What Visa Should You Apply to in Order to Work in the UAE?

Thinking of Moving to the UAE? What is your purpose? Are you travelling or willing to stay there for studies, work or live. Before anything else, the first thing that you got to do is to choose the correct UAE visa. It sounds easier than it actually is. Understand the visa process and choose which visa that suits you the best.

Before packing your bags, it is important to check your visa requirements. Make sure you have a valid visa meeting your requirements.

Different Types of Visas

There are different types of visas that are required to enter in the United Arab Emirates. Here are how they are classified:

Short Term Visas

The UAE has a list of 33 countries which do not require a visa to seek entrance in the UAE. If you hold the citizenship of any of the listed country, you are at ease with the service of Visa on Arrival. There is no such requirement of pre-arranging the visa. The citizens get a 30 day Visa on Arrival.

Though it is important to know that this Visa does not permits you to work in the UAE. Some of the countries listed in this list are:

• Italy
• Germany
• Belgium
• The Netherlands
• France
• Switzerland
• Sweden
• Norway
• Ireland
• Greece
• Portugal
• Vatican
• USA
• Australia
• Japan
• Malaysia
• Hong Kong

If you do not have the citizenship of any of these countries, you are required to arrange a pre-visa in order to visit the UAE. The embassies in the respective countries issue a tourist visa as per the procedure.

Long term visas (Work Visas)

When it comes to working in the UAE, you would require a work visa that includes a residence visa, health card and labour card. This allows you to work in UAE up to a time span of 3 years. To attain this visa, you need a sponsor. Your sponsor is mostly your employer that generates an employment contract or ownership of business in the UAE.

Before any one is entitled with a residency permit, the applicants need to pass a health check. In case an applicant is diagnosed with HIV positive or pulmonary tuberculosis, the residency visa would not be granted and the applicant is sent back.

In most cases, the applicants move to UAE after they have a job in hand so that the complications that are involved in the visa process are taken care by sponsor.

EIA (Emirates Identity Authority)

There have been some recent changes in the immigration law that requires every resident of the UAE to apply for an Emirates ID. Anyone who is new in the country needs to do this procedure at the time of residence application. It is an electronic identification card that is issued by the EIDA (Emirates Identity Authority). The card is built with an electronic chip that is capable of storing data. The EIDA uses this card to store information such as date of birth, name, marital status, nationality, fingerprint, photo etc. This information is accessible on the government site of the UAE.

When Can You Get a Citizenship?

Expats living in the UAE can only receive citizenship if they live in the country more than 30years. Other than this there is no way a foreigner working or living in UAE can attain citizenship.

Akansha Arora

Akansha Arora is a professional writer and blogger who loves to pen down her views on a number of topics that interest a reader. She writes keeping in mind the current scenarios and wishes to keep her readers well informed. You can follow her on google.com/+AkanshaArora2112