How to Get a UAE Employment Visa: Step-by-Step Guide

Are you going to be employed with an organization in the UAE, or are you keen to employ a skilled foreign worker? UAE employment visa: Getting one may seem like a difficult process, but let’s give you the facts—it’s actually quite easy. For any individual seeking to capture a job opportunity in Dubai, or for the case of a firm looking for employees with international experience, it is important to have elaborate knowledge of this visa and its application process. 

Read on to find out among the many UAE employment visas how to get one and what documents you are going to need. Please follow us as we provide you the information you need to get the right visa to work in the UAE as a foreigner.

What Is a UAE Employment Visa?

A UAE employment visa is a government permit given to foreigners for entering, living, and working in the United Arab Emirates legally. Indeed, one could not legally work in the United Arab Emirates without this particular visa type. The following visa is very vital for any individual who seeks employment in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any of the Emirates. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) issues the visa. There are different visa types. They depend on your occupation, academic achievements, and employer. Those who want to work in the UAE see this visa as a start to a new career or a successful business.

Like most employment visas, the UAE employment visa is complicated. It requires both the employer and employee to complete various tasks, like paperwork and medical tests. For businesses, the visa is very important. It provides a legal way to hire skilled workers from abroad when the UAE’s labor force is insufficient.

Types of UAE Employment Visas and Their Requirements

1. Standard Employment Visa

The normal working visa is the most popular visa for foreign employees in the companies located in the UAE. To apply for this visa, the following steps and requirements need to be fulfilled:

• Job Offer: Every applicant must be employed by a company in the UAE before applying for this visa.
• Employer Sponsorship: The employer must sponsor the employee’s work visa. This means that the company will be vicariously liable for the worker while he is in the UAE.
• Medical Test: Before working in the UAE, all applicants must pass a medical fitness test. It includes tests for diseases like tuberculosis.
• Labor Contract: Applicants must be contracted workers who possess a contract that must be signed by both employee and the employer.
• Passport: Photo(s) – The applicant’s passport must be valid for at least six (6) months.
• Other Documentation: In some cases, depending on the industry specificity and the position applied for, the applicant may be required to provide certificates—educational or licenses.

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2. Freelance Work Visa

It will therefore suit the freelance visa for people who want to work for or through personal arrangements and not under an employer. However, it will be most suitable for employees working in such sectors as technology, media, marketing, design, and consultancy. To qualify for the freelance work visa, applicants must:

• Proof of Freelance Work: Provide copies of contracts, portfolios, or any business forms that you have produced on your own.
• Valid Passport: The application must produce a valid passport, and this passport should be valid for at least six months.
• Income Proof: Some freelance work may require income proof, such as financial statements or invoices.

This visa is particularly beneficial for those who work for themselves but would like the legal right to work in the UAE.

 

Recommended: Free Visa

3. Golden Visa

The Golden Visa gives foreigners a chance to reside, work, and invest in the UAE for up to ten years without requiring a UAE sponsor. It is meant for investors, experienced and other professional employees, and those with exceptional abilities in different sectors. To qualify for the Golden Visa, applicants must:

• Exceptional Skills or Contributions: Applicants must prove exceptional work in a specific field.
• Valid Passport: The applicant must have a valid passport.
• The Golden Visa may go to the heads of start-ups, investors, or large investors with significant investments. It also applies to professionals, specialists, and others in a certain sector of the UAE economy.

Recommended: Types Of Visas

Documents Required to Open a Business in Dubai

In case you are planning to open your business in Dubai, it is important to acquire employees who possess a UAE employment visa. Below are some documents you will need to provide to start a business in Dubai:

1. Trade Name Reservation: Even the legal name of your business must first register with the Department of Economic Development (DED).
2. Passport Copy: A photocopy of the passport of the business owner, which has to be very clear.
3. Business Plan: A working document that provides a clear direction of your business, your chosen market, and your estimates of costs and revenues.
4. Office Lease Agreement: Physical address of the office in Dubai.
5. Sponsor Agreement: A local sponsor must, where relevant, agree to a written contract. This is especially true when a foreign investor wants to do business in the forbidden sectors.
6. Shareholder Agreement: If you are in a partnership or corporation, use an agreement to set the shareholding structure.
7. Proof of Funds: Depending on the type of business you are engaged in, you may be required to prove availability of funds to undertake the business.

Conducting a business in Dubai also involves legalities touching on the requirements governing the provision of PRO services in Dubai, which deal with bureaucratic procedures of government departments such as visas, permits, and other formalities.

Benefits of Starting a Business in Dubai

Dubai is a major global commerce hub. It attracts many business people seeking to establish their businesses there. The UAE government has made a great environment for businesses. It offers many benefits to owners.

1. Strategic Location: The locating of Dubai has positioned the city and its free zones as the ideal gateways in the world economies to both the eastern and the western hemispheres. It is situated at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
2. Tax Incentives: For a lot of companies, Dubai has no taxes at all—no income tax, no corporate tax, and no capital gains tax. This is a major attraction to foreign investors. As mentioned above, the following factors encourage foreign investors.
3. Supportive Government: The UAE government offers many forms of support. This includes funding, training, and mentors for start-ups.
4. Business-friendly Environment: Company incorporation in Dubai involves integration and low bureaucratic formalities. Intensive digital identity services that make doing business a smooth affair.
5. Skilled Workforce: The labor market in Dubai comprises a large pool of internationally qualified human resources; therefore, you can easily find talent for your business.

UAE Employment Visa: Requirements and Application Process

UAE employment visa can also be obtained through the below steps in this regard. Here’s how the application process typically works:

Step 1: Obtain a Job Offer

Routine application for an employment visa cannot be processed without accepting a job offer from an employer in the UAE. The employer is responsible for applying for the initial entry permit with Immigration for you. This permit will enable you to come into the country in order to start the visa processes.

Step 2: Submit Entry Permit Application

That is when your employer will apply for your entry permit with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). This is a legal document that permits you to enter the UAE on the strength of the permit mentioned under the UAE visa.

Step 3: Undergo Medical Fitness Exam

Upon arrival in the UAE, you are required to take a medical fitness test at an approved clinic by the government. The test involves blood tests and chest X-rays to check for ailments like tuberculosis.

Step 4: Apply for Emirates ID

In addition to the medical test, you would need to procure an Emirates ID. The Emirates ID is an identification card that is mandatory for one and all living or working in the UAE.

Step 5: Labor Card Application

After going through the medical examination, you will also have to get the Emirates ID; your employer will then proceed to apply for the labor card. This card is an identification that would certify that you or I am permitted to work in the UAE.

Step 6: Residence Visa

The last one is then the granting of your residency visa. On the same note, this visa enables you to access the UAE and work upon the time of your contract. The residence visa will be placed on your passport, meaning you will be free to come in and out of the UAE.

Grace Period After Visa Cancellation in UAE

The above green card cancellation phrase refers to the period of time any person has within which to depart the UAE upon cancellation of the visa. This period is provided for the expatriate employee who has ended his/her contract or wants to change companies. In general, the duration of a grace period after visa cancellation in the UAE is thirty days, though it may be different at times. This is the time that the workers are legally allowed to remain in the country in order to sort out how they leave or seek employment with a new employer.

One must note that if the person stays in the UAE beyond the grace period after visa cancellation, then he is subject to fines and penalties. You can also find out whether you may transfer your visa if you decide to switch jobs, and therefore you will not need to travel overseas.

Employment Visa Cost in UAE

Such permits need working approval from the Ministry of Labor; hence the name employment visa cost in UAE differs according to the type of employment visa, the validity of the visa, among other factors. On average, the total cost of obtaining a standard work visa includes:

• Visa application fees
• Medical examination fees
• Less: Emirates ID and labor card fees
• Compulsory medical insurance (for employee)

The fees are normally between AED 3,000 and AED 7,000, depending on the type of work visa, although specific highly skilled or extended visas like the Golden Visa cost more.

UAE Employment Visa Rules for Entrepreneurs

Those aspiring to be businessmen and women, who want to start their own business and employ foreign employees, will need to comprehend certain facts relating to UAE employment visas. When it comes to getting residency, you can either apply for a Golden Visa or any standard business license depending on the type of your business. The key requirements for entrepreneurs include:

• Sponsorship: This means that there is a possibility of you promoting your employees to work with your company and that you can also hire professionals from other countries to assist in your company’s growth.
• Investor Visa: Depending upon the size of the investment, you are allowed to get a long-term investor visa through which you can stay and operate your business in the UAE without any UAE sponsor.

To make it easier, many start-ups pick PRO services in Dubai that cater to all the government-related documentation for visas, registration of a business, and more.

Conclusion: Securing a UAE Employment Visa for Your Career

Therefore, the process of acquiring a UAE employment visa is the initial process step for everybody who wants to work in the UAE—be it as an employee in search of a job or an employer searching for a foreign employee. The UAE is full of opportunity, and visa types and provisions are varied depending on the visa seeker’s intent, whether for work or as an investor. If you keep to these points outlined in this guide, you can easily campaign for an application.

Whether you are searching for employment in Dubai or other emirates of the United Arab Emirates, an UAE employment visa for hiring employees, or you are a businessman thinking of establishing a business in the UAE, knowing about the subtleties of the process will help you to avoid many pitfalls. Should you require any help with PRO services in Dubai, or you have any questions on business setup in Dubai, let us know. Come to us now and let us kickstart your success in the UAE.