Applicants for residency visas, whether applying for the first time or the renewal of an existing permit, must undergo a medical fitness assessment if they are aged 18 and over and must also pass a security check test to be eligible for an Emirates ID Card. This ID Card is a form of identification provided by the UAE Government to its lawful residents.
What is the UAE Green Visa?
The UAE Green Visa is essentially a new residency visa category that distinguishes between work and residency permits. The Green Visa will allow highly skilled people, investors, entrepreneurs and top students and graduates to sponsor themselves without having to first associate themselves with companies based in the UAE.
Who is the UAE Green Visa for?
The UAE Green Visa is launched to facilitate the expansion of self-residency status for investors, entrepreneurs, highly qualified people, top students and graduates who aspire to work and live in the UAE.
Freelancers are also encouraged to ply their trade in the UAE by utilizing the federal visa for freelancers. Self-employed workers based in the UAE and abroad in specialist fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and digital currencies are welcome to apply for the freelancer visa.
Details regarding the various requirements of the UAE Green Visa have not become available. We’ll keep you updated as soon as more information surfaces.
As a business, before you can hire expats in the UAE you will need to obtain two legal documents an ‘establishment labour card’ and an ‘establishment immigration card’ from the Ministry of Labour. In these documents it sets out the legal obligations of businesses when employing international workers, including, but not limited to:
To apply for both these documents you will need a company trade licence and a company PO Box address. The applications must be submitted to the Ministry of Labour by the owner of the company, partner or PRO. The cards are often issued on the spot if approved.
The UAE ministry of Human Resources have shared a really helpful article ‘Opening an Establishment Card‘ which includes information about the application process, conditions, timing, payment and frequently asked questions.
There are a few steps to the process of obtaining a UAE visa. Here is a step by step guide of the process.
In order to hire expats in the UAE you need to obtain visa quotas from the Ministry of Labour (MOL). This will need to be done by you, the employer and the quota you get will vary depending on the size of your business.
Once you have your visa quota, you should get the employment contracts out to your people for signing. Once received you then submit the offer letter to MOL for review and approval.
At this stage the MOL reviews the details of the position to decide if there are any unemployed UAE citizens that can take the position. They also check that the company sponsoring the visa is a registered entity in the UAE. Once these checks are done you will receive the MOL approval.
Once MOL approval has been received your workers can then receive their E-visa. This allows them to travel to the UAE and is valid for 2 months from the date of issue. Once inside the UAE your workers can only remain for 30 days (can be extended). During this time they will complete the following tasks to formalise the work visa which allows them to stay and work.
Upon arriving in the UAE there are a number of formalities to be completed in order to convert your e-visa into a residence visa. These should be done as soon as possible once your worker arrives in the UAE.
Once these submissions have been made it will then take around 5 days for the work permit to be granted. At this point your workers are ready to start.
Workers must also have a valid health insurance policy provided either by their employer or purchased by themselves. Work permits will not be issued without an insurance card.
Once all of these items are in place the residence visa can then be stamped into the passport. Once this has been completed the Emirates ID card can also be collected.
The UAE government is set to roll out new visas to enable foreigners to settle in the emirates.
The green visa and freelance visas were among the latest initiatives unveiled on Sunday during the launch of the UAE’s “Projects of the 50” strategy.
The green visa will enable highly skilled individuals, investors, entrepreneurs and top students and graduates to sponsor themselves. It also allows the sponsorship of parents, as well as young people until the age of 25, instead of 18.
In case the green visa holder is out of job or decides to retire, he will be entitled to a grace period of 90 to 180 days before leaving the country.
The freelance visa is for self-employed workers based in the UAE and overseas in specialised fields such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and digital currencies, according to a press statement.
The “Projects of the 50” seeks to contribute to achieving a “paradigm shift” of the UAE economy and support the country’s economic diversification efforts.
The launch of the projects coincides with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.
HOW TO APPLY FOR FREELANCER PERMIT AND VISA IN DUBAI:
2. FOLLOW UP ON THE APPLICATION. …
3. APPLY FOR THE FREELANCE VISA IN DUBAI. …
4.COMPLETE THE RESIDENCY VISA PROCEDURES.
Setup as a Freelancer If you are considering a career as a freelancer within the media, production, and entertainment industries in the UAE, then twofour54’s freelance visa is the way to go. When you join twofour54 as a freelancer, you will access a community of 600 local, regional and international media partners and a myriad of opportunities for collaboration with some of the biggest names in our industry.
To get a freelance residence permit in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, or Sharjah, you must be officially registered as a freelancer in one of the free zones; therefore, you must first get a freelancer license in Dubai.
Most free zones in Dubai provide you with the possibility to get a freelance license. To do this, select the suitable type of activity, collect a set of necessary documents, and pay the established fee. A freelancer license in Dubai is issued for one year, after which it has to be renewed. This procedure is similar to the procedure for registering a company, but the cost of the freelance license is noticeably lower, physical office space is not required. Many free zones offer a Flexi-desk for freelancers instead of an office for running a small business, which will help to get access to the office and use various services, such as mail, administrator, conference room, etc. You can get a freelancer license in Dubai for one or several people and use your own company, open a separate bank account, create a separate legal address, etc. Freelancer license allows you to conduct business or work legally.
The cost of a freelance license in Dubai and other Emirates depends on the type of activity and the jurisdiction chosen.
Table – the cost of a freelance license in Dubai and other Emirates (as of 2018)
Jurisdiction | Price of the freelance license |
Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone (RAKEZ) | from AED 15,000 |
Fujairah Free Zone | From AED 14,000 |
Umm Al Quwain Free Zone | From AED 13,000 |
Ajman Free Zone | From AED 11,000 |
D-Tech FTZ (Dubai) | From AED 7500 |
Twofour54 (Abu Dhabi) | From AED 2500 |
DMCC FTZ (Dubai) | From AED 20,000 |
Each free zone in Dubai supports certain professional types of freelance industries, such as music, writing, acting, computer programming, web design, graphic design, translating, illustrating, etc. In order to obtain a freelancer license, an investor may be required to have some professional qualifications.
If you do not want to delve into the local laws and registration procedures, you can use the services of our consulting company that will help you go through the whole procedure from charging to the end for a reasonable fee, saving you from potential troubles and problems.
A freelancer license in Dubai gives you the right to get a resident permit. To obtain this permission, you have to collect and submit a set of relevant documents*:
* Additional documents may be required.
After collecting a set of documents and receiving confirmation from the registering authority, it is necessary to pay a fixed fee, which will vary in different FTZ.
In Dubai, freelancers have the opportunity to get a unique go freelance Dubai package from the TECOM Group. This project is implemented in Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City, and Dubai Knowledge Park.
The fee for the freelance service package includes permission for a freelancer and access to the business center. If you have a freelance residence permit, if you want to work as a contract employee, you will need an additional work permit in Dubai whreby your visa status can remain as it is.
We’ve made it quick and easy to submit your application online. All you need is:
If you don’t have a work offer or letter of intent, don’t worry. You can submit a business plan that includes:
Next, you’ll need to sign and return your visa application, including the required fee.
On 24 November 2018, the UAE government approved a decision to grant a 5-year visa to outstanding students.
Eligibility conditions for a 5-year visa are:
Visa benefits will also include families of outstanding students.
A student’s visa is for a university or a college student studying in the UAE. The student must be at least 18 years of age.
In order to secure a freshman student’s visa, the applicant must obtain an official admission letter from the university he is studying at. For older students, a certificate of continuation of study is needed. Other requirements include:
Currently, a student’s visa is given for a duration of one year, at a time, renewable for a similar period upon official proof of continuation of a study issued from the relevant higher educational institute in the UAE where the student is admitted.
Accredited universities and colleges in the UAE can secure a visa for their students whether international students or students already residing in the UAE. Students should refer to the terms and conditions listed in each university or college to know specific requirements for admission and visa process.
Admission to one of the UAE universities does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. Visa issuance is subject to certain requirements, which include passing a medical fitness test, a security check, and the approval of the GDRFA in the relevant emirate. These are the available channels to apply for a student’s visa in the UAE.
UAE laws do not allow resident expatriates to continue sponsoring their male children above the age of 18. An exception is given to male students who continue their studies in one of the higher educational institutes in the UAE or abroad. Therefore, male students over the age of 18 can remain on their parent’s residence visa sponsorship as long as they provide evidence of attendance at a higher educational institute for a minimum of one year’s course. Expatriate parents may continue to sponsor their female children for study, regardless of their children’s age.
Note: New rules for children’s visa sponsored by parents
Starting from 21 October 2018, students who graduate from their universities or secondary schools or complete 18 years of age will be granted a one-year residence visa, renewable for another year from the graduation date or on completing 18 years.
For this type of visa, parents are not required to place bank deposits. The visa will cost AED100 for first-time issuing and renewal.
To avail of this service, parents must present duly attested graduation certificates from universities or schools, whether inside the country or abroad.
For entering the United Arab Emirates you need to have United Arab Emirates Visa. Now, there are different Types of United Arab Emirates Visa that one can apply according to his/her requirements. To bring your Spouse and Kids you need to have the United Arab Emirates Family Visa. With this Family Visa, your family can visit the United Arab Emirates. Family Visa permits entry of your spouse, parents, and Kids(below 18 Years of Age). Today, we will talk in detail about the United Arab Emirates Family Visa.
If the father residing in the United Arab Emirates meets all the Visa Sponsorship Requirements then the Mother is not allowed to sponsor. Although the wife can also sponsor their children.