Key Visa Options For Expatriates And Nationals After Getting Married In The UAE

The United Arab Emirates is a dream destination for marriage for many people because it has that touch of luxury, modernity, and tradition. But one thing that must not be overlooked is what kind of visa each of them has after getting married.

Whether you are an expatriate or a UAE national, it is important that you become conversant with the different visa options available and the processes applying once you are married. Below, we have discussed the various types of visa options available, the documents you will need, and what steps you will have to take.

Residence Visa for Family Members

If either of the spouses is already a resident in the UAE, a residence visa can be issued for the other partner without any hassle, provided certain requirements are satisfied. A residence visa is quite imperative for the spouse not citizen of the UAE to legally live, work, or study in the country.

Who Can Apply?
Both employers and employees with a valid residence visa can sponsor a residence visa for their families in the UAE. An applicant needs to earn at least AED 4,000 a month or alternatively earn a minimum of AED 3,000 with accommodation. Spouses and children are allowed; however, there are many documents involved, especially for spouses and children above the age of 18 years, including marriage certificates and medical clearance from the spouse.

Sponsorship Requirements:
- Salary: The sponsor should be on at least a salary of AED 4,000/- or AED 3,000/- plus accommodation.
- Medical Fitness: A person above 18 years of age should undergo a medical fitness test that includes but is not limited to communicable diseases like tuberculosis.
- Marriage Certificate: Attested Marriage Certificate, which may be required to be translated into Arabic, too, as the case may be, shall be required as a document to establish the relation.
- Dependent Children: Unmarried daughters of any age can be sponsored, while sons are only allowed to be sponsored up until 25. Sons with special needs can be sponsored at any time.

Process of sponsoring wife:
- Application form can be submitted on the online portal or registered typing office
- Copies of passport both for sponsor and wife
- Marriage certificate and tenancy contract
- Wife undergoes medical fitness.
- Apply with the visa to the GDRFA.
The sponsored spouse visa is issued for two years and should be renewed. It has to be noted that in case of the cancelation of the sponsor's visa the dependent's visa must also be cancelled or transferred.

Visitor Visa for Marriage

If one of the parties involved is not a resident of the UAE, then they need to apply for a visitor visa in order to get married in the country. The non-resident visa allows them to legally marry in the UAE but does not give them any residency rights in the country. At this point, after marriage, one spouse will be required to apply for a residence visa based on the other's employment or residency status.

Required Documents for Visitor Visa:
- Valid passport for at least six months
- Confirmed return ticket
- Proof of accommodation in the UAE
- Marriage Certificate, attested from your country of residence
Please note that a visitor visa is often issued for a limited time and upon expiry of the same, either the couple will have to leave the country or apply for a residence visa, whichever is applicable.

Sponsor Your Parents: However, UAE also allows the expatriates to sponsor their parents for a residence visa. They are issued on a yearly basis and the sponsor is required to prove sole support for the parents. Medical insurance is also to be obtained for them and a deposit usually has to be paid as well.

Parents Sponsorship Eligibility Criteria: He must sponsor both parents, in the case of the death of either parent or divorce of parents, official documents must be provided.

Parent Sponsorship: The salary grade that allows an employee to support his parents must be a little higher compared to those allowing him to sponsor his wife. Moreover, the sponsor must provide a valid tenancy contract that testifies to his housing being suitable for hosting his parents.

Special Cases

The process of sponsoring children and stepchildren is relatively smooth, yet there are some details to be considered:
1. Sponsoring Newborns: A residence visa for a new child has to be applied within 120 days of birth otherwise it will incur some penalties.
2. Sponsoring Stepchildren: A stepchild can be sponsored with a deposit placed for each child along with a no-objection certificate from the biological parent.
3. Stepchildren visa is issued for a year and is renewable every year.

Spouses of UAE Citizens

Because the spouse of a UAE national holds a foreign nationality passport, the processing of residence is slightly different. A UAE national can sponsor his foreign wife for a five-year residence visa without necessarily having her work. Such residence allows a longer stay in the country compared to the other residence visas.

1. Foreign Widows and Divorced Mothers of UAE Citizens: A foreign widow or divorced mother of a UAE citizen can also obtain a residence visa with no requirements concerning employment. In this case, the sponsor is normally the eldest child.
2. Documents Needed to Sponsor a Spouse: Whatever type of visa is applied for, the following documents are generally required to sponsor a spouse:
- Valid passports for the sponsor and the spouse.
- Passport-sized photographs.
- A marriage certificate attested and legalized.
- Medical fitness certificates of spouses and children above 18 years.
- Proof of income, which is the salary certificate or employment contract.
- Attested tenancy contract
- Latest utility bill for proof of residence

How to Apply for a Marriage License in the UAE

Before applying for any visa, a couple has to legalize their marriage in the UAE. The process for a civil marriage is carried out through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department-ADJD. A couple can submit their application through the typing centers of ADJD or online.

The regular service charge is about AED 300, and the processing takes up to 10 working days. There is also an expedited service available for couples that costs AED 2,500; this ensures that the marriage gets processed in one day.

Cancellation and Visa Renewal

The residence visa for a spouse is normally issued for two years and is renewable as long as conditions similar to those at the time of the initial application are satisfied. If the visa of the sponsor is cancelled or has expired, dependants have a 30-day grace period in which to obtain another visa or leave the country.

In case a sponsor fails to renew or cancel the dependent's visa within the period of the grace, then the dependants will be illegal residents and may be fined.

To work through all the various choices available with regards to the marriage visa process in UAE might seem intimidating, however, this is not necessarily so if one puts all options into perspective. The success of any transition, be it an expatriate or a UAE national, depends completely on meeting sponsorship requirements, submitting the right documents, and following through with all the legalities. For couples who plan to make the UAE their home, getting the right visa opens the way to beginning their new life together in this vibrant, cosmopolitan country.