Getting a Work Visa for the UAE

by Sam Taylor Something to shout about

If you’re a British citizen and plan on working or setting up a business in the UAE then you’ll need to comply with the region’s working permit and visa regulations.

Here are the key things you need to know about working visas in the UAE:

Visiting Visa

You may apply for a visitor’s visa on arrival in the UAE. It will be issued for free and will be valid for 30 days. This gives you time to explore employment or business opportunities, check out accommodation options and get a feel for what life in the UAE might be like.

It’s possible to extend your stay for an additional 30 days with a visa extension which can be obtained at the regional immigration office for a fee, but be aware that the limitations on this kind of visa are strict; you must not work and if you fail to leave the UAE at the end of your visa you will be subject to a fine.

Residence Visa

In order to secure a work permit that entitles you to work legally, open a bank account or rent property in the UAE, you must first secure a residence visa which is sponsored either by an employer or a spouse.

These are usually valid for periods of 1-3 years depending on your status as a student, domestic worker, public or private sector employee, or investor.

It is customary for an employer to bear the costs and responsibility for processing applications on behalf of an employee, but all applicants will need to provide the following:

·         A residency visa application form

·         Passport-sized photographs

·         An original passport which is valid for 6 months longer than your intended stay, and a clear photocopy of it

·         Copies of a valid company card and commercial licence

·         An employment permit issued by the Ministry of Labour

Before an application is approved, the applicant must also present themselves for health checks which will include blood tests for Hepatitis and HIV.

If your test results are positive you are likely to detained and deported and will have no option to appeal against this. If your results are negative, you will be required to take blood tests annually to confirm that you continue to be healthy.

If you require prescribed medications to treat any sort of health condition you must check that your drugs do not contravene any of the UAE’s strict controlled substance laws.

Although information can be found on the Ministry of Health’s Drug Control Department website, the information can be complex and changeable.  

To avoid falling foul of UAE drug laws, contact the Embassy of the UAE in London or the Ministry of Health Drug Control Department directly via email: drugcl.csc@moh.gov.ae, or phone: +971 2 611 7240 for further information.

If, once you have secured a resident visa, you choose to leave the country for a period of more than six months, or permanently, you must negotiate the end of any contracts, settle any debts and cancel your visa to avoid the risk of being arrested as an absconder.

You can return to the UAE in the future providing fresh applications are made.

Work Permit

Work permits, also known as Labour Cards, are usually applied for at the same time as a residence visa but may be submitted up to 60 days after entering the region. These are processed and approved electronically and successful applicants are supplied with an Emirates ID card.

For certain jobs, the Ministry of Labour will require you to provide attested school certificates or a degree. A complete document will have a stamp of authenticity from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within the country of origin, a stamp from the UAE embassy in your country or origin and a stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai.

If you are planning to sponsor you spouse or child/children, a fully attested marriage and/or birth certificate will need to be verified by the Department of Naturalisation and Residency.

As either an employer or employee, applying for residence and work permits can be a complicated process but you can get clear, practical advice and support from the region’s labour law experts at ACT Pro & Business Services. 

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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