Federal authority makes it simpler for women, students and visitors to extend period of stay in UAE.
The recent Cabinet decision granting widows and divorced women a one-year residency extension without the need for a sponsor will come into effect from Sunday, October 21.
The residency visa extension is for only for one year, starting from the date of death or divorce. It also covers their children living in the UAE
The new visa rules aim to give women the opportunity to adjust their social and economic status before leaving the country.
Visitors and tourists can also apply for a new entry visa after the expiry of the first one, without the need to leave the country.
For widows and divorce, the authority will levy a fee of Dh100 for canceling the previous visa and a fee of Dh100 for one-year residency visa.
Regarding the renewal of visa for children sponsored by their parents after completing their university or high school, or after turning 18 years of age, they will be given a one-year residency visa that can be renewed for another year. They have to pay a fee of Dh100 for one-year visa, and another Dh100 for renewing it for another one year.
Those who do not meet the above conditions but subject to a special humanitarian condition, they have to pay a bank deposit of Dh5,000.
Visitors and tourists can renew their visit visas twice for 30 days, against Dh600 each.
In case of violations, visitors and tourists will have to pay a Dh100 per day, starting from 10 days after the expiry of their visas.
'Humanity comes first in nation's initiatives'
Lawyers in the UAE told Khaleej Times that the new visa system is another vital initiative set by the UAE government, reinforcing that "humanity comes first".
"This step, once again, shows the UAE's stand on human consideration and human matters," said Ashish Mehta, founder and Managing Partner of Ashish Mehta & Associates. "The country reinforced this as a requirement for society and for the people."
He pointed out that the new visa system would benefit thousands of divorcees and widows during times of turmoil.
"When a woman loses her husband, through death or divorce, she goes through a lot of mental stress, emotional stress, and trauma.The UAE has, therefore, established a system that helps meet the needs of women placed in difficult situations."
Mehta said that the system would also provide a huge relief to many expat parents, with sons over the age of 18. "They were struggling to arrange alternative visas for their sons," he added.
Abdullah Al Hammadi, a lawyer at Al Mustaqbal Law Firm, said there were "countless cases" of husbands who misuse their sponsorship power against their wives. "Some husbands do not choose to ease the process for their wives and often become very difficult."
Source: Gulf News