Finding employment in the UAE is not easy, even for experienced workers. The limited amount of jobs available to non-UAE nationals pose a major challenge for career seekers who are only looking to build their careers. Employers prefer if you are already working here or at least have the appropriate visa status.
There are several types of visas that allow an individual to work in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These include: Work Visas, Business Visits, Student Visas, Visit For Business Or Professionals, and Cultural Visas.
Some employers will still hire individuals without any type of visa as long as they can prove adequate job experience. However, this becomes more difficult as time goes on. It is best to be prepared ahead of time!
Finding out what visa options exist and how to apply for them is very important. In this article, we will discuss all of the different types of employment visas in the UAE and when it is ideal to use each one.
A business or employment visa is typically for professionals, such as doctors or lawyers, that are looking to work in the UAE as employees. These visas are usually two years long and require your employer to be certified by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization.
The process to obtain an employee business visa is very time consuming so most employers hire representatives to help them navigate through all of the paperwork. This way they can save time from having to do it themselves!
There are many professional representation firms that offer services like this, but you must do your research to ensure that they are trustworthy. It is not worth paying money if there are signs of fraud.
Recent developments for working in the UAE has allowed residents to live and work here as long-term employees. This type of employment is called visit visas or VISA. These are typically one year contracts with a company that allows you to travel internationally during your time there.
Many countries offer this visa option to employers, but not all so make sure to do some research before deciding if this is right for you and your career!
There are several types of business visitor visas depending on what kind of business person you are (individuals, entrepreneurs, etc) and how long you will be staying in each country.
For example, an entrepreneur visiting another country for business can apply for a Business Confidence Expedite (B c visas which only require them to prove they have enough money to back up their venture and return. They don’t need proof of profit or investment, just that they know where they will stay and what services and things they will have access to while they are there!
Individual visitors also have F visaes which only require proof of income and health insurance. The length individual B visas are given depend on whether the employee is traveling for business or personal reasons and whether they intend to remain in the country longer than six months.
A student visa is for non-working students. You must be enrolled at an educational institution within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as either a full time or part time student. Students are not allowed to work while they are studying so this type of visa is only valid for formal education settings like universities, colleges, and institutes.
Student visas do not expire unless you fail to maintain your enrollment or drop out of school. If you meet the requirements at the end of the academic year, your student visa will automatically close.
You must have proof that you’ll be attending an educational establishment in UAE as well as tickets to prove it. This can include test dates, courses, lectures, and seminars.
Students may also need to bring money to study since some schools require expensive materials or supplies. Some employers allow students to work during breaks or before/after classes, but most don’t.
A working holiday visa (WHV) is the best way to explore the world as an adult. With this type of visa, you can spend one year outside of your home country exploring different cultures while also earning some money.
Most countries will require at least two weeks’ stay so there is plenty of time to learn about the area. There are many ways to gain work through this visa so it is not only for young people who want to experience diversity.
There are several types of WHVs depending on what nation you are traveling to and how much employment you have.
A residence visa is typically for people who will be living in the country long term. This includes visiting for a few months, or even years, so this type of visa can be longer than one year. Such visas are given to individuals that live in the country, work there, and contribute to the community.
There are two main types of residency visas: student and working. With students, you must show that you will be attending an educational institution in the country, which makes sense because tuition usually requires a license or diploma. Working residents don’t need a degree but they do need employment documents such as a passport, proof of income, and a job offer.
The difference between the two is just how much time each individual has to reside in the country-one can stay for six months after obtaining their resident visa, while the other can remain indefinitely. Both are very important parts of staying in a new place.
A dual visa is an employment visa that allows you to work while staying in Dubai. This can be done at either a company or individual level. Most employers will require you to have proof of sufficient income, as well as confirmation that you have enough savings to support yourself whilst not working.
There are two main types of dual visas: Working Holiday (WH) Visas and Business/Work Visas.
A WH visa requires your return home within 6 months. These are usually extended for 2-3 years if people enjoy their stay here so much! Some countries offer even longer stays with this visa type.
A business/work visa does not have a set departure date. You can remain in UAE indefinitely unless you leave. If you do decide to depart, there are certain requirements such as having adequate funds, documentation and leaving cleanly.
These visas are very easy to get depending on what kind you qualify for. There are many companies and agencies that help facilitate this process for you. They handle all the paperwork, payments etc.. All you need to provide them is your passport, documents proving your identity and proof of job position.
A job offer is any expression or statement indicating that you, as an employee, will be provided with employment under the employer company. This can include advertisements, emails from HR departments, formal offers, and statements made to you directly by management.
Usually, this information comes at the end of a recruitment process that includes applications, interviews, and paperwork such as proof of qualifications and documents confirming your identity.
The recruiter will make sure that before offering work, they verify your visa status and if necessary, issue you with appropriate working visas. If everything goes well, you get the chance to start working!
There are many types of visa for different occupations in the UAE, so don’t worry about being overqualified – even though it may feel like it sometimes!
What happens next depends on what kind of visa you have and whether the employer is eligible to use it. However, most employers will require you to begin work within around two weeks.
As mentioned before, career change is always a good thing to do if you are not happy with your current position or if someone else offers you an opportunity that seems better than what you have at present.
If you are thinking about becoming an immigration consultant, here are some things you should know!
There are several ways to become an immigration consultant. You can be sponsored by an existing firm, work as an independent contractor for a company, or open your own practice.
The last option is probably the most difficult to achieve but it is also the best way to go if you want to make a living as an immigration consultant.
You will need sufficient capital to start off, adequate collateral (for example, a house) to secure credit, and professional liability insurance. It’s very important to understand the regulations so you don’t hurt anyone accidentally while helping them navigate visa processes.
For those aspiring to be immigration consultants or agents, it's crucial to understand that this profession demands a deep understanding of the immigration laws, regulations, and procedures of the concerned country. In the case of the UAE, here are some steps and requirements to become a successful immigration agent:
Becoming an immigration consultant or agent is not just about understanding the laws; it's about helping individuals and families realize their dreams of moving to a new country for a better life or career. It's a responsibility that requires dedication, continuous learning, and a genuine desire to help. The UAE, being a global hub, offers immense opportunities for immigration consultants, but it's essential to enter the field with the right knowledge and intentions.