How to Apply for a Long-Term Cultural Visa in Dubai
If you are an artist who specializes in performing arts, art and design, or heritage, you are eligible for a long-term cultural visa in Dubai.
The year 2019 saw a lot of developments in the cultural area. One of the initiatives taken up in the same year was the introduction of long-term cultural visa in Dubai. This initiative was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to fortify UAE as a cultural nation and a global center for creativity.
The long-term cultural visa is granted to individuals who are adept in the fields of history, heritage, culture, creative industries, arts, and cognitive studies.
Criteria for Applicants
The criteria that the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has set is the artist to exhibit distinct artistry in a creative field that is personal in nature. The artist’s contributions must indicate a positive impact on the community and must outline their artistic journey, which must be at least 5 years. The artist will also have participated in various exhibitions, ceremonies, auctions, galleries, and other cultural events. The impact that their contributions would have had on the younger generations will hold significant weight in the evaluation process.
Documents Needed
- Creative Portfolio
Your portfolio will have to include the following:
- Work Experience
- Creative profile, which will include your name, nationality, and specialization
- Artistic services or productions, which will encapsulate your contributions, achievements, and participations
- List of Awards and Recognitions
All your achievements, such as prizes, medals, and certificates of appreciation from renowned organizations must be enlisted in detail as part of your creative journey. Each accomplishment has to be detailed with a concise description that contains the purpose of the work, when the accomplishment was achieved or when the award was received, and the award-granting committee.
- Details of Community Contributions
Your documents will include in detail the overview of your contributions to community programs that showcase cultural and creative contributions. The portfolio will also include an explanation of the work done in support of the various programs and agendas. The complete portfolio will contain a list of all the achievements and voluntary works, the number of volunteered hours, a brief description of the community activities, and the impact your contributions have had on the community.
- Academic Credentials
All of your educational certificates must be attested by the relevant authorities. You must also include all obtained accreditations and/or records of training courses you’ve undertaken.
- Membership and Affiliations
Any membership received from an NGO (Non-governmental Organization) or any creative or cultural organization, must be mentioned.
- Employment Type
All details of your employment, such as the type of work, full- or part-time or freelance, practiced hours, must be enumerated, along with the organizations and corporations worked for.
- Income Sustainability/ Financial Stability
In order to be eligible for the long-term cultural visa in Dubai, you will need to produce proof of minimum annual income of AED 120,000. In addition to that, you will have to provide the bank statement of the last 12 months.
Criteria and Conditions — Cultural and Creative Companies
Provide the following if you’re applying on your company’s behalf:
Company Profile
Along with the nature of the business, you must include the following:
- Trade license
- Years of Operation
- Services scope
- Details of customer base
- Company achievement
One might also need the applicant’s portfolio, as per the details provided before.
How to Apply for the Visa
- Send an email to culturalvisa@dubaiculture.ae
- Provide the following documents:
- Your resume
- Passport and visa copies
- Emirates ID Copy
- Contact Numbers
- Address and place of residence
- Post-registration, applicants will be notified by email or phone as to the proceedings.
- The applicant will be granted an accreditation permit.
- Once confirmed, applicants will have to visit the accreditation office to collect the long-term cultural residence visa.
Start Here
There couldn’t be a better time to establish your company in the prosperous Emirates than now! We are a few days away from the biggest event of the world! Start your business with our help today!
Cross Link International is one of the best business setup consultants in Dubai and will assist you in Trade Licenses, company formation, Business License renewal, PRO Services, Visa Services, free zone company formation, Golden Visa Procural, LLC company formation, Dubai Business Setup, 100% company mainland setup, and many more services that go into business setup. You can reach out to us through + 971 4321 6631 / + 971 55 744 6445 or fill-in this form to get a free consultation from us.
*Subject to company structure
