How To Transfer Employment Visa In Uae

This article aims at shedding some light on how to transfer employment visa in UAE to a new employer and the steps involved in the process.

If you have already landed in Dubai and you are working with an employment visa, that certainly means that you will be staying there for some years. However, I believe every employee is interested in knowing how to transfer an employment visa in UAE.

More and more people decide to transfer employment visa in UAE, which is known as one of the most developed countries in the world.

For a very long time those who have immigrated to the United Arab Emirates for a job have been afforded a luxury that is not commonly available in most other countries – the ability to change jobs without consequence if they are unhappy with their current employment. 

How To Transfer Employment Visa In Uae

UAE is the world-class destination where all the dreams come true. It is considered as one of the top countries to live in UAE because it attracts a large number of foreign residents with countless incentives, offers and facilities like good job opportunities, financial benefits, fine weather etc.

Many people from abroad decide to look for a better quality of living and they try to migrate to different countries like Dubai, United Arab Emirates and other cities where the economy is booming.

When an individual already has a job and a residence visa in the UAE, but they would like to take on another job, it’s necessary to carry out the transfer process. However, it’s important to know if he or she holds a transferable visa in UAE or if it’s allowed to change jobs depending on the position or according to contractual agreements.

In this article, you’re going to learn more about the UAE visa transfer rules 2020. You can also gain some insight into how a third party can assist you in this process, in case you’re needing some help. Let’s observe:

• All you need to know about transferable visas in UAE
• What is the transferring of a residence visa?
• What are the residence visa transfer options available?
• When is not permitted to transfer visa?
• What are the steps in the UAE freelance visa and what is Freelance visa transfer process?
• Which changes were made to the Labour Law regarding visa transfer in 2021?
• What are the current fees for visa transfer?
• Which common doubts people may have regarding visa transfer?
• Why is Connect Freelance your best option for immigration services?

All you need to know about transferable visas in UAE

The immigration regulations are constantly changing in the UAE. As you may know, to work and live in the UAE you must have your work permit and residence visa. Your employer is the one who incurs these expenses so you can get the documents you need to work legally.

In this case, you’ll receive an employment residence visa, which is subject to your current employer. If for any reason, you want to change jobs, you’ll have to carry out the process to transfer your visa.

Nevertheless, it’s important to know if you hold a Transferable visa in UAE, which means if you’re allowed to transfer or not. Experience a 2 years residency and freelance visa dubai provided by Connect Freelance. Be able to work for third companies as a freelance and obtain your Residency and Work Permit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Why do changing jobs mean a change in sponsorship?

When you enter the UAE, you do it because you have an entry permit given to you by your employer. Any foreigner that wants to enter the UAE to work, must have a local sponsor. In this case, your employer is your sponsor.

Therefore, when you’re planning on switching jobs you must transfer your sponsorship to your new employer. This is the process for changing employment visas in UAE 2020.

If you’re sponsoring your spouse or children, you may think that the dependent visa transfer in UAE is necessary. However, this isn’t the case since their visas continue to be legal.

What is the transferring of a residence visa?

If you ever decide to change your employment and transfer to another company, you must know if you hold a Transferable visa in UAE or not.

The transferring of a residence visa is the process of changing your sponsorship to your new employer. When you entered the UAE, your previous employer was your sponsor. But once you decide to change, you must transfer it to your new employer You can go for Freelance Visa in UAE.

How can you know if you hold a transferable or non-transferable visa?

Many employees may have doubts regarding whether their visa is transferable or non-transferable. Almost every visa is non-transferable, however, this is subject to the contractual agreements and to several requirements that condition the transferring.

What is a nontransferable visa in UAE? A non-transferable visa does not allow the employee to transfer her or his sponsorship to a new employer.

If you hold a transferable visa, you can carry out the employment visa transfer process in Dubai or in any other place where you’re currently living in UAE.

What are the residence visa transfer options available?

If you hold a transferable visa in UAE, you must know which options you have available before you start looking for jobs. This is important, because although you’re able to transfer if your change is not available then you can’t do it.

Here we have the options available for transfer work permit applications for worker from one establishment to another:

• Companies located within the same free zone: if you’re changing jobs to a company in the same free zone, you can transfer your visa.
• Government entities: employees can transfer their sponsorship when they’re doing the transfer between government entities.
• Company from one free zone to a company in another Free Zone: if you’re employed in a Free Zone, you can transfer to a company in another Free Zone.
• Government entity to semi-government entity and vice versa.

Keep in mind that if you carry out the transferring, your new employer will have to pay for the visa transfer fees in UAE, and further you must get to know about freelance work in Dubai.

When is not permitted to transfer visa?

Although you have a transferable visa in UAE, you must know that in some cases it’s not permitted to carry out this process.

Since the UAE visa transfer rules 2020 are constantly changing and updating, it’s important to review in which cases an employee can’t transfer his or her employment visa:

• Inter-emirate transfers are not available
• Transfer applications are not available for onshore companies
• When the current employer won’t give the NOC for the transfer
• When both companies (current and prospective employers) aren’t free zone or government or semi-government companies.

The UAE visa transfer rules 2021 are constantly changing, and these are the latest updates as of now. For employers, it’s important to have HR workers or PRO services that know how to keep up-to-date with the latest modifications so you don’t incur any liabilities.

What are the steps in the UAE visa transfer process?

With your Transferable visa in UAE, you can carry out the process so you can change jobs and start working for your new employer.

Here we have a summary of the main steps involved in the UAE residence visa transfer:

• Release sign-in. This is the application that the prospective employer has to sign. It’s a requirement that the new employer has to fill to get the transfer of the residence permit to their sponsorship.
• Release sign-out. The previous employer has to file this application to release the employee.
• Medical examination. The medical certificate is a mandatory document to carry out the transfer process. The employee must undergo a medical exam and complete Emirates ID registration.
• Health insurance enrolment. Another prerequisite to getting the stamp on the residence visa is to have health insurance.

There’s an important question regarding this process: what is a nontransferable visa in UAE? Keep into account that if you hold a non-transferable visa, you won’t be able to carry out this process.

Which changes were made to the Labour Law regarding visa transfer in 2021?

According to the latest statements from the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the UAE government will make some changes to the regulations regarding the UAE visa transfer.

The main changes in the rules will be the following:

• All employees (expatriate workers) will be able to request their visa transfer but based on some conditions
• Employees still have to submit a NOC (No objection certificate) from their previous sponsor before the transfer.

Here we have the updates regarding the requirements for employees depending on their category:

• Professionals with Masters or Ph.D. Degrees: Unlimited number of transfers. Minimum service of one year
• Workers with Bachelor’s degree or equivalent: They can request transfer just twice during their employment tenure. Minimum service of two years before the transfer.
• Laborers with lower qualifications: Only allowed to transfer sponsorship once during their employment. Minimum service of three years.

What are the new rules regarding the employment ban?

The employment ban is something that worries many employees that want to continue working and living in the UAE.

Once the employee has carried out the number of transfers allowed following his or her category, they have to leave the UAE. This is because they have to serve an employment ban of up to one year. They may return with another employment visa after they have fulfilled the period established for the ban.

These are the conditions regarding the ban:

• Employees who satisfied the job contract obligations: six months’ ban
• Employees who failed to satisfy the job obligations: a year-long-ban

What are the current fees for visa transfer?

Learning about the fees your new employer will have to pay regarding the transferable visa in UAE it’s essential. This will help you understand if you have a higher chance of landing another job. This is because some employers may not want to pay higher fees for some kind of employee.

It’s important to point out that the fees vary depending on the category of the expatriate worker. Here we have the fees for the employment visa transfer process in Dubai:

• Individuals with Ph.D. or Master’s degrees: Dh1500
• Individual with a Bachelor’s degree: Dh3000
• Laborers: Dh5000

In this regard, the new employer is responsible for paying the fees for the transfer of work permit applications for workers from one establishment to another.

Which common doubts people may have regarding visa transfer?

With the transferable visa in UAE, you can change jobs and sponsorship so you can land the job you want. Since this is an immigration procedure that may raise several doubts. It’s important to clarify them so you can be sure if this decision is the best for you.

Do I have to pay for the visa transfer?

This is common misconception employees have regarding visa transfer fees UAE. The truth is that you won’t have to pay for any visa costs since your new employer should take care of this.