The United Arab Emirates has announced a new policy allowing foreign women who lose their residence status due to divorce or the death of a spouse to remain in the country legally for an additional year. This move is aimed at protecting foreign residents in uncertain circumstances. The policy, introduced by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, also covers children who were listed under their father's visa, subject to specific eligibility conditions.
Under the arrangement, women who held residence visas tied to their husband's sponsorship are entitled to a one-year extension, calculated from either the date of his death or the date a divorce is formally concluded. A significant aspect of the policy is that the extension requires no substitute sponsor, removing one of the most difficult requirements for foreign nationals navigating a sudden change in circumstances.
The extension is renewable once, giving affected women up to two years to make alternative arrangements, such as securing independent employment, transitioning to a different visa category, or preparing to return to their country of origin. This provision directly addresses the vulnerability of women and children who may face immediate legal and financial challenges due to the sudden loss of a sponsoring husband.
The policy applies to both widowed and divorced women, covering two distinct but equally disruptive circumstances that can leave foreign residents without valid residency at short notice. The UAE hosts one of the world's largest expatriate populations, with millions of foreign nationals living in the country on family-sponsored visas.
Children who were registered under their father's visa at the time of his death or the divorce are also covered by the policy. Two conditions govern their inclusion: both the mother's and children's visas must have been valid when the triggering event occurred, and a child's residence period cannot exceed the duration granted to the mother.
The UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security listed the updated immigration framework on its official portal. This move is part of a broader effort to provide more flexible and supportive immigration policies for foreign residents in the UAE.
The new policy is expected to provide relief to foreign women and children who may face uncertainty and vulnerability due to changes in their residency status. The UAE has been making efforts to improve its immigration policies, including introducing special visas for citizens of certain countries, such as Kenya and South Africa.
Key points
- Foreign women who lose sponsorship through divorce or husband's death are eligible for a one-year residence extension in the UAE.
- The extension is renewable once, giving affected women up to two years to make alternative arrangements.
- Children listed under their father's visa are also covered by the policy, subject to specific eligibility conditions.
