Welcome to our guide on obtaining a residence visa for your newborn child in Sharjah, UAE. For expatriate parents residing in the UAE, it’s crucial to understand the process involved in securing a proper residence visa for your newborn. This guide will provide you with a step-by-step breakdown of all the necessary steps, from understanding why you need a visa to collecting the required documents and finally, applying for the visa. So let’s dive right in!
Every child born in the UAE to expatriate parents must have their own residence visa, regardless of their parents’ visa status. Without this visa, your child is considered an illegal resident in the country and may face penalties or restrictions on services. Therefore, it is crucial for parents to initiate the visa application process as soon as possible after the birth of their child.
Getting your newborn’s residence visa involves a series of steps, including acquiring a birth certificate, getting your child’s passport, and then applying for the visa. The importance of obtaining a residence visa is twofold. First, it ensures your child’s legal status in the UAE and avoids any penalties. Second, it facilitates access to various services such as healthcare and education. Getting this done within the stipulated time frame (120 days from the date of birth) saves you from paying a fine of AED 100 per day beyond this period.
Cost
Securing a residence visa for your newborn involves certain costs. The fees typically include an application fee (Dhs 100), issuance fee (Dhs 100), smart services fee (Dhs 100), and the fee for electronic services and the ICP (Dhs 50). It’s important to note that these are standard charges and can vary slightly depending on the specific circumstances.
Besides the fees mentioned above, there might be additional costs associated with document translation, attestation, courier services, and more. If the residence visa is not finalized within 120 days, a fee of AED 100 per day will be charged for each day over the 120-day period. Therefore, it’s advisable to keep some buffer for these potential additional expenses while planning your budget.
Required Documents
To apply for a residence visa for your newborn, you need to prepare a set of mandatory documents. These typically include the parent’s UAE residence visa and passport, child’s birth certificate and passport, parent’s salary certificate (if working in the government/semi-government/private sector), tenancy contract or title deed, electricity bill (if house owned by sponsor), and more. It’s always a good idea to double-check the list of required documents with the relevant authorities as requirements can change.
All certificates, including your child’s birth certificate, need to be attested by the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. This is an official confirmation of the authenticity of your documents. If your original documents are not in Arabic, they must be officially translated. This ensures that the UAE authorities can accurately process your documents.
Step-by-Step Procedure for Obtaining a Residence Visa
The first step in obtaining a residence visa for your newborn is to gather all the necessary documents. Make sure that all the documents are attested and translated (if required), up-to-date, and in order. Also, ensure that you meet the preliminary requirements such as having a minimum monthly salary of Dhs. 4,000 or Dhs. 3,500 with accommodation allowance.
Filling Out the Application Form
Once you have all the required documents, the next step is to fill out the residence visa application form. This can usually be done online through the relevant UAE government portal. Remember to cross-check all the information you enter to avoid any errors that could delay the processing of your application.
Submitting Application and Required Documents
After filling out the application form, you can submit it along with all the required documents. Depending on the specific process, this could be done online or at a service center. Always make sure to keep copies of everything you submit for your records.
Pay Necessary Fees
Upon submission of your application and documents, you’ll need to pay the necessary fees. As mentioned earlier, these usually include an application fee, issuance fee, smart services fee, and electronic services & ICP fee. Payment can typically be made online or at the service center.
Waiting for Approval and Receiving Visa
After your application is submitted and the fees paid, your application will be processed. Once approved, you will receive your newborn’s residence visa. This can either be collected from the service center or delivered to your home address, depending on the option you chose during the application process.
Conclusion
Applying for a residence visa for your newborn in Sharjah, UAE, is a straightforward process if you know what to do. By following this guide, you’ll be able to navigate the process with ease and confidence. Lastly, remember to start the process as soon as possible after your child’s birth to avoid any fines or complications. We hope this guide has been helpful and wish you all the best in this important task of securing your newborn’s future in the UAE!