How to transfer your residence visa from an old passport to a new one in the UAE

As a UAE resident, there are a few things you need to keep in mind regarding your personal documents and visas information. If your passport has expired and you apply for a new one from your consulate or embassy in the UAE, you must also want to transfer your UAE residency visa to the new passport. Read on to find out how the transfer of UAE residence visa to a new passport works.

TRANSFER OF UAE RESIDENCE VISA TO NEW PASSPORT

Expats who apply for new passports are not required to have their residence visas transferred from their old passports to the new ones. But if you would prefer to travel with a single passport instead of carrying the older one too, as proof of your residence visa, you can always have the visa transferred to the new passport. In the case of sponsored employment, the process is handled by the company’s HR department. But it is still a good idea to know the steps involved. 

WHERE DO I APPLY FOR THE TRANSFER?

Those who wish to transfer the UAE visa to a new passport can do so in the following ways:

• If you are in Dubai, you can transfer your residence visa from the old passport to the updated one via the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Amer centers.
• In other emirates, you will need to apply for the service through the ICA or Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.

STEPS FOR UAE RESIDENCE VISA TRANSFER TO NEW PASSPORT

STEP ONE: APPLY FOR VISA TRANSFER IN THE UAE

The first step towards applying for the transfer of the UAE residence visa to a new passport is filling out a form. You can do this:

• At a typing center 
• At an ICA or Amer center near you
• Online through the GDRFA website.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR UAE RESIDENCY VISA TRANSFER TO A NEW PASSPORT

To apply successfully, you will need these documents:

• Colored photograph (passport size)
• Copy of your old and new passport
• Original Emirates ID of the sponsor

Those on company-sponsored visas will have to present some additional documents. This includes:

• Copy of the trade license/license number
• Immigration establishment card
• Immigration password and user ID of the company

A company-sponsored employee who has lost their passport with the UAE residence visa on it needs to present a letter confirming they have registered the loss with the police along with the above-mentioned documents.

STEP 2: PAYMENT

Making the necessary payments is the next step for the successful transfer of a UAE residence visa to a new passport. The amount may vary based on your emirate. 

For a better idea of what you may be expected to pay, contact, or visit the Amer centers in Dubai or use the GDRFA customer service helpline. In general, the cost to transfer a Dubai residence visa to a new passport is AED 259.90 as per the Amer center website.

• GDRFA Customer Services: 800-5111

The normal process may take three to four working days to come through. For urgent services, applicants are required to visit their nearest immigration office where they can have their visas stamped immediately.

STEP 3: CONTACTING COURIER SERVICES

After the fee has been paid, you will receive a text from the immigration authorities as well as an email. The approval will also include an airway bill number, to be provided to the courier service you plan to use. 

Next, contact the concerned courier services to request for your passport to be picked up at a specific time and date from your location. If your visa is issued in Dubai you can also contact Zajel services. For visas that are issued in other emirates, you can contact Empost. 

After both passports are picked by the service, they will be processed and returned to you. This includes the new passport with the transferred residence visa.

The whole process mentioned in this post makes the transfer of a UAE residence visa to a new passport easier for you. If you have applied for a new visa, you can also check your UAE visa status online. Want to bring your family over? Learn more about the new UAE family visa rules before you apply.

Apart from this, you can also learn about other processes such as how the UAE visa cancellation works.

The steps might be a bit complex for those who haven’t gone through them before. So, if you’d rather have someone else handle the process for you, contact any of the passport and visa services in the UAE. 

source: bayut