Important things you should know before moving to Dubai - THE VISA

*This is not an official channel so please use it as a frame of reference and go after proper platforms to get your process done. This may change from time to time.*

The reason why I decided to write about #Dubai is because I did not have any of these tips (only a few patches of information from people already here) before moving and I honestly don’t want anyone to feel as lost as I felt. Also, it is important to prepare the mind, body and pocket for a decision like this: moving all the way from your country to a prominent place growing and evolving as we speak can be tricky because of the lack of knowledge over the years.?

I was asking around one of these days what were the main things people wished they knew before moving and surprising a total of “zero persons”, it was pretty much what I had in mind. So, brace yourselves.

Unfortunately those who are already here tend to think that we know everything. Sometimes I question if this is because they don’t know and don’t want to admit, or because they just don’t care. So, it is every man for himself most of the time. This happens all around you in the private and public sectors, at the stores, shopping's, tourist places, everywhere.?

Emirates ID / Visa - Just like any other country in the world you cannot just move in here and call it your home if you don’t have the #EmiratesID. It is the equivalent of a Social Security, ID Number, etc, and it holds all relevant information about you like who you are, what you do, how long you can stay and what kind of visa holder you are (Tourist, Labor, Job Seeker, Freelance, Green, Gold). When you enter the country you get an Entry Permit that allows you to stay here for 90 days. After that, you’ll be fined AED 50,00 (fifty dirhams) a day until you sort your visa status out, and, if you leave the border, you will not be able to come back.?

Why does Emirates ID matter? Without this physical card in your pocket you are literally no one here, (only a tourist) meaning that you cannot have a bank account, cannot rent an apartment, cannot apply for a mobile and internet plan (apart from the tourist one that lasts for 90 days), cannot apply for a credit card, cannot apply for Driver's License and drive around, cannot use the company’s health insurance in case something happens to you. You are in between being non-existent to a persona non grata, because a tourist can pretty much live by these 90 days, but you need some consistency and plan your next moves, otherwise you’ll spend lots of money on Hotels and Airbnb's just to stay in Dubai.?

Documents needed - In order to apply for the visa you have to keep in mind that all your documents need to be updated (follow the document list you'll get from your employer, here is just general info). You'll need at least the Passport, Education Certificate, Marriage Certificate (in case you are sponsoring your other half) and Offer Letter. You have to get your Education Certificate (degrees) attested in your home country through the UAE embassy. You won't be able to do it from here, so it is very important you do it before traveling. It is an English translation with a few official stamps that proves it was attested. If you don't do it you may face numerous problems on your Emirates ID, specially when they are applying for the Labor Card (that turns your EID into Labor Visa). The same process goes for the Marriage Certificate. Even if you don't have a job by the time you came, you have to have those documents in order to get one, so just do it.

As I mentioned in this article I suggest you move in with a job offer already settled. Why? Because the company that is hiring you will handle the visa process for you and it usually happens before you move (although we know there are lots of “pretty smart” firms around here). You should move in at least with the eVisa sorted out, a first part of the process that shows to the government that you are officially getting your Emirates ID soon. The labor visa lasts for 2 years, being pretty much auto-renewable if you are still within the company. Depending on the salary and expat package you have, this visa includes your family too (in my case, I moved in sponsoring my husband).?

There is a different type of visa called Job Seeker, which gives you 60 to 120 days to look for a job in the UAE. It is between a Tourist and Labor Visa, but I don’t have much to share about it here per my lack of information on it. What I know is that it can be pretty pricey in comparison with the other visas.?

If by any chance you lose your job or decide to change it, you’ll have to ask your current company to cancel it for you and you are responsible for canceling the visa of those you are sponsoring. This is very very very important information, I just found out about it when I was about to miss a deadline for my husband’s visa and got this “amazing” information. After you have a cancellation form in hand - a process that takes less than 2 hours to be completed - you can then apply for a new Labor Visa with your new employer. There are official agencies called Amer all over the city of Dubai.?

The process of getting your visa done is tricky because you have to be here for the health tests (blood and X-Ray). If you are cleared after those (they are looking for STDs and Tuberculosis), you usually get your Emirates ID within a few weeks. The whole process should not take more than 2 months from end to end (starting with documentation when you are still in your home country) but because of the volume of people trying to move in after COVID, it all gets a little stuck so it may take longer. The only thing you can do here is to prepare yourself financially to be able to have a roof over your head while it’s being processed and try to move in only after the eVisa.

During the process you have to have a mobile number that I strongly advise you to try and keep the same number throughout the process, because this is the only communication channel you have and if something needs to be updated or informed, they will contact you on your official mobile number. If you, like me, not knowing that, have to change your mobile number, you’ll have to pay a fee to do it and it will impact the process.?

Most visas are handled by PRO agencies hired by the company who is hiring you, so don’t be afraid of asking the #HROps team and bugging them from time to time about your process (remember, every man for himself), this is their job: to get it done and to keep you informed.?

Once you get the amazing phone call of the delivery company saying that your Emirates ID is on the way, the world in front of you opens up to a brand new life. It’s an amazing feeling.?

This is what I got from everything that has happened to me since I moved. How was the process for you? Did you find any blocker that you would like to share?