Wednesday 21 June 2023

Is it possible for expats to buy property in UAE?

 The UAE real estate industry offers fantastic opportunities for capital gains and investment. This market has been more accessible as a result of several modifications to the laws governing property ownership, particularly for foreign investors and expats. Foreigners are subject to different restrictions regarding property ownership than domestic owners, nevertheless. An UAE immigration lawyer summarises the applicable laws and numerous Emirate-specific laws for expats interested in real estate investment in the UAE.

In the UAE, foreigners could not purchase real estate until 2001 or 2002. Dubai originally allowed foreigners to purchase 99-year leasehold properties in 2001, and then allowed them to invest in freehold homes in 2002. Soon after, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman appeared.In some designated regions, freehold and leasehold properties may be owned by expatriates in the UAE. Properties with a lease have a fixed-term possession agreement. According to the leasing agreement, the property is owned by the foreign owner but not the land. Properties that are freehold suggest that the expat owns both the building and the land on which it is situated.

Leaseholder ownership implies that for the duration of the contract, the expatriate only owns the unit and not the land. When the period is over, the agreement may be extended, and the foreigner is only partially liable for repairs. Only the consent of the freehold owner is required for any significant improvements. Additionally, with limitations, the expat may sublease the house or keep pets.

Freehold, on the other hand, grants the owner total authority over both his property and the land. If a project complies with the developer's specifications and local legislation, owners are free to make significant alterations like renovations and remodelling as they see fit. After the owner passes away, the property is given to the heir. The owner can benefit from the high ROI by leasing or selling the property.

Specific guidelines for purchasing real estate in each of the Emirates

It's interesting how different emirates have different property ownership laws. Here is a quick summary of the unique regulations of the various Emirates:

Purchasing a home in Dubai

According to a leading UAE immigration lawyer, expats are permitted to own freehold properties in specified freehold regions and leasehold properties in Dubai. There is no restriction on age to buy real estate in Dubai; the laws are the same for both resident foreigners and non-resident investors. The title deeds are issued by the Land Department.

Article 3 of Regulation No. 3 of 2006 Determining Areas for Ownership by Non-Nationals of Real Property in the Emirate of Dubai applies to freehold properties.

In nine authorised investment districts in Abu Dhabi, foreign nationals are permitted to purchase flats and villas. Al Reef, Lulu, Masdar City, Mariya, Reem, Saadiyat, Sayh Al Sedairah, and Yas Islands are among them. However, Abu Dhabi does not allow foreigners to own or purchase land.

In this Emirate, there are four types of property ownership systems:

Ownership - For 99 years, the expat enjoys complete ownership of the flat or floor, and he or she is free to sell it. The deed does not, however, mention the ground on which the property is situated.

The Musalaha system allows foreigners to purchase residential properties in accordance with the Masataha contract. After the first 50-year term expires, it may be renewed. Owners are free to use the property during the period and carry out upgrades, alterations, constructions, renovations, etc.

Usufruct: For a period of 99 years, the expatriates may own and use the apartment, but they are prohibited from making any changes to the building.

Long-term lease: In Abu Dhabi, foreigners are permitted to lease homes for up to 25 years.

Law No. 19 of 2005 Concerning the Regulation of the Real Estate Sector, which is applicable in Abu Dhabi, sets down the rules governing foreigners' ownership of real estate. A few changes were made to the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Law in April 2019. There were changes to Articles 3 and 4. According to Article 3(i), foreign nationals are only permitted to acquire one of three types of property:

· UAE nationals, whether they be legal or natural individuals.

· Not more than 49% of public holding businesses owned by non-nationals.

·If the President of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi makes a choice for someone.

Non-UAE nationals are permitted to own real estate properties in the aforementioned defined locations, in accordance with Article 3(ii). Original and in-kind legal rights to real estate are also permitted. According to Article 4, musataha and usufruct owners who have owned a property for more than 10 years are allowed to sell or mortgage it without the landlord's permission. In contrast, the landlord is not permitted to mortgage the flat without the holder of the usufruct or the musataha's consent.

What are the expat services in Ireland?

 When deciding to relocate to Ireland as a foreign national, you must consider the local laws, apply for an Irish residence permit, register with the appropriate agencies, and find housing. Most law firms provide expat services to all foreigners moving to Ireland temporarily or permanently in order to avoid problems.

The majority of foreigners come to Ireland to work, and as a result, they are given a residency visa specifically for that purpose. There are many job permit kinds, with Stamp 1, Stamp 2, and Stamp 3 each offering various privileges.

Those who came to this country to work under an employment visa that allowed them to remain here for five years may apply for a renewal, which will result in the issuance of a five-year long-term resident permit.

Foreign nationals may also seek for Irish citizenship. This process, known as citizenship through naturalization, calls for a foreign national to fulfill a set number of years of lawful residence.

However, in order to be considered, a candidate must also meet additional requirements, including being familiar with Irish culture, language, constitutional law, and other issues that concern all people.

Most experts cordially encourage you to learn more about the expat services offered by the best immigration lawyer in Ireland. You may count on an expert if you require assistance with any other relevant issues.

Expat-related support for immigration to Ireland

The numerous processes that must be performed when moving to any nation, not just Ireland, may be exhausting. Because of this, the best immigration lawyer in Ireland has developed expat services for everyone who needs assistance in completing tasks swiftly and without fuss.

The primary services on which you may rely if you wish to come to Ireland are as follows:

  • Legal counsel regarding local laws and assistance with applying for the desired visa,
  • help with registering with the authorities after the relocation process is complete,
  • housing and insurance services to help you feel like an Irish citizen,
  • and assistance with a variety of other issues related to living here as a foreign national.

Housing Services

Without a question, one of the most time-consuming parts of moving is looking for a place to stay in a foreign country. Finding a home or flat can be challenging even if you have your heart set on a particular area or even city. The housing services might be useful in this situation. The best immigration lawyer in Ireland can offer helpful advice on the most affordable areas of the nation, can help you decide whether to rent or purchase a home or flat, and most significantly, can assist with the paperwork and formalities required for the transaction.

Getting A Residence Permit

Since Ireland is one of the simpler nations in Europe to relocate to, getting a visa is not difficult. You will need to carefully evaluate Ireland's immigration requirements, nevertheless. You could come here on the basis of an investment visa or an employment contract, for example, in which case the criteria for such residence permits must be taken into account. If you'd like to learn more about the visa categories that can make it simpler for you to obtain Irish citizenship, kindly contact the best immigration lawyer in Ireland today.

How to choose a good Ireland immigration lawyer in UK?

 The immigration regulations of Ireland must be followed by foreign nationals who wish to relocate there, and they must apply for the appropriate visa type based on their intentions. An immigration lawyer in Ireland may often make the difference between a quick and a drawn-out relocation process since they can assist with other important services and information in addition to the visa application process.

The primary methods that our immigration lawyer in Ireland may assist EU and non-EU nationals who desire to relocate here temporarily or permanently are outlined below.

Services provided by an Ireland immigration lawyer in UK

However, a lawyer may do more than that. It is true that the majority of the time, foreign nationals who wish to move to Ireland ask for information and aid in preparing for filing for the visa with the Irish authorities. The following are some of the services you may get from our Irish lawyers:

  • legal advice in the preparation of the immigration file, its submission, and its completion if the authorities reject it; aid in understanding the conditions associated with each type of visa in order to make a wise selection;
  • review of all paperwork while travelling to Ireland for a specific reason, such as a job, school, or investment;
  • when the circumstances call for it, legal aid in challenging denials of visas;
  • help with registration with the appropriate authorities while relocating to Ireland

There are many different sorts of visas that foreign nationals can receive in Ireland, and an Ireland immigration lawyer UK can provide you with the most recent information on the conditions that must be met before submitting your application to the Irish authorities. Furthermore, our attorney will let you know right away if anything changes.

Visas for immigration to Ireland

When deciding which sort of Irish residence permit to apply for, our immigration lawyer in Ireland can advise you on the many visa options available. EU nationals may apply for EU Blue Cards, however non-EU citizens may have to choose between the following categories of Irish visas:

  • temporary residence permits based on job contracts;
  • long-term residence permits based on which Irish citizenship can be achieved;
  • special residence permits for entrepreneurs and high net worth persons;
  • short-term visas, including as business, tourist, transit, and student visas;

If you wish to apply for a Schengen visa, you may also rely on our immigration attorney in Ireland. Speaking about this kind of visa, non-EU nationals who reside in other European nations on the basis of EU and Schengen visas can take advantage of quicker relocation processes in Ireland, and our solicitors can assist them. You can ask an Ireland immigration lawyer UK for details on the legal process for obtaining an Irish residency permit.

You have the option to apply for long-term or permanent residence in Ireland as a foreigner. If you came here with a visa, you must first continue to remain here as a temporary resident and uphold the conditions of your visa.

After relocating here for 60 months while in possession of an employment permit, you are eligible to apply for this sort of residence. The foreigner will be able to stay in this country for an additional 5 years with this permit.

A person who has a visa for permanent residence may, under certain circumstances, seek for Irish citizenship. The processing of a citizenship application once it has been submitted might take up to 19 months.

Get to know everything about family reunion visa in Ireland

 The legislation that governs immigration-related issues in Ireland specifies visas made for family reunions. Therefore, you can apply for a family reunion visa if you have a relative who resides in Ireland, such as a spouse, parent, or kid, and you wish to go to Ireland with the intention of remaining with your relative.

To date, a relative must be a citizen of Ireland at the time the application is submitted in order to be eligible to apply for a family reunion visa in Ireland. If your relative is a national of one of the nations that make up the European Union (EU), you may be able to apply for this sort of visa.

People who relocate to Ireland as refugees may, under certain circumstances, bring their immediate family members with them. An immigration lawyer in Ireland can provide detailed legal counsel if you require more information on this topic.

Family Reunion Visa

You must apply for a Join Family Visa if you want to reconnect with a member of your immediate family. You will submit an application for a long-term visa in this scenario, which falls under the D visa category. Please keep in mind that only certain family relationships—like the spouse of someone who resides in Ireland, the kid, or the parent—are permitted under this visa. The categories of relationships that are permitted under this visa program are outlined by our immigration experts in Ireland.

Prior to entering the country, the visa must be obtained, and border officials will want to see documentation attesting to your intentions to relocate to Ireland when you arrive. Due to this, you will be required to show both your travel documents and the visa issued for your intended stay when you arrive. Additional documentation proving your kinship to the individual residing in Ireland is required.

Please be advised that you can be denied entry to Ireland if you cannot provide the whole set of papers that are typically checked upon arrival. Upon acceptance of your application, further steps must be taken.As a result, in accordance with Irish immigration law, you must apply for permission to stay in the nation with the help of an immigration lawyer in Ireland.

This immigration process to Ireland is carried out in line with the date on your visa stamp, which must be finished before to the specified date. Be advised that you can be forced to leave the country if you don't follow this requirement. If you want to travel extensively, it's also vital to be aware that the Irish family reunion visa does not provide you the freedom to go everywhere in the globe (you cannot, for example, travel to Northern Ireland on this Irish visa).

What are Ireland's primary family reunion visa programs?

Family reunification visa applicants may enter the country through a number of programs that are governed by Irish immigration law. There are now six primary programs for family reunification, and each one calls for the issuing of a visa specifically for that reason.

The programs vary in a few key areas, which our Irish immigration attorney can explain. The first program for family reunion is available when the person you wish to reconnect with is an Irish citizen; in this situation, Irish immigration law only requires the foreigner to apply for a long-stay visa.

Can buying a property can help you get a UK visa?

 There are several reasons why someone would wish to buy residential property in the UK. Some purchasers are doing it as an investment, while others want to stay there long-term. However, purchasing real estate in the UK does not automatically grant one's permanent residency. When buying a home in the UK from abroad, purchasers can:

  • Acquire a property without constraints.
  • To offset the expense, make an advance payment or apply for a mortgage.

But buyers should also take into account:

  • The right to live in the UK is not something that comes with buying property there.
  • Once a foreign buyer makes a property purchase in the UK, their immigration status remains the same.

According to an Ireland immigration lawyer,“UKForeign investors who want to permanently reside in their UK properties must first apply for and be granted a visa. A person can enter the UK with a variety of visas, and the path required to get permanent residency depends on their unique circumstances.”

How to Obtain Permanent Residence in the UK

Although purchasing property in the UK does not automatically grant the right to do so, many buyers are able to do so by applying for a visa. Despite not granting permanent residency, visas do allow their holders to temporarily reside and engage in employment in the UK. The visa holder may be eligible to request an extension or permanent residency (settlement) at the conclusion of this time frame.

Some visa holders who want to live permanently in the UK through an Ireland immigration lawyer UK may then submit an application for British citizenship. Unless they are married to a British citizen, those who are granted indefinite permission to remain must remain in the UK for a further 12 months before reapply.

Overview of UK Visa Types

There are several UK visa categories available, each of which is intended for a particular candidate and has a separate set of requirements. Some business visas can offer a path to permanent residency for foreign investors or businesspeople looking to buy real estate in the UK. These consist of:

Innovator visa

Entrepreneurs who want to launch a business in the UK can apply for the Innovator visa. For up to three years, those with innovator visas may reside and work in the UK. After this period has passed, applicants may submit an application for an extension or, after three years, for permanent residence in the UK. The candidate must:

Global Talent visa

The Global Talent visa is for foreign nationals who are leaders or have the potential to be leaders in industries including digital technology, the arts, and research. Typically, applicants are only eligible to apply if they have been successful in obtaining an endorsement to demonstrate their leadership position and must be at least 18 years old. Only by winning a qualifying prize is it possible to receive a Global Talent visa without an endorsement.

Skilled Worker visa

Foreign nationals are able to enter the UK on the Skilled Worker visa and work for a designated employer who serves as their "sponsor." The Employer shall:

  • Receive the home office's blessing.
  • Pay the applicant a minimum wage appropriate to the type of work they will be performing.
  • Give the applicant a "certificate of sponsorship" outlining the job's responsibilities.

Scale-Up visa

With the use of this visa, UK-based firms can sponsor and bring in foreign workers from outside in order to "scale up" their rapidly expanding businesses. To be able to sponsor foreign employees, a firm must fulfil specified eligibility requirements and the UK government must deem the employment function eligible.

The UK's self-sponsorship

Self-sponsorship is technically not allowed in the UK. According to UK immigration laws, a foreigner cannot sponsor oneself to work for a UK company unless they also own that company. Additionally, applying for the Tier 1 Investor visa in the UK is no longer an option.

If a person does own a business in the UK and wants to self-sponsor, the company first has to get a "sponsor license" from the UK government. The business owner can then submit an application to sponsor oneself as a "Skilled Worker" of that company. The candidate must submit an application for a skilled worker visa, making sure to fulfill all eligibility requirements and take the proper steps to get permanent residency in the UK.

Difference Between British Citizen And A British Overseas Citizen

 British citizens and British overseas citizens are two different categories of British nationality. A British national is free to reside and work in the UK without having to adhere to immigration laws. On the other hand, a British national living abroad has little rights in the UK.

British Nationality Types

One of the rare nations with dual citizenships is the United Kingdom. There are six different categories of British nationality. For each citizenship right, they each have different rules. The many British nationalities are briefly covered by the best immigration lawyer in Ireland.

British nationals

People who have the status of Citizen of the UK & Colonies (CUKC) and the right to abode in the United Kingdom and Isles are considered to be British Citizens. By virtue of naturalisation or birth in the United Kingdom and Isles, they get British citizenship.

British nationals abroad

People who retained their British citizenship after gaining independence from Britain are typically given this citizenship. In other terms, a legacy citizenship deriving from connections to a former British colony is known as a British Overseas Citizenship.

British citizens

Those who were neither CUKCs nor citizens of another Commonwealth nation at the time of their birth are known as British subjects. Due to their residence in British India or the Republic of Ireland up to 1949, the majority were British nationals.

BNO, or British National Overseas

The British Nationality (Hong Kong) Order of 1986 and the Hong Kong Act of 1985 created the BNO status.

Residents of Hong Kong who sought for registration as BNOs before Hong Kong was ceded to the People's Republic of China are the BNO holders.

BPP, British Protected Person

The position of a British Protected Person is a legacy of parts of the British Empire that were client states or protected states with seemingly independent leaders under the protection of the Crown but were not formally a part of the empires of the Crown.

Because they are neither Commonwealth citizens nor British nationals, nor are they foreigners, BPPs have a special status.

Citizens of British Overseas Territories (BOTC)

According to the best immigration lawyer in Ireland, people who have British nationality as a result of their connection to a British Overseas Territory are referred to as British Overseas Territories citizens. On January 1, 1983, you acquired citizenship of the British overseas territories if both of the following criteria were satisfied:

If you were a citizen of the CUKC on December 31, 1982, and you were related to a British overseas territory because your ancestor was born there or was naturalised there.

If you were married to a guy who acquired citizenship in one of the British overseas territories on January 1, 1983.

Note that on June 30, 1997, when China reclaimed sovereignty, anyone who possessed British Overseas Territories citizenship due to their connection to Hong Kong lost it. However, if any of the following requirements are satisfied, a person may become a British overseas citizen:

  • If they were born after July 1, 1997, they were stateless, not citizens of any nation.
  • if they were born to parents who were British nationals (abroad) or BOC.

A person is considered a British citizen if they were born in the UK and at least one of their parents is or was a British citizen or if they were residents of England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland at the time of their birth.

A person acquired British citizenship in 1983 if they were a resident of the United Kingdom or one of its territories or if they had the "right of abode" there. People who have the right to abode are exempt from immigration control and don't need a visa or other authorization to enter the UK. These individuals are unrestricted in their ability to live and work anywhere in the nation.