UAE expands jobseeker visa options for foreign applicants
The United Arab Emirates has updated the requirements for foreigners seeking short-term entry to search for employment without a host or sponsor. The jobseeker visit visa can be issued for 60, 90 or 120 days, but it does not permit applicants to work before they obtain a separate work visa or permit.
The United Arab Emirates has updated the eligibility rules and documentation requirements for foreigners who want to enter the country to search for jobs without first securing a host or sponsor. The UAE Government announced the changes in a notice released on Thursday, according to PUNCH Online. The jobseeker, or job exploration, visa is one of the country’s visit-visa categories and permits eligible applicants to look for employment during a single trip.
The visa may be issued for 60, 90 or 120 days. However, the notice made clear that it does not authorise the holder to work in the UAE. Applicants who secure employment must obtain the appropriate work visa or permit before taking up a job.
The updated rules set out several routes to eligibility. Applicants must either be classified within the first, second or third skill level under the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, or have graduated from one of the world’s top 500 universities under the classification approved by the Ministry of Education. Those applying through the university route must have graduated within the previous two years.
The notice also requires applicants to possess a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification and to meet the prescribed financial-guarantee requirement. Applicants must submit a coloured photograph, a copy of their passport and an attested qualification certificate. The requirements are in addition to the eligibility conditions specified by the UAE authorities.
Applications can be submitted through the relevant online services of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, or the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. The visa therefore offers qualified foreigners a way to enter the UAE for a defined period while seeking opportunities, but it does not replace the employment authorisation required after a job is found. The government notice did not provide further details in the supplied material on fees or processing times.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.