Student visa for United Arab Emirates: documents, fees and steps

Documents requested

Copy of passport, valid for more than six monthsConditions and details
The FAQ of the federal identity authority (ICP) requests, among the general documents of a visa application, a copy of the passport valid for more than six months. The Study Dubai portal requests a passport valid for at least six months; the GDRFA Dubai service page requests a copy of the passport.
Recent colour ID photo on a white backgroundConditions and details
The GDRFA Dubai service page on the student residence permit requests a recent personal photo, in colour, on a white background. The Study Dubai portal specifies that it is taken in a professional studio.
Certificate from the university or institute specifying the duration of studies, or admission letterConditions and details
To apply for the student visa, a certificate issued by the university or institute specifying the duration of studies must be submitted. The Study Dubai portal refers to an admission letter from the university or a certificate of studies confirming the duration of the course.
Health insurance valid in the Emirates (insurance card or certificate)Conditions and details
The ICP FAQ cites valid health insurance among the general visa application documents. For the student residence permit in Dubai, GDRFA requests health insurance and Study Dubai a card or an insurance certificate in the Emirates. These lists do not specify a minimum coverage amount.
Medical fitness examination approved by the authorities, for applicants aged 18 and overConditions and details
A residence visa requires that the applicant aged 18 or over undergo a medical examination proving their fitness, undergo a security check and apply for an Emirates ID card from the federal identity authority. The GDRFA Dubai service page requests a medical examination approved by the relevant authorities.

Depending on your situation

Emirates ID application receipt, requested by GDRFA DubaiConditions and details
GDRFA Dubai requests the Emirates ID application receipt for its student residence permit. The Emirates ID card is mandatory for residents; the proof to be submitted depends on the procedure. Confirm with the sponsor or the authority whether the application receipt or the card already held is required.
Student undertaking letter, for the Dubai university pathway when requestedConditions and details
Study Dubai cites the "Student Undertaking Letter" among the documents of foreign students whose university sponsors the visa in Dubai. This list must not be applied automatically to sponsorship by a parent or to the other emirates. Ask the institution whether this letter is necessary and which template to use.
National identity card (nationals of Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan)Conditions and details
The Study Dubai portal adds, for nationals of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, the national identity card among the documents of a foreign student. The GDRFA Dubai service page on the student residence permit does not mention this document.
Electronic entry permit obtained by the sponsor, for the student who is outside the EmiratesConditions and details
The residence visa cannot be processed for an applicant who is outside the Emirates: they must first enter the country with a valid entry permit and stay there until the end of the procedure. The Study Dubai portal specifies that most Dubai universities allow the application to be started from the country of origin, and that the student receives the entry permit once the application is approved.

Official fees

Student residence permit, GDRFA of Dubai: issuance fee 200 AED
Student residence permit, GDRFA of Dubai: knowledge dirham (“Knowledge Dirham”), supplement 10 AED
Student residence permit, GDRFA of Dubai: innovation dirham (“Innovation Dirham”), supplement 10 AED
Student residence permit, GDRFA of Dubai: delivery 20 AED
Student residence permit, GDRFA of Dubai: additional fees if the student is already in the Emirates 500 AED

Steps

Be admitted to an accredited establishment and confirm sponsorship: university or establishment, or resident parent if the conditions are met.
Obtain from the establishment the certificate specifying the duration of studies, then gather the documents: passport, photo, health insurance and, as applicable, national identity card.
Have the competent sponsor initiate the application. In Dubai, most universities allow starting from the country of origin.
If you are abroad, receive the electronic entry permit after approval, then travel to the Emirates.
After arrival, pass the medical fitness examination and the security check, then apply for the Emirates ID card with the federal identity authority.
Complete the residence formalities. Study Dubai announces approximately 15 working days after arrival for this step; the timeframe depends on the application and the university.
In Dubai, renew the ordinary student visa every year through the university or the sponsor, with up-to-date documents, the medical examination and the Emirates ID.

Where to apply

Accredited university or establishment, or resident parent eligible for student sponsorship
GDRFA of Dubai smart services (website and application), with UAE Pass or a username, used by the sponsoring establishment
Customer Happiness centers and Amer service centers of Dubai, to submit the application in person
ICP application and website, approved typing and tourism offices, for the visa application of a sponsor whose establishment belongs to an emirate other than Dubai
“Study Dubai” portal of the Government of Dubai: conditions and steps of the student visa in Dubai

Good to know

Who can sponsor the studentConditions and details
A student may stay in the Emirates for their studies under the sponsorship of a parent residing in the Emirates or under that of the university or approved institution where they study; universities facilitate the procedures. Expatriate residents may sponsor their male children up to 25 years of age, and beyond if the student proves that they are pursuing studies in a higher education institution; they may continue to sponsor their daughters for studies, whatever their age, until their marriage.
Ordinary student visa in Dubai: one year, renewableConditions and details
The ordinary student visa is valid for one year and is renewed each year for the duration of the course, for students enrolled in an approved institution in Dubai. The renewal is processed by the university or the sponsor and requires up-to-date documents, including a medical fitness examination and the renewal of the Emirates ID. If the visa is approaching its expiration, the renewal must be requested through the university before the end date to avoid fines and overstaying.
Announced timeframesConditions and details
The Study Dubai portal indicates that the processing of a student visa in Dubai generally takes from two to five weeks; some universities offer an express option of seven to ten working days. After arrival, the residence stamp takes about 15 working days. The timeframes vary according to the university and whether the application is complete. The GDRFA Dubai service page announces 48 hours for the issuance of the student residence permit. The 48 hours concern the GDRFA service and do not represent the total duration of the university procedures; these announced timeframes are not guaranteed.
The residence visa cannot be processed from abroadConditions and details
The official portal reminds applicants that a residence visa cannot be processed for an applicant who is outside the Emirates: they must first enter with a valid entry permit and stay in the country until the end of the procedure. To verify the validity of an entry permit or a visa, the portal refers to the GDRFA website (Dubai) or to the ICP eChannels platform (other emirates).
Medical examination, security check and Emirates IDConditions and details
A residence visa requires, from the age of 18, a medical fitness examination, a security check and an application for an Emirates ID card from the federal identity authority. The validity period of a residence visa varies according to its type and the sponsor: one, two or three years for a sponsored visa, up to five or ten years for a visa without a sponsor. The expiry date of a dependant's visa does not exceed that of the sponsor.
Emirates ID card: legal obligation and proceduresConditions and details
The Emirates ID is an identity card issued by the federal identity authority (ICP); applying for it and carrying it at all times is a legal obligation for citizens and residents. A new card is applied for on the ICP website or through an approved typing centre, and it may be necessary to go to an ICP service centre to provide biometric data. The cancellation of the residence visa entails the automatic cancellation of the card.
Medical examinations required of foreigners who come to live in the EmiratesConditions and details
A medical fitness examination is required from the age of 18 for residence. The U.AE medical page distinguishes examinations according to profile: the syphilis and hepatitis B tests concern in particular nursery, domestic, catering, beauty salon and health club workers. The pregnancy test concerns female domestic workers. This list does not constitute a set of tests imposed on every student. On renewal, the page provides, for certain tuberculosis cases, a conditional fitness certificate and a one-year residence with treatment in the Emirates. The approved medical centre determines the applicable examinations.
Student's familyConditions and details
The family members of a foreign student enrolled in a university in the Emirates may stay in the country as long as they can be suitably accommodated; the government authorised this measure for the emotional stability of students.
Gulf Cooperation Council nationalsConditions and details
According to the Study Dubai portal, citizens of the GCC countries (including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) do not need a visa to study in Dubai; universities nevertheless request the usual enrolment documents: valid GCC passport or identity card, Emirates ID, academic transcripts or certificates and admission letter.
Student already in the Emirates with another visaConditions and details
A student who is staying in the Emirates with a family visa or another residence visa may need to switch to a student residence visa, in particular a male student over 25 years of age, unless they fall under the parental sponsorship rules. The documents then include, in addition to the usual documents, the cancellation of the visa with the current sponsor, if applicable.
After studiesConditions and details
The Study Dubai portal presents, for graduates, a visit visa to look for work (60, 90 or 120 days, without a sponsor), the green visa (five-year residence for skilled workers, freelancers and self-employed persons) and the golden visa. A graduate may also switch from a student visa to a work visa if they obtain an offer from an employer in the Emirates, which handles the application, cancels the student visa and applies for the new visa.
Short-term study or training visit: other procedureConditions and details
The GDRFA of Dubai also issues a single-entry visit visa for study, training or rehabilitation, for 30, 60 or 180 days, whose host is an accredited university, institute or research establishment. It requires a photo, a copy of the passport valid for at least six months and a letter from the educational entity indicating the program and its duration. This sheet describes the student residence visa, not this visit.
Dubai: sponsoring establishment, annual increase and grace periodConditions and details
For the student permit issued by the GDRFA of Dubai, to sponsor students, the university, college, institute or research center must hold a license, and obtain the approval of the Ministry of Education or the competent educational authority of the emirate. The issuance fee (200 AED) increases by 100 AED per year when the residence exceeds two years. The grace period to stay in the country after the expiration or cancellation of the residence permit is 60 days.
Prolonged absence outside the EmiratesConditions and details
An expatriate resident who lives outside the Emirates for more than 180 consecutive days generally has their residence visa automatically cancelled. Exceptions exist, notably for expatriate students who study abroad at a university or institute (according to Dubai rules, to be verified with the ICP for other emirates) and for students enrolled in establishments abroad holding a valid residence visa.

Nationalities covered

This procedure applies to 243 nationalities.

Afghanistan
Åland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Caribbean Netherlands
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Curaçao
Cyprus
Czechia
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern Territories
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
North Macedonia
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Réunion
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Korea
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Türkiye
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
U.S. Outlying Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Western Sahara
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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