

Documents required for residence visa

    Application form and 3 photos of parent/s

    Original passport of parent/s and sponsor

    Original entry permit

    Health card of parent/s

    Refundable deposit receipt

    Original job contract or salary certificate of the sponsor

Steps

Do a health checkup and obtain a medical card.

Take the documents and go to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs - Dubai.

Have one of the typists there complete the form for you after paying the fees.

Go to the residency section and hand in the documents.

The passport/s with the residency visa stamp will be sent to you through Empost.

Get a basic mandatory insurance policy for your parent/s starting at Dh600.

Fees

    Dh110 residency fees each year, not inclusive of typing centre fees

    Dh100 urgent application (optional)

    Dh10 Empost fees

Minors travelling to UAE without parents need their authorisation

Minors aged 18 years and below will not be allowed to travel to the UAE without an authorisation letter from their parents in case they are not travelling with them, as per an advisory issued by Air India. The move, which is effective from June 1, comes following a warning from Dubai Police and other relevant authorities to prevent child trafficking, said the advisory.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners-Dubai (Immigration) notified the same from June 1 to prevent child trafficking, Air India said.

As per the advisory, "The procedure to be followed is that all minors, who are 18 years and below, would need to have an authorisation form filled from their parents with relevant details of their address abroad and in the UAE, and information about who would be receiving them in the UAE (in case they are not travelling with a parent)."

Also, in case the minor is travelling with another family member, an authorisation letter from the parents or the guardians is still required, it said. "Airlines staff can escort the minors through immigration, provided that the form is filled and the process to hand them over to the receiving person is duly followed.

"As a last resort, the minor would indeed be deported if the immigration suspect an illegal activity and the information provided are not sufficient to address that. In which case, the normal process and subsequent fines will apply," the advisory added.

How will the new EU Data privacy law affect the UAE

The biggest shake-up in data privacy will come into effect in the EU, with many in the UAE also likely to be affected by the changes. New General Data Protection Regulation rules will mean companies must put privacy at the centre of all new applications and processes under EU law.

In the wake of a series of data sharing scandals in the online world, many businesses here will also have to change the way they operate as a result of GDPR rules.

How will this affect UAE consumers

The regulations cover data protection and privacy for everyone in the European Union, European Economic Area, those travelling to the continent or doing business there.     From May 25, consumers will be asked to provide explicit, affirmative consent for their personal data to be used and processed.

Consumers will now have the right to ask for access to their data to be rectified or deleted.

The new regulation will affect every organisation across the globe that wants to do business with an individual or EU company.

Why is this happening now

New rules were required to keep up with the huge amount of digital data being created. Also, a series of scandals over data sharing without consent raised questions in recent months of how to secure our information online. The most famous case involved Cambridge Analytica, who was accused of using the data of more than 87 million Facebook users without consent.

The information was allegedly used inappropriately to influence voter opinion during global elections.“Recent headlines have shown organizations need to do more to safeguard the data of private individuals,” said Giampiero Nanni, EMEA Government Affairs at cybersecurity specialists Symantec.”We’ve seen mega breaches resulting in the theft of consumers’ personal information, which can then be used to commit identity and financial fraud.”

What will change

The GDPR will sweep away the EU’s outdated privacy legislation and harmonise how data is processed and handled across the region.

The new regulation will affect every organisation across the globe that wants to trade with the EU. Failure to report data breaches will also now carry substantial financial penalties of up to €20 million or four percent of annual turnover, whichever is greater.

Data controllers will have to immediately notify consumers about the risks and measures taken to mitigate any data breaches, such as changing passwords or cancelling credit cards.

What are businesses in the UAE doing about GDPR

The changes have been in the pipeline for some time, but may still be a wake-up call for some.

Any business looking to trade with Europe will need to change the way it operates and abide by the new EU data sharing regulations, or face hefty fines.