In recent decades, highly skilled immigrants have contributed to the breathtaking pace of economic development in the United Arab Emirates. It’s no secret that the Gulf state is now prioritising its transformation into a knowledge-based economy by adopting a strategic approach to attracting the kinds of workers it needs to drive innovation.
At Remitly, many of our valued customers are skilled immigrants. In this article you will find an overview of the UAE’s visa options for work and residence, along with the most recent changes to immigration policies.
Overview of the UAE’s immigration laws
Bringing in skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors is a priority for the UAE, which is why they have developed immigration policies that support talented workers. There are a variety of options available for long-term residence and work permits, from the standard two-year employment visa to longer five-year options. Not all visas require employer sponsorship, making the country more accessible for those wishing to immigrate without a job contract, including freelancers and remote workers.
Attracting top talent in fields like technology, medicine, and business, the UAE’s policies promote innovation and growth by building a competitive and diverse workforce. That helps to position the country as a hotspot for international talent and high-profile companies.
Work visa options for skilled workers in the UAE
Three main types of visas are available to skilled immigrants to the UAE.
Employment visa
The standard employment visa is the most typical category for skilled workers. Designed to provide stability for skilled workers in the country, this visa is valid for two to three years (subject to renewal).
You will need to secure employment before embarking on the immigration process, since a prerequisite of the employment visa is a formal job offer from a UAE-based employer. Your employer in turn will need approval from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). This ministry oversees the issuing of employment visas with a view to ensuring that each new skilled worker complies with the needs of the UAE workforce, as well as the applicable immigration laws.
Green Visa: benefits for skilled workers
This category of visa, valid for five years, offers long-term residency to highly skilled professionals. The Green Visa differs from the standard employment visa in that it is not contingent on a job offer: eligible candidates may sponsor themselves.
Below are the eligibility criteria for a Green Visa:
Option 1: freelancers and/or self-employed people
- freelance/self-employment permit from MoHRE
- proof of a bachelor’s degree or a specialised diploma
- evidence of annual income from self-employment for the previous two years amounting to not less than AED 360,000, or proof of financial solvency throughout their stay in the UAE
Option 2: skilled employees
- valid employment contract
- classified in the first, second or third occupational level as per MoHRE’s classification system
- Level 1: Legislators, managers, and business executives
- Level 2: Professionals in scientific, technical and human fields
- Level 3: Technicians in scientific, technical and humanitarian fields
- bachelor’s degree or higher
- salary of not less than AED 15,000 per month
The Green Visa offers additional benefits to you and your family when compared with the standard employment visa, such as the ability to sponsor your children to live with you.
The UAE Golden Visa: eligibility and benefits
The Golden Visa is designed to attract exceptionally accomplished individuals. Valid for five or ten years, it offers the benefits of long-term residency to top-tier talent. It includes a host of benefits for holders, such as greater flexibility in the time you spend outside of the UAE and the ability to sponsor family members and domestic workers.
Hinting at the innovation-driven orientation of UAE immigration policy, the Golden Visa is open to highly skilled professionals, as well as investors, entrepreneurs, creatives, and students. It places a special emphasis on scientists and experts working in the fields of epidemiology and viruses, artificial intelligence and tech, and engineering.
Each category of visa applicant has its own eligibility requirements. The criteria relevant to skilled workers are as follows:
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- Doctors: an approval letter from the Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE to practice the profession of medicine
- Scientists: a letter of recommendation from the Emirates Council of Scientists or a letter from the Secretariat of the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence stating that you have been awarded the Medal of Scientific Excellence
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- Inventors: a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Economy stating that your patent has added value to the country’s economy
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- Creative people in the fields of culture and art: an approval letter from the Department of Culture and Arts in the respective emirate
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- Athletes: a recommendation letter from the General Sports Authority or one of the sports councils
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- Specialists in engineering and science: a copy of a bachelor’s or a master’s degree certified by the Ministry of Education and a work contract
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- Executive Directors:
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- a copy of a university degree accredited by the Ministry of Education with educational attainment not less than a bachelor’s degree
- a letter of experience of no less than five years holding the same position
- a salary certificate with a salary of at least AED 50,000
- a valid work contract
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- Entrepreneurs: an approval letter from each of the following:
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- an auditor in the UAE stating that the project value is not less than AED 500,000
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- the authorities in the emirate stating that the project is of a technical or future nature
- an accredited business incubator in the UAE to establish the proposed activity in the country
Recent changes in the UAE’s immigration rules
As of May 2024, the UAE has tightened requirements, in particular around the Golden Visa for Scientists & Specialists. Introduced in 2019, the Golden Visa has always been tailored to top-tier talent. With these new changes, that pool of talent has become even more exclusive.
Firstly, the minimum salary requirement has increased. Under the Scientists & Specialists pathway, you were previously required to demonstrate a minimum monthly gross salary of 30,000 AED, including allowances. Since May 2024, it is the basic monthly salary that counts. The cutoff figure remains the same, but the difference is that applicants cannot factor in allowances or additional benefits.
Secondly, there are some new bureaucratic hoops to jump through. If you are applying under the Scientists & Specialists pathway, your educational certificates (presuming they were issued outside the UAE) will now need to be validated by the UAE Ministry of Education.
Bear in mind that this process will take some time. Your certificate first needs to be assessed by a Ministry of Education vendor, which issues a ‘positive’ report once it establishes the equivalency of the certificate. Expect to wait about 30 days for this report. Only then can you apply for recognition from the Ministry of Education, which will take an additional seven to 10 days.
Impact on skilled worker immigration
These subtle and seemingly pedantic changes will in practice place the Golden Visa out of the grasp of many applicants. Only a very small pool of high earners will be eligible. It also means that if you currently hold a Golden Visa, you may face challenges when it comes up for renewal, even if your salary has not changed. Plus, the extra steps required to certify educational achievements add to the lead time and complexity of the process. This may dissuade potential applicants.
Step-by-step guide to applying for a UAE skilled employee visa
The most common type of visa for skilled workers is the standard employment visa. It is your employer’s responsibility to apply for this residence visa for you, but here is a breakdown of the process:
- Employment visa quota approval: Your employer applies for this through MoHRE—all UAE-based companies have quotas limiting the number of immigrant workers they can hire.
- Contract of employment: You and your employer both sign an employment contract. This document states your salary and other perks. The employment contract should be submitted within two weeks of obtaining the employment visa quota approval.
- Employment visa: The application and supporting documents should be submitted through the MoHRE website.
- Employment entry visa: Once your entry permit and employment visa have been approved, an Employee Entry Visa will be issued to you via email. This is valid for entry into the UAE within 60 days.
- Arrival: Welcome to the UAE! You have now completed the first phase of the immigration process.
- Medical screening: As per UAE immigration policy, you will need to complete medical tests for infectious diseases (Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis, and possibly further tests depending on your employment) within two weeks of arrival in the UAE.
- Contract of labour: Within two weeks of your medical screening, your next step is to submit a signed labour contract to MoHRE.
- Residence visa: Your immigration process is almost complete. You’ll receive your residence visa, which allows you to legally live and work in the UAE.
- Emirates ID: Apply for your Emirates ID as soon as you move to the UAE. This national identity card contains the details of your visa and residency status. In the UAE, you will need it for almost all transactions. Congratulations—this is the last step in your immigration process!
Employment rights and protections
The UAE provides a number of services to protect employees’ rights. The Workers Protection Programme is an insurance scheme that aims to protect the rights of workers registered with MoHRE. In general, this scheme covers the salaries of workers whose employers go bankrupt or withhold their pay.
Another tool available to safeguard your rights is the Labour Claims And Advisory Centre, which can provide you with free legal advice concerning your rights as an employee in the UAE. It is also the place to register a complaint about your employer. In the event of a dispute with your employer, the centre will work to seek an amicable settlement.
FAQs
What is the new visa policy for skilled workers in the UAE?
There are three primary visa options open to skilled workers in the UAE: the standard employment visa (sponsored by an employer), the Green Visa (self-sponsored), or the Golden Visa (available to an exclusive pool of top-tier talent).
Quotas are in place to ensure that private sector companies bring in only workers that fit with the UAE’s immigration strategy.
The Golden Visa reflects the ambition of the UAE to build an innovation-driven economy based on world-class talent.
What is the high-skilled immigration policy?
According to the UAE’s immigration rules, skilled workers have access to a wider variety of visa options. Skilled immigrants to the UAE must provide evidence of their academic qualifications, and be able to demonstrate any specialised skills that may be relevant to the job in question.
What are the recent changes in the UAE’s immigration rules?
There have been changes to the Golden Visa, which is one of three visa types available to migrant workers in the UAE. As of May 2024, eligibility requirements for the Golden Visa have tightened. See our section above on ‘Recent Changes in UAE’s Immigration Rules’.