UAE’s Ministry of Interior has launched a 90-day visit visa service, available via the e-services that are provided through the website moi.gov.ae, and the UAE-MOI app on smartphones.

The visit visa requires sponsorship from a citizen, resident or investor, a statement said.

The move comes as part of the ongoing efforts to keep pace with technological advancements, and to complete customer requests quickly, accurately, and with ease, said Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaiaili, acting assistant undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Naturalization, Residency and Ports Affairs.

“This direction from the Ministry and the Naturalization, Residency and Ports sector, comes as a part of the ongoing efforts to develop and achieve the public’s satisfaction with the provided services,” said Major General Al Khaiaili.

Lt Colonel Faisal Mohammed Al Shimmari, executive director of the MoI’s Smart Government Programme, highlighted the vision of the government to reduce the amount of customers that visit governmental centers by 80 per cent by the year 2018; thus enabling everyone to complete their transactions from home through their smartphones as a part of the Smart Government initiative. The initiative aims to raise awareness amongst government agencies to take advantage of smartphone services.

Lt Colonel Matar Kharbash, head of the team supporting smart e-transition at the Naturalization, Residency and Ports Sector, indicated that the service of acquiring a 90 day entry permit, or visit visa, is one of the services provided by the Entry Permits and Residency Department.

The department issues entry permits for friends or a relative who wish to visit someone who is legally residing in the UAE, or to visit a private or public legal person. The entry permit allows the person to enter the UAE for a limited period and could be for single or multiple entries.

“In order to issue a long term single entry visit visa for 90 days, with the sponsorship of the public sector and free zones, the applicant must fill out the e-form and attach a copy of the sponsored person’s passport, with a validity of not less than six months,” he added.

He explained that the applicant must also check the signature, stamp and card of the facility and the representative’s card. The applicants for a long term 90-day visit visa via the sponsorship of the private sector, will also need to attach the license and eGate card.

He also pointed out that applicants for the long term 90 day visit visa for single or multiple entries with the sponsorship of a citizen or a GCC citizen need to fill the e-form and attach the passport copy of the sponsor and the sponsored person, valid for no less than six months.

In case the sponsor is a family member and a resident, the e-form should be attached with a copy of a certified marriage contract, or certified birth certificate for children, and a certified tenancy contract or electricity bill (for a 90 days only visit), with a bank security deposit of Dh1,000 ($272), proof of health insurance, passport copy of the sponsored person valid for no less than 6 months, and an eGate card (for 90 days only visit) with a copy of the sponsor’s passport. – TradeArabia News Service