Key Points
- Eligibility for long-term residence permits will expand on December 1, 2020
- New categories include doctors, certain specialists, PhD holders, and engineers
- Applicants must be residents of the UAE
- Further details on eligibility requirements and the application process are forthcoming
Overview
On December 1, 2020, the Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates will expand eligibility for a long-term residence permit to more categories of foreign nationals.
What are the Changes?
Categories that will soon be eligible for a long-term residence permit include doctors, specialists in epidemiology and virology, specialists in big data and artificial intelligence, and individuals with a PhD. Many engineers are also eligible for a long-term residence permit, including computer science engineers, programming engineers, electronics engineers, biotechnology engineers, and electrical engineers. Applicants must be residents of the UAE.
What Should Employers and Applicants Know?
Although more categories are eligible for long-term residence permits, the government has not yet provided details on the application process or eligibility requirements. Additionally, the UAE has yet to confirm if the new categories are eligible for five-year or 10-year visas.
Content in this publication is not intended as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. For additional information on the issues discussed, consult an Envoy-affiliated attorney or another qualified professional.
Originally published 19 November 2020
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.