UAE is an emerging center of study for the young aspirants with six universities of the country featured in the QS World University Rankings 2021. The picturesque location of the seven emirates of the UAE equally attracts international students in recent days. With English being the main language of higher education, UAE has facilitated students from all across the globe to learn in the middle east. The average salary of a person in UAE is around 19,600 AED (equivalent to 3,90,000 INR) making it a good place for earning a fair amount after studies.

Explore: Cost of Living in UAE

A student visa in UAE is offered to the outstanding students enrolling to study in a university or college in the UAE. The student must be 18 years of age or older to apply for a student visa for UAE. International students can apply for the UAE Student Visa after enrolling themselves in a registered university or college in the nation.

UAE Student Visa

Currently, a student visa is offered to international students for the span of one year. However, the student visa is extendable by renewing for a similar period of time. This can only be done by verification of official proof of study from the relevant organization where the student has enrolled themselves to study in the UAE.

The visa authorities represent the General Directorate of Residency or Foreigners Affairs in each emirate. These authorities process the visa applications of the international students. Either the UAE residents sponsoring a child can secure the student visa or the student can get the visa from any of the accredited universities or colleges of the UAE.

Types of UAE Student Visa

The UAE Student Visa can be distinguished into two parts, the Short Term UAE Students Visa and the Long Term UAE Students Visa. Here are the duration and other advantages of the UAE Student Visa:

Visa Type Duration Benefits
The Short Term Visa 1 year This visa is renewable on official proof of continuation of the studies of the student from the registered educational institute in the UAE where the student is admitted.
The Long Term Visa 5 years The Long Term Visa is offered to outstanding students. This program began in November 2018 with the decision of the Dubai Government.

UAE Student Visa Requirements

International students can apply for a UAE Student Visa only after they get enrolled in a registered university in the country. The basic requirements for the UAE Student Visa are listed below:

  • A visa sponsor, preferably the parents or any relative of the student or the registered college or university
  • Passing of medical fitness test
  • Approval of the relevant General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)

Long Term UAE Student Visa Eligibility Criteria

The Long Term UAE Student Visa is provided for a span of 5 years to outstanding students. The eligibility criteria for the Long Term UAE Student Visa are given below:

  • School students must pass their graduation with at least 95% from any private or public secondary public school.
  • University students must pass with a minimum distinctive GPA of 3.75 from universities within and outside the country.

Note: The family of the applying candidate can also take the benefit of the student visa.

UAE Student Visa: Documents Required

The documents required vary based on the university the student is applying for. The commonly required documents for the application of UAE Student Visa are listed below:

  • Copy of admission acceptance from the university or college
  • Clear colored copy of passport
  • 2 Clear passport-sized photos of the student
  • Receipt for tuition fees and visa fees
  • Copy of the present visa if the student is already residing in the UAE

Some universities may ask for other documents like transcripts, CV, LOR, or certificates of extracurricular activities along with the aforesaid necessities for the application process of student visa for UAE.

English Language Proficiency Requirements for UAE Student Visa

International students need to get admission to a registered university or college in the UAE before applying for the UAE Student Visa. The major universities in the UAE require a basic English language proficiency test score for admissions. 

Find out details of Tests Required to Study in UAE!

Here are the English language score requirements of some of the top universities in the UAE:

University Minimum English Language Proficiency Test Scores
United Arab Emirates University IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL PBT: 500 or equivalent
American University in the Emirates IELTS: 5.0, TOEFL iBT: 61 or equivalent
University of Wollongong IELTS: overall 7.0 and 7.0 in each band and equivalents
University of Sharjah IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL iBT: 80, Cambridge English Linguaskill Online: 176
Khalifa University IELTS: 6.0, EmSAT: 1400, TOEFL iBT: 79
Abu Dhabi University IELTS: 5.0, TOEFL: 500 (61 iBT, 173 CBT, 500 PBT), EmSAT: 1100-1225, Cambridge 154-161,
New York University Abu Dhabi IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Duolingo
Higher Colleges of Technology EmSAT: 1250 or equivalent
Middlesex University IELTS: 6.0, PTE: 51, TOEFL iBT: 72, Duolingo: Overall 95

Application Process of UAE Student Visa

The UAE Student Visa application process takes place with the coordination of the respective college or university, the student is applying for. The colleges have their unique process of visa application, application fees and required documents.

The visa is issued within 10-30 days of application. In case the student wants to discontinue their study in the country, they can apply for cancellation of the visa and prepare to move to any other country or make another visa for staying in the UAE.

UAE Student Visa: Fees

The processing fee for the UAE Student Visa ranges between 2,000-3,000 AED (equivalent to 40,000-60,000 INR).

A refundable visa maintenance charge of 2,500 AED (equivalent to 50,000 INR) is required for the visa-related expenses. The student needs to maintain a balance of the same amount throughout his academic course span in the institution.

Various universities require health insurance for students. The average amount of medical insurance ranges from 1,300-1,500 AED (equivalent to 26,000-30,000 INR).

With the rapid development of the country in the past two decades, the UAE is extraordinarily supplied with excellent educational institutions all around. The modern infrastructure of schools ensures a good quality of education. The assimilation of people from all around the world in the scenic location makes a positive impact on the young students to pursue education in the UAE in recent years.

FAQs

Ques. What is the minimum age to apply for a UAE Student Visa?

Ans: A student must be 18 years of age or older to obtain a student visa for the UAE.

Ques. Can I work on a student visa in UAE?

Ans: You can only work for a part time job as a student in the UAE, if you also have a UAE Work Permit.

Ques. Is it easy to get a student visa in the UAE?

Ans: You can get a student visa for the UAE only if your admission application is accepted by a registered higher educational institution in the country and you have made a payment for the course.

Ques. What is the duration of a UAE Student Visa?

Ans: The UAE Student Visa is offered for one year and it is renewable. Also the long-term UAE Student Visa is offered to extremely meritorious students for a span of 5 years.

Ques. How long does it take to issue the UAE Student Visa after application?

Ans: Usually, the processing of the UAE Student Visa takes around 10-30 days.

Ques. Who can sponsor the UAE Student Visa?

Ans: The UAE Student Visa can be sponsored either by the registered university or college in the UAE where the student has enrolled or the parents or any relative of the student.

Ques. Does Dubai give a student visa?

Ans: A student visa for the UAE allows the student to study in the registered colleges and universities of Dubai and other places in the country.

Ques. Can I study master’s in the UAE with a student visa?

Ans: If you are an international student aspiring to study a master’s degree course in the UAE, you can reside and study in the country with a student visa for the UAE.

Ques. How much can international students earn in UAE?

Ans: The international students in the UAE are allowed to work for a maximum of 40 hours a week with a salary ranging between 15-30 AED (equivalent to 300-600 INR) per hour.

Ques. What are the English language proficiency requirements to avail of a UAE Student Visa?

Ans: To study English as the main language in the universities of the UAE, an IELTS score of 5.0 to 6.0 or TOEFL iBT score between 60-80 or their equivalents are required.