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Criteria included a foreign worker's profession before, but that's now changed
31 March 2019
| Last updated on 1 April 2019
A new update approved by the UAE Cabinet aims to make the residency process more inclusive...
It will soon be easier to sponsor your family in UAE as an expat, thanks to a new set of criteria approved.
The UAE Cabinet has announced that the new residency visa process will take into account the sponsor's salary earned, as opposed to their job title. Whilst the exact minimum salary has not yet been announced, the minimum amount currently stands at AED 4,000 for men and AED 10,000 for women.
SEE ALSO: Residency visa procedures for families in Dubai and UAE
Previously, the residency visa regulations were based on an individual's profession, and those wishing to sponsor their families must be at a managerial level or above in order to bring their family onto their visa. For women, they must be a doctor, engineer or teacher - and a petition should be made if she's in a different industry.
The change is a step towards reaffirming the UAE's position as a "hub for talents and the land of opportunities", it said in post shared by the UAE Cabinet. It also aims to help maintain "a healthy balance between professional and personal life".
Shared in a statement by the General Secretariat of the Cabinet, the amendment is in line with international developments and accordance with best practices. It will provide skilled workers the opportunity to bring their family to the UAE, regardless of their educational background.
This news follows the recent announcement that ten-year visas will be granted to investors, entrepreneurs and specialists in the fields of science and knowledge. Those who apply for a ten-year visa will also be able to include their spouse and any children.
SEE ALSO: A wife's guide to sponsoring her husband and children
"The decision aims at enhancing family stability of foreign workers and social cohesion, as well as attracting highly skilled workers while maintaining a healthy balance between professional and personal life," the statement continued.
As a result of this change, the Cabinet decision has called on relevant government entities to conduct studies to assess and enhance the services provided to residents, including aspects of education and health, and encourage the active participation of their family member in the job market as an alternative to recruiting new workers from abroad.
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