Abu Dhabi Immigration Update - Abu Dhabi Residential Lease is now required for all family and dependent visas

As from 1st July 2017 foreign nationals in Abu Dhabi are now required to show that they live in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in order to obtain new (and to renew) residency permits for family members, dependents and domestic staff. A local Abu Dhabi lease (Tawtheeq) will be required to be shown. Tenancy contracts from other Emirates will be rejected by the Department of Naturalisation and Residency (Immigration).

Exceptions can be made for individuals who wish to sponsor family who work for a company that also has a legal entity in the Emirate where the tenancy contract is registered. The exemption will be reviewed by a senior manager at immigration who will review on a case by case basis. It is likely that exceptions will only be made for onshore Branches or LLCs not Freezones but this is as yet unclear.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals?

Foreign nationals sponsoring dependents in Abu Dhabi must now submit a tenancy agreement registered in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (Tawtheeq) in order to obtain approval for the residency permit applications for their family members. This means that Employers with staff members who sponsor family member who current live outside Abu Dhabi but are visa’d against an Onshore Abu Dhabi Company will have to either look at this exemption above or encourage staff to move to Abu Dhabi.

PRO Partner Group will be advising clients affected directly and we will continue to monitor the situation and we will provide updates if there are any further developments. We can assist partnered companies and clients on this matter and applying for the relevant exemptions.

This post is for informational purposes only, if you wish to speak to PRO Partner Group please speak direct with your point of contact, or call us in Abu Dhabi on +971 (0) 2 448 5120, Dubai on +971 (0)4 456 1761 or email info@propartnergroup.com

#AbuDhabi #Immigration Update – Abu Dhabi #ResidentialLease is now required for all #FamilyVisas & #DependentVisas https://t.co/tky5M3C7ZK

— PRO Partner Group (@PROPartnerGroup) August 9, 2017