Are you planning to hire and relocate employees to the UAE? There are several visa options that allow companies to hire foreign talent and bring them to UAE.
In this article, we will take a look at these employment visa types and how to apply for a work visa for your employees.
Types of UAE Employment Visas
Standard Work Visa
A Standard Work Visa in the UAE allows individuals to live and work in the UAE for the duration of the visa (normally 2 years). As an employer, you need to sponsor this visa and apply for renewal or cancellation when it expires.
With a standard work permit, employees can work for a company in the UAE free zones, mainland, or government sector.
The following are the requirements to apply for a UAE work visa for your employees:
- The employee must be at least 18 years old
- The company should not have any violations or issues
- The company that wants to hire the employee must have a valid license
- The job should match your company’s profile
While mainland companies in the UAE can sponsor visas based on their office space, free zone companies have visa restrictions and usually can only sponsor up to 6 employees. In that case, an Employer of Record offers you the flexibility to hire more employees and relocate them to UAE without legal constraints.
Green Visa
If you are hiring for managerial or leadership roles, science or technology experts, or skilled technicians in similar fields, your employees might be eligible for a Green Visa.
A Green Visa is a five-year residency visa in the UAE that enables skilled employees and freelancers/self-employed individuals to sponsor themselves. As a result, it eliminates the need for employers to sponsor their employees.
To apply for a Green Visa for skilled employees, they must:
- Hold a valid employment contract
- Have a monthly salary of AED 15,000 or more
- Be classified in the first, second, or third occupational level
- A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification
In the case of freelancers and self-employed persons, the eligibility requirements for a Green Visa in the UAE vary slightly. They must:
- Obtain the MoHRE permit for freelancing and self-employment in the UAE
- Proof of making at least AED 360,000 a year from your own business for the last two years, or proof of sufficient financial means for your time in the UAE
- Attested bachelor’s or specialized degree
It is also possible to renew the Green Visa upon expiration by following the same requirements as mentioned above.
Golden Visa
The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence permit aimed at executive directors, investors, entrepreneurs, inventors, exceptional students, and front-line workers. It allows visa holders to stay, work, or study in the UAE for up to 10 years without requiring a sponsor.
Though a Golden Visa might not be relevant for general employees, it can be a suitable option if you are planning to onboard business executives.
Here are the Golden Visa requirements for a Business Executive:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher
- Minimum 5 years of experience in the same role
- Salary of at least AED 50,000
Who is Not Eligible to be Employed in UAE?
In the UAE, not all visa types permit employment within your company. The following visa categories do not qualify individuals to be employed as part of your team:
- Investor Visa holders
- Shareholders
- Business owners
- Tourist visa holders
If you want to hire someone who currently holds any of the above-mentioned visas, their visa status must be changed.
How to Apply for a Work Visa in UAE
When applying for a work visa, as an employer, you must initiate the application. This includes getting the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and more.
Here are the key steps to apply for a work permit in the UAE.
- Get the Entry Visa Quota Approval: You need to submit the quota approval application to MoHRE and wait for the approval.
- Submit the Signed and Translated Job Contract: The contract must be in Arabic, English, and the employee’s native language if it is different.
- Apply for a Work Permit and Entry Visa for the employee: MoHRE verifies the company status, etc. and issues the work permit.
Once the work permit is approved, your employee will get the entry visa in their email and have two months to come to UAE. After coming to the UAE, employees need to get their Emirates ID and official work visa from the Ministry to start working for the company.
Employees with Current Residence Status in UAE
If your employee currently resides in UAE, you will need to provide a work permit. However, they might be able to work for you on the same visa depending on their visa category.
For instance, when you hire someone on a dependent visa such as a spouse, they can work on the same visa provided that:
- You issue a work permit based on the employee’s job position
- Employee submits an NOC (Non-Objection Certificate) from the Sponsor
Similarly, when hiring someone who already works for a different employer in the UAE, you need to issue a work permit while the sponsor employer will have to provide an NOC.
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