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One of the features that makes AUS admired throughout the region is its multicultural environment. Our student body comprises approximately 90 nationalities from around the world, making our campus a beautiful blend of different cultures, ethnicities and religions.
Visa and Equalization Services (VES) assists students with immigration and visa issues. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]. For employee FAQs, click here.
A student visa is for a university or a college student studying in the UAE who has been accepted for full-time study.
The Entry Permit allows you to remain in the UAE for a period of 60 days to complete all the formalities required to get a Residence Visa.
If you decide to enter the UAE on a visit visa or a visa upon arrival (not recommended), you will have limited time (depending on the type of visa you applied for), to apply for the Residence Visa after you enter the UAE to modify your status from an Entry Permit holder to a Residence Visa holder.
A Residence Visa is issued to a foreign national to allow the individual to reside legally in the UAE.
Yes. AUS will assist accepted students in applying for a UAE student visa, if needed, as per UAE government rules and regulations.
Entry Permit issuance may take between one to eight weeks. Therefore, you must submit your Student Visa Request form as early as you can. Early submission of your visa application form allows AUS time to process and follow-up on your visa application with the Immigration Authority. Once the visa is issued, a scanned copy will be sent to the email address you provided on the Student Visa Request form.
No. You need to make sure that your passport is valid for a minimum of six months.
Yes, please email your documents to [email protected].
Your visa application will be reviewed and the decision will be made by the concerned UAE authorities. AUS is not responsible for any rejection from local authorities.
Currently, a student visa is given for a duration of one year, renewable for a similar period depending on how many semesters the student has until graduation.
No, GCC citizens do not require an Entry Permit to enter the country or to be sponsored and have a Residence Visa in the UAE. Please show your GCC country passport or national ID card at the point of entry into the UAE.
Once you reach the UAE, you have to get an Emirates ID card. Please visit any Tasheel office and have with you the following:
No, you have to arrange the visit visa request with a travel agency.
Yes. However, they would not be allowed to travel on your student visa and would require different visas for themselves.
No, students are not allowed to sponsor their parents.
No, students are not allowed to work full-time or part-time on a student visa.
Students can complete their internship that is related to their study. However, they have to get a No Objection Letter from VES.
Send an email to [email protected] with your request and include the following:
If you are resident in the UAE, then you are not obliged to change your sponsor unless you would like to.
Our walk-in/pick-up hours are Sunday–Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until noon or by appointment. For appointments or questions, please email [email protected]
Visa and Equalization Services is located in office M-M19, Mezzanine Floor, Main Building.
If you are an international, non-resident applicant who is not a GCC national and have been accepted to full-time study in an AUS undergraduate or graduate program, the university is able to provide you with a sponsored Student Residence Visa, enabling you to study and reside in the UAE.
You must apply for the Student Residence Visa before arriving to the UAE. The first step towards obtaining the Student Residence Visa is to apply for the Entry Permit.
Step1. Please fill out the Student Visa Request form.
Step 2. Prepare the required documents:
Step 3. Please email the form along with the required documents to [email protected].
You may also send these items by courier to the following address:
American University of Sharjah
Visa and Equalization Services
Mezzanine Floor, Main Building, MM19
PO Box 26666
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Step 4. After we receive your documents, we will process your request and apply for the initial government approval of the Entry Permit.
Step 5. Once it is approved by the concerned UAE authorities, we will issue your Entry Permit and send it to you via the email address you have provided on the Student Visa Request form, in addition to your AUS student email.
You should use this permit to enter the UAE. The Entry Permit is valid for only 60 days from the date of issue. Once you have entered the UAE, your temporary visa will be valid only for 60 days from the date of entry.
Important Notes
After you arrive safely at AUS, you are kindly requested to apply for the Student Residence Visa.
Once your Student Entry Permit is ready, we will send you a copy of your document to the email you mentioned in the request form and to your AUS email.
You have to print a colored copy of your online visa and keep it with your passport.
We recommend that you buy your flight ticket after your Entry Permit is ready. AUS will not be responsible if you buy your flight ticket and the visa is not ready by the date of your travel, as we cannot know in advance when the visa will be issued.
Make sure your visa copy is inside your passport as the UAE Immigration officers will need to stamp your visa copy. Keep your passport and stamped visa in a safe place, as we will need to use them to complete the residency process. We recommend that you buy a UAE SIM card to have a local mobile number (having a local mobile number is mandatory to apply for the Emirates ID and complete your Residence Visa).
Issuing New a Residence Visa
Step 1. Fill out the Request for Visa Services Payment Form.
Step 2. Pay the required fee at the Cashier’s Office and get the form stamped. Submit the stamped form, your original passport and your Entry Permit to Visa and Equalization Services, Office MM19, Mezzanine Floor, Main Building.
For online payment, contact Student Accounts at [email protected] and send the payment confirmation by email to [email protected].
Students who enter the UAE on a Visit Visa will be required to pay an additional AED 550 Change of Status fees. Please see the Request for Visa Services Payment Form for more information.
If you decide to defer or withdraw your application, you should contact us as soon as possible at [email protected].
One month before your visa expiry date, you will receive an email from VES stating that your visa is about to expire. Please check your AUS email regularly.
Step 1. Fill out the Request for Visa Services Payment Form.
Step 2. Prepare the required documents:
Step 3. Submit the Request for Visa Services Payment Form along with the required documents to Visa and Equalization Services, Office MM19, Mezzanine Floor, Main Building.
One-Year Visa |
AED 250 |
Two-Year Visa | AED 305 |
For online payment, contact Student Accounts at [email protected] and send the payment confirmation by email to [email protected].
No, you have to be inside the country during the visa renewal process, as you will be required to complete a medical test in person and to have the visa stamped in your passport.
Yes. The exact amount of fines will be determined by the immigration department. AUS is not responsible for any fines due to the late action of a student.
Please contact the Office of the Registrar by email at [email protected].
Please visit the Sharjah Municipality Health Clinic, which is located here. VES can help you to collect the result if you visit this clinic.
You also have the option to complete your medical examination for residence visa issues at any governmental medical center near you. If you choose this option, you will be responsible for collecting your results and submitting them to VES.
Please note that in the medical center, there is a typing center where you can go ahead and issue the Emirates ID form.
Documents required at the clinic:
Yes, you can change your status to an AUS student residence permit electronically with VES’ support, which makes it more convenient. You do not need to exit the UAE to change your visa status.
Step 1. Fill out the Student Visa Request form.
Step 2. Prepare your required documents:
Step 3. Send the form along with the required documents to [email protected] OR submit the documents to Visa and Equalization Services, Mezzanine Floor, Main Building, Office MM19. After we receive your documents, we will process your request and apply for the initial government approval.
Step 4. Once it is approved by the concerned UAE authorities, we will notify you via your AUS student email and at this stage, you should cancel your current Residence Visa.
Note: Please DO NOT cancel your current visa unless VES inform you to do so.
Step 5. We will then ask you to hand in the following:
You will also need to pay the fee to transfer the visa and the fee for the residence visa. For online payment, contact Student Accounts at [email protected] and send the payment confirmation by email to [email protected].
The fee for transferring the visa is AED 650 and the fee for the Residence Visa is AED 250 for the one-year visa.
Please fill out the Request for Visa Services Payment Form.
For more information, please visit Visa and Equalization Services, Office MM19, Mezzanine Floor, Main Building or email to [email protected].
For online payment, contact Student Accounts at [email protected] and send the payment confirmation by email to [email protected].
Transferring your visa may take between one to eight weeks. Therefore, you must submit your Student Visa Request form as early as you can. Early submission of your visa application form allows AUS time to process and follow-up on your visa application and the change of status with the Immigration Authority. Once the change of status is issued, a scanned copy will be sent to the email address you provided on the Student Visa Request Form.
Step 1. Fill out the Request for Visa Services Payment Form.
Step 2. Pay the transfer fees of AED 155 at the Cashier’s Office (Mezzanine Floor, Main Building).
Step 3. Submit the form along with the following documents to the Visa and Equalization Services, Mezzanine Floor, Main Building, Office MM19:
For online payment, contact Student Accounts at [email protected] and send the payment confirmation by email to [email protected].
Students should cancel their visa if they are no longer studying at AUS. If you graduate or withdraw from your studies, you must cancel your visa.
As per UAE regulations, AUS-sponsored students are required to cancel their Student Visa after graduation. Since AUS diplomas can take an extended time to be processed before they are ready to be collected by the student, AUS keeps Student Visas active for 90 days from the date of graduation in order for students to collect their diploma and to explore other UAE visa options. Your Student Visa will be cancelled 90 days after graduation. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.
Your visa will be cancelled if you stay outside the UAE for more than six months. However, you still need to officially cancel your visa. Proper visa cancellation has to be undertaken in order to clear your name from the immigration system in case you plan to return to the UAE in the future.
No. You will still be required to officially cancel your visa.
Only the sponsor can cancel your Residence Visa. You cannot process the application on your own. You have to complete the cancellation form and send it to [email protected]. Please follow the steps below:
Step 1. Please fill out the Residence Visa/Entry Permit Cancellation Request form.
Step 2. Students must pay all pending fines/loans at the concerned UAE authorities before cancelling the Residence Visa/Entry Permit. This includes, but is not limited to, traffic fines, municipality fees and bank loans.
Step 3. Send the Residence Visa/Entry Permit Cancellation Request Form along with the required documents listed below to Visa and Equalization Services at [email protected].
Important: In order for your request to be processed, you will need to provide the following documents to Visa and Equalization Services:
For online payment, contact Student Accounts at [email protected] and send the payment confirmation by email to [email protected].
The cancellation process takes one to two working days. VES will then send you the cancellation proof to the email you provided in the cancellation form.
Yes, your Residence Visa/Entry Permit must be cancelled officially. Proper visa cancellation has to be undertaken in order to clear your name from the immigration system in case you plan to return to the UAE in the future.
Please arrange for online payment by contacting Student Accounts on [email protected] and confirm you payment by sending a receipt to [email protected].
The Residency Hold is only for students who are under AUS sponsorship. This hold will be removed only when you cancel your visa.
The Residency Hold will not affect registration or graduation. It will only prevent you from collecting your original diploma later on when it is ready.