One of the most demanded places to visit and to get a job is Dubai. A lot of tourists enter the UAE on tourist visas in the hopes of learning more about the possibilities for employment in Dubai because of the country’s booming economy, opulent lifestyle, and lack of income taxes. Although there is no provision of working on a tourist visa, as long as one adheres to the right procedures, he/she can successfully change it to an effective working visa.
It is important to understand the right process to be followed in moving on a tourist visa to Dubai to an employment visa. This guide provides the step-by-step procedure, legal implications and useful tips so that the process of completing the visa status change becomes comfortable but revolutionize adherence to the UAE immigration legislation.
1. Obtain an Employment Offer with an Employer in UAE:
To make the transition of your tourist visa to work visa, the initial thing you need to do is to get employment. You have to go through interviews and secure an official job offer by a registered company in the UAE. The employer should be a licensee and allowed to employ foreign workers.
2. Employer Applies to a Work Permit (Quota Approval):
When a job offer is completed, the employer seeks a preliminary permission with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). This involve approval of labor quota so that they can be allowed to employ foreign labour.
3. Issuance of entry Permit (Pink Visa):
Once the work permit has been granted, the immigration authorities of the UAE give out an Employment Entry Permit, aka, the Pink Visa. You do not necessarily have to leave the country to do this since you are currently in the country with a tourist visa to Dubai.
4. Status Change (Visa Transit in the Nation):
Your employer can request in-country status change instead of leaving the UAE by paying the required fee. By doing this, your tourist visa status is legally changed to a work visa without a visa run.
5. Have Medical Tests and Registration Emirates ID:
Once your visa status is updated, you would require to be medically fit. After the clearance, you can now go ahead and register to obtain your Emirates ID which is a required document of identification among all residents of the UAE.
6. Get Your Residency Visa Stamp:
Lastly, the UAE residency visa will be stamped on your passport. Depending on which sector you are employed in, either a 2 year (private sector) or 3 years (government sector or free zones) visa will be issued depending on the type of employment contract.
Important Notes to Note
- You are not allowed to do any work with the help of a tourist visa, to Dubai; be sure to convert it, before starting your work.
- Violation of tourist visa by exceeding the time limit can lead to fines or even legal troubles.
- Check the authenticity of your employer and his/her ability to issue labor regularly.
Conclusion:
If done properly, converting a tourist visa to a working visa for Dubai is both possible and lawful. You can easily get a job, obtain a visa sponsored by your employer, and move to a professional life in the UAE without ever leaving the country.
So, whether you are already researching your career opportunities in Dubai, or you are planning to visit the city hoping that you can get a job, understanding how you can use your tourist visa to visit Dubai as your valid work permit may be a game changer. To be on the safe side, you should always make enquiries with a legal visa consultant or UAE immigration authority to make sure that you are staying within the most recent regulation.