Below, you can find all the details and steps you’ll need to take to get a Dubai student visa.
Students who want to study in the UAE are issued with a UAE Student Visa. Student visas are offered for full-time programs. UAE student visas are valid for a period of 12 months. International students are required to renew their student visas at the end of the 12-month period if their program is longer than that period.
Murdoch University Dubai provides a visa sponsorship service through the Dubai Development Authority for all students residing and/or not residing in the UAE. This allows you to study and reside in the country for a 1-year (renewable) period, to cover the duration of your program. Residency visas are required for all international students and residents over the age of 18 who currently reside in Dubai.
You need to be a full-time student to qualify for Murdoch University Dubai visa sponsorship, and to start the process, you should have accepted an unconditional offer and have paid all fees due as per your Letter of Offer.
We encourage students to submit their visa applications at least 2 months before the class starts, as your documents will go through a careful review prior to visa application.
Once ready, pick up your Emirates ID from Murdoch University Dubai’s reception
An entry permit is the initial visa that the University will issue to enter the UAE. It is only valid for two months and should be used within the specific date mentioned on the visa validity.
The entry permit is linked to your student visa application.
The processing time will take approximately 10-15 working days before we receive the student’s entry permit. The processing time might be longer or shorter depending on the student’s nationality.
The entry permit is valid for 2 months and should be used to enter the country within the date specified on the visa.
No, students should wait to receive the entry permit before travelling to the UAE.
Yes, all students applying for a student visa are required to travel on their entry permit. Arriving on a visit visa or on-arrival visa will delay the visa process and incur additional costs.
Visa applications are subject to immigration approval.
Your student visa is valid for a period of one year and can be renewed while you are still actively enrolled as a student at Murdoch University Dubai.
The student has 60 days to complete the visa process after arrival to Dubai. However, the normal time taken to complete the post-arrival steps of the visa is 30 days.
No, students must remain in the UAE until the residence visa is issued. In case of emergency travel, the student must contact Dubai Student Services (dubai.studentservices@murdoch.edu.au) for further advice.
Medical insurance is required by the government for the student’s welfare; hence, it is mandatory for students to have one. The University will facilitate this once your Emirates ID application has been approved.
We provide you with medical insurance that is valid in Dubai for the duration of your stay. However, we can’t apply for your medical insurance before your Emirates ID application is approved. This is why we recommend you arrive on campus with valid medical/travel insurance from your home country for your first month in the UAE.
No. Please ensure that your passport is valid for a minimum of one year.
Yes. However, we advise students to arrive via Dubai airport due to previous difficulties encountered by our students.
We strongly recommend buying your flight ticket after your entry permit is approved.
Do not use the Smart Gate at immigration. Instead, proceed to the manual immigration counters. Prepare a printed copy of your entry permit and passport for inspection.
You must visit the Murdoch University Dubai campus within three working days of your arrival. Bring your passport and entry permit with you. You must also submit a digital passport photo for your Emirates ID. We recommend using the DESCO Copy & Print Centre – Photo Studio, conveniently located near campus.
An X-ray and blood test is required before the actual visa is processed.
The medical examination is done a few days after you arrive in Dubai. The facility is located within Dubai Knowledge Village. You will be guided to the exact location once we receive your medical appointment form from the Government.
An Emirates ID card is a national ID which is mandated by the Government of UAE. This is required for all residents across the UAE.
No. The University can only provide a student visa.
Please note that we do not recommend using a visit visa to start your studies in Dubai. It is not a substitute for a student residence visa.
Local amendment is the process of changing a visit visa (or visa upon arrival) without asking the student to exit the country.
Students applying for a student visa while in the UAE must go through the process of local amendment.
No. This is granted by the UAE Government to locals of GCC countries.
Yes. As a student at Murdoch University Dubai, you have the opportunity, whilst studying, to work part-time 20 hours a week in one of the 4,500 companies under the Dubai Development Authority. This is subject to Dubai Development Authority approval.
We encourage you NOT to stay outside the country for more than 6 months, as your visa will be void. In such cases, you are advised to contact Dubai Student Services (dubai.studentservices@murdoch.edu.au) to formally cancel your visa.
A renewal reminder email is sent to a student’s Murdoch University email before expiry. Visa renewal should be started at least 30 days before the expiry dates to avoid overstay fines and considering the lengthy visa renewal process. Students bear the cost of fines in case of delays due to late renewal applications. The email reminder will include the required documents and the renewal application cost.
No, you must be inside the country during the entire visa renewal process.
Students with a ‘Student Residence’ Visa from the University must apply for cancellation upon leaving the program of study. Students may be able to apply for cancellation nearer to the visa expiration date if they are awaiting the next available graduation event. The process takes approximately 10-15 working days. Failure to do this may result in the University initiating the absconding process. Please note that penalties will be applied from immigration. If the ‘Absconder’ notice is not removed from your record, you will be unable to exit or enter the UAE and other GCC countries in the future.
You will need to email to request your student visa cancellation.
There are charges for the visa cancellation that need to be paid. Proof of payment is required to proceed with the cancellation. It is mandatory that the visa cancellation is done before exiting UAE (if done with the studies or not continuing/renewing with a university visa). Visa cancellation is a must, as a visa does not automatically get cancelled regardless of whether you are in or out of the UAE and even if it has expired. Cancellation must be completed for the student to be cleared from immigration. Non-cancellation of visa will result in fines, and the student will bear the cost. After cancellation, the student must show proof of exit (exit stamp on passport) if leaving UAE or a new visa copy if changing sponsorship, and this will be forwarded to immigration for clearing the student record.
No. You must formally cancel your visa by emailing Dubai Student Services at Murdoch University. Proper visa cancellation must be undertaken to clear your name from the immigration system if you plan to return to the UAE in the future.
No. You will still be required to email Dubai Student Services at the Murdoch University visa office to cancel your visa formally. Failure to cancel on time will result in overstay fines for which the University is not liable, and your status may change to absconding.
Below, you can find all the details and steps you’ll need to take to get a Dubai student visa.
To apply for visa sponsorship, you will need to submit a completed Visa Application Form along with the following documentation to Murdoch University Dubai Student Services Public Relations Officer (PRO):
Outside UAE
Inside UAE
If you are in-country a Local Amendment needs to be completed and a medical insurance document uploaded. You must also provide a copy of your tourist visa, visit visa or previous visa cancellation paper; and a clear coloured copy of the front and back of Emirates ID if available.
If you are applying from outside the UAE, a copy of the Entry Permit needs to be emailed to you first, and you enter the country with the entry permit. The entry permit will be stamped upon arrival by immigration. Once Entry Permit has been stamped, an Arrival Intimation needs to be done. The following documents are to be submitted to Murdoch University upon arrival for visa stamping.
Documents needed for Arrival Intimation:
After your Local Amendment or Arrival Intimation is completed, you must attend and pass a medical examination. The examination will take place at a Ministry of Health-approved hospital or clinic.
You must submit your original passport and photographs to Murdoch University Dubai who will pass them to TECOM on your behalf, so you can be issued with an Emirates ID. At the time of submitting your passport for processing, the Student Services Department will provide you with a Medical Fitness Report request, which will require you to attend a medical. Upon passing your medical, you will be advised by Murdoch Dubai’s Student Services team, generally within 5 to 7 working days of your medical test and Emirates ID schedule dates.
Passports for those who have passed their medication will be sent to Immigration for final stamping. The Murdoch University Dubai Student Services Department will advise you to collect your passport once stamping has been completed.
Medical insurance will be valid ONLY when final stamping has been completed. You are advised to arrange interim health insurance for the period of arrival until final stamping occurs. Under the UAE’s Student Visa Immigration policy, all students must have health insurance – either private insurance or insurance arranged through Murdoch University Dubai’s preferred provider.
The visa application process normally takes 10–12 working days, and applications normally undergo a security check by UAE government authorities. However, some applications can take up to 1 month or more. Some visa applicants may also be required to submit additional documentation to the UAE government authorities (e.g. an attested birth certificate, translated into Arabic).
As part of the visa laws, all students must have health insurance for the duration of their visa. Students issued with a 12-month visa have access to our group medical health insurance scheme. Murdoch University Dubai has partnered with a local insurance company to provide a comprehensive and competitively priced medical insurance plan.
This scheme is compulsory for visa-sponsored students and optional for non-sponsored students, who can make an application through the Registrar’s Department. It provides round-the-clock cover for expenses incurred by students in a wide network of hospitals and clinics in the UAE, whether as an outpatient, inpatient or emergency admission.