Working in the UAE is an exciting decision for anyone to make; here is all the information you need to successfully prepare to start working in one of the Emirates.
Working without a sponsor
If you’re considering long-term residency options in the UAE or want to relocate to the country to work remotely, expatriates have the option to live and work without a sponsor. The UAE now offers different types of self-sponsorship residency visas for working individuals.
Green Visa
The Green Visa is a 5-year residence permit in the UAE that does not require a sponsor. Skilled employees, freelancers, and investors can apply for the Green Visa only if they meet certain requirements.
According to the UAE government’s official website, skilled employees need to meet four conditions to apply for the Green Visa:
- Passport must be valid for at least six months
- Health insurance should cover the duration of stay within the State
- The person must be in good health
Investor or Partner in a Commercial License
- Approval from competent authority for investment, following established investor classification
- Company must not be a sole proprietorship
- Contribution to the company must be at least one million dirhams in cash or equivalent in foreign currencies
- Ongoing fulfillment of above conditions required for visa continuation and renewal
- Approval from competent local authorities and license for applicant’s activity
- Allows an investor or partner in a commercial project to reside in the UAE for up to five years
Highly Skilled Worker
- Requires valid work permit under an employment contract
- Classified as skilled labor at first, second, or third professional level by Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
- Minimum education level: bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- Monthly salary must not be below 15,000 AED or equivalent in foreign currencies
- Allows a highly skilled worker to live in the UAE for five years
As a Green visa holder, some of the other benefits that you would enjoy are that you can sponsor first-degree relatives, such as your siblings, children, or parents, in the UAE and have a 6-month grace period to exit the UAE after the visa’s cancellation and expiry. Normally, residents’ grace period is shorter –up to 30 days.
Freelancers or self-employed individuals can apply for the Green visa only if they meet these three requirements:
- Obtain freelance work permit from Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
- Minimum education requirement: bachelor’s degree, specialized diploma, or equivalent
- Applicant’s annual income for previous two years must be at least 360,000 AED or equivalent in foreign currencies, or demonstrate financial solvency throughout stay in the State
Virtual Work Residence Visa
Foreigners employed outside the UAE can live here legitimately on a virtual work visa. The 1-year visa allows them to enter the UAE under self-sponsorship and work in line with the terms and conditions issued with the visa.
Conditions for obtaining the services:
- Valid passport with at least six months validity
- Health insurance coverage for the duration of stay within the State
- Good health condition of the applicant
Limitations of Service:
- Approval required from competent authorities
- Must work remotely for an entity located outside the State
- Monthly income must be at least $3,500 USD (Dh 12,853) or equivalent in foreign currencies.
If you plan on working remotely from RAK, you must apply for the visa through ICP and meet the following conditions:
- Recent personal photo with a white background, size 6/4
- Copy of passport
- Medically fit report
- Proof of remote work for an entity outside the State
- Bank certificate verifying monthly income
Golden Visa
You can apply for a Golden Visa through RAKEZ, providing you with a hassle-free experience for 5 to 10 years. This visa is available for investors, partners, specialists, and employees. Additionally, it can be extended to your family, offering the same benefits and validity.
If you’re an investor, you need to meet at least one of the below:
- AED 2 million Share Capital
- AED 2 million deposit in investment funds
- Tax payment of AED 250K annually
Required documents:
- Passport with at least 6 months of validity.
- Recent passport-size color photograph with a white background.
- Copy of health insurance from an approved provider or opt for RAKEZ’s health insurance at a better rate
- For applicants from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan: a copy of the national identity card from their home country is required.
Must provide one of the following:
- Proof of deposit and investment funds (a letter from the bank addressed to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security confirming the deposit value).
- Proof of capital investment of AED 2 million, along with bank statements for the past 6 months for personal and corporate accounts.
- Proof of tax payment (a letter from the Federal Tax Authority addressed to ICP confirming the total tax payment).
If you’re a real estate investor, the property, whether off-plan or completed, must have a minimum value of AED 2 million. Multiple properties under the applicant’s name are also acceptable.
Required documents:
- Passport: Valid for at least 6 months.
- Photo: A recent passport-size color photograph with a white background.
- Health Insurance: Copy of insurance from an approved provider, or obtain it through RAKEZ at a better rate.
- National ID: If the applicant is from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, or Pakistan, a copy of the home country national identity card is required.
Property Proof (Choose one):
- Completed Property: Letter from the Real Estate Registration Department confirming the property value.
- Off-plan Property: Letter from the Real Estate Developer confirming the property value.
- Mortgage: Bank letter from an approved local bank if the property is mortgaged.
- Off-plan Purchase: Sales and purchase agreement signed and stamped by the Real Estate Developer.
Lastly, specialists can also apply for a Golden Visa. To qualify, they must earn a minimum monthly salary of AED 30,000. Additionally, they need to be skilled professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
Required documents:
- Applicant’s passport with at least 6 months validity.
- Recent passport-size color photograph with a white background.
- Copy of health insurance from an approved provider, or obtain through RAKEZ for better rates.
- For applicants from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan: Copy of home country national identity card.
- Copy of the employment contract attested by RAKEZ.
- Copy of academic qualification degree attested by the UAE Embassy (minimum bachelor’s degree).
- Past 6 months’ personal bank account statements.
- Past 6 months’ company bank account statements.
RAKEZ Medical Fitness Center is your go-to for medical examinations for all visa types, available to both RAKEZ and non-RAKEZ clients, ensuring accessibility for the entire community.
To schedule appointments, visit: RAKEZ Medical Fitness Center Appointment Booking
Educators Golden Visa
The Ras Al Khaimah Government has introduced a Golden Visa program for Educators, which will be facilitated through the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Knowledge (RAK DOK) specifically for private school educators residing in the Emirate. This initiative grants long-term residency to eligible educators, allowing them to be self-sponsored, thereby supporting Ras Al Khaimah’s aim to attract and retain exceptional talent in the education sector.
- Who Can Apply: The program is open to two main categories:
- School Leaders: Principals, vice principals, and school directors.
- Teachers: All qualified educators currently employed in private schools in Ras Al Khaimah.
- Eligibility Criteria:
- Minimum of three years of residency and employment in Ras Al Khaimah.
- A relevant advanced degree.
- Proven positive impact on school performance.
As the regulatory authority, RAK DOK will oversee the application process to ensure educators meet the specified criteria, further strengthening the educational landscape in Ras Al Khaimah.
Got any feedback or suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out at hello@heartofrak.com