For the professional, there are two available options to allow you to stay and work in the UAE: the standard work visa and the five-year Green visa.
Standard Work Visa
The most common one is the regular or typical work visa for personnel employed by either mainland or free zone companies in the UAE. This normally takes two to three years and is handled by your employer, hence employees are not liable to pay any of the costs involved in getting the visa.
Required Documents for a Standard Work Visa:
You will need to provide your employer with the following in order to obtain this visa:
- A coloured photograph on a white background.
- A copy of valid passport for at least six months.
- University degree attested (for the posts where such degrees are being required).
For certain specialized fields, like health and education, approval from related authorities may also be demanded, as medical council for doctors or an education authority for teachers.
Those hired outside the UAE will be issued an entry permit, which will allow entry into the country and is valid for two months. Your employer will utilize this time to complete the formalities for the work visa.
You will need to undertake a medical fitness test and provide your biometric data such as fingerprints and an eye scan for your Emirates ID-an identification card that is mandatory to be carried by all UAE residents.
Once these two are issued, your work visa and Emirates ID, you can then sponsor your family’s visa. A family visa follows a different procedure, which is quite straightforward when the documents are complete.
Green Visa for the Skilled Workers
It grants you more flexibility since you go for the five-year Green visa, which is self-sponsored and allows you to stay within the United Arab Emirates without relying on a company to sponsor you. Although you will be responsible for your visa costs and handling the whole process by yourself, the Green visa offers a longer stay with more freedom in job switching without having the headache of changing a new visa every time.
This is particularly useful for applicants who seek a more long-term type of residency with greater control over their career in the UAE.
