United Arab Emirates · Student
United Arab Emirates Student visa
Student Residence Visa
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Student visa is a student route for United Arab Emirates. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Processing
- Up to 2 days
Time and long term
ProcessingUp to 2 days
The Federal Authority lists 2 days as its service time for issuing a residence permit.
Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security
Presence rulesStay rule
The usual 180-day limit on living outside the UAE does not apply to students enrolled at institutions abroad who hold a valid UAE residence visa.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a place at a school or university in United Arab Emirates
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The accredited institution or a UAE-resident parent sponsors the student.
- Resident parents can sponsor sons up to age 25 and daughters until they marry.
Documents3
- A certificate from the university or institute specifies the study duration.
- A passport valid for at least 6 months is required.
- Valid health insurance is required.
Steps1
- Universities facilitate the visa process for their students.
After you arrive2
- Residence follows the study programme, and the student may stay 180 days after the study period ends.
- Family members of foreign university students may stay if they can afford suitable housing.
When you become tax resident
How United Arab Emirates decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in 12 consecutive months
- At least 90 days in 12 consecutive monthsApplies to UAE nationals, holders of a valid residence permit, or GCC nationals who also have a permanent place of residence in the UAE or work or carry on business there.
- Foreign-source income
No personal income tax
The UAE levies no income tax on individuals; foreign-source salary, investment and rental income of an individual is outside Corporate Tax.
All tax rules for United Arab Emirates Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Valid health insurance is required
- Accommodation
Family members of foreign university students may stay if they can afford suitable housing
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Residence for study under the sponsorship of the accredited university or college, or of a resident parent. Applicants submit a certificate stating the duration of study. 1
Requirements
- The accredited institution or a UAE-resident parent sponsors the student. 1
- Resident parents can sponsor sons up to age 25 and daughters until they marry. 1
- A certificate from the university or institute specifies the study duration. 1
- A passport valid for at least 6 months is required. 2
- Valid health insurance is required. 2
- Universities facilitate the visa process for their students. 1
- Residence follows the study programme, and the student may stay 180 days after the study period ends. 2
- Family members of foreign university students may stay if they can afford suitable housing. 1
Stay
- Term follows the study period stated in the certificate from the university or institute.
Family
Family members of foreign university students may stay if they can afford suitable housing.
Official sources
- Student visa · UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-11
- Issuing Residency Permit (terms, fees and documents for each applicant category) · Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) · checked 2026-10-12
- General provisions for the residence visa · UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-11
Student visa and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student visa | – | – | – |
| Study visa (ED) Thailand | – | 3 mo, renewable | No |
| Student visa Japan | – | 4.3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Student visa · Non-formal Indonesia | – | 4 yr, renewable | No |
| Student's Pass Singapore | – | – | No |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Student visa?
Term follows the study period stated in the certificate from the university or institute.
How long does the Student visa take to process?
The Federal Authority lists 2 days as its service time for issuing a residence permit.
Can I bring my family on the Student visa?
Family members of foreign university students may stay if they can afford suitable housing.
How are Student visa holders taxed in United Arab Emirates?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Student visa. The standard rules apply: The UAE does not levy income tax on individuals; VAT is 5%. Individuals running a business in the UAE pay corporate tax only if business turnover exceeds AED 1 million (≈ $272,000) in a calendar year.
More in United Arab Emirates
Study visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 3 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Student visa · UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-11
- Issuing Residency Permit (terms, fees and documents for each applicant category) · Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) · checked 2026-10-12
- General provisions for the residence visa · UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.