HT360 Services provide hassle-free and efficient visa services to investors and employees.
We provide professional help in obtaining the following visas in the UAE:
Investor and partner visas Employment visas Tourist visas
Everything you need to know about UAE visas and sponsorship.
UAE Residence Visa for Students Students wishing to study in the UAE can obtain a residence visa through one of two sponsorship options:
Expatriate residents can sponsor their male children up to the age of 25. Male students over 25 can also be sponsored by their parents.
Key Requirements for a Student Visa:
Retired foreigners are eligible to apply for a 5-year long-term visa. Review the eligibility requirements and application process.
A technology park and free zone supporting tech startups, IT companies, and R&D with state-of-the-art offices and infrastructure.
The green visa is for skilled employees on self-sponsorship. The standard work visa is for employees of government and private sectors. Domestic helpers live and work in the UAE on the domestic worker’s visa.
Foreign nationals are required to obtain a UAE work visa before entering the country for employment. There are three types of UAE work visas available: the standard work visa, the Green visa, and the Golden visa. The appropriate visa will vary depending on the individual circumstances of each applicant.
A standard work visa in Dubai and the UAE is an employer-sponsored work visa that permits an expatriate to reside and work as an employee in the UAE for a period of two to three years. Subsequent to this period, the employer is required to renew or cancel the visa/p>
Green Visa – A New Opportunity for Freelancers and Self-Employed Individuals in the UAE
Introduced in October 2022, the UAE’s Green Visa offers a five-year residency specifically designed to attract and support foreign freelancers and self-employed individuals in Dubai and across the UAE.
Anyone over 18 can legally work as an expat in Dubai or the UAE, provided the employer and employee meet the MoHRE’s standards. Below is a general overview of the MoHRE’s conditions for working in the UAE:
There is no maximum age limit for applicants, but employers must pay an additional AED5,000 (US$1,360) fee every two years for employing workers over 65 years old.
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To apply for a UAE employment visa, you will need to provide the following supporting documents:
Your original passport and a copy.
A passport-sized picture that meets UAE requirements.
A medical certificate issued by a government-approved health center within the UAE.
Copies of your academic qualifications. These must be authorized by the UAE Embassy or consulate in your home country, as well as by your country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Documents from your prospective employer, such as their commercial license or company card.
Please note that, as per the 2018 employment visa rules in the UAE, a certificate of good conduct is not currently required. This may be subject to change.
The following fees apply to UAE work permits:
AED 200 (for all categories/levels)
AED 5,000 (for all categories)
It’s helpful to think of the UAE work visa application process in three stages: getting an employment entry visa, applying for an Emirates ID, and obtaining a residence visa and work visa. We outline the stages and their steps below.
If the applicant resides and works in one of the UAE’s 46 free zones, the employer must apply for a UAE free zone visa, which requires visa quota approval from the Ministry of Labor.
Free zone employers have a quota restriction on work visas, which vary across free zones. For example, the quota in Dubai is one visa per nine square meters of office space. If an employer reaches their quota, they can move to a larger office or apply for a quota upgrade.
Upon receiving quota approval, the employer must submit a signed work contract to the MoL for approval. The contract must be in English, Arabic, and the employee’s native language if it differs from either language.
The employer must submit their work visa application for approval. At this stage, the MoL confirms that the sponsor is a registered UAE corporate entity and determines if any unemployed UAE citizens can fill the vacant position instead of the foreign applicant. The MoL must approve the work visa application before issuing an entry visa.
Upon approval of the work visa application, the MoL issues an employment entry visa, also called a pink visa. The entry visa is valid for two months for standard and Green visa holders and six months with multiple entries for Golden visa holders. It allows the employee to legally enter the UAE to formalize their work visa and apply for a residence visa.
The employee receives the entry visa once they arrive in the UAE. If they can’t travel to the UAE within 60 days, they can apply for a one-time extension. If the employee is already in Dubai or the UAE on a different visa, they should apply for a visa “change of status” or do a “border run” to get the entry visa.
Upon entry, the employee should start collecting supporting documents for their residence visa application, such as an Emirates ID and health certificate, while the employer submits additional supporting documents for the work visa.
Foreign nationals entering or relocating to the UAE for work must get an Emirates ID, which is necessary for the required medical screening. The ID directly links to the expat’s residence visa and serves as an everyday identification document in the UAE in place of a passport.
To apply for an Emirates ID, the employee must visit an Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) center with their passport and entry visa and provide biometrics, such as their fingerprints and a photograph.
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All applicants must receive medical screening at a government-approved clinic in the UAE. The results of the checkup are required for the residence visa application.
As a part of the UAE work visa formalization, employers must upload their employee’s labor contract to the MoL website within 14 days of receiving the employee’s medical screening results.
Health insurance is mandatory for all expat employees in the UAE. In some Emirates, such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, employers must provide health insurance for employees and their families.
If a foreign employee resides in Sharjah or one of the northern Emirates, they must purchase their own health insurance plan. The MoL does not issue or renew work visas for employees without a valid health insurance card.
After completing the above steps, it takes about five days for the MoL to grant an official work visa. Upon receiving the work visa, employees can legally begin working in the UAE, and employers can start administering payroll through the official UAE system.
Once all of the above items are in place, the employee must submit the required documents with their application for a residence visa. If the applicant hasn’t received their official Emirates ID, an application receipt will suffice. The residence visa is valid for two years and is renewable.
All expats need a residence visa to live in the UAE, and the MoL lists the employee’s work visa as part of the residence visa. Expats also need a residence visa for completing formalities, such as opening bank accounts, registering a car, and opening a PO box.
The process of acquiring a UAE work visa can be conceptualized in three distinct stages: securing an employment entry visa, applying for an Emirates ID, and ultimately obtaining a residence visa and work visa. These stages and their corresponding steps are detailed below.
Foreign nationals entering or relocating to the UAE for employment purposes are mandated to obtain an Emirates ID, which is essential for the required medical screening. The ID is directly linked to the expatriate’s residence visa and serves as a primary identification document within the UAE, in lieu of a passport.
To apply for an Emirates ID, the employee must visit an Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) center with their passport and entry visa and provide biometrics, including fingerprints and a photograph.
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All applicants are required to undergo medical screening at a government-approved clinic in the UAE. The results of this checkup are a mandatory component of the residence visa application.
As part of the formalization of the UAE work visa, employers must upload their employee’s labor contract to the MoL website within 14 days of receiving the employee’s medical screening results.
Health insurance is compulsory for all expatriate employees in the UAE. In certain Emirates, such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, employers are obligated to provide health insurance for employees and their families.
If a foreign employee resides in Sharjah or one of the northern Emirates, they are responsible for purchasing their own health insurance plan. The MoL will not issue or renew work visas for employees who do not possess a valid health insurance card.
Following the completion of the aforementioned steps, it typically takes approximately five days for the MoL to grant an official work visa. Upon receiving the work visa, employees are legally permitted to commence employment in the UAE, and employers can initiate payroll administration through the official UAE system.
Once all the preceding requirements are fulfilled, the employee must submit the necessary documents with their application for a residence visa. If the applicant has not yet received their official Emirates ID, an application receipt will suffice. The residence visa is valid for two years and is renewable.
All expatriates require a residence visa to reside in the UAE, and the MoL includes the employee’s work visa as a component of the residence visa. Expatriates also necessitate a residence visa for completing formalities such as opening bank accounts, registering a vehicle, and establishing a post office box.
