To make it easier for you, we have compiled a simple checklist of the documents that are legally required when hiring from overseas in the UAE.
Issuing the official offer letter to the candidate is the first step before any government paperwork can be initiated.
Mainland companies are required to prepare this letter according to the format specified by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). Free zone companies, on the other hand, will have to make use of the template that is provided by that particular free zone. The letter should explicitly mention:
The document has to be signed by both you and the candidate before the application of the entry permit can be made.
Although it appears to be very straightforward, the mistakes made here can result in long delays. It is imperative that you have a clear, high-quality digital copy of the candidate's passport.
The passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date the application is made. It also should have sufficient blank pages for official use. Besides this, you are going to require recent passport-size photographs of the candidate taken against a plain white background.
When recruiting staff for highly skilled professions such as managers, engineers, medical doctors, and IT professionals, the employer needs to verify the authenticity of the candidate's academic qualifications. This is what certificate attestation is about.
Through the following government departments, a candidate needs to have their academic certificates attested:
Important update: Now the attestation procedure is more expedited. In several countries, after stamping the document by the UAE Embassy, the UAE MOFA digital stamp is processed almost immediately, bringing down the waiting time to just a few working days.
With the offer letter and attested certificates in hand, you are capable of submitting an application for the candidate's first work permit and Entry Permit.
This permit affords the candidate the right to enter the UAE to work. It is valid for a period of 60 days. In case the candidate is in the UAE on a tourist or visit visa, you will be required to conduct a "change of status" to switch their visa to an employment type without necessitating their exit from the country.
Passing the medical fitness test is required for the new employee to obtain their residency visa after entering the UAE.
The staff member will have to go to a government-recognized medical establishment for:
The medical facility transmits the test results directly to the government visa system electronically, so it is not necessary to wait for a hard copy of the report before proceeding to the next step.
Upon a successful medical examination, the next step is to present the official contract of employment to MOHRE or a pertinent free zone authority. Besides the rights of the employees, the contract also gives the full details on the salary and working hours in accordance with the UAE Labor Law. Both parties have to sign it.
The main identity document for any person residing in the UAE is the Emirates ID. Obtaining this requires the person to visit a government service facility in order to submit biometric data (fingerprints and iris scans)
Residency visas are electronically linked to these cards. Hence, without an Emirates ID, your new hires won't be able to perform certain activities such as opening a bank account, renting an apartment, and obtaining a telephone line.
Under UAE law, as an employer, you will have the obligation of providing your employees with health coverage. It is necessary to choose an insurance plan from the authorized list and provide its details so as to complete residency processing.
Working through all the documentation, locating typos, and keeping track of changes in the laws require a considerable amount of time. Even a tiny error might result in refusal of the visa application.
This is why many businesses partner with professional recruitment services. Recruitment professionals with years of experience and expertise will take over the entire administrative hassle, and you will be relieved of the burden completely. They are the ones who do the candidate screening, talk the worker through the process of document attestation in their home country, and even handle the local visa paperwork without any problems.
Thinking about expanding your team with the best talent from around the world? Why not leave all the challenging parts to TASC Outsourcing? As one of the top recruitment firms in the UAE, we offer complete recruitment services, visa processing, and payroll support. We are responsible for making international recruitment a seamless, speedy process while ensuring full compliance with UAE laws. Call TASC Outsourcing!
According to UAE law, an employer is the one who should bear all recruitment and visa-related expenses. Employers are also not allowed to recover these costs by deducting them from the employee's salary.
The employee is allowed to work after receiving the initial Entry Permit along with the temporary work permit, but the employee has to undergo the medical test and complete Emirates ID registration within 60 days of the arrival.
In case a candidate tests positive for a communicable disease that is on the restricted list, the residency visa shall be refused, and the individual may be required to leave the UAE.
A PCC may be necessary for certain nationalities and specific types of jobs (like home nursing or security). It is always advisable to verify the most recent information according to the candidate's country of origin.
The typical time frame for the entire process runs from 2 to 4 weeks. This includes the period from the initial entry permit application to Emirates ID issuance.