One of the features that makes AUS admired throughout the region is its multicultural environment. Our student body comprises more than 90 nationalities from around the world, making our campus a beautiful blend of different cultures, ethnicities and religions.

AUS will apply for residence visas for full-time students who are:

International, non-resident and non-GCC national students

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 visa, enabling you to study and reside in the UAE.

You must apply for the student visa before arriving in the UAE. The first step towards obtaining the student visa is to apply for the entry permit.

How do I apply for an Entry Permit?

Fill out the International Student Visa Request Form.

Prepare the required documents:

• a colored passport copy
• four recent passport-size photos
• your acceptance Letter (received from the Office of Enrollment Management)

Courier the form along with the required documents to:

American University of Sharjah

Public Relations Department

Mezzanine Floor, Main Building

PO Box 26666

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

After we receive your documents, we will process your request and apply for a standard security clearance.

Once it is approved by the UAE concerned 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 form 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

• Please courier your Student Visa Request Form and the required documents as soon as you receive your admission package from the Office of Enrollment Management.
• Don’t book your flight to the UAE until you receive your Entry Permit.
• In order to process your Entry Permit, you must pay your Seat Reservation Deposit (for undergraduate students only).
• Your passport must be valid for at least one year.
• The same passport must be used upon entering the UAE that is used in your Entry Permit application.
• Students should not apply for other visas for the UAE while AUS is processing their Entry Permit.
• If you use the Entry Permit to enter the UAE and then you decide to exit the country before your Permanent Student Visa is issued, you then must fill out the Entry Permit Cancellation Form and visit the Public Relations Department on the Mezzanine Floor of the Main Building.

After you arrive safely to AUS, you are kindly requested to apply for the Permanent Student Visa.

How do I apply for the Permanent Student Visa for international students?

Fill out the Visa Expenses Payment– New International Students Form.

Pay the required fee at the Cashier’s Office and get the visa expenses form stamped.

Submit the stamped form, your original passport and your Entry Permit to the Public Relations Department, Office M19C, Mezzanine Floor, Main Building.

How much the student visa will cost?

Student Type	Fee in AED (includes fee for medical test, Emirates ID, Residence Visa for 3 years; medical test not required for applicants under the age of 18)		Validity of the Student Visa
Undergraduate Students	If age below 18	820	3 years
	If age above 18	1,107
Graduate Students	907		2 years

Students who enter the UAE on a Visit Visa will be required to pay a different fee. Please see the Visa Expenses Payment– New International Students Form for more information.

If you decide to defer or withdraw your application, you should contact us as soon as possible at ois@aus.edu.

Transferring a visa from the current sponsor to AUS

How do I transfer my visa to AUS?

Fill out the Student Transfer Visa Request form.

Prepare the required documents:

• a color copy of your passport (passport must be valid for at least one year)
• four recent passport-size photos
• for new students: an acceptance letter in Arabic from the Office of Enrollment Management; for current students, an enrollment letter in Arabic from the Office of the Registrar that confirms the expected date of graduation
• a copy of your Emirates ID, both sides (if available)
• a copy of your Residence/Visit Visa

Submit the Student Transfer Visa Request form along with the required documents to the Public Relations Department, office M19C, Mezzanine Floor, Main Building.

After we receive your documents, we will process your request and apply for a standard security clearance.

Once it is approved by the UAE concerned authorities, we will notify you via your AUS student email and at this stage, you should cancel your residence visa.

We will then ask you to hand in your original passport, complete the medical test, issue a new Emirates ID and pay the fee to transfer the visa and the fee for the residence visa.  

Fees to Transfer Your Visa to AUS

The fee for transferring the visa is 650 AED and the fee for the residence visa depends on the number of years for which your visa will be granted. The fee for a three-year visa is 450 AED, for a two-year visa is 350 AED and for a one-year visa is 250 AED.

New Students who have entered the UAE on a visit visa need to fill out the Visa Expenses Payment Form – New International Students.

Other enrolled students need to fill out the Transfer of Visa Payment  Form.

Please visit the Public Relations Department, Office M19C, Mezzanine Floor, Main Building or send email to ois@aus.edu for further details.

AUS can also provide the following services:

Visa renewal for enrolled students

How do I renew my residence visa?

Fill out the Visa Renewal Payment Form.

Prepare the required documents

1. original passport valid for one year
2. a recent passport-size photo with a white background
3. an enrollment letter in Arabic from the Registrar confirming your  expected date of graduation
4. your medical checkup results
5. your Emirates ID Registration Form 

Submit the Visa Renewal Payment Form along with the required documents to the Public Relations Department, Office M19C, Mezzanine Floor, Main Building.

Fees for Residence Visa Renewal  

The fee for the residence visa depends on the number of years for which your visa will be granted. The fee for a three-year visa is 450 AED, for a two-year visa is 350 AED and for a one-year visa is 250 AED.

Transfer of residence visa from one passport to another

How do I transfer my Residence Visa from one passport to another?

Fill out the Transfer Residence Visa from One Passport to Another Payment Form.

Pay the fees at the Cashier’s Office (Mezzanine Floor, Main Building). The fee for the transfer is 500 AED.

Submit the Transfer Residence Visa from One Passport to Another Payment Form and bring the following documents to the Public Relations Department,  Mezzanine Floor, Main Building, Office MM19C:

1. your old passport
2. your new passport
3. a passport-size photo

Cancellation of Residence Visa/Entry Permit

How do I cancel my Residence Visa or Entry Permit?

Fill out the Residence Visa/Entry Permit Cancellation Form.

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.

Important:

Prepare the required documents

1. a copy of your passport copy
2. a copy of your Residence Visa/Entry Permit

Submit the Residence Visa/Entry Permit Cancellation Form along with the required documents to the Public Relations Department, Office M19C, Mezzanine Floor, Main Building.

GCC nationals who have been accepted at AUS, please click here for information regarding issuing Emirates ID.