Expatriates who left the UAE for 6 months will not be allowed into the country on a resident's visa

The UAE Ministry of the Interior has issued a circular completely banning expatriates who have been absent from the UAE for more than six months in a row from entering the country with a resident visa.

According to Major General Mohammed Ahmad Al Mari, Director General of the Department of Immigration and Residency of Dubai, the need to close a resident visa if an expatriate leaves the UAE for more than six months is established by the UAE Federal Law on Residence. However, to date, expatriates have had the opportunity to enter the Emirates with a resident visa available to them by filling out a special form at the airport. "This rule is far from new and everyone should know about it. An expatriate who has not been in the UAE for more than 6 months must have a valid visa to enter the country," said Al Mari. “We made a decision to strictly abide by the current legislation. There were no exceptions when the expatriates will be allowed to enter, but there are very few of them. I advise all UAE residents to know that a resident’s visa is considered to be closed after six months of absence from the country.”