How To Get A Work Visa For Abu Dhabi
If you are considering a move abroad, then a work visa for Abu Dhabi is a great place to start. Working abroad is an opportunity to travel and gain new skills and experience. If you are thinking about working in Abu Dhabi or the UAE, then a work visa for Abu Dhabi is your entry ticket.
A work visa is a permit or authorization issued by the Immigration Department of the Government of Abu Dhabi that allows approved companies and individuals to employ foreign nationals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) legally. It is a very long and arduous process because, unlike most countries, there are limited numbers of work visas issued on a monthly basis.
Obtaining a work visa in Abu Dhabi is not an easy thing to do. Anyone who tells you otherwise is likely full of it. There are protests, petitions, and all manner of civil disobedience designed to rid the country of people who come to seek jobs in their nations. Employees, employers, volunteers and visitors are subject to all manner of fees and fines. Do not lie on your visa application or else you risk deportation and imprisonment, according to Article 58 of the Abu Dhabi Penal Code.
If you want to relocate to UAE or Abu Dhabi and would like to work here then it is essential that you get a work visa in order to live and work here.
How To Get A Work Visa For Abu Dhabi
Foreign nationals who want to live in the UAE long-term must have a Residence Visa. In addition, if you want to be allowed to work, you must also have a work permit for the UAE.
However, before everything, you need an employer willing to hire you and start the necessary procedure to procure your employment visa and work permit for the UAE.
The employment visa for Dubai, or any other emirate in the UAE, comes with specific rules ensuring the rights of workers are not violated.
UAE Employment Visa Rules
To be allowed to work in the UAE, you as well as the company hiring you must fulfill the following conditions:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- The license of the company hiring you has to be valid
- The company must not have any violations
- The work you do must correspond to the nature of the company hiring you
Who is Eligible for a UAE Work Visa?
Any foreigner who is over the age of 18 can work in the UAE, provided that they meet the standards set by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). There is no maximum age for who can be employed in the UAE, but for workers over the age of 65, the company pays a higher fee.
Foreign workers are divided into three categories, based on their academic qualifications/skill sets:
- Category 1: If you have at least a bachelor’s degree
- Category 2: If you have a post-secondary diploma in any field
- Category 3: If you have a high school diploma
What documents do I need for a UAE employment visa?
When applying for an employment visa for UAE, you need several supporting documents, such as:
- Your original passport along with a copy of your passport
- A passport-size picture, in line with UAE requirements
- Copies of your academic qualifications. Your qualifications have to be authorized by the UAE Embassy or consulate in your country as well as from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
- Medical certificate, issued by a government-approved health center in the UAE.
- Documents from the company hiring you, such as the commercial license of the company or the company card
As per the new employment visa rules in UAE for 2018, a certificate of good conduct is not required, until further notice.
How can I get a Work Permit in UAE?
Your employer has to obtain the work permit on your behalf. It is the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) that’s in charge of issuing work permits for the UAE. The application process for a UAE work permit is:
- The employer prints the application for the work permit at the Tas’Heel website, the Ministry of Labour’s online system
- They submit the required documents (see below)
- The Ministry reviews their application, and asks to resubmit any documents or correct any irregularities they think are necessary
- The Ministry issues the approval, which the employer can download from the Ministry website