UAE Federal Law Number 6 of 1973 concerning entry and residence of

foreign national as thereafter amended by Federal Law No. 13 of 1996

regarding the Immigration Law (Immigration law) along with several

ministerial decisions governs the rules and regulations pertaining to

the issuance of visas in the country. 

UAE Federal Law Number 6 of 1973

concerning entry and residence of foreign national as thereafter amended

by Federal Law No. 13 of 1996 regarding the Immigration Law

(Immigration law) along with several ministerial decisions governs the

rules and regulations pertaining to the issuance of visas in the

country. Accordingly, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship

has promulgated a new rule for divorced/widowed women and their

children. The new rule grants divorced or widowed women and their

children to extend their visa for another year without a local sponsor

at the General Directorate and Residency of Foreign Affairs (GDFRA). The

new rule comes with a comprehensive change in the visa regulations in

the country, which benefit the foreign expatriate widows or divorcees to

manage their status in the country. The authority confirms that under

the concerned scheme the visa can only be renewed once.

In accordance with the procedures highlighted by GDFRA, the visa will

be processed within forty-eight (48) hours from the date of submitting

the application to grant widows and divorced women an opportunity to

sponsor their own or children's visa if they do not have male guardians

to support them. In order to avail such benefit, it is pertinent to note

that the visa of the applicants must be under husband/guardian at the

time of either divorce or demise and the concerned visa was not expired.

Procedure for Renewal

The new rule lays down a procedure for submitting an application and

the perquisites to be considered prior to registering for a visa

extension. The applicants must submit an application form provided by

the GDFRA along with an official divorce certificate or a death

certificate as the case may be. The applicants must also submit the

proof of their previous or existing visa such as the copy of their old

visa or any proof for the family. In addition, it is pertinent to note

that a nominal fee has been charged by the authority of AED 100 (UAE

Dirhams one hundred) for extending the visa and another AED 100 (UAE

Dirhams one hundred) for cancelling the existing visa.

Further, the new rule clearly specifies that the visa or residency

period for the children will not exceed as that of the mother. Following

are the conditions to be met prior to submitting a request for visa

extension:

husband during the divorce or death, and such a visa should be valid;

for the mother and children above the age of 18 along with their

Emirates ID;

Conclusion

The concerned rule or scheme will assist the women who have lost the

sole breadwinner of the family leaving her and the children in the legal

limbo. As opposed to previous situations where divorced or widowed

women do not have an employment visa were obliged to leave the country

immediately post the divorce or death of their guardian, the new reform

will provide additional time-period for the women to manage the

situation and either seek for employment or leave the country. The

concerned reform will allow women to settle until the legal proceedings

with regards to their divorce or death are complete not leaving them in

financial constraints.