Congratulations! You have taken the first step towards your dream life in Dubai. In the end, it is the thought that counts, and just that you have decided to embark on this journey is a big step. Dubai is a great option if you are already working in India but want to have better career growth and a substantial increase in income. Your next big question is how to apply for a Dubai work visa for Indian citizens if you have shortlisted UAE as your destination of choice for work prospects.
Indians form a large chunk of the expatriate population in the UAE. The destination, thus, has established a system to put in place a foolproof work permit procedure for Indians planning to work and live in Dubai. This article sheds light on how Indians can apply for a work permit in Dubai. This information is provided for your convenience as a reference guide to help you understand the process of Dubai visa and know what to expect from the employer or recruiter.
What is a Dubai Work visa?
Dubai work visa or UAE work visa is a permit that allows an applicant to enter the UAE to legally work and earn a livelihood. However, it is the employer in Dubai who will process the visa. As a candidate, your responsibility is to gather all the required documents and submit them to the employer-based in Dubai so that they can apply for your work visa on your behalf.
Who can apply for a Dubai employment visa?
Before you can apply for a Dubai work permit, you must have a valid and confirmed job offer from a company based in Dubai. A work visa is issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) upon sponsorship by an employer who resides and operates in Dubai. In other words, an applicant who has a confirmed job offer must fill out the application form and submit the documents to the employer, who then submits them to the MoHRE for approval.
The eligibility for a Dubai work visa applicant are
- Anyone above the age of 18
- Anyone with a graduate degree or special trade qualification in case of a skilled worker.
- Has 2+ years of experience in the field
- Must have a job offer from Dubai and pass the medical requirements.
Once granted, the Dubai work visa is valid only for a period of 30 days which can be further extended to 30 days.
How to apply for a Dubai work visa?
Getting a Dubai work visa is just the initial stage, The applicant has to fill out an application form and submit all the necessary paperwork for the processing of a Dubai work visa. Documents required for a Dubai work permit are
- A valid passport
- Recent passport size colour photograph with white background as per visa specifications.
- Visa application form filled completely without any errors and duly signed.
- Attested copies of certificates required for your job in Dubai.
- Proof of valid job offer from a UAE based company.
- Proof of Visa payment paid in full.
- Proof of sufficient funds to sustain in Dubai.
- Medical test results as stated in the visa requirements. This can also be done after the work visa is received and you have arrived in the UAE for further formalities.
- An entry permit issued by the Ministry of Labour
Once you have submitted these to your employer in Dubai and paid the visa fees, the rest of the formalities will be carried out in Dubai where the employer will apply for the visa with the MoHRE officials. You will then receive the work visa in 4 to 5 working days. With this work visa, you can enter Dubai for 2 months during which you should complete all the other legal formalities such as acquiring a Resident visa, labour card, Emirates ID to name a few. Do keep in mind that you are allowed to stay for a longer time only after your get a valid residence visa. On a work visa, you can only stay in the country for a period of 2 months after which you have to exit the country and renew it again. You will be charged for overstaying your Dubai work visa if you stay beyond the assigned period of time.Dubai work visa fees for Indian citizens costs about AED 250. This can vary as per the type of employment sought by the applicant.
UAE is the most popular place of employment among Indian because of nontaxable incomes and the high quality of life, which includes new-age technology, good security, and a booming economy. To avail the benefit of this flourishing economy, every year thousands of Indian workers migrate to Dubai in order to seek employment. The process of obtaining a work permit in Dubai is easy if you know what to do. Hope this guide demystified for you the process of applying for a Dubai work permit.