Do you want to start a new career in the UAE? You can now apply for a ‘jobseeker visa,’ which allows you to visit the UAE and look for potential job opportunities.
The visa, which is part of the new UAE visa system that went into effect on October 3, 2022, allows job seekers to come to the UAE for two, three, or four months without needing to be sponsored by a UAE-based individual or company.
Here’s how to apply for a job seeker visa through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security (ICP). The ICP is the immigration authority in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain that issues visas.
How to apply for the visa through ICP
- You first need to visit the ICP website – http://www.icp.gov.ae and under the ‘Services’ tab, click on ‘eChannels Residency & Citizenship.
- You will find three options for the job seeker visa:
‘Visa – single entry – search for job 60 days – issue new visa’
‘Visa – single entry – search for job 90 days – issue new visa’
‘Visa – single entry – search for job 120 days – issue new visa’
Select the duration of the visa as per your requirement.
- You will then be directed to a form that you need to fill out with the following details:
- Applicant Information: Enter information such as your name, phone number, and email address here. If you see a section where you can enter your name in Arabic, simply type your name in English and the system will fill in the name in Arabic for you.
- Identification information: This includes the UID number, which is optional, as well as the department from which the visa is to be issued. This refers to the Emirate from which you want to apply for the visa, so you can choose from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, or Umm al Quwain.
- Personal information: In this section, you must provide passport information, educational qualification information, and family information.
- Address: You will be required to provide your address both within and outside of the UAE.
- Press the ‘Next’ button. You will then be prompted to upload the following files:
- Passport copy
- Colored photograph
- Qualification certificate (attested)
Additionally, you may also be asked to submit the following documents:
- Place of residence in the UAE (rent contract or hotel reservation)
- Health insurance that covers the period of stay
- Copy of the return ticket
- Certified account statement
- National ID cards for certain nationalities
- Make the payment.
Your application will be completed and sent to the ICP once you have made the payment. You will receive the visa via email once your application has been approved.
How much does the job seeker visa cost?
Here is a breakdown of the cost for each type of visa:
60-day jobseeker visa:
Request fees – Dh100
Issue fees – Dh200
Security deposits – Dh1,025
E-services fees – Dh28
ICP fees – Dh22
ADNIC Insurance fee – Dh60
Dhafra Insurance fee – Dh60
Total: Dh1,495
90-day jobseeker visa:
Request fees – Dh100
Issue fees – Dh300
Security deposits – Dh1,025
E-services fees – Dh28
ICP fees – Dh22
ADNIC Insurance fee – Dh90
Dhafra Insurance fee – Dh90
Total: Dh1,655
120-day jobseeker visa:
Request fees – Dh100
Issue fees – Dh400
Security deposits – Dh1,025
E-services fees – Dh28
ICP fees – Dh22
ADNIC Insurance fee – Dh120
Dhafra Insurance fee – Dh120
Total: Dh1,815