DUBAI

No residence visa for big families in small flats

Do you stay in a small accommodation with a large family?

If yes, then it is likely your application will be rejected the next time around you apply for renewal of residence visas for your family.

The renewal of residence visas for families is now linked to the size of the family and the accommodation they stay in, Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department acting Director Brigadier Obeid Muheir bin Suroor Told Khaleej Times.

Suroor said the department would not issue or renew residence visas to families unless they stayed in a “proper accommodation”.

The tenancy contract is not a prerequisite to renew residence visas, he said and clarified that providing accommodation to the sponsored persons was a must.

“We don’t get into such details as asking for the tenancy contract. But we will ensure that whoever applies for residence visas for his family, has accommodation available for himself. Otherwise, the visa application will be rejected.”

The department has become strict on the accommodation condition for residence visa applications.
“When applying for the residence visa for the family the applicant must furnish proof that he has a proper place to accommodate the family. This proof can be a tenancy contract or a letter from the person’s sponsor stating that they have provided accommodation for the applicant’s family.

The accommodation can be in a building, a hotel apartment or a separate house.
“The space where the person lives should match the size of the family. If the applicant is living in a studio flat, he can’t apply for residence visas for a family of many children.”

Asked about the specifics like the number of children allowed to live in different sizes of flats, Suroor said his department was not following any specific guidelines. “But we would be looking precisely into the accommodation proof and the accommodation feasibility for the family members.”