For those who have lived and worked in the UAE, retiring in the country has become an increasingly attractive option.
But to do so you will need to get your hands on a UAE retirement visa.
It’s easy to understand why people want to spend their best years here, the weather is (mostly) pleasant, there’s plenty to do and the lifestyle is not too shabby at all.
For those who are non-natives to the UAE, there are a number of hoops that need to be jumped through before getting a UAE retirement visa.
What documents do you need before applying?
You will need copies of your passport, plus your spouse’s passport and those of any dependents you have if they live with you.
If you are sponsoring your partner then you will also require a marriage certificate as proof.
You will also need to supply a copy of your current visa and your Emirates ID if you are already a resident of the UAE with the visas and IDs of your dependents also necessary if they are settling with you.
What does a UAE retirement visa require?
If you are a non-national wishing to retire in the UAE then there are a few different pieces of criteria which you need to meet to be eligible for the visa.
The first one should be straightforward for anyone thinking about retiring as you’ll just need to have worked for at least 15 years.
You do not need to have worked for 15 years entirely in the UAE to be eligible. In fact, you can still qualify for a retirement visa if you’ve never worked in the UAE.
If you haven’t worked for a total of 15 years then you can still be eligible as long as you are at least 55 years old at the time of retirement.
If you fulfil either the working or age requirements you will then also need to meet a second set of criteria. We will outline the options below.
- Income: You have an annual income of Dhs180,000 or a monthly income of Dhs15,000 (this number is Dhs20,000 if you’re not fortunate enough to live in Dubai)
- Property owner: You own property worth no less than Dhs1 million in Dubai
- Savings: You have savings of at least Dhs1 million in a three-year fixed deposit
- Property and savings: You have a three-year fixed deposit and property worth at least Dhs500,000 each
If you are choosing the income route, you will need to provide proof with documents confirming your financial situation which can either be a letter from your source of income, a letter from your previous employer or a document supporting your sustainable income.
A six-month bank statement is also required to back up your claims.
With the second option you need to provide a copy of the title deed and the property must be in Dubai not any other emirate or country.
Property can either be mortgaged or unmortgaged and if you own multiple properties with a combined value of Dhs1 million then you may also qualify.
With the savings option you need to provide an end-of-service letter or a letter from social services to prove you have retired in addition to a proof of savings letter.
Since option four is a combination of savings and property, you will need to provide a copy of the title deed and a proof of savings letter adjusted to the appropriate amount.
Your end-of-service letter will be from your last employer which should validate how many years of service you carried out and it must validate you’re a retiree.
You can prove your savings with a stamped bank letter from a UAE-based bank in Arabic and have a letter addressed to GDRFA stating that the funds are secure.
The visa will be available for five years and can be renewed if you continue to meet the requirements.
How much does a UAE retirement visa cost?
Once your application is approved by either the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (GDRFA) or Dubai Land Department (DLD) then you will need to pay a fee.
If you’re sending a savings applications then GDRFA are in charge of the process but if you are sending a property-based application then the DLD is in charge.
The visa costs around Dhs3,730 and it covers visa-related expenses including entry permit, visa status adjustment, residency stamping, Emirates ID, medical examination and management fees.
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