There is no single government body that licenses or verifies study abroad consultants in the UAE. Verification is a two-part process:
For University Verification: MoE List of Licensed Institutions | KHDA University Directory (Dubai)
Dubai. The KHDA is the primary regulator for educational institutions within Dubai's numerous free zones, such as Dubai International Academic City (DIAC).
3 to 6 months. The process is generally faster than in Western countries because the university directly sponsors and manages the student's visa application.
Student Residence Visa, sponsored by the university. The student first receives an Entry Permit to travel to the UAE. The full Residence Visa is stamped in the passport after arrival and is linked to the mandatory Emirates ID (EID).
A student consults with an agent. The agent assesses the student's academic profile and advises on suitable, accredited universities and programs in the UAE.
Initial Documents Required: High school transcripts (e.g., Grade 10 and 12), Bachelor's degree transcripts (if applicable), Passport copy, Passport-sized photographs with a white background.
The student finalizes their choice. The consultant's most important job here is to ensure the chosen university and program are accredited by the MoE, as this is crucial for the degree to be recognized globally and in the student's home country.
The UAE requires all educational certificates to be officially attested. This is a multi-step legalization process that the consultant can help manage.
Typical Attestation Chain:
1. Notary Public in the home country.
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or equivalent) in the home country.
3. Embassy of the UAE in the home country.
4. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) within the UAE after the student arrives (for the final stamp).
The consultant submits the completed application form along with scanned copies of the attested (or in-process) documents to the university's admissions portal.
The university reviews the application and, if successful, issues an official Offer Letter. To accept, the student pays the required admission and tuition deposit directly to the university.
This is a key difference from other countries. The university's visa department acts as the student's sponsor. The student does not apply for the visa themselves. The consultant helps the student gather and submit the required documents to the university for them to process the visa.
Documents Provided to University for Visa: Signed Offer Letter, Tuition fee payment receipt, Passport copy (valid for at least 6-12 months), recent passport-sized photographs.
The university's visa office applies to the UAE immigration authorities and secures a student Entry Permit. This is an electronic document that allows the student to legally enter the UAE for the purpose of their studies. The university sends this permit to the student via email.
There is no formal, high-stakes visa interview at a UAE embassy like the F-1 (USA) or Student Route (UK) interviews. The "interview" may be a simple admissions interview or an academic discussion with the university before they issue an offer letter. The primary vetting is done through the documentation and the university's sponsorship.
With the Entry Permit in hand, the student can book their flights. The consultant provides a pre-departure briefing. Upon arrival at a UAE airport (e.g., Dubai International), the student presents their passport and a printout of the Entry Permit to the immigration officer.
After arriving, the university guides the student through the mandatory in-country process:
1. Medical Fitness Test: A mandatory test for certain communicable diseases at a government-approved health center.
2. Biometrics: The student visits a Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship (ICA) centre to provide fingerprints and a photograph for their Emirates ID.
The university submits the positive medical results and biometrics confirmation back to the immigration authorities. The final step is residence visa stamping, where a visa sticker is placed in the student's passport. Shortly after, the student's Emirates ID (EID) card is printed and delivered. The EID is the primary identification document for all residents in the UAE.