United Arab Emirates visaStudy in the UAEUAE student residence visa for Indian students
A UAE student visa is a one-year residence permit sponsored by the licensed university or college that admits you. The institution applies for the AED 210 entry permit on GDRFA or ICP, you enter within 60 days, complete the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics, and the residence permit is issued for a year and renewed annually while you study. Attested Indian certificates and paid tuition are the two gates.
6 min read Verified 29 October 2026 against gdrfad.gov.ae · How we verify
United Arab Emirates student residence visa: quick answers
- Who qualifies for a UAE student visa?
- Students admitted to a full-time program at a UAE-licensed institution, including the Dubai and Abu Dhabi branch campuses of Indian, British and Australian universities. The institution sponsors the visa, so you cannot apply on your own; students under 18 or living with a resident parent can be on the parent's sponsorship instead.
- What does it cost?
- The entry permit is AED 200 plus 5% VAT (AED 210), paid by or through the institution; after arrival the medical fitness test (about AED 320), the one-year Emirates ID (about AED 270) and the residence permit (AED 240) follow, and universities bundle them into a visa fee of roughly AED 3,000 to 4,000 that includes typing and courier charges. Health insurance is mandatory.
- How long does it take from India?
- The entry permit is issued within 48 hours to five working days of the university lodging it, and the whole sequence from admission to residence permit takes three to five weeks. Universities set visa deadlines four to six weeks before the August and January intakes.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Student residence visa, 1 year, renewable |
| Government fee | AED 210 entry permit; residence permit AED 240; Emirates ID about AED 270 |
| Sponsor | The licensed university or college |
| Processing | 48 hours to 5 working days for the permit; 3 to 5 weeks end to end |
| Documents | Attested 12th or degree certificates, admission letter, tuition receipt |
| Work | Part-time work with a MOHRE student work permit; internships through the university |
| After graduation | Employment visa through an employer; Golden Visa for outstanding graduates |
| Verified | 29 Oct 2026 against u.ae and gdrfad.gov.ae |
Who qualifies for a student residence visa
The UAE issues student residence visas only through licensed institutions: federal universities, emirate-licensed universities and the branch campuses in Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Knowledge Park and Abu Dhabi. The institution is the sponsor and lodges the entry permit on GDRFA Dubai or the federal ICP system; the student's role is to deliver attested documents, pay tuition and complete the arrival formalities.
Indian academic certificates must be attested in India (state HRD or notary, then the Ministry of External Affairs, then the UAE Embassy) and then by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs after arrival. Universities also require an equivalency check through the Ministry of Education for degree programs. The medical fitness test on arrival screens for tuberculosis, HIV and hepatitis; a positive result ends the residence application.
Students over 18 may be sponsored by a resident parent instead, with the same medical and Emirates ID steps; the parent's salary must meet the family sponsorship rule. Outstanding students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher at a top-ranked university, or 95% in secondary school, can apply for a 10-year Golden Visa without a sponsor.
Fees and what they cover
| Item | AED | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry permit for study | 210 | AED 200 + 5% VAT; lodged by the institution |
| Medical fitness test | About 320 | Regular service; blood test and chest X-ray |
| Emirates ID, 1 year | About 270 | AED 100 per year plus issuance and service charges |
| Residence permit, 1 year | 240 | AED 200 + knowledge, innovation and delivery charges |
| Health insurance | Market rate | Mandatory in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; university plans from about AED 800 |
| University visa processing fee | Set by the university | Typing, courier and PRO services; often AED 3,000 to 4,000 all-in |
Tuition is paid directly to the institution. Vistolane charges the AED 210 government fee at the official rupee rate and shows it on the price card; the university's bundle is paid to the university.
How the application runs, step by step
- 1
Attest your certificates
HRD or notary, MEA and UAE Embassy attestation in India for 12th or degree certificates; allow two to four weeks.
- 2
Accept the offer and pay
Tuition deposit and the university's visa fee; submit passport scan, photos, attested certificates and the visa form.
- 3
Entry permit
The university lodges the permit on GDRFA or ICP; approval in 48 hours to five working days. Enter the UAE within 60 days.
- 4
Arrival formalities
Medical fitness test, Emirates ID biometrics and MOFA attestation of certificates within the first two weeks; the university's PRO books the appointments.
- 5
Residence permit
Issued electronically for one year and linked to the Emirates ID; renew each year through the university before expiry.
Timeline for an Indian applicant
| Stage | Typical time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate attestation | 2 to 4 weeks | HRD, MEA and UAE Embassy in India |
| Entry permit | 48 hours to 5 working days | University lodges after tuition payment |
| Travel and arrival formalities | 1 to 2 weeks | Medical, Emirates ID, MOFA attestation |
| Residence permit | 3 to 7 days after medical clearance | Electronic residence linked to Emirates ID |
Start attestation as soon as results are out; universities close visa files four to six weeks before the August and January intakes.
After arrival and after graduation
The residence permit is valid for one year and renewed annually while you remain enrolled; dropping out or failing to re-register obliges the university to cancel the visa, after which you have a grace period to leave or change status. Part-time work needs a MOHRE student work permit sponsored by the employer, and most universities arrange internships through their career offices.
Graduates switch to an employment visa when an employer issues an offer and MOHRE work permit, usually inside the country for the AED 500 inside-country fee. High-achieving graduates of top-ranked universities can apply for the 10-year Golden Visa, and skilled graduates earning AED 15,000 or more can take the five-year self-sponsored Green visa.
Document checklist: identity and forms
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid 6 months | Colour scan; two blank pages |
| Photos on a white background | University specifies count and size |
| University visa application form | Signed; sponsor is the institution |
Academic and admission
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Admission letter and tuition receipt | Program, intake and fees paid |
| 12th or degree certificates attested by MEA and UAE Embassy | Then UAE MOFA after arrival |
| Equivalency certificate | Ministry of Education, for degree programs |
Arrival
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Medical fitness test | Blood test and X-ray at an approved centre |
| Emirates ID biometrics | Appointment booked by the university PRO |
| Health insurance | University plan or private policy |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Attestation incomplete
Certificates without MEA and UAE Embassy attestation, or names that differ from the passport.
The fix. Complete attestation before paying the visa fee and align names across certificates and passport.
Medical fitness failure
Tuberculosis scarring, HIV or hepatitis found at the arrival test.
The fix. Treatable TB cases receive a conditional visa; other results end the application and the tuition refund policy applies.
Previous UAE record
Unpaid fines, overstay or an uncancelled previous visa.
The fix. Clear the record through GDRFA or ICP before the university lodges the permit.
Institution not licensed
Admission to an unlicensed training centre that cannot sponsor residence visas.
The fix. Enrol only with institutions listed by the Ministry of Education or the emirate's education authority.
Documents or photo rejected
Blurred scans, expired passport or a photo failing the biometric check.
The fix. Resubmit compliant scans; the university's PRO resubmits without a new fee in most cases.
Official sources
United Arab Emirates student residence visa questions
Other United Arab Emirates routes
Visit the UAE
Tourist visa (30 or 60 days)
AED 210 per person (30-day single entry, incl. VAT)
Read the route
Work in the UAE
Employment visa (work residence)
AED 210 entry permit (employer-paid)
Read the route
Join family in the UAE
Family residence visa (sponsorship)
AED 210 entry permit per dependant
Read the route
Long-term residence
Golden Visa (10-year residence)
AED 1,920 residence permit (10 years)
Read the route