UAE retirement visa: How to apply for Dubai’s 5-year retirement visa, eligibility, income rules and fees

Dubai: Looking to spend your post-retirement life in Dubai? Dubai’s General Directorate for Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) offers retired foreigners a five-year visa, which allows them to continue staying in the UAE, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for the visa. Whether you have worked as a professional, own property or run a business, this visa allows you to live in the UAE after you retire from work. Here is all you need to know. Who can apply for the retirement visa? Individuals who are above the age of 55 can apply for UAE’s retirement visa. Regardless of whether you have worked in the UAE or outside the country, you can apply for the visa as long as you can provide proof of work of not less than 15 years . You can apply for the visa if you fulfil one of the following two conditions: 1. Property ownership Under this category, you can apply for the visa if you own a property/properties of no less than AED 1 million and have financial savings of no less than AED 1 million. The financial savings refer to a financial deposit, which may be in the country or outside the UAE. If the savings amount is outside the UAE, it should either be deposited in a financial institution in the UAE within 60 days from the date of issuance of the residency, or the amount should be invested in the UAE. What if the property is mortgaged? According to the GDRFA, if the property is mortgaged, the mortgaged title deed is accepted, provided the amount already paid towards the mortgage is at least AED 1 million at the time of applying for the residence visa. 2. Annual income You need to have an annual income of at least AED 240,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies, whether the source of income is inside or outside the country. You will be required to provide a bank statement of six months from the date of applying for the visa, if you wish to apply under this category. It is important to note that this requirement is for visa applications made through GDRFA Dubai. If you are applying from any other emirate, through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), the annual income requirement has been set at AED 180,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies. Can I renew the visa after it expires? Yes, the visa is renewable, as long as you meet the same terms as when the visa was issued. Required documents Retired real estate owner: A personal photo. Copy of passport. Ownership of the real estate property or the evaluation of the property issued by the Land Department. A pensioner who owns a deposit: A personal photo. Copy of passport. Certificate of financial deposit. An acknowledgment of transferring the deposit to the country. A pensioner with an annual income: A personal photo. A copy of the passport. Bank account statement for the last six months. A letter from an official body indicating the source of income. How to apply for the visa Here is how you can apply for the visa online: 1. Visit the GDRFA’s service page: https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services/8ea80db0-f43e-11eb-0320-0050569629e8 and click on ‘Start service’. 2. You will then be asked to log in using your UAE PASS , or by creating a GDRFA online account. To create the account, you will need to provide your full name, email address and telephone number. 3. Once you have logged in, click on ‘new application’ and select ‘Residence permit for the retired foreigner’ 4. Fill in the application with your personal details, as well as the category under which you wish to apply for. 5. Upload the supporting documents. 6. Make the fee payment. You will then receive an application number which you can use to track the status of your application. The visa is processed within 48 hours and you will receive a notification from GDRFA on whether the application has been accepted or not. If you are already in the UAE, you can also apply for the service by visiting a GDRFA customer happiness centre or an Amer service centre. Visa fees The fee for a five-year retirement visa is as follows: Residence fees – AED 2,280 Emirates ID card fee – AED 575