Tips for international students to obtain UAE residency

If you’re a student or recent graduate seeking residency options in the United Arab Emirates, there are several avenues open to you.

1. Sponsored by an Educational Institute in UAE:
   • Foreign students can obtain a visa sponsored by their accredited university or college. They can contact the student affairs’ offices at their institution for assistance.
   • Required documents include a recent colored personal photo with a white background, passport copy, Medical Fit certificate, Emirates ID Application, medical insurance (specifically for Abu Dhabi and Dubai), entry permit, and a certificate from the university specifying the study duration.
   • Application fees amount to Dh100, with issuance fees of Dh100 per year per person, and Dh150 for e-Channel services.
2. Golden Visa for University Graduates:
   • UAE university graduates may qualify for a 10-year Golden visa if they graduated within the past two years from a university classified as either A or B by the Ministry of Education.
   • They need to submit a recommendation letter from the university, an accredited graduation certificate, or an academic record indicating a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 for class A universities or 3.8 for class B universities.
3. Foreign University Graduates:
   • Foreign university graduates may also obtain a Golden visa if their graduation certificate is accredited by the Ministry of Education and the time since graduation does not exceed two years.
   • The university attended must be among the top 100 globally, and the student’s cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5.
4. High School Students:
   • High school students achieving a minimum grade of 95 percent in either public or private secondary schools may be eligible for a 5-year Golden Visa.
   • A recommendation letter from the Ministry of Education is required, and the initial visa cost is AED2978.90.
6. Sponsorship by Parents:
   • Parents already residing in the UAE can sponsor their children’s education. Female children can be sponsored regardless of age, while male children can be sponsored until age 25.
   • After 25, sponsorship is possible only if the male child is attending a higher educational institute for at least a year.

These various options provide pathways for students and recent graduates to obtain residency in the UAE, either through educational institutions, academic achievements, or parental sponsorship.