UAE Student Visa: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is developing rapidly as a higher education hub, driven in large part by a marked increase in domestic demand for better quality education and educational institutions.
Additionally, good weather, state-of-the-art facilities, job opportunities after graduation, and highly ranked universities in the Gulf region are among some of the many other reasons why the seven states in the UAE are great options for higher education.
If you’re planning to study in the UAE, here’s all you need to know about obtaining a student visa (also known as a student residence visa).
What documents do I need?
You’ll need to get your admissions letter first from the university before starting the application process. Then you will need to submit all your documents to the university who will handle the application for you.
These are the documents you will need to apply for a UAE student visa.
Do I need to take a medical test?
Yes, applicants are required to take a medical test at a certified UAE medical center upon arrival.
The test usually includes a general health check-up, chest X-ray, and tests for HIV (AIDS), Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis (TB), Leprosy, and Syphilis.
How much does it cost?
The visa processing fee is set by the UAE Government Services office, but the university or institute you applied for will also charge an additional service fee, which varies from one to the next.
A health insurance fee might also be included, depending on your university. If it’s not, you will need to get your own health insurance.
In general, a student visa in UAE can cost up to AED3,000 (US$820), excluding health insurance.
How long will it take?
The student residence visa process normally takes two to five weeks once you’ve submitted all the correct documents.
However, there is an express visa option for an additional fee which usually takes one to three weeks to process.
Take note that a student residence visa in the UAE becomes invalid if a student stays out of UAE for six months.
If you have a valid reason for doing so, such as a medical reason or family emergency, you will need to submit documentation to the immigration authorities.
Can I work on a student visa?
In 2017, it was announced that international students over 18 years old can apply for work permits for part-time jobs in the UAE. Previously, international students were only allowed to work on campus.
Therefore, you can apply for internships, work experience, or jobs to help fund your expenses and build your resume while studying for a degree in the UAE.
In Dubai, students are able to take up employment at about 4,500 businesses across nine creative clusters including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Dubai Studio City.
How long is the visa valid for?
Student visas for full-time programs offered in the UAE are valid for a maximum of 12 months. If your program is longer than that, you’ll need to renew it after a year.
The land of the desert and home to the Burj Khalifa, UAE has been considered to be the heart of the GCC for several decades. UAE which is sometimes referred to simply by The Emirates, shares borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman. Unlike many other countries in the Middle East, UAE is a developed country that exhibits political stability. Of the 9.8 million people living in The Emirates, 7.8 million are expatriates making the country impressively culturally diverse.
The United Arab Emirates is divided into 7 emirates and Abu Dhabi being the capital. Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah are some other major cities. Each emirate is governed by a different ruler, and they are a part of their federal supreme council. Islam is the main religion and Arabic is the primary language, although English is widely spoken due to a large number of expatriates in the country.
Dubai, the most popular city in the UAE, sees a lot of tourists from around the world annually, making it a global city. The Emirati economy mainly relies on tourism and business and they run on natural oil and gas. The UAE was a tax-free country up until 2018, where they started introducing a 5% value-added tax
Living In UAE
UAE has a lower cost of living when compared to other countries like the USA, Canada, and Australia. Part-time work opportunities and internships are available to students that want to earn on the side. Hence, it is more reasonable to stay there while working part-time. Fully furnished dormitories and apartments are available for students that wish to stay in student accommodation.
Students that are able to maintain academic records are offered golden residency permits which allows them to stay after the completion of their degree. However, if students are not able to keep up stellar grades, they can still opt to stay back and apply for work and employment visas.
Everyone residing in the UAE is required to have medical insurance that is covered by public or private insurance agencies. What’s more, people can choose their doctors and medical services as opposed to having to refer to a physician first. If foreigners want to receive medical attention from a health professional that speaks their native language, they can choose to do so very easily due to the culturally diverse environment in the Emirates.
Food is an essential part of the Emirati culture and plays a significant role in social settings. The UAE is very well known globally for delicious dates, coffee, and chocolates. Due to the presence of different nationalities in the UAE, the variety of international cuisines available is impressive.
The education system in UAE
The education system in the UAE is typically divided into pre-primary, basic education (further comprising three different stages; grades 1-4, grades 5-6, and grades 7-9), and secondary education. There are both public and private schools that are open to the public that mostly follows the national curriculum.
The national curriculum is predominantly taught in Arabic, foreign students either take additional lessons on the language or opt for other international curricula available in the Emirates. There are a number of international schools in the UAE that follow International GCE (IGCSE’s and A-Levels) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB).
On completing high school, students have the option to choose from university colleges, art colleges, and universities. Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D. degrees are only available at universities, whereas university colleges and art colleges just offer diplomas, associates, and technical degrees. There may be some exceptions in certain institutions where they offer bachelor’s degrees.
