Employment Residence Visa
Beta
United Arab Emirates
Employer must sponsor
The standard UAE work residence route, sponsored by a mainland or free-zone employer alongside a work permit.
Who this route is for
People with a UAE job offer whose employer arranges the work permit and residence visa.
Typical timeline
Steps are handled by the employer through the relevant authority or free zone; timelines vary by emirate and zone.
What this means for your job search
Your residence is tied to the employer, so changing jobs means transferring or re-issuing the visa. Free-zone and mainland employers follow different procedures, which is worth asking about during offer discussions.
This is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change and individual cases differ — check the official source and, where it matters, talk to an immigration attorney.