UAE Work Visa 2024: A Complete Guide To UAE Employment Visa
Planning to stay in UAE for a long time? Then, you must apply for a residence visa, and if you’re planning to stay for a long time, then you’ll obviously need to work there to earn your living. In order to work in UAE, you must have a work permit as it’s necessary to work in UAE. So, you must be wondering how I can apply for it. Worry not; today, we’ll guide you about UAE Work Visa Requirements and how you can apply for UAE Employment Visa.
Let’s get started without any delay.
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UAE Employment Visa Requirements
There are specific requirements for a UAE Work Visa. Let’s have a look at them:
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Who is Eligible for UAE Work Visa?
Any foreigner who is at least 18 years old is eligible to get a UAE Work Visa. In the case of a company that wishes to hire a person aged over 65 years, it must pay a higher fee. The standards while hiring any candidate must meet the criteria of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).
Basically, there’re three categories into which foreigners are divided:
Types of Work Visa
Before going to obtain a work visa, you must know that there’re three types of work visas:
1. Standard Work Visa
A standard work visa is an employer-sponsored visa that is issued to the employee with a validity of 2 to 3 years, and the employer must renew or cancel it once it’s about to expire. Before issuing a standard work visa, the employee is allotted an entry permit, after which the employer applies for the employee’s employment visa and provides him/her with an Emirates ID and Residence Visa after approving it from GDRFAD.
2. Green Visa
Green Visa comes with a validity of 5 years, and unlike a standard visa, it doesn’t require any employee to hire you first. A green visa was introduced to attract the growing community of freelancers and independent workers.
Green Visa also comes with a grace period of 6 months after its expiry, and a green visa holder can also sponsor his friends or relatives. In order to get approval from MoHRE for a green visa, the applicant must show sufficient income proof and minimum education.
3. Golden Visa
Golden Visa comes with a validity of 10 years, and it’s usually allotted to doctors, engineers, athletes, scientists, and other exceptional talent. You can undergo a quiz if you’re eligible for a Golden Visa at the GDRFAD website.
A golden visa holder can sponsor unlimited members of his family and friends without any need for a local sponsor.
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What Documents Do I Need For UAE Work Visa?
In order to apply for UAE Employment Visa, you must have the following documents:
Till 2018, a good conduct certificate was also needed, but it has been removed as a condition now in new visa rules in UAE.
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How Can I Get A Work Permit (Entry Visa) In UAE?
Your employer will obtain the work permit on your behalf. MoHRE is responsible for issuing Work Permits to foreigners. The application process includes the following steps.
How Much Does UAE Work Permit Cost?
The UAE work permit fee has been mentioned below.
Majorly, your employer is responsible for covering the charges of your UAE work permit.
Also, note that the Dubai Work Permit fee is exactly the same as any other UAE State Work Permit fee.
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How Long Does It Take To Get A UAE Work Permit?
Once all the documents have been submitted, it takes almost 5 working days for MoL to issue the work permit.
Validity of UAE Work Permit
Your UAE Work Permit is valid for 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days. Upon entering UAE, your employer must apply for your Emirates ID, Residency Visa, and Labour card.
Labour Cards and Residency Visas are responsible for making you able to live and work in UAE peacefully. Residence visas are issued with a validity of 1, 2, or 3 years depending upon the nature of your work and the purpose of your travel.
How Can I Get A UAE Employment Visa?
Once your UAE work permit is approved, you’ll be able to stay in UAE for 30 days which can be extended for another 30 days. The process for UAE Work Visa will begin when you officially enter the UAE.
UAE Work Visa Procedure
The complete procedure for UAE Employment Visa has been shared below:
The next steps you’ll be proceeding with after reaching UAE.
Further steps you’ll be proceeding with in order to get a residence visa and work visa.
Your employer will apply for your residence visa at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs – Dubai (GDRFAD), and once your application is approved, GDRFAD will affix the employment visa onto your passport, and you’ll be officially eligible to work and stay in UAE.
If you’re getting a Dubai Visa, then your application will be processed through Amer Service Centers.
Can You Renew Your UAE Work Visa?
Yes, your employer can renew your work visa till the end of your work visa grace period. Normally, work visas are issued with a validity of 1, 2, and 3 years. Once your work visa has expired, your employer can renew your work visa at the GDRFAD online website following the exact same procedure as applying for your visa for the first time.
Though you can renew your work visa till the end of your grace period, it’s better to renew your work visa 30 days before the expiry.
In case you want to check if you have any fine while living in Emirates then you can easily check it at Emirates ID Fine Check.
How To Get A Dubai Work Visa?
You can also get a Dubai Work Visa easily. Follow the steps below:
Dubai Employment Visa Renewal
Once your Dubai employment visa is about to expire, your employer can apply for the renewal of your Dubai Employment Visa till the last date of your grace period. The grace period is 30 days once your employment visa has expired.
FAQs
Summary
A complete guide on UAE Work Visas has been shared, explaining the types of various work visas, their requirements, and how you can apply for work visas as well. You can get the complete information above. If you’ve any questions, you can ask in the comment section.
About Author
Sheikh Faisal is a Legal Services Consultant residing in UAE since 2018. He’s providing services related to Emirates ID, Emirates Visa, and other Emirates Services. He’s sharing his knowledge to benefit people seeking Emirates ID and other information.