New visa rules will go into effect in the UAE starting Oct. 3, The National reports. The federal Office of Identification, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) said the new rules, called the Advanced Visa System, are now in the experimental stage.

Among the major changes, which were approved by the Cabinet in April, are longer visas for tourists, long-term residency for in-demand professionals and easy access to the 10-year gold visa initiative.

Under the updates, gold visa holders who are out of the country will not be revoked. People who have had their residency visas revoked will be given a six-month grace period to stay in the country. Previously, they were granted one month.

The new visas include a standard 60-day entry permit instead of the current 30 days and a five-year multi-entry tourist visa that allows visitors to stay in the country for up to 90 consecutive days.

The UAE will also introduce five-year green visas for skilled workers, freelancers, and the self-employed, as well as an entry visa for job-seekers for degree holders that does not require a sponsor or host.

Parents can sponsor their male children up to age 25, starting at 18, which allows them to stay in the UAE after school and university.

The "golden visa" initiative will also be expanded, qualified professionals with a salary of AED 30,000 ($8,100) a month or more will have an easier time getting a visa for 10 years.