With a diverse economy, increasingly stable political system, low tax environment and a government open to foreign investment, a surge in foreign investment has been made in the United Arab Emirates over the last few years. Many businesses are choosing to expand to the UAE to take advantage of these opportunities, as well as the promise of accessible African and Asian markets. Businesses with global ambitions are turning to this promising market that offers a strong network of international tax treaties and positive cash flow.

As one of the World Bank’s 2019 global listings for its Ease of Doing Business, the UAE provides various options for immigrants to obtain their UAE working visa and residency status more easily. Here is everything you need to know about how to obtain your UAE work visa.

Obtaining a UAE Work Visa

During the last several years, the UAE government has taken steps to make their market more accessible to foreign investors. As a result, their UAE work visa requirements for expats are less intensive than for many neighboring countries.

You cannot legally work in the UAE while on a tourist visa. UAE companies typically complete all necessary visa requirements for expats and may also sponsor employees’ immediate family members. To obtain your UAE work visa, you must first obtain the following:

• Entry permit
• Emirate identification card
• Residence visa

The steps to secure these essential documents are described in greater detail below.

Entry Permit

An entry visa is necessary for anyone planning to live or visit the UAE for more than one month. Emirati citizens, private-sector companies, companies in free zones, a UAE-based hotel, a UAE-based airline, or an expat resident with his or her own UAE residency permit can sponsor an entry visa.

The entry permit is valid for 14 to 90 days, depending on your reason for entering the UAE and your nationality. However, UAE law allows the entry visa to be extended up to two times for 30 days each.

Emirate Identification Card

Before you can apply for a residence visa, you must secure an Emirate identification card for your employees. You must provide the entry visa and the employee’s original passport and a copy at the Emirates Identity Authority Center. Once here, the employee will have his or her picture and fingerprints taken. You must also pay the applicable fee.

Once issued, the Emirate identification card contains important information about the employee, including his or her:

• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• Picture
• Fingerprints

This card is the official form of identification for the person’s stay while in the UAE.

UAE Residency Permit

Next, you will apply for a UAE residency permit. Temporary or permanent resident visas are available. A residence visa is necessary to work in the UAE as well as complete many other routine tasks, such as:

• Obtaining a driver’s license
• Registering an automobile
• Opening a bank account
• Applying for a mobile phone plan

Temporary residency permits are usually valid for one to three years, but you can renew them for longer. Once you have a residency visa, you can apply for a visa for your immediate family. You must apply for your residency visa during the duration of your entry permit.

Most companies handle the entire visa application process for their employees. You can also obtain a residency permit by purchasing real estate that is worth at least 1 million AED. This type of residency permit usually lasts for two years, but it does not authorize the right to work. Business owners can obtain residency in the UAE when they register their company in an emirate state or free zone. Doing so will also allow you to hire employees in the UAE.

To apply for your worker’s residency visa, you will need to submit the entry permit, the same information you did for the Emirate identification card, and the following:

• Completed application
• Emirate identification card
• Passport photos
• Copy of valid company card
• Valid commercial license of the company

The employee will also need to complete a medical check at a medical clinic or government hospital in the UAE. Medical checks or certificates from other countries are not accepted. The test checks for communicable diseases and requires blood tests and a chest x-ray. Once the employee passes the medical check, he or she will receive a health certificate to include with his or her application.

Applying for the UAE Work Visa

Now that you have the necessary forms, you can apply for the UAE working visa. You will submit the same information for the UAE work visa as you did for the residency visa. You will also need to submit proof of a work contract or job offer from a business in the UAE. All information must be translated in Arabic.

You must also pay the applicable fee. The amount of the fee depends on the category of the company and whether a worker is considered skilled or unskilled. Skilled workers are those who have a degree that is required by the profession. Fees for unskilled workers are typically higher than those for skilled workers.

There are four UAE categories for these purposes, which include:

• Level 1 – This category includes individuals with at least a bachelor’s degree, including professionals such as doctors, pharmacists, engineers, teachers, public relations officers, and computer operators.
• Level 2 – This category includes individuals with a diploma in their field and typically employed in mechanical or technical jobs.
• Level 3 – This category includes individuals with the equivalent of a high school education, including site supervisors, cashiers, storekeepers, and tourist guides.

If you are hiring an employee who is 65 or older, there is an additional fee of 5,000 AED.

It takes about ten days to process the UAE work visa.