Remote residency visa newborn
If you are on a remote work visa and you have a newborn, you can apply for the newborn’s remote residency visa online. Image Credit: Kelvin Octa/Pexels

DUBAI: Are you living in the UAE on a remote work visa? While the UAE has introduced the remote work visa for professionals from across the world who can live in the UAE while they work for companies in other parts of the world, you can also bring in your family on this one-year work visa.

In fact, if you are in the UAE and have a baby born here, you can even apply for the newborn’s visa online through the website of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICA) – www.ica.gov.ae.

Want to know more about the remote work visa? Click here.

On December 8, ICA posted the steps that people need to follow in order to use this service online.

Documents required

You would need to upload the following documents during the application process

  • Coloured photo of the child
  • Child’s passport Copy
  • Medical insurance
  • Medical fitness test result
  • Virtual Work Proof - Outside UAE
  • Salary Certificate (US$3,500) or equivalent in foreign currency
UAE visa
For illustrative purposes only Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News

Additional documents 

These documents are required to show proof of employment and the validity of the sponsor’s residency:

  • Sponsor’s passport valid for at least six months;
  • Attach proof of his work for an entity outside the country and that the work is done remotely;.
  • Attach proof that he has earned a monthly income of at least $3,500 (Dh12,855)
  • Attach a valid health insurance policy within the country.

The service cost and fees:

  • Request Fees: Dh100
  • Issue Fees: Dh100
  • E-Services Fees: Dh28
  • ICA Fees: Dh22

The total cost of the service is Dh250.

Steps for issuing a residency visa for newborns online:

1. Go to the website – ica.gov.ae. On the home page, you will see ‘smart channels’ which is a vertical menu tab on the right.

2. Click on the second option – ‘e-form’. It will then transfer you to a page, which will present three options – individual services, establishment services and typing centre services.

3. To access the residency visa services, choose the Individual services category.

4. Once you click individual services, you will be transferred to the log in page.

Creating an account on the ICA website
If you do not have an account, enter your email address. After entering your email ID, you will be sent a verification email. When you have received the email, click on ‘complete registration’, after clicking this, you will create an account with ICA. Enter your Emirates ID number, your phone number and date of birth. After this, you will receive a verification number through SMS on your registered phone number. Then, your account registration is complete.

You can also use your UAE Pass, to log in to the website.

What is UAE Pass? Read here

5. After creating an account or signing in with UAE Pass, you will land on the ‘Smart Services’ page. There will be a number of services pertaining to tourists, Emirates ID, Golden Visa requests and UAE residents. To register your newborn for a residency visa, scroll down and click on the service - ‘Residency– Virtual Work Residency – People inside the country - Issue Residence.’

6. The residency visa application consists of four categories:

  • a) Applicant Information
  • b) Identification Information of Sponsor (Service Beneficiary)
  • c) Request Information
  • d) Passport information

Identification Information of Sponsor (Service Beneficiary)

You would then need to fill in the following details:

• ‘UAE Unified Number’. What is UAE Unified Number? Read here

• Visa file number. Your file number is on the UAE Residence Visa page of your passport.

• UAE Identity Number. This is your Emirates ID number.

Visa, GDRFA
For illustrative purposes only Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News

Request Information

  • Relationship (choose either daughter or son).
  • Type in the English and Arabic name of the child (Type in the English name of the child first, then the Arabic name will automatically fill in the name).
  • Choose the nationality of the child.
  • Fill in date of birth.
  • Choose the birth country.
  • Type in place of birth in English and Arabic (Type it in English first and the Arabic name of the place will be filled in automatically).
  • Mother’s name in English and Arabic
  • Choose Qualification, profession and enter name of workplace.
  • Choose the religion and faith/sect.
  • Fill in the monthly income of the sponsor.

Passport information

  • Choose passport type.
  • Choose passport type.
  • Fill in the passport issue date and expiry.
  • Type passport issue place in English and Arabic.
  • Choose passport issue country.

The final stage in the online application process:

• Complete the passport information and click next on the bottom right, and pay the total cost of fees which is Dh250. You can pay the fee online with credit or debit card or with e-dirham.

• After completing the payment, the application process is officially done. You will receive the residence visa by email.

If you need any help or additional information, you can call ICA’s toll free number – 600522222, which is available to 24/7. You can also reach out to ICA’s official social media handles on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@ICA_Help).