A UAE residence visa must be renewed every 1, 2, 3, 5 or 10 years depending on its type. Renewal is not automatic — missing it triggers a AED 50 per day overstay fine, capped at AED 5,000 after 6 months.
Renewal by visa type
- Employment visa: your employer initiates via MOHRE + GDRFA/ICP.
- Investor / partner visa: via your trade-license issuer (DED, ADDED, free zone).
- Family / spouse / children: the sponsor (employee or investor) renews dependents via GDRFA/ICP.
- Student visa: the university or parent sponsor renews.
- Golden Visa: 10-year, self-sponsored — you apply directly.
Typical 2026 cost
| Item | Fee (AED) |
|---|---|
| Residence stamping (2 years) | 300 – 800 |
| Medical fitness test | 320 – 750 |
| Emirates ID renewal | 200 – 500 |
| Health insurance (annual, basic) | 800 – 1,500 |
| Typing / service fee | 200 – 500 |
Typical timeline
Straightforward renewals take 5–10 working days if all documents are in order. Express channels can complete it in 24–72 hours.
Start 30 days early
Always begin the renewal at least 30 days before expiry. Medical fitness bookings, insurance approval, and document collection regularly take longer than expected.
Common rejection reasons
- Expired passport (< 6 months validity)
- Failed medical fitness (communicable diseases)
- Insurance policy not meeting DHA/DoH mandatory minimums
- Salary on bank statements inconsistent with labour contract
- Outstanding absconding case or Etisalat/DU debt
#Residence Visa#Renewal#GDRFA#ICP
Need help with this?
Our PRO consultants handle the full process end-to-end — documents, government submission, and delivery. Service fee is fully refundable pre-submission.