Finding employment can be tricky, even more so when you’re looking at working abroad. It is not easy to find work anywhere in the world, but it is especially difficult if you are looking to live outside of your country with a stable income.
Finding employment opportunities abroad is particularly hard because most employers do not advertise their positions openly. Most companies recruit employees through personal connections or referral sources, and they all have different processes that depend on what position you hold at the company and who you know.
There are many ways to improve your job search skills before heading overseas, and doing some research will help you identify how to best approach these hurdles. The next step is figuring out how much money it costs to apply for a visa to work in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Article writers: Anqen Wang, Kaleej Behbahani
Published: May 31, 2019
Updated: November 5, 2020
Here we discuss about how to get an employee visa in the UAE, what kind of documents you need, and what factors play into whether or not you receive the approval. We also talk about the cost of applying for this visa, which varies depending on the employer and the type of position you want to take.
If you do not have an employment contract or proof of salary, you can still apply for a work visa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, your chances are much lower than if you did.
You will have to prove that there is enough money coming in to support yourself and your family back home, as well as showing that you have adequate funds to return home after your stay here.
This can be done through bank statements, tax documents or affidavits. Make sure to include all sources, not just one!
It’s also important to remember that many employers in the UAE require their staff to take at least two weeks off per year, so make sure you know when your holidays are so you don’t overstay your visa.
The timing of your employment visa depends mostly on two things: how urgent you are to find work, and how much money you have to spend on it. If you can afford to be patient, then there’s no need to rush into anything.
It is important to note that most employers will not start negotiations until after an offer has been made so having enough savings to cover living expenses while you look may help ease the pressure.
If you do run out of cash before receiving the job, don’t worry about coming back later – just ask someone if they know anyone who could lend you some! A lot of people understand the importance of keeping up momentum when looking for work, and many would happily aid you in doing so.
In fact, one friend told me of an organization she used where even those with little or no credit receive small loans which they pay off over time, so you should definitely check that out too.
Even though there is no formal way to apply for employment visas while you are already living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it’s not impossible! What can be done, however, is to register with an agency that handles such work permits.
By registering as an employer, you will have the opportunity to look up job listings within the country at your convenience. This way, you don’t need to spend any money looking for jobs until you find one that fits what you are looking for and at a time that works best for you.
The trick comes down to how much employers must pay employees under federal law. If this amount is less than 4,900 AED per month ($1,100 USD) then there is no requirement for an employment visa.
This means that even if you live outside of the country and are hired online, you won’t have to deal with the immigration process unless you make more than $4,900 per month.
Finding employment permission or visa sponsorship in the UAE is not easy, but it’s also not impossible! If you're reading this article then that means there's a chance your could get work here, too.
The truth is, whether you're looking to stay for a few months, years or even life-long, finding stable employment in the UAE can be difficult. This is especially true if you don't have much experience working abroad.
It doesn’t help that many employers across various industries like Entertainment (the performing arts), Finance (banking) and Tourism (resort jobs or running a hotel) require at least two years' professional experience. Even more competitively, Health Care Jobs (nurse, doctor) usually require five years’ experience.
With the average cost of living in the UAE around 10% higher than back home, it can feel hard to keep up with the competition when opportunities arise. This is particularly tough when money is tight and savings are limited.
Luckily, our experts have some helpful tips about getting work visas in the UAE. Check out these 5 things to know before applying for an employer visa in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Finding employment while living abroad is definitely not easy, but it is doable! The key to keeping your budget under control is knowing what expenses you have before you go full time into work. These can include fees paid to employers, to live in either self-hosted or shared housing, and transportation to and from work.
In some cases, employers may offer reimbursement or monthly benefits as part of their employment package. This can help reduce your outofpocket spending.
It’s important to remember that no matter where you look, every country has its own rules when it comes to visas and employment. Nationstates differ in how much they charge for visa applications, so make sure to check those out beforehand!
We recommend doing your research online and through trusted sources to save money! That way you know there’s no hidden costsearlier and you will be aware of any potential problems earlier on.
When it comes to employment visa, what you need to know is that your employer will be asking about all of these things during your interview. Make sure you are prepared!
They’ll ask if you have enough money to live on while you are in the UAE. This could mean having two full-time jobs or one part time job with a second source of income.
It also means making sure you can afford to travel back home after your contract ends. Some employers require their staff to have proof they can do this.
If you don’t have enough savings set aside then you may want to think about finding part time work here so you can stay more affordable.
Buying an employment visa is not like buying any other type of visa, such as tourism or business. There are no general rules about how much you can spend to do this!
Some visas have restrictions around how much money you can spend, but these are very rare. The process usually works more like what price range employers are looking for and then you need to show that you’ve tried before within that budget.
There may also be fees associated with doing this, which people sometimes get mixed up at. These can add to the cost slightly, so it’s best to look out for those early.
We would recommend talking to our experts first to see if there is a better priced option than what we list here.
Living in a foreign country comes with many things, one of which is security. You will need to make sure you are protected while here so that you do not have to worry about anything.
There are several ways to protect yourself from potential threats while living abroad. These include socializing only within your own kind, staying away from unknown areas or people, and being aware of how much money you spend.
By spending less money, you reduce the chances of becoming a target due to expensive habits. For example, if you go shopping every day, try to limit yourself to once a week or even twice a month.
It may be difficult at first, but before long, you will realize you are happier this way.