Residence visas now only valid for two yearsCabinet decision brings all expatriates under same category from January 2011
All expatriates in the UAE will have to renew their residence visas and labour permits every two years, instead of the current three, from January 2011.
In a new decision approved by the UAE Cabinet, labour permits of all employees would have to be renewed every two years. Since the residence visas are tagged with the labour permits they too have to be renewed, according to media reports.In a statement issued to Wam, Humaid Bin Deemas, Acting Director-General of the Ministry of Labour said: “The UAE Cabinet has reduced the validity of labour cards of all categories of people who work in private sector from three years to two years in a bid to regulate the labour market.”
With this move all expatriate workers would now come under one category and have to renew their documents every two years. Hitherto, only drivers, domestic servants and other such categories were given two-year labour permits and visas.
According to Bin Deemas, the decision will help the private sector save Dh678 million annually as ministry records reveal that 70 per cent of labour permits are cancelled before two years.
He said the decision would also give more flexibility to both employers and employees, who can terminate their relationship in two years and not three as it currently stands.
- I already have a three-year residency visa stamped on my passport. Will I need to change that?
- The new rule concerning the reduced validity of the labour is expected to be implemented in January 2011. So, if you already have a valid labour card, you need not do anything until the card is due for renewal as per its original date.
- Will the visa cost be reduced accordingly, or will it cost the same?
- It’s still early days to answer that. According to media reports quoting Humaid bin Deemas, Acting Director-General of the UAE Ministry of Labour, the new rules should help the private sector save Dh678m annually as stats show that 70 per cent of labour cards are cancelled before two years have elapsed. This would suggest that the ministry might reduce the fees pro-rata although we’ll have to wait for a ministry announcement on this before assuming anything.
- I have sponsored my family, including my wife and kids, for a three-year period. Will that change?
- If your family has already had their visas stamped for a three-year period, that wouldn’t need to change before their visas come up for renewal. However, if you apply for the same after the new rules come into effect in January 2011, the new validity period might apply.
- Does the new rule mean I can change employment after the two-year period without a ban?
- Yes, it’s likely that the automatic restriction that the Ministry of Labour places on individuals changing jobs before completing three years’ service gets altered along with the validity of the labour card. According to media reports quoting Ministry of Labour’s bin Deemas, the decision would add to the flexibility in relationship between employers and employees; and it would offer both parties the ability to end the relationship without big losses for the employer and in a way that doesn’t violate the labour laws.
- My company used to take care of the visa and labour card formalities. Will that change now?
- For expats, the company that employs them will sponsor them for a UAE residence visa, along with a labour card or work permit. But not all companies do the legwork of completing the formalities on behalf of their employees and their dependants. It’s better to confirm with your PRO or the HR department. Except for UAE and GCC national citizens, other nationalities must obtain a UAE residence visa to legally live in the UAE.
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