Due to its comparatively easy visa requirements in comparison to neighboring Middle Eastern nations, the United Arab Emirates, usually known as the UAE or the Emirates, is a popular destination for expats. Because of this, the nation is a fantastic option for businesses that are growing worldwide. However, just like in any other nation, there are particular guidelines that must be followed while applying for work permits, residence visas, and immigration.
Work visa categories in the United Arab Emirates
additional immigration laws were introduced by the UAE government, including a system for resident visas that adds numerous additional categories.
According to the revised rules, residency permits for employment include:
- Employment contracts and Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MOHRE) approval are required for employer-sponsored residence permits for contract workers.
- The Green Visa is a five-year residence permit that investors, highly trained workers, and independent contractors can self-sponsor.
Conditions for Obtaining UAE Work Visas
The following paperwork is required of employees in order to obtain a resident visa in the UAE:
- A current passport and a copy
- Photos for passports
- A passport for Emirates
- A visa issued by the Ministry of Labor
- The findings of a medical examination
- A copy of the employer’s business card
- A copy of the business license for the organization
After receiving a residence visa, the employee can submit an application for a work permit. The employee will require all of the aforementioned papers in addition to a work permit application form, which must be completed in Arabic, and an employment contract or job offer from a company in the UAE in order to obtain a work permit.
Application Method: Obtaining a UAE work permit can be broken down into three steps: securing an employment entrance visa, obtaining an Emirates ID card (often referred to as a Resident Identity Card), and securing a resident visa and work permit.
How to Obtain a UAE Entry Visa?
In the UAE, a pink visa is another name for an entry visa for employment. The employer must make a visa quota application on the employee’s behalf in order to start the procedure for acquiring this permit. The Ministry of Labor (MOL) will be contacted for this clearance.
The employer will next send a contract of employment to the MOL. This agreement must be signed by the potential employee.
An application for a work permit must be approved by the Ministry before a visa for employment entrance may be issued. Once the employee has received permission and a visa, they will have two months to travel to the UAE.
The employee has 60 days from the time they arrive in the UAE on a pink visa to apply for a residence visa and a formal work permit. Foreign nationals who are unable to visit the UAE within the first 60 days after that date may request for an extra 60-day extension as of February 2023. All sorts of visas are eligible for this, although it can only be used once.
Obtaining a UAE ID
Employees must apply for a residency visa and provide an Emirates ID for the medical examination. The employee must present their entry visa, an original passport, and a copy in order to apply for an ID. Employees must submit their applications in person to the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) center, where they will also have to submit biometric data such their fingerprints and a photo.
Getting a work permit and a residence visa
The employee will need all of the paperwork mentioned in the preceding section in order to submit an application for a resident visa. It is possible to extend a resident visa for the UAE for up to two years (formerly three, but limited in October 2022). The work permit of the employee will be included in the resident visa. After the work permit has been approved, the employee can start working in earnest.
Additional Crucial Points
The requirement that work permits be sponsored by an organization that is locally licensed and incorporated in the UAE is one of the special concerns of operating in the UAE. Businesses who are just starting their global expansion may find this requirement to be challenging. You can collaborate with a worldwide PEO as the Employer of Record in the UAE if your company doesn’t already have a presence there.
Some workers might also want to bring their families to the UAE. Once they have their own resident visa, employees can sponsor visas for family members.
Contact Us
Feel free to get in touch with our team for more information. You can contact us by calling our UAE number 04-3961284 or our hotline at+971 52 888 4714