Abu Dhabi: Residents in the emirate of Abu Dhabi can now apply for new visa or visa renewals through a dedicated online portal, the Ministry of Interior announced in statement on Saturday.

According to the ministry, which oversees the General Directorate for Residency and Foreign Affairs, residents can apply by visiting https://echannels.moi.gov.ae.

The portal aims to ease the application and renewal process and removes the need for residents to visit the main office or typing centres, said Brigadier Mansour Al Daheri, director-general of Residency and Foreign Affairs at the directorate.

To submit an online application, residents need to scan the required documents and follow the steps. They only need to visit the main office to get a visa stamped on their passports once the application has been approved and all steps completed.

Brigadier Al Daheri said that typing centres and the main offices of the directorate will continue to provide the services, but the aim is to eventually switch many of the transactions to the online portal. The list of registered typing centres can be found at www.adnrd.gov.ae.