UAE immigration guide: work, residency and visa types explained

When moving to the UAE for work, you will need to get a residence visa and an associated work permit (also referred to as a labour card) in order to work legally. You must also have a confirmed job offer from an established business within the country. Both the visa and the work permit usually last between one and three years, depending on the employment contract.

It is the employer who is responsible for obtaining all the necessary visas and permits, but both parties need to follow certain steps. In short, these are:  

• The employer needs to apply for approval from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) – or a relevant free zone authority if applicable – to hire a foreign employee. Certain quotas may apply with regard to employment of UAE nationals.
• The MoHRE will issue an entry permit, which allows the employee to enter the UAE and stay for 30 days to obtain a residence visa. Once they are in the country, this can be extended for a further 30 days if needed.
• Once the employee arrives in the UAE, the employer can apply for a work permit. MoHRE issues 12 types of work permits – including for recruiting employees from outside the UAE, temporary work permits and ‘one-mission’ permits for specific projects.
• The employee must visit an Emirates ID service centre with their valid passport and entry visa to obtain an Emirates ID, which is mandatory for all UAE residents.
• The employee must undergo mandatory medical tests to show they are fit for work and also check for communicable diseases.
• Once this is all in order, the employer can now complete the application for the residency visa, which allows the employee to legally reside in the UAE. 

Alongside the above, there are several other requirements that you must meet before being granted a work visa in the UAE. These include: 

• Depending on the type of job and visa, employees may need to provide proof of academic qualifications, which need to be verified by relevant bodies such as the UAE embassy in their homeland plus the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE itself.
• A passport that is valid for six months beyond the intended stay in the UAE.
• Employees should have a clean criminal record in their home country and any other country they have lived in. What’s more, anyone who has defamed the UAE or is found guilty of a crime in contravention of the UAE Constitution and laws will be deemed ineligible for a work permit.  

The UAE Green Visa is a type of long-term residency visa that was introduced in 2022 to help streamline the immigration process for a specific set of individuals. It offers a five-year residency to freelancers/self-employed people, skilled employees and investors/partners who meet the eligibility requirements.

Getting a Green Visa allows you to live, work, invest or do business in the UAE. Unlike the standard work visa, the Green Visa doesn’t require the holder to be sponsored by a UAE national or employer.

That said, qualifying criteria for a Green Visa – such as minimum income and qualification levels – vary significantly depending on the category under which you’re applying. For example: 

• Freelancers/self-employed people must have a freelance/self-employment permit issued by the MoHRE and proof of financial solvency throughout their intended stay
• Skilled employees need a valid employment contract and must be classified in the first, second or third occupational level as defined by the MoHRE
• Investors/partners must secure proof of investment and get the approval of the competent local authorities (who are different dependent on the emirate or free zone) 

The UAE Green Visa offers significant additional benefits, most notably the ability to sponsor family members, including spouses, children and first-degree relatives. The Green Visa also offers a grace period of up to six months stay in the UAE after the residence permit is cancelled or has expired.

In addition to the category-dependent criteria above, the requirements for applying for a Green Visa are similar to a standard working visa in that a valid entry permit must be obtained in the first instance, and medical checks must be carried out.  

The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence visa, which allows foreign talent to live, work or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits. Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes are among those eligible for the Golden Visa.

The Golden Visa is valid for five or ten years, depending on the category that you fall under. As with the Green Visa, it doesn’t require sponsorship from an employer. Some of our clients wonder about the difference between the Green Visa and Golden Visa when exploring options for relocating to the UAE. While both are fantastic opportunities for long-term residency, they’re structured for different needs.

Individuals who want to obtain long-term residency through a Golden Visa should first check the eligibility criteria. These vary significantly depending on category. These include but are certainly not limited to: 

• Investors in real estate or public investments will need to invest in property with a minimum financial value or using a loan from a specific local bank, or invest a minimum AED 2 million in an investment fund accredited in the UAE.
• Entrepreneurs can own or be a partner in a startup registered in the UAE generating annual revenue of not less than AED 1 million or have sold an entrepreneurial project for not less than AED 7 million.
• Scientists and researchers can apply for a Golden Visa in the UAE if they possess outstanding achievements and hold high influence in their field. Minimum qualifications and substantial research achievements apply.
• Professionals or highly skilled workers applying for a Golden Visa must possess a valid UAE employment contract, be included in the first or second occupational level as per MoHRE classification, should hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and need to have a monthly salary of at least AED 30,000. 

Golden Visas offer a number of extra benefits such as travel privileges outside the UAE for extended periods without affecting the visa’s validity and the ability to sponsor unlimited family members and domestic staff.