# Residence Visa (تأشيرة إقامة) Get a Gulf residence permit for yourself or a sponsored family member: confirm your category, file the entry permit or status change, pass the medical test and biometrics, and receive your resident ID. Sponsors, fees and portals vary by country. - Gulf countries · Visa - 9 steps · ~16 days · 5 documents - Last reviewed: 2026-10 - Web page: https://raaya.cloud/p/bundled_RESIDENCE_VISA_ME ## Steps ### 1. Confirm your residence category and sponsor (1 day) Decide which residence route applies to you: sponsored by an employer, by a family member (spouse or parent), by owning property, as an investor or partner, as a student, as a retiree, or under a long-term scheme such as the Golden Visa. The category decides who applies, which documents are needed and how long the permit lasts. In the UAE, applications are filed with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) through its smart services site or app, except for Dubai residence files, which are handled by GDRFA Dubai (directly or through Amer centres). Family sponsors must meet a minimum monthly income; ICP lists the current thresholds for each category. Other Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia issues the Iqama through the Jawazat (General Directorate of Passports) via Absher and the employer's Muqeem account. Qatar uses the Ministry of Interior (Metrash app, portal.moi.gov.qa). Bahrain uses the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA). Kuwait uses the Ministry of Interior residency affairs (Sahel app). Oman uses the Royal Oman Police (ROP). Tip: Employment visas follow their own track through the employer; use the Employment Visa templat… Online: https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/ ### 2. Gather and attest your documents (3 days) Collect everything the category requires before you start the application. For almost every category you need a passport valid for at least six months, a recent colour photo on a white background and valid health insurance. Family sponsorship adds proof of relationship (marriage certificate, children's birth certificates) plus the sponsor's salary certificate or employment contract and a registered tenancy contract. Property-based residence needs the title deed. Certificates issued abroad (marriage, birth, degrees) normally need attestation in the issuing country, by the UAE embassy there, and by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, plus a legal Arabic translation if requested. Other Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman likewise require foreign certificates to be attested by their own embassy and foreign ministry; each country's immigration portal lists the exact set for the category. Tip: Scan every document as a clear colour PDF now; online applications reject blurred or cropped uploads. Documents: Valid passport copy, Passport-size photo (white background), Attested marriage or birth certificate (family sponsorship) ### 3. Arrange health insurance and housing proof (1 day) Residence permits are not issued without valid health insurance, and family or property routes also need proof of where you will live. Sort these out before you submit so the application is not returned. In the UAE, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have their own mandatory schemes, and since 1 January 2025 employers across the country must provide health insurance before a private-sector employee's or domestic worker's residence is issued or renewed. Sponsors usually insure their dependants. In Dubai the tenancy contract must be registered on Ejari; Abu Dhabi uses Tawtheeq. Other Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia links cooperative health insurance to the Iqama. Qatar requires health insurance for residents under its mandatory scheme. Kuwait collects a health insurance fee with residence issuance. Bahrain and Oman are phasing in mandatory schemes; check with the immigration authority. Tip: Keep the policy number and certificate handy; the application form asks for them. - [ ] Health insurance policy valid for the whole application period - [ ] Insurance certificate downloaded as PDF - [ ] Tenancy contract registered (Ejari in Dubai, Tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi) - [ ] Sponsor salary certificate or contract (family sponsorship) - [ ] Proof of relationship attested and translated - [ ] Passport photo meeting the white-background rules Documents: Health insurance policy, Registered tenancy contract (Ejari / Tawtheeq), Attested marriage or birth certificate (family sponsorship) ### 4. Apply for the entry permit or change of status (2 days) Submit the residence application online. If the person is outside the country, the sponsor first applies for an entry permit for residence; the person then enters on that permit. If the person is already in the UAE on another visa, apply for a change of status (status adjustment) instead, so they do not have to leave and re-enter. Since 11 April 2022 the UAE no longer puts a residence sticker in the passport: the residence and Emirates ID applications are combined in one form, and the Emirates ID card is the proof of residence. ICP states that residency procedures must be completed within 60 days of entry to avoid overstay fines. Other Gulf countries: in Saudi Arabia the sponsor issues the visa through the relevant platform and the Iqama is issued after arrival via Absher or Muqeem. In Qatar the residence permit is requested on Metrash. Bahrain applications go through the NPRA online services, Kuwait through the MOI or Sahel, and Oman through ROP online services. Tip: Save the application reference number; you need it to track status and book medical and biometrics. Online: https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/ Documents: Valid passport copy, Passport-size photo (white background), Health insurance policy ### 5. Pay the residence and Emirates ID fees (1 day) Pay the government fees when the application is submitted. On the ICP fee schedule for issuing a residency permit, the application fee, the smart service fee and the residence issuance fee (charged per year of validity) are each AED 100, and a status adjustment from inside the country costs AED 500. Some categories add a refundable guarantee, and Emirates ID, medical test and typing-centre charges are paid separately. GDRFA Dubai and Amer centres show their own totals before payment. Other Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia charges Iqama and dependant fees through Absher or Muqeem. Qatar charges residence permit fees on Metrash. Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman collect fees through the NPRA, MOI or Sahel, and ROP portals respectively. Amounts change, so rely on the figure shown at checkout. Tip: Keep the payment receipt; it is your proof if the application is returned for corrections. Fee: AED 500 (ICP status adjustment fee (only if already inside the UAE on another visa)) ### 6. Attend the medical fitness test (1 day) Most residence applicants aged 18 and over must pass a medical fitness test at an approved centre: typically a blood test and a chest X-ray to screen for infectious diseases. Some categories and age groups are exempt or have extra tests; the centre tells you when you book. Results are sent electronically to the immigration authority. In the UAE the test is done at a Dubai Health Authority (DHA) approved centre in Dubai, a Department of Health (DoH) approved centre in Abu Dhabi, and Emirates Health Services (EHS) centres in the other emirates. Book online and bring your passport, entry permit or application reference and a photo. Other Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman also require a medical examination for residence; for many nationalities part of it is done before travel at approved clinics in the home country, and Qatar completes it at the Medical Commission after arrival. Tip: Book the earliest slot; results usually take one to two working days and residency cannot be issued without them. Documents: Valid passport copy ### 7. Complete Emirates ID biometrics if asked (1 day) After the application and medical test, you may receive an SMS asking you to visit an ICP customer happiness centre to give fingerprints and a photo for the Emirates ID. People who have given biometrics recently and young children are often exempt; follow the instruction in the message. Bring your original passport and the application reference. The visit is short when you arrive at your booked time. Other Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia records biometrics at Jawazat or approved centres; Qatar takes fingerprints at the MOI or Qatar Visa Centres abroad; Bahrain issues the CPR card through the Information and eGovernment Authority; Kuwait issues the Civil ID through PACI; Oman issues the resident card through ROP after fingerprinting. Tip: If you get no SMS within a few days of the medical result, check the application status before going in person. Documents: Valid passport copy ### 8. Track approval and receive your Emirates ID (5 days) Track the application online until the residence permit is approved. The approved residency appears electronically and the Emirates ID card is printed and delivered by courier or collected, depending on the option you chose. You can download the digital Emirates ID in the UAE PASS or ICP app as soon as it is issued. Check every detail on the card (name spelling, profession, sponsor). Corrections are easier straight away than at renewal. Other Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia shows the Iqama digitally in Absher. Qatar issues the QID card, also shown in Metrash. Bahrain issues the CPR card. Kuwait issues the Civil ID, also shown in the Kuwait Mobile ID app. Oman issues the resident card via ROP. Tip: Once you have the ID, open a bank account, register for utilities and add family members, as these all need it. Online: https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/ ### 9. Set a reminder to renew before expiry (1 day) Residence permits are valid for a fixed period depending on the category (commonly one to three years, longer for Golden Visa holders). Renewal needs a valid passport, valid health insurance and, for some categories, a new medical test, so start well before the expiry date. Letting residence expire triggers daily overstay fines and can block services such as banking, vehicle registration and travel. If you leave the country for good, ask your sponsor to cancel the residence. Other Gulf countries: Iqama renewal in Saudi Arabia is done via Absher or Muqeem; Qatar residence renewal via Metrash; Bahrain via NPRA online; Kuwait via Sahel or MOI; Oman via ROP online services. Tip: Check your passport expiry at the same time; residence cannot be renewed on a passport with little validity left. ## Documents you'll need - **Valid passport copy**: Needed for every step. Must be valid for at least six months when you apply; renew it first if it is close to expiry. - **Passport-size photo (white background)**: Recent colour photo meeting ICP specifications; uploaded with the application and used on the Emirates ID. - **Health insurance policy**: Valid health insurance is a condition for issuing residency in the UAE. Provided by the employer for employees; sponsors usually insure dependants. - **Registered tenancy contract (Ejari / Tawtheeq)**: Required for family sponsorship and some other categories. Register it with Ejari (Dubai) or Tawtheeq (Abu Dhabi) before applying. - **Attested marriage or birth certificate (family sponsorship)**: Proves the relationship when sponsoring a spouse or children. Certificates issued abroad must be attested by the UAE embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Arabic translation if requested. ## Official sources - [ICP - Issuing Residency Permit (fees, conditions)](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=64afe3c1035448005bd52e64) - [ICP - Cancellation of the residence sticker; Emirates ID as proof of residence](https://icp.gov.ae/en/cancellation-of-the-residence-sticker-is-a-step-to-make-customers-happy/) - [UAE Government Portal - Emirates ID](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/emirates-id) - [GDRFA Dubai - residency services](https://gdrfad.gov.ae/) - [MoHRE - Basic health insurance scheme](https://mohre.gov.ae/en/guidance-and-awareness-portal-new/the-basic-health-insurance-scheme) General guidance, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Confirm with the official source before you act. Use this template free in Raaya: https://raaya.cloud/p/bundled_RESIDENCE_VISA_ME