URGENT Question- Tourist Visa Conversion to Resident Visa

ohaya2 · #1 (**permalink**) 7th July 2011, 12:50 PM

Hello,

I just obtained a work visa residency in Dubai. My wife and I entered on a Tourist visa (not a visit visa). Now I am appliying for my wifes Entry permit for Residence. I was told that she has to exit the country and then re enter for that to happen.

Was just wondering if anyone can share their expereinces with a toursit visa conversion?

Thank you.

CDN2012 · #2 (**permalink**) 10th July 2011, 02:47 PM

Its not a problem, I drove to the Hatta border with Oman. We passed a few military check points no big deal just show them your passport. Had to pay the entry fee at the Oman border and turned around. Drove to the UAE border corssing. See the officer first and they will do an eye scan, then you will have to see the Customs offical and they will enter your info into the computer and stamp your passport they you will drive back to dubai. Goto the last trailer, they other ones are for the truck drivers and importers. And bring a pen to Oman, they don't provide you with one(at least in my case).

We went at 11:30pm at night and there was no traffic at all and the process went very fast and there was no traffic on the road. It makes it alot easier and now that its summer time i would suggest to go at night as well. Don't want to be sitting in traffic with that kind of heat coming down on you.

I'm in Canada right and will be coming down with my wife in a few weeks and I have my Residence visa and will need to get her's done as well. Going through the process already will make it easier when I take my wife.

saaf · #3 (**permalink**) 10th July 2011, 03:03 PM

i think yes it but you have to exit then it will be converted

zubairn · #4 (**permalink**) 20th August 2011, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohaya2

Hello,

I just obtained a work visa residency in Dubai. My wife and I entered on a Tourist visa (not a visit visa). Now I am appliying for my wifes Entry permit for Residence. I was told that she has to exit the country and then re enter for that to happen.

Was just wondering if anyone can share their expereinces with a toursit visa conversion?

Thank you.

Did you need to leave the country to convert the tourist visa to a residence visa for yourself? Also, did you book a one way ticket to Dubai and what did you tell immigration when you entered, i.e. entering on holiday or to work?

Nirvana · #5 (**permalink**) 20th August 2011, 03:05 AM

Just like CDN2012 said..

I did mine the same way... except via plane... to Mascat - Oman.

From airport to airport and back. Coupla hours.

It's called "visa change" process. People working at the airport know all about it and will direct you
to where you have to go and what to do (for example, when arriving at Mascat's airport, you should
go upstairs where the "transits" are, not the other way where the rest of the passengers go to enter
the country.. simple things).

Took same plane back to Dubai.. When you are back to Dubai's airport, you do your eye scan again
and go to the other line to get your new entry stamped in your residency visa this time.

Then exit. Simple.

zubairn · #6 (**permalink**) 20th August 2011, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana

Just like CDN2012 said..

I did mine the same way... except via plane... to Mascat - Oman.

From airport to airport and back. Coupla hours.

It's called "visa change" process. People working at the airport know all about it and will direct you
to where you have to go and what to do (for example, when arriving at Mascat's airport, you should
go upstairs where the "transits" are, not the other way where the rest of the passengers go to enter
the country.. simple things).

Took same plane back to Dubai.. When you are back to Dubai's airport, you do your eye scan again
and go to the other line to get your new entry stamped in your residency visa this time.

Then exit. Simple.

Thanks, seems simple enough. Do I need to apply for a visa for Oman from South Africa or can I do that in UAE?

Nirvana · #7 (**permalink**) 20th August 2011, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zubairn

Thanks, seems simple enough. Do I need to apply for a visa for Oman from South Africa or can I do that in UAE?

You don't need a visa to Oman if you are going there from Dubai or the UAE. It's part of an agreement between the two countries I believe.

Not sure if you are in Dubai right now, but assuming your UAE visit visa hasn't expired yet and you are still in the UAE, you can simply book a two way ticket from the UAE (Dubai airport or whichever city you are in, to Mascat and from Mascat airport back to Dubai).

zubairn · #8 (**permalink**) 20th August 2011, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana

You don't need a visa to Oman if you are going there from Dubai or the UAE. It's part of an agreement between the two countries I believe.

Not sure if you are in Dubai right now, but assuming your UAE visit visa hasn't expired yet and you are still in the UAE, you can simply book a two way ticket from the UAE (Dubai airport or whichever city you are in, to Mascat and from Mascat airport back to Dubai).

Thanks for the help, much appreciated.

Nirvana · #9 (**permalink**) 21st August 2011, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana

You don't need a visa to Oman if you are going there from Dubai or the UAE. It's part of an agreement between the two countries I believe.

I can't believe I said that. I was actually referring to another topic.

You don't need a visa to Oman because you are entering on transit there. That's why.

ohaya2 · #10 (**permalink**) 22nd August 2011, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zubairn

Did you need to leave the country to convert the tourist visa to a residence visa for yourself? Also, did you book a one way ticket to Dubai and what did you tell immigration when you entered, i.e. entering on holiday or to work?

i did have to go to Muscat. I had a two way ticket so no one asked. This is Dubai, and I have learnt that one thing they are relaxed about is immigration