The UAE is one of the most attractive countries in the Middle East when it comes to starting a business or finding employment. Moreover, local companies hire many foreign citizens who meet their requirements and who are willing to relocate here for short or long periods of time. This is also the case of South African citizens who will find it quite easy to migrate here.
Citizens of South Africa interested in immigration to the UAE can rely on our lawyers in Dubai who can help them apply for the types of visas that suits their interests.
Types of UAE visas for South African citizens
The UAE has modern immigration regulations due to the fact that it has evolved a lot from an economic point of view and it now needs to complete its workforce. One of the best of ways to do that is to hire foreign citizens. However, this is not the only way one can immigrate to UAE from South Africa, as there are several other options available in terms of visas which can lead to UAE residency. These are:
- student visas which are suitable for those seeking to study and then work in UAE companies,
- business visas are also available for South African citizens seeking to set up enterprises in the UAE,
- dependent visas for those who have close relatives who legally live in the UAE,
- investor and retirement visas which are a suitable option for those willing to contribute to the UAE economy.
Out of all Emirates, Dubai is one of the most appreciated by foreign citizens no matter if these come from Western countries like the USA or Canada, or from European ones.
If you are interested in moving to this Emirate, our Dubai lawyers will be glad to assist. We are at your service if you want to move to Dubai from South Africa.
Obtaining residence in UAE as a South African
When seeking to relocate to UAE from South Africa for more than 90 days, a residence permit will be issued based on the reason to enter the country. When it comes to Dubai, employment visas are usually associated with residence permits that can be solicited by the employer, thus making the entire immigration procedure easier.
Recent changes in the Employment Law have made it safer for citizens of all over the world who want to work in Dubai, as a concrete employment offer must be made before starting the immigration procedures.
With the help of our immigration lawyers in Dubai the new requirements associated with moving to the UAE can be full understood. You can also rely on us if you want to relocate here from the United Kingdom, for example.
What is the simplest way to move to UAE from South Africa?
It cannot be said that one type of visa is harder to obtain compared to another, as it all depends on the reason of immigration. While South African students will be able to join the education institutions they were enrolled in based on the invitation or acceptance letters, workers will enter the country based on their employment contracts.
When it comes to African businesspersons, they can first apply for short-term visas in order to come and start the procedures for opening their companies and then apply for residence permit and come and manage their UAE-based enterprises.
Our law firm in Dubai is at your service if you are a South African investor who wants to start a company here. We can also handle the business registration procedure on your behalf.
The retirement visa in the UAE
One of the most recent visas created by the UAE Government for foreign nationals aged above 55 is the retirement visa. The scheme has the following requirements fro those who want to relocate to Dubai from South Africa:
- in exchange for a 5-year visa, the applicant must contribute to the local economy,
- an investment of 2 million AED in real estate is one of the options,
- another option is to have savings of at least 1 million AED deposited in a bank account,
- a minimum monthly income of 200,000 AED that can be proved can also be used to obtain this visa.
You can obtain more information on this type of visa from our lawyers in Dubai.
FAQ on relocating from South Africa to UAE
- Is the UAE visa application procedure hard?
No, the procedure is not complicated and can be completed online, however, our lawyers are at your service if you want to make sure it goes smoothly.
- How long does it take to obtain a residence permit for the UAE?
The procedure of obtaining a residence visa can range between 2 or 3 weeks, as it depends on the preparation of all the documents.
- What is the validity of a work visa in Dubai?
A Dubai work visa has a 3-year validity period.
- Can I relocate to UAE from South Africa if I start a small business?
Yes, you can relocate here from South Africa even if you set up a small-scale business.
For guidance in immigrating to UAE from South Africa, please contact our Dubai law firm.