Mainland Employee Visa Dubai: Complete Sponsorship Process
Sponsoring employees for work visas is essential for growing your Dubai business. This comprehensive guide explains the employee visa sponsorship process, requirements, costs in AED, and complete procedures for obtaining work visas for your team members.
What is an Employee Visa?
An employee visa (also called work permit or employment visa) is a residence permit issued by GDRFA that allows foreign nationals to work in the UAE. The visa is sponsored by an employer and ties the employee to that specific company. The employer becomes responsible for employment compliance, benefits, and visa cancellation when employment ends.
Key Characteristics of Employee Visa
- Sponsor-Dependent: Visa is tied to sponsoring employer
- 3-Year Validity: Valid for 3 years from issuance
- Renewable: Can be renewed for additional 3-year periods
- Work Authorization: Permits employment only with sponsoring company
- Family Sponsorship: Employee can sponsor spouse and dependent children
- Residence Permission: Allows legal residence in UAE during employment
Visa Sponsorship Requirements
Company Requirements
- Valid trade license from Department of Commerce and Tourism
- Minimum registered capital of 50,000 AED (for most business types)
- Active business operations with genuine commercial activity
- Employer Sponsorship Certificate from Ministry of Human Resources (EoC)
- No outstanding violations or legal issues with MOHRE
- Employer of Choice certification (if applicable)
Employee Requirements
- Valid passport with minimum 6 months validity
- Medical fitness certificate (pass required tests)
- No previous visa ban or violations in UAE
- Criminal record clearance from home country
- Proper qualifications for the position being sponsored
- Health insurance (mandatory)
- Signed employment contract with company
Employment Contract Requirements
- Written contract in both English and Arabic
- Clear job title and position description
- Monthly salary and benefits details
- Working hours and leave policies
- Contract duration and termination clauses
- Compliance with UAE labor law minimums
Number of Visas by Business Type
Sponsorship Capacity by License Type
| Business Type / Capital | Number of Visas |
|---|---|
| Individual/Professional License | 1-2 visas |
| Partnership (50,000 – 100,000 AED) | 2-3 visas |
| Company (100,000 – 250,000 AED) | 3-5 visas |
| Company (250,000 – 500,000 AED) | 5-10 visas |
| Company (500,000+ AED) | 10+ visas |
Note: Exact numbers depend on business classification and MOHRE guidelines
Employee Visa Sponsorship Process
Step 1: Obtain Employer Certificate
Apply for Employer Sponsorship Certificate (Employer of Choice) from the Ministry of Human Resources. This document confirms your company is authorized to sponsor employees. Processing typically takes 5-10 business days.
Step 2: Prepare Employment Contract
Draft employment contract compliant with UAE labor law. Contract must specify salary, benefits, working hours, leave policies, and termination conditions. Both employer and employee must sign the contract before visa application.
Step 3: Gather Employee Documentation
Collect from employee: passport copy, educational certificates, professional qualifications, medical fitness report, and police clearance from home country. All foreign documents must be translated to Arabic and attested.
Step 4: Submit Employee Registration
Register the employee with the Ministry of Human Resources using the unified employment contract template. MOHRE registration is mandatory before visa application can proceed.
Step 5: Medical Test & Health Insurance
Employee undergoes medical examination at approved health facility in Dubai. Medical clearance is mandatory. Arrange health insurance coverage (minimum 20,000 AED annual coverage) before visa application.
Step 6: Submit Visa Application to GDRFA
Submit complete visa application package to General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. Include employment contract, MOHRE registration, medical report, educational documents, and passport copies.
Step 7: Biometric Registration
Employee attends GDRFA office for biometric appointment (fingerprints and photograph). This occurs 5-10 days after application submission. Appointment is usually scheduled automatically.
Step 8: Visa Approval & Issuance
Upon approval (typically 15-30 days after biometric registration), employee receives approval notification. Employee can then travel to Dubai or activate the visa if already in UAE.
Step 9: Emirates ID Processing
Employee applies for Emirates ID at GDRFA office. This ID is mandatory for residents and serves as identification for all official transactions. Processing takes 5-10 business days.
Costs Associated with Employee Visa
Employee Visa Sponsorship Costs (in AED)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Employer of Choice Certificate (MOHRE) | 200 – 500 |
| Employment Contract Registration (MOHRE) | 250 – 500 |
| Visa Application Fee (GDRFA) | 200 – 400 |
| Medical Test & Fitness Certificate | 250 – 500 |
| Residence Permit Issuance | 2,000 – 3,000 |
| Health Insurance (mandatory, annual) | 2,000 – 5,000 |
| Emirates ID Issuance | 100 – 150 |
| Document Translation & Attestation | 1,000 – 2,000 |
| PRO Processing & Services | 1,500 – 2,500 |
Total Cost per Employee: 7,550 – 14,550 AED
Annual Health Insurance: 2,000 – 5,000 AED (required)
Employee Visa Renewal
Employee visas are valid for 3 years and can be renewed. Renewal requires: valid employment contract, medical fitness report, health insurance proof, and GDRFA renewal application. Renewal typically takes 10-15 business days and costs approximately 3,000 – 5,000 AED.
Employee Visa Cancellation
When employment ends, the visa must be cancelled through GDRFA. The employer is responsible for visa cancellation. The employee has 30 days to exit UAE after cancellation. Failure to cancel visas creates legal liability for the company.
Family Sponsorship Through Employee Visa
Sponsoring Spouse
Employee can sponsor spouse through their work visa. Spouse sponsorship requires: marriage certificate, passport, medical report, and health insurance. Spouse becomes dependent on employee’s visa.
Sponsoring Children
Children under 18 (or 21 if in education) can be sponsored. Birth certificates, education documents, and health insurance are required for each child. Children’s visas are dependent on employee’s employment status.
Family Sponsorship Salary Requirements
Minimum salary requirements apply for family sponsorship: spouse sponsorship requires minimum monthly salary of approximately 4,000 – 5,000 AED; each child requires additional 500 – 1,000 AED monthly salary threshold.
FAQs
Can an employee work for other companies while on visa?
No, employee visa ties the employee to the sponsoring employer. Working for other companies without proper visa sponsorship is illegal. Employee must obtain separate visa sponsorship for additional employment.
What happens if employee changes jobs?
If changing employers, the original visa must be cancelled and a new visa sponsored by the new employer must be obtained. The employee should have the new employer ready to sponsor before cancelling the original visa.
How long does complete visa process take?
From employment contract to residence permit in hand: 6-10 weeks. This includes contract preparation (1 week), MOHRE registration (1 week), medical tests (1 week), and GDRFA processing (4-7 weeks).
Can I sponsor employees who are already in UAE?
Yes, employees already in UAE on tourist visas or other visas can be sponsored. However, they must exit UAE before their current visa expires and re-enter on the new employment visa, unless under specific amnesty conditions.
What if medical test is failed?
If employee fails medical test due to prohibited conditions, visa cannot be issued. Employee can request retest or appeal. Alternative applicants must be found if the employee cannot pass medical requirements.
Build Your Team in Dubai
Employee visa sponsorship enables you to hire and retain talent for your Dubai business. Proper procedures ensure compliance while creating stable employment relationships with your team members.
Sponsor Your Employees Today
eCompanySetup.com handles complete employee visa sponsorship from contract preparation to GDRFA application. Let us manage the sponsorship process while you focus on business growth.
Building a strong team requires proper visa sponsorship and employment processes. With expert guidance and professional management, you can successfully sponsor employees and grow your Dubai business with confidence.
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