Residents who have been absent from the UAE for more than six months will be able to reactivate their visas.

Residents of the United Arab Emirates who have been out of the country for more than 180 days will be able to reactivate their visas, the Federal Office of Identification, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) said.

Residents will be able to enter the UAE on previously valid resident visas if approved by the agency. To do so, all one has to do is make the appropriate application.

Everyone who wishes to return to the Emirates will have to provide copies of Emirates ID and passport, and indicate the reason for the delay in entering the country during the past period.

Earlier, the agency said that sponsored residents cannot stay abroad for more than six months, otherwise their residency visas will be automatically revoked.

These rules do not apply to foreign wives sponsored by a UAE citizen spouse, employees of government agencies sent abroad for medical treatment, students leaving for study abroad, domestic workers accompanying employers for study and medical treatment, and employees of diplomatic agencies.

In the United Arab Emirates previously increased the cost of registration of Emirates ID card and a number of visas. This is due to the fact that the visa fees of the Federal Office of Identification, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) have increased by 100 dirhams.

It is noted that all services of the agency – not only identity cards, but also resident and visitor visas – have gone up in price. Emirates ID card will now cost 370 dirhams instead of 270; payment for issuing a monthly visitor visa will also be 370 dirhams instead of 270.

It remains uncertain whether the changes will affect visas and documents issued in Dubai. Earlier, Dubai has suspended all possibilities for extension of visitor visas within the country. Thus, now to change the visa status travelers must temporarily leave the territory of the United Arab Emirates.