Indians in the UAE: paperwork on both sides

The UAE side

1. Residence visa and Emirates ID

   Your employer usually sponsors the entry permit, medical test, biometrics and residence visa; the Emirates ID is your main proof of residence. Renew both before they expire. ICP · Emirates ID

2. Health insurance

   Health insurance is tied to your residence and work. Check what your employer covers and whether your family needs their own policy. MoHRE basic health insurance

3. Tenancy registration

   Register your tenancy contract (Ejari in Dubai, Tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi); utilities and family visas usually need it. Check with your emirate's land department, for Dubai the Dubai Land Department.

4. Driving licence

   Indian licence holders usually go through a driving school and tests for a UAE licence. Check the current process for your emirate. UAE Government Portal

5. Family sponsorship and visits

   Sponsoring your spouse, children or parents needs your residence visa, a registered tenancy and a minimum salary. Check the current conditions and fees with ICP or GDRFA Dubai.

The Indian side

1. NRE and NRO accounts

   Under FEMA you tell your Indian bank when you become non-resident: resident savings accounts become NRO, and an NRE account takes money earned abroad. Update KYC and any demat account. Check the current rules with your bank and the RBI.

2. Your Indian tax status

   The UAE does not tax salaries, but that doesn't settle your Indian status. India has special rules for citizens who are not taxed in any other country, so check your residential status on the e-Filing portal or with a tax professional, especially with higher Indian income.

3. Home loan and property in India

   Tell your lender you are now an NRI, pay EMIs from an NRE or NRO account, give a trusted person a power of attorney, and keep property tax and rent (with tax deducted at source) in order.

4. Passport renewal

   Your residence visa is linked to your passport. Renew the passport at the Indian mission in time and update your visa and Emirates ID records afterwards. Passport Seva

How Raaya helps

• Two countries, one setup

  Tell Raaya where you live and where you're from. It suggests journeys for both countries: in the UAE, for example, renewing your residence visa and Emirates ID; in India, NRE/NRO accounts, PAN or your Indian tax status.

• Explain this letter

  Snap or upload an official letter, from a foreigners' office, tax office, council or your bank in India. Raaya explains it in your language: who sent it, what it wants, the deadline and what to do. One tap adds the step and a reminder.

• Expiry radar

  Passport, residence permit, Blue Card, visa, driving licence and health insurance card: Raaya reminds you 6 and 3 months before they run out, flags a passport with less than 6 months left, and one tap starts a renewal journey with the checklist.

• Two currencies

  Keep dirham and rupee amounts in the same money view. Converted hints use the European Central Bank's daily reference rates, which don't include the dirham, so AED amounts show without a converted figure: never a guessed total.

• Family in their own languages

  Invite your partner or parents into the same journey (Pro). Each person reads the chat, updates and notifications in their own language, Hindi included.

• Sub-journeys

  Split a big move into one main journey with sub-journeys (visa, flat, bank in India). The parent shows progress like “5/8 · next: 14 Nov”, and you can share one sub-journey with just the people it concerns (sharing is Pro).

Ready-made checklists

Each checklist opens as a free page with the steps, documents and official sources; start it in Raaya with one tap.

• Residence Visa (تأشيرة إقامة)Gulf countries · 9 steps · ~16 days · 5 documents
• Employment Visa (تأشيرة عمل)Gulf countries · 10 steps · ~23 days · 4 documents
• Health Insurance (تأمين صحي)Gulf countries · 8 steps · ~9 days · 5 documents
• Driving License (رخصة قيادة)Gulf countries · 11 steps · ~28 days · 4 documents
• Property Purchase (شراء عقار)Gulf countries · 10 steps · ~21 days · 4 documents
• NRI bank accounts: NRE and NROIndia · 7 steps · ~14 days · 4 documents
• PAN, Aadhaar and NRI tax statusIndia · 7 steps · ~10 days · 4 documents
• Managing a property and home loan in India from abroadIndia · 8 steps · ~21 days · 4 documents
• Income Tax Filing (ITR)India · 8 steps · ~9 days · 8 documents

Browse all templates

Indians in other countries

• Indians in GermanyAnmeldung, Blue Card, health insurance, NRE/NRO accounts, PAN and OCI: the paperwork Indians in Germany handle, with checklists and official sources.
• Indians in the UKeVisa, National Insurance, GP, council tax, NRE/NRO accounts, PAN and OCI: the paperwork Indians in the UK handle, with checklists and official sources.
• Indians in CanadaSIN, provincial health card, PR, taxes, parents' Super Visa, NRE/NRO accounts, PAN and OCI: the paperwork Indians in Canada handle, with checklists.
• Indians in the USASSN, visa and I-94, green card, FBAR, B1/B2 visas for parents, NRE/NRO accounts, PAN and OCI: the paperwork Indians in the US handle, with checklists.

Official sources

• ICP: issuing a residency permit
• UAE Government Portal: Emirates ID
• GDRFA Dubai: residency services
• MoHRE: basic health insurance scheme
• UAE Government Portal: get a driving licence
• Dubai Land Department
• Reserve Bank of India (FEMA rules for non-resident accounts)
• Income Tax Department e-Filing portal
• European Central Bank: euro reference exchange rates