Job seeker’s Visa

Six-month Visa for Job Seekers

Job seeker’s visa is a way of enhancing the UAE’s position as the land of opportunity for talents and professionals. This is a positive news to a lot of expats looking for work in the UAE.

Previously, those whose employments are terminated or visas have been cancelled are usually given a grace period of 30 days before changing their visa status by either having another employment or exit and re-enter the country with another type of visa. This situation created quite a number of overstaying cases for expats, who are mostly job seekers. This led the UAE government to implement an amnesty program to correct undocumented or illegal residents and waive overstaying fines, and in response to the high number of amnesty grantees who previously entered the UAE to seek employment, a job seeker’s visa is introduced.

So what does this mean for the job seekers? The main highlight of this new visa policy is that job applicants who have overstayed their current visa can stay and still work in the UAE by getting a job seeker’s visa valid for six months. With this six-month visa, expats who either lose their previous job or who are on an expiring tourist/visit visa but unsuccessful in finding a job can now extend their stay and stand to get more time seeking employment opportunities.

For the requirements and costs for applying for job seeker’s visa, please do not hesitate to contact us. MERA Advisory Services DMCC will be happy to assist you!