UAE Resident Visa through Employment (UAE Employment Visa)

If a foreign national obtains employment in the UAE, he or she must have a resident visa to legally work and live in UAE. The employer will be the sponsor of the visa. The employer can be a company from UAE mainland or from a Freezone jurisdictions or from a UAE government entity.

The first step is to process the employment visa. If the employee was hired abroad, then the employment visa will entitle him or her to enter UAE under this visa. Once the employee has entered the country, he or she needs to undertake a medical test and will complete the emirates identity card biometrics for the issuance of the resident visa and Emirate ID Card.

If the employee was hired inside the country, then the employee visa status can be changed via an in country application. The employee can then undertake the medical test and complete the emirates identity card biometrics for the issuance of the resident visa and Emirate ID Card.

The resident visa sponsored by a mainland or LLC company is valid for 2 years. Whilst a UAE resident visa sponsored by a freezone or government entity will be valid for 3 years. The resident visas by employment can be renewed after this period.

The required documents are:

From the Company

From the Employee

Employment through a Mainland or LLC Company

The Company must have an available quota to process the visa of the employee, the requirements are colour copies of:

Trade Licence
Company Immigration Card
Company Labour Card

This may trigger an office inspection to be conducted by a third-party company instructed by the Ministry of Labour

Passport
Personal Photo on white background
Educational Certificate**
Previous resident visa and emirates ID and its cancellation (if applicable)
Tourist visa or entry stamp from the passport (if applicable)
DHA approved health insurance.

Employment through a free zone or government Company

Online visa application duly filled in
Trade Licence
Company Immigration Card
Office Lease Agreement

Passport
Personal Photo on white background
Copy of the offer letter or appointment letter
Educational Certificate**
Previous resident visa and emirates ID and its cancellation (if applicable)
Tourist visa or entry stamp from the passport (if applicable)
DHA approved health insurance.

**The employee must supply a copy of their educational certificate if the selected job title requires it. The educational certificate must be attested from country of origin and further attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The certificate must be either in English or Arabic.

PRO Partner Group has an expert team of Operational and PRO specialists who are available to support you though the process to setting up your company or branch correctly in Dubai Abu Dhabi or the wider UAE and assisting you in obtain a visa for yourself, your family and your employees. If you need assistance on UAE Visa matters on any other related company set up, restructuring or local partner matters in the UAE and wider Gulf do get in touch with us on +971 (0)4 456 1761 for Dubai or +971 (0)2 448 5120 for Abu Dhabi, email us at info@ppg.ae or complete the contact form below and we will be delighted to assist you.