UAE Work Visa

A UAE work visa gives you the right to live in Dubai for up to 2 years and work legally as an employee. It is also the basis for issuing an Emirates ID and opening a personal bank account.

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What the work visa includes:

• UAE residence permit valid for 2 years
• The ability to open a personal bank account in the UAE (the employer provides the necessary document package)
• The ability to receive your salary into a bank account
• Official resident status for the entire validity period of the visa
• Documents from the sponsoring employer that may be required during the process: reference letters, NOC, salary certificate, and others.

How the work visa process works:

STAGE	APPLICANT’S LOCATION	TIMELINE
0. Obtaining a quota	The applicant can be outside the UAE. A quota is the permission to hire an employee, issued to the employer company.	1–14 business days
1. Entry permit (if the applicant is outside the UAE)	The applicant is outside the UAE. Entering the country before the permit is issued is not allowed.	7–15 business days
1.1 Change of status (inside the country)	If the person is already in the UAE as a tourist, a change of status is processed instead of an entry permit, without leaving the country.	1 business day
2. Entering the UAE	After the entry permit is approved, the applicant has 60 days to enter the country.
3. Medical examination	The applicant is in the UAE.	1–2 business days
4. Biometrics	The applicant is in the UAE. Fingerprints and a photo are recorded for the immigration database.	1–2 business days
5. Pink residence visa	The applicant is in the UAE. Once the visa is issued, the applicant may leave the country.	1–3 business days
6. Emirates ID	The card is produced and delivered to the address specified in the application. Personal presence is not required for delivery, and the card can be collected after returning to the UAE.	2–10 business days
7. Bank account	The applicant is in the UAE. Documents are submitted to the bank in person, and the bank card is also issued in person.	3–7 business days

Documents required for the work visa and Emirates ID application:

• Scan of the international passport
• Colour studio photo, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, on a white background (clothing should be non-bright, not white, and covering)
• Scan of the university diploma (Bachelor’s/Master’s), legalised in the UAE
• Full-length photo while seated on a chair (Tawjeeh picture)

❗️A UAE resident must enter the country at least once every 179 days, for any length of time (even an hour). Otherwise, resident status may be cancelled.