New to DubaiUAE residence visa: how it works, from the medical test to Emirates ID and UAE Pass
How a UAE residence visa works for newcomers: sponsors, the medical test, biometrics, Emirates ID and UAE Pass, with links to each guide.
A UAE residence visa is what lets you live in Dubai, not just visit. To get one you need a sponsor, a medical test and a biometrics appointment. After that, your Emirates ID card is your proof that you live here.
Your sponsor is usually your employer or a family member who already has a UAE residence visa. If you work for yourself, the company that set up your business usually handles the visa for you.
How the visa comes together
Most people find the process smooth, and someone usually guides you through each step. If you have a job, your company's PRO (the person who deals with government paperwork) does most of the work. Your part is to turn up on time with your passport and anything else they ask for.
- Your sponsor applies for an entry permit. If you're already in the UAE on another visa, you may be able to change your status without leaving the country.
- You take a medical fitness test at an approved centre.
- You give your fingerprints and a photo for your Emirates ID. This is called biometrics.
- Your residence visa is issued. Passports haven't had a visa sticker since April 2022. Your Emirates ID is now the proof.
The medical test and biometrics
The medical test is quick. Most of the NTD Team go to the testing centre at Ibn Battuta Mall. Get there early: one of us has gone there for 15 years and never waited more than 30 minutes.
Biometrics is a separate visit, and your card arrives later. How long that takes varies, so don't fill up your first few weeks. There are also VIP services, such as one-day processing or going to the front of the queue for the medical test. If you'd rather pay extra to get it done faster, go for it.
Use real photos, never edited ones
A free zone rejected one team member's photo three times. The agency handling her visa used AI to touch it up, and it was accepted. Then it caused problems with her biometrics at government offices. It was fixed before she flew, but she should never have had that problem. Use real, unedited photos for every ID, and don't let anyone talk you out of it.
Emirates ID and UAE Pass
You need your Emirates ID to open a bank account, so this step comes before most others. Our guide on how to get your Emirates ID takes you through it, and opening a bank account in Dubai carries on from there. Once you have the card, always carry it with you.
Next, set up UAE Pass, the government's digital login. We use it for almost everything.
Dubai or another emirate?
The emirate that issued your visa decides who you deal with. GDRFA Dubai handles Dubai visas. Emirates ID cards come from ICP, the federal authority. Live in Sharjah but work in Dubai? Check which emirate issued your visa before you look anything up. For a Dubai visa, see how to use GDRFA Dubai.
Ask around, then check again
Talk to people who've lived here, but don't take what they say as fact. Rules change from time to time. Take extra care when you change jobs or visas. Some people, PROs included, tell you what you want to hear so they don't have to deal with your questions. Make calls, ask friends, check the official source, and never stay past your visa's end date.
Your next step
Read Getting started in Dubai to see what order to do things in. Then open the guide for the step you're on now.
- GDRFA Dubai: how to check your visa status and use its services What GDRFA Dubai does, how to check your visa status, the three ways to apply, and where the medical test, Emirates ID and UAE Pass fit in.
- UAE Pass: what it is and how to set it up What UAE Pass is, how to register and verify it with your Emirates ID, what you can use it for, and how to fix the usual problems.
- How to get your Emirates ID in Dubai, and what you'll need it for How to apply for, collect and renew your Emirates ID in Dubai, what to bring, and why banks, phone companies and landlords all ask for it.