After a period of flexibility, Abu Dhabi authorities strictly require foreign residents to provide a tenancy contract registered in Abu Dhabi when applying for or renewing a dependent residence visa. The contract must be submitted through Tawtheeq, the official government rental registration system. If this rule is not followed, the visa application will be rejected.

However, there may be exceptions. If the visa sponsor’s employer is officially registered in the same emirate as the tenancy contract, immigration authorities might approve the application. These cases are reviewed individually.

This rule was first introduced in 2017, but officials later became more flexible, allowing contracts from other emirates. Now, the strict enforcement of the original rule is back in place.

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