#AskDXBOfficial: All your Dubai visa queries answered

A top official has answered a series of questions related to current immigration and travel procedures to Dubai during a virtual interaction. Major-General Mohammed Al Marri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai, answered the queries posted by residents and the media during the interaction called #AskDXBOfficial hosted by the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO).
Q. Is there any criteria for approving a return permit for Dubai residents?
All residents in the UAE can return to the country. However, there are some companies that must apply for the return permit on behalf of their sponsored employees. We have approved some such requests already. This is important because the residents return with guaranteed employment.
Q. What happens to tourist visas that were issued before the Covid-19 crisis?
A: This involves a partnership between the GDRFA and travel agencies to find the right solution whether that is to reschedule flights to a later date or book different tourist packages. Either way, we are optimistic that the flow of tourism will increase.
Q. Are we allowed to leave the UAE and return with an expired residency visa that was extended automatically till the end of the year?
A. Holders of expired residency visas are not allowed to exit until they renew their residency visas. If they exit and wish to return with an expired visa, it will not be renewed upon their return. So, it is best for them to renew their visas before exiting the country to enable their return.
Q. What should we do if the travel permits of some family members are rejected?
A: Return permits for families can include all members - the mother, father, children and any domestic helpers. If any of them are not approved within this permit, there could be a mistake made while entering their data. When domestic helpers are returning alone from their home country, their employers must apply for their return permit individually.
Q. Can residents enter and exit Dubai only on Emirates and flydubai?
A. All airlines permitted to operate at the Dubai Airports have a right to transport their passengers to the UAE and are obliged to ease residents' process of returning and obtaining an entry permit for them.
Q. We obtained a return permit to Dubai but we are unable to leave the country we are in due to travel restrictions here. What is the solution?
A: They are required to wait until air bridges to the UAE reopen. They must then re-apply for the return permit and have it approved.
Q. What are the conditions for applying to sponsor my elderly mother?
A: As long as certain requirements are met, we will issue their residency to live with their child/children in Dubai.
Q. Is it possible for those aged above 60 years to have their Dubai residencies renewed?
A: Renewing the residency of a person over 60 is dependent on the condition of their health and the sector they work in. Age is not a factor in granting residencies but health will always be a factor.
Q. What is your advice for people who lost their jobs and were fined after being unable to leave the UAE due to travel restrictions?
A. The humanitarian cases department at the GDRFA in Dubai handles each case individually. So, to all those who have accumulated fines, please do not assume you cannot exit the country. We at the Dubai Airports and the GDRFA will handle each humanitarian case individually and facilitate their travel.
nandini@khaleejtimes.com