6 exceptions that allow residents to stay outside the UAE for more than 6 months

The UAE Digital Government confirmed that the sponsored person must not stay outside the UAE for more than six months, otherwise his residence visa will be invalidated, noting that there are six exceptions to this rule.

She stressed that the general rule is that a resident expatriate, holding a valid residence visa from the UAE, who wishes to travel abroad for any reason, must not stay outside the country for more than six months, otherwise his residence visa will be invalidated, and at this stage, he will not be able to enter the UAE, except after applying for a new entry permit.

However, there are some exceptions to the rule, which allow a resident expatriate to stay outside the UAE for more than six months, while maintaining the validity of his residency visa in the country. These include a foreign wife sponsored by her Emirati husband, a resident expatriate who works in a government agency and is sent abroad for treatment by the government department. In this case, a medical report approved by the Ministry of Health and Community Protection or other approved health authorities must be submitted, and domestic workers accompanying a student studying abroad or a person receiving treatment abroad.

Exceptions include domestic workers accompanying members of diplomatic and consular missions representing the country abroad, mission employees who hold a residence visa in the UAE, public sector employees who are sent to attend training or specialized courses, or employees in the offices of employers abroad, and their families who hold valid residence visas in the UAE, and a student residing in the UAE who travels abroad to study at a university (in accordance with the provisions of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai), taking into account verification in the other emirates.