How Long Is The Employment Visa Processing In Dubai?

By Tiara

Finding employment is not an easy task, even more so if you are just moving to a new country. Employers look at lots of things when deciding who to hire and keep for staff, including your health insurance coverage and job qualifications.

For international students, being able to speak the native language of the country you’re living in is very important. Many universities require this as part of their degree program. Having adequate visa documentation can make a big difference in how easily you find work here.

There are several types of visas that give immigrants access to work in the United States, some for longer than one year and others only for specific amounts of time. The length of stay for these visas depends on what kind you have and why you need it.

The number of days each type of visa allows people coming into America varies, but most allow you to remain until your passport expires. This is usually anywhere between six months and two years depending on whether you have a tourist or student visa. After that date has passed, you will need to reapply for entry into the U.S.

Some jobs don’t always offer paid vacations, especially in the beginning when a business is trying to establish itself. It is totally acceptable to ask for help spending money wisely while you are looking for employment, but no one should feel obligated to do anything beyond what they want to contribute.

Six months

how long is the employment visa processing in dubai

Many people are concerned about how long it takes to process an employment visa in Dubai, but you need to be aware of some important numbers before getting stressed out. The most common assumption is that there’s a six month processing time for your visa, which can sometimes feel like an eternity!

It’s very easy to assume that this six-month timeframe applies to every employee working here, but it doesn’t. Only around one third of non-NOC (national of country) workers have their visas processed within this period, while two thirds wait longer than six months.

This article will tell you who has a 6 month visa processing timescale and what you can do if yours does not. It will also talk you through why many non-NOC employees experience much longer waiting periods than the average.

We’ll cover off all the different types of employment visa available in Dubai as well as when they expire. If you want to work in the UAE, we’ve put together our top tips for becoming a successful job seeker.

One year

how long is the employment visa processing in dubai

The one-year employment visa for UAE is issued to individuals seeking work as an independent professional or self-employed individual. It can be renewed once it has expired depending on whether you have maintained enough proof that your business is legitimate and you’ll be leaving the country soon.

There are two main reasons why people use this type of visa – to find employment or to run their own business. Both require you to show employers that you will not take any payment other than wages for your services and that you have adequate savings to support yourself while away from home.

Two years

how long is the employment visa processing in dubai

Finding your feet as an entrepreneur can be tough, especially when you’re starting from scratch with no experience!

Running out of money is never fun, but it's even more frustrating when you've invested hard earned cash into a business that doesn't work.

Throwing good money after bad usually doesn't help too much, which is why most entrepreneurs learn how to give up and accept failure.

Sadly, there are times when giving up isn't an option. You need to know what next steps to take, so you don’t waste any more time.

In these cases, it’s important to evaluate whether or not your current employment status is valid for two years. If it is, then you must find new jobs within this period.

Three years

how long is the employment visa processing in dubai

Most people are under the impression that if you have a job offer in the United States, then your visa will be approved within just three months of applying for it. This is not the case though!

It takes much longer than this to process an employment visa in UAE. It can take anywhere from six months to two years depending on many different factors. Why does it take so long?

Because there are lots of bureaucratic steps involved in processing visas for foreign workers.

Four years

how long is the employment visa processing in dubai

Many people are worried about how long it takes to process an employment visa in Dubai, what with all of the rumors spread around the internet. Some say you can spend months waiting for your documents to be approved while others claim that it can take less than a week. Either way, four years is the average length of time it takes for employers to process visas in Dubai.

It’s important to remember that there is no set timeline when it comes to visa processing. The timing depends on many different things such as embassy opening hours, whether or not employees have proof of residency, etc.

Also, some countries require additional documentation beyond just the visa application. For example, Canada requires two pieces of photo identification per employee which can add to the wait time.

Five years

how long is the employment visa processing in dubai

Many people are worried about how long it will take to get their visa extended or even start the process for a new visa. There is some misinformation online about what time frame you can expect for processing your visa, so let’s fix that!

You have five full years after your initial entry into UAE as an employment visa holder to apply for extension. This means that if you run out of valid reasons to remain working here within those five year limits, you can simply reapply for a work visa at that time!

There is no need to be alarmed though, applying for an extension takes just weeks to months depending on the country you are applying in.

We tell users to aim for spring/summer 2019, when there are less cases going through immigration processes.

Depends on your work visa

how long is the employment visa processing in dubai

Lengthy process or not, depending on what type of employment you have and how long it takes to process your work visa, depends on where your employer is located. If your employer has their own office space, facilities, and resources for you to use, then this helps speed up processing time as they do not need to look for such things elsewhere.

If, however, you are being paid by the job, then finding an appropriate place to live and establishing communication with other members of the team can take some time. This is especially true if there is no clear leader of the company that people know about. It may be helpful to start gathering information about the business, who works here, and anything else related to the success of the organization.

Another thing to consider is whether you want to remain in Dubai for the length of your stay. Many employers require at least six months of continuous residency after leaving the country before applying for re-entry.

Apply for the visa

how long is the employment visa processing in dubai

After you have received your DS or E-Visa, you must then apply to work in the UAE as an employee. This is done through one of two agencies that handle employment visas in the country — Human Resources International (HRI) or Arabian Personnel Agency (APA).

Both HRI and APA offer free applications for their services. Once completed, they will review your documents and determine if the job posting was real and whether or not you are eligible to work in the UAE as an employer.

If all goes well, you can expect to receive your working visa within weeks!

Application process

The application process with either agency depends mostly on how many employees you have at your workplace and what position you hold there. Both require you to fill out a questionnaire about yourself and your business, as well as provide proof of both your personal and professional life.