With the view of attracting talented and resourceful outsiders to live, work, and invest in UAE, the UAE cabinet had approved fresh executive regulations for the Federal Decree-Law on Entry and Residence of Foreigners.
Now called the Advanced Visa System, this came into effect on October 3, 2022 when it was announced by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP).
Obtaining a visa (for self and family) now becomes easier all visitors, be they tourists, commercial captains or professionals. Special privileges are accorded to fellow Emiratis – clearly looking to encourage Emirati SMEs as engines for further development activity in the UAE.
Accordingly, the UAE government has introduced an Emirates ID card. No longer will passports be collected for stamping, and a single application will suffice to obtain both Emirates ID and residency visa.
Three Broad Types of Visa being issued
Tourist Visa: This type of visa has as many as 10 categories. Broadly though, they are five-year multi-entry tourist visas and some allowing visitor stay for up to 90 days in a single visit.
Green Visa: A residence visa that permits residence in the UAE (with reentries) for a period of 5 years. At the expiry of this permit, grace period of six months is allowed.
Golden Visa: This also has a number of sub-categories some of which are specific to the medical community and discussed below. In a nutshell, this permits a foreigner to settle and work in the UAE for a period of 10 years, subject to fulfilling certain terms and conditions. It is targeted at attracting investors, entrepreneurs, exceptional talents, scientists, outstanding students and graduates, and skilled workers. Grace period on expiry has also been extended to six months.
Furthermore the new regime allows Golden Visa holders to sponsor their family members, including spouses and children, regardless of their age; as well as to sponsor their domestic workers – support services being the term used.
What is really exciting about the new Golden Visa is that its holder can now enjoy full (100%) ownership of business.
Implications for Foreign Healthcare Professionals
No longer will foreigners have to seek a UAE national to sponsor their visa. Five-year green visas allow foreigners to sponsor themselves without depending on UAE nationals or employers. Freelancers, skilled workers, and investors are eligible for this visa.
Doctors and nurses
Recognizing that foreign doctors and nurses are the bulwark of healthcare in the UAE, its authorities felt the need to encourage doctors and nurses long-term residents. Accordingly they have now become eligible for Golden Visas.
Seven centers under the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship have been set up to handle doctors and nurses applying in person.
Job Exploration Visa
Introduced to attract skilled professionals to work in the UAE, this Visa allows them to explore available prospects in the country. Such foreigners do not require to be sponsored by any local but its grant is subject to:
- Skill level (of the first or second, or third level as defined by the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation)
- Graduate of one of the best 500 universities in the world
- Minimum educational level of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
This is a boon for healthcare professional seeking to expand career prospects.
Skilled professionals
Golden Visas may be granted for healthcare professionals qualifying as under:
- Possessing valid contract of employment in the UAE.
- Skill levels one or two as defined by the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation.
- Earning a minimum monthly salary not less than AED 30,000.
- Minimum educational level of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
Scientists
Medical scientists and researchers may now avail of the Golden Visa subject to:
- Possessing a Master’s degree or higher in life/natural sciences from a university of world renown.
- Formal recommendation from the Emirates Scientists Council.
Exceptional talents
Talented individuals across many fields including medicine, digital technology, innovation, law (medical law included) and such can also be eligible for Golden Visa. For such talents and especially innovators, the conditions of educational qualification, employment status, and monthly salary have been waived. It will however, require official recognition of their ability federal or local government.
Entrepreneurs
Healthcare entrepreneurs who have invested in startups are now eligible for Golden Visas, subject to:
- Their company being in the small and medium enterprises (SME) class.
- Being registered within the UAE.
- Annual revenue exceeding AED 1 million.
Entrepreneurs contemplating such investment may note.
Golden Visas are also being extended to founders of previous entrepreneurial projects subsequently sold for a total value not less than AED 7 million. This however, requires formal approval of the Ministry of Economy or the competent local authorities.
Investors and/or Partners
Investors and partners of local entrepreneurs were in any case eligible for medium duration Green Visas. The duration has now been extended to five years of residence. Other conditions remain the same.
With a population of 10 million people enjoying the best of healthcare under the umbrella of comprehensive insurance coverage over and above general affordability, this liberalization of entry and residence stipulation, should open up a pool of opportunity for healthcare professionals from the Mideast and Africa.