Student Visa Dubai Process

Students attending schools in the UAE will usually be under the sponsorship of one of their parents on a family residence visa.

Students attending a tertiary level institute might have a couple of options.

·         Sons below the age of 18 in full-time education can be sponsored by their parents (if not a student then they can only be sponsored up to age 16?).

·         Unmarried daughters of any age can be sponsored by their father (or maybe their mother if she is employed in a high-level profession).

·         Full-time students can be sponsored by the college or university they are attending but check with the institute before applying as not all of them offer this service.

Student residence visa documents, requirements, restrictions

·         Student residence visas are normally only valid for 1 year at a time (employment residence visas are usually valid 3 years) so will need to be renewed each year during the study program.

·         Documents needed will include passport with at least 6 months validity, passport copies (allow 5), several photos (allow 12), evidence entry visa to the UAE and copy, evidence of acceptance to a UAE tertiary institute, possibly bank statements showing evidence of funds in the UAE, possibly a tenancy agreement (or letter from university if staying in university accommodation).

·         Students from some countries will need to undergo a security check to make sure they are not considered a threat to UAE security.

·         A medical test at an authorised UAE medical center (allow AED 200-500) will normally be required. Usually a positive result for HIV, Tuberculosis (TB), Hepatitis B or C, or leprosy means deportation. A positive result for Syphilis means treatment but maybe not deportation.

·         Post-graduate students will probably need to have their undergraduate degree attested (ask at the university or nearest UAE embassy about getting this done).

Students sponsoring family members

·         Students will usually not be able to sponsor their families, or will find it very difficult according to information from universities.

·         However, Article 31 of the General Provision for the Entry Permits and Visas on the DNRD Dubai website says "The following categories are exempted from the condition of salary, and they are entitled to bring their family members only: ... Students of schools, universities and other educational institutes." which implies that it is possible for students to sponsor their families. Check with the university and/or DNRD.

Student visa charges and fees in the UAE

·         Fee guide based information from several universities - Abu Dhabi University (ADU), Ajman University of Science and Technology AUST, American University of Dubai (AUD), Heriot-Watt University Dubai (HW), Manipal Dubai, Michigan University Dubai (MSU), Middlesex Dubai (MDX). Other institutes will probably have fees somewhere between the highest and lowest.

·         There might also be differences in fees between different emirates.

·         There are also differences depending on if the university is located in a UAE education free zone such as Dubai Academic City or Knowledge Village, or not.

·         Fees guide is approximate, might be incorrect and/or out of date (last checked 20 May 2010).

·         If a resident stays out of the UAE for longer than six months, their residence visa becomes invalid and they will be denied entry to the UAE until it is cancelled. Usually the sponsor will report the visa holder to the immigration authorities as absconding.

·         Visas normally take 2-5 weeks to process once all the correct documentation has been supplied.

·         Express visas take 1-3 weeks to process.

·         Cancellation of visa normally takes 1-3 weeks, express cancellation takes 1-2 weeks.

UAE student residence visa costs (AED)
	ADU	AUD	AUST	HW	Manipal	MDX	MSU
Student residence visa (from outside the UAE)	1100	1000		3000
Student residence visa (from within the UAE)	1650		150	5500	2100	2450	5000
Student residence visa renewal			150	3000	1500		2500
Visa deposit		2000		5000		7000	3000
Express visa service additional cost (application or renewal)				1500
UAE student residence visa cancellation charges (AED)
Student, passport, university ID in the UAE			25	750	35		1100
Student, passport in the UAE, no university ID				1750
Student out of UAE < 6 months, passport & ID available				750
Student out of UAE < 6 months, passport available, no ID				1750
Student out of UAE < 6 months, passport & ID not available				5000
Student out of UAE > 6 months (passport & ID availability irrelevant)				7000
Express visa cancellation service additional cost				1000

Student visit visa UAE

·         A registered student with a university or college in the UAE can obtain a visit visa. Cost is AED 1000, valid for 60 days (not quite 2 months), renewable twice upon payment of AED 500 fee.

·         Useful for students attending short courses at tertiary level institutes in the UAE