Dubai: If you are a UAE resident and find yourself stuck outside the UAE for work or personal reasons, it is important to keep track of how long it has been since you re-entered the UAE. This is because, as a general rule, if an expatriate resident lives outside the UAE for more than 180 days continuously, his or her residence visa will be nullified automatically. If this happens, you would need to apply for a new entry permit to enter the UAE again.However, there are some exceptions to this rule as well.Here is all you need to knowVisa holders exempt from six-month ruleIf you fall under the following categories of visa holders, you can stay outside the UAE for more than six months and at the same time maintain the validity of your residence visa:Golden Visa or Green Visa holdersForeigner wife of an Emirati citizenDomestic helpers accompanying Emiratis having a scholarship for study abroadDomestic helpers accompanying UAE patients travelling or sent abroad for treatmentExpatriate residents and their companions sent abroad for treatment, provided they submit a medical report approved by medical authorities in the UAEDomestic helpers accompanying members of diplomatic and consular missions representing the UAE abroad and employees of such missions holding residence visas in the UAEExpatriate residents working for the public sector sent by their employers to attend training or specialist courses, or those working in their employers' offices abroad and their families who are holders of valid residence visas in the UAESome expatriate students studying in universities or institutes abroad. You need to check with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) if this applies to your emirate of residence.Students enrolled in educational institutions abroad, who are holders of valid residence visas in the UAEInvestors holding valid residence visas in the UAEResidents sponsored by UAE diplomatic and consular representatives and their dependentsAny other person excluded under a decision from ICP, provided that person has a valid residence visa and pays the due fees.Applying for re-entryIf your visa does get annulled because you stayed outside the UAE for longer than six months, you would need to apply for a permit to enter the UAE.For Dubai, someone needs to visit the Amer centre along with the applicant’s passport copy, Emirates ID copy and proof of reason (health, study or other).For visas issued in other emirates, you can submit the request through the ICP portal: https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=68e352d65ae59b00117383fcHowever, you need to fulfil the following requirements to apply for the entry permit:Submit the application from outside the countryApply request after 180 days of staying outside the countryProvide a valid reason to justify being outside the country for more than 180 daysPay a fine of AED 100 for every month spent outside the country after six months.Once your application is approved, you must enter the country within 30 days starting from the date of approval.
