Dubai has a well-developed labor market that attracts an increasing amount of investors wanting to come here, to make the most of this aspect by living, opening a business and hiring local people to work for them. First of all, as a matter of golden rules of immigration to Dubai, foreigners must be prepared to embrace a different culture, religion, customs, language and climate. Moreover, you must know that some myths about Dubai are not founded, but it’s important and highly advisable to display restraint, modesty and respect for the local way of life.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Assistance in choosing a visa (YES/NO) |
Yes, guidance in choosing any type of visa prior to immigration |
|
Support in document preparation (YES/NO) |
Yes, support in dratfing the necessary papers based on the type of visa solicited |
|
Guidance on obtaining work permits (YES/NO) |
Yes, including verification of the employer |
| Advice on investment options for residency (YES/NO) |
Yes, assistance in choosing an investment option |
| Assistance in obtaining temporary residence |
Yes |
| Support in permanent residence |
Yes, based on temporary or investment residence permits |
| Legal guidance on obtaining investor visa |
Yes |
| Advice on citizenship matters |
Yes, support in obtaining citizenship by investment, descent, marriage |
| Assistance in renewing residency papers (YES/NO) |
Yes |
| Post-immigration support (YES/NO) | Yes, assistance in renewing residence permits, moving from one place to another, support in relation with various authorities |
| Assistance in family reunification (YES/NO) |
Yes, support in bringing family members in Dubai, guidance on sponsorship requirements |
| Advice on real estate rental options (YES/NO) |
Yes, assistance in signing lease/rental agreement |
| Assistance in buying real estate through investment (YES/NO) |
Yes |
| Assistance in opening local bank account (YES/NO) | Yes, with a bank of the client's choosing |
| Other services |
– support in business immigration, – assistance in opening a company, – tax advice |
| Types of visas available |
– student visa; – employment permit; – dependent residence visa; – temporary stay visa, permanent residence card. |
|
Customized services based on country of origin (YES/NO) |
Yes, our lawyers will consider the applicant's countries of origin when providing legal support. |
|
Assistance in converting a temporary residence permit into a permanent one (YES/NO) |
Yes, we offer support in converting a temporary permit into a permanent one upon meeting the requirements. |
| Support in obtaining a freelance permit (YES/NO) | Yes, we can assist you in getting a freelance visa for Dubai. |
| Assistance in immigration disputes (YES/NO) |
Yes, we can offer representation in case of immigration issues. |
| Sponsorship requirements for immigration purposes (YES/NO) |
Yes, sponsorship is required when immigrating to Dubai. |
| Assistance in registration with the local authorities |
Yes, we offer assistance in registering with various local authorities. |
| Legalization services (YES/NO) |
Yes, our Dubai lawyers can help with the legalization of various papers. |
| Support in intra-company transfers (YES/NO) |
Yes, we can assist in transferring employees to the UAE. |
| Living requirements to get permanent residency | Permanent residency is available after five or ten years of living in Dubai. |
| Access to special programs for gaining residency (YES/NO) |
Yes, there are programs dedicated to sports people, scientists, artists, etc. |
| Start-up Visa Scheme availability (YES/NO) |
Yes, Dubai has a Start-up Visa program. |
| Support in employment-related matters after immigration |
Yes, we can assist in labor contract drafting, finding a place to live, and registering for health insurance. |
| Benefits of immigration to Dubai |
It is one of the safest regions in the world, no personal income tax, and access to numerous business and employment opportunities. |
| Advantages of working with a law firm |
– integrated services; – updated information on immigration regulations; – tailored support based on clients' countries of origin. |
Our immigration lawyers in Dubai can help you with more information on the legal procedures that need to be completed when immigrating to Dubai. We also have an immigration lawyer in Abu Dhabi ready to assist you.
Important aspects to bear in mind when immigrating to Dubai
Firstly, you must know that unless you have a secured employment in the UAE, it’s not advisable to immigrate in Dubai. Without a job, you cannot obtain work permits for your workers and without a work permit they cannot be granted permanent residency. Consequently, if they don’t have residency, they are not allowed to open a bank account, rent a property, buy a car or get a driving license. These being said, you should know that there are various types of residence visas, such as employment, family (both valid for two years), student, domestic helpers (valid for one year) and investors residence visa (valid for three years).
Moreover, your employees must get through a thorough medical test that will be taken at a government hospital/clinic. They will be taken multiple blood tests and a chest X-ray. If they are found to have any serious communicable diseases, their application will be denied and they will be promptly deported. Our immigration lawyers in Dubai can help you with more information.
Types of visas available when immigrating to Dubai
Foreign citizens who want to move to Dubai have several options when it comes to the visas they can apply for. Moreover, in the past few years, the government has simplified the immigration regulations, thus making it possible for foreigners to relocate here faster. Here are the main ways related to immigration to Dubai:
- student and family reunification visas are among the types of visas available for relocation;
- the employment visa which grants the right to work and live in Dubai, however, an applicant must first secure a job and then obtain the work permit;
- the investor visa which is one of the best options for those who want to have their own businesses in Dubai;
- through the residency by investment program which implies acquiring real estate in order to move to Dubai.
If you are interested in any of the visas mentioned above, our immigration lawyer in Dubai is at your service with detailed information.
The services offered by our immigration lawyer in Dubai are presented in the infographic below:
Services provided by our immigration lawyer in Dubai
The UAE has different immigration laws compared to other countries, which is why the services of a lawyer who can intermediate the procedure is always welcome.
Our immigration lawyer in Abu Dhabi is at the service of foreign citizens who want to come here for short or long stays, no matter the reason. They must go through a few procedures that imply a thorough research and filing various documents before traveling here.
Here are the main services you can obtain with our immigration lawyer in Dubai:
- assistance in choosing the most appropriate type of visa. You can apply for a freelance visa for Dubai after you have obtained the freelance permit. Since this visa is a form of residency in the UAE, you are permitted to live and work there for a period of one to five years with your family. Nationals of the UAE, residents, and non-residents can all obtain a freelance permit;
- guidance in drafting the necessary documents and filing them with the UAE embassy or consulate in your country;
- advice on finding a place to stay in Dubai (we recommend you start searching prior to moving here);
- assistance after migrating to Dubai;
- legal support in renewing residence permits;
- assistance in obtaining permanent residency.
Even if under the UAE immigration law, work and residence permits are the main categories of visas than can be obtained by those who want to settle themselves here, it is important to choose in accordance with the purpose of the stay. It is good to know that it is possible to move to Dubai by starting a business.
You can rely on our Dubai lawyers if you want to register a company in this Emirate. We can start the incorporation process and at the same time you can start the immigration procedure in your home country.
How to move to Dubai based on family reunification and study visas
The family reunification or dependent visa is available for foreign citizens married to UAE nationals, but also for those who have children who already live in the Emirates. Children whose parents live in Dubai can also move here as dependents, however, applicants must comply with several requirements.
First of all, it is important to note that moving to Dubai based on a family reunification visa implies having a sponsor (the person established here) who must also meet certain income criteria. Also, in the case of parents sponsoring their children, it should be noted that the latter must be less than 18 years at the time of the relocation. Also, they must not be married.
In the case of the sponsor, the following requirements must be met:
- he or she must earn at least 4,000 AED per month;
- he or she must earn at least 3,000 AED plus the amount necessary for the accommodation of the applicant;
- in the case of children sponsoring parents, the sponsorship of both parents must be ensured.
In the case of children supporting their parents to immigrate to Dubai, the monthly income threshold is set at 20,000 AED.
Among the documents required for obtaining a dependent visa for Dubai, one must provide, the necessary application forms, the passport of both sponsor and immigrants, photographs of the applicants, a salary certificate or proof of employment contract in the case of the sponsor and proof of the relationship of the sponsor and immigrants.
Our immigration lawyers in UAE can offer more information on how to apply for a dependent visa.
With respect to the student visa, Dubai is an appealing destination for young persons seeking to study in the Middle East and this type of visa is rather easy to obtain. The main requirement for obtaining it is to be admitted to a local university and be sponsored by it or by another relative living in Dubai. The applicant is required to submit various documents, among which proof of admission and financial sufficiency.
The student visa is available for one year and can be renewed. Our immigration lawyer in Dubai can verify the documents related to obtaining a student visa.
The work permit as a means to immigrate to Dubai
The most sought type of visa requested by foreign citizens seeking to move to Dubai is the work permit, especially since the requirements for it have been simplified a lot. Foreigners must first secure a job with a Dubai company. Also, the employer will start the formalities for the foreign employee to move to the Emirate.
Should you need assistance in applying for a work visa, our immigration lawyer in Dubai is at your service.
Immigration through investment in Dubai
Foreign investors have two options for moving to Dubai: the investor visa and the property ownership visa. For the first type of visa, the amount of money required depends on the type of investment made, however, the applicant is not allowed to work in Dubai under this type of residence permit.
When moving to Dubai by purchasing a property, the value of the real estate is 10,000 AED. The applicant is also required to earn at least 10,000 AED.
Our immigration lawyer in Dubai can help foreign citizens who want to relocate here through investment.
Choosing a visa for Dubai
Our immigration lawyer in Dubai is at the service of those who want to relocate here for employment, business or investment purposes. If in the case of foreign workers the employment pass is accompanied by a residence permit, in the other two situations the residence permit can suffice provided that the person does not want to engage in an activity that implies working with a Dubai company.
When relocating to Dubai for employment purposes, the first thing to consider is that you will need a job offer and the contract that will be used as proof for obtaining the visa. Moreover, the employer must start the immigration procedure. Our lawyers can verify the authenticity of the job offer and the company you will work for if you want to make sure before making a decision.
In the case of persons who want to start businesses in Dubai, they must know that they will need sufficient money to inject in the company and everything it implies:
- the share capital;
- office rental (a cheaper option is the virtual office in the beginning);
- hiring staff;
- investment in machinery and/or equipment;
- documents drafting and registration fees.
Apart from these, living expenses must also be considered by those who want to manage their companies here.
In the case of foreign investors who want to retire here by purchasing real estate, the minimum amount to allocate for buying a residential property is 1 million AED. The residence permit obtained this way has a validity of 3 years.
If you are interested in the investor visa program, our immigration lawyer in Dubai can provide all the details you need.
Is it possible to obtain UAE citizenship as a foreigner?
The UAE with its emirates represents a dream destination in which many foreign citizens would want to live forever. However, UAE citizenship is not very accessible, which is why permanent residency is a much better option.
Permanent residency comes with many benefits for foreign citizens, some of them similar to those of UAE citizens, so if you are aspiring to move to Dubai permanently, our law firm can help you apply for a permanent residence permit once you meet all the eligibility criteria.
If you need other information on how to move to the UAE, do not hesitate to ask our immigration lawyer in Dubai.
Documents required for obtaining a residence visa and a work permit for Dubai
In terms of documents, each situation has different documentation requirements, and you could additionally need UAE government approval before filing for the visa. You might additionally need the assistance of a lawyer or other qualified legal entity because of the more delicate nature of this visa. For assistance in obtaining an investment visa in Dubai, you can rely on our law firm.
In the case of having a job in Dubai, the residence visa and work permit are usually obtained by you, as an employer; you will cover the costs for these procedures. Our immigration lawyers in Dubai can help you find out more about the legal issues implied in obtaining a residence visa for Dubai.
You’ll need to provide the following documents:
- completed application form;
- original and copy of your passport;
- passport-size photos;
- employment permit issued by Ministry of Labor;
- copy of the company’s valid commercial license;
- copy of a valid company card;
- proof of paid application fee.
After your employees have received residency visa, they will need to apply for a work permit. Usually you will cover the costs as well in this case. Keep in mind that all forms for the work permit and the terms of employment contracts for your employees must be drafted in Arabic. As said before, in order to be granted a work permit, a residency visa is needed, a valid passport (with at least 6 months validity) and a qualification that is accepted and required in the UAE.
Together with the work permit application, employees must also provide the following documents:
- residency visa and passport;
- a legitimate health certificate;
- a recent photograph of yourself;
- a copy your company’s trade license;
- three copies of employment contract, signed by you and your employee(s);
- copies of employee’s professional qualifications.
You can obtain more information on the documents required for moving here from our immigration lawyer in Dubai. You can also watch the video below:
Steps to complete after migrating to Dubai
After moving to Dubai, it is important to register with the local authorities. This means obtaining health insurance. An interesting fact about Dubai is that there is no personal income tax here, however, as a foreign citizen one might have to report to the tax authorities in his/her own country, case in which we recommend you request tailored advice from our lawyers in Dubai in this case.
Our US immigration lawyer in UAE is at the service of American citizens who want to relocate here.
Residence permit renewal in Dubai
Dubai residence permits are usually issued for limited periods of time, requiring foreigners to have them renewed if they want to prolong their stays here. With the help of our immigration lawyer in Dubai the procedure is quite simple.
If you find yourself in this situation, we recommend you do that a few months prior to expiry in order to avoid complications, even if the procedure is simple and fast. Our immigration lawyers in UAE can help you renew your documents.
Immigration statistics in Dubai
According to Worldpopulationreview.com:
- for 2020, Dubai’s population is estimated to have reached 2,878,344 persons;
- between 2016 and 2020, the Emirates’ population has increased by 3.69% annually;
- only 15% of the persons living here are UAE nationals;
- the remaining 85% is made of expats, among which 71% are Asian citizens (51% are Indians).
If you have taken the decision to immigrate in Dubai, please contact our Dubai team of lawyers in order to legally guide you through the procedures that must be completed. You can count on our US immigration lawyer in UAE for support in moving here from the United States.