The Dubai authorities are increasing
efforts to crackdown on individuals working on visit visas in the UAE. While it
has always been illegal to work in the UAE under visit visa status, authorities
are now taking a stricter stance on ensuring compliance, with many company
premises being inspected in recent times.
Working on a visit visa
in the UAE is illegal and can lead to severe penalties for both the employee
and the employer, including fines, deportation, and jail time. Fines for
employers can range from AED 100,000 to AED 1 million, while individuals
may face deportation and a re-entry ban. Employees are not permitted to work
until a proper work permit and residency visa have been issued by the Ministry
of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
Penalties
for individuals working on a visit visa
·
Fines: Up to AED 50,000
·
Deportation: May be subject to deportation
·
Re-entry ban: Can be banned from entering the UAE
again
·
Jail time: A jail sentence can be imposed
Penalties
for employers hiring workers on a visit visa
·
Fines: AED 100,000 to AED 1
million per employee for the first offense
·
Repeat offenses: Fines
may be doubled for repeat violations
·
Other penalties: Businesses
may face suspension of new work permits, business closure, and other legal
consequences
How to
legally work in the UAE
·
Do not work while on a visit visa.
·
An employer must provide you with an official offer
letter from MOHRE before you can begin working.
·
The employer must sponsor a valid work permit and
residency visa for you.
Working in the UAE while holding a visit
visa is not permitted, and all individuals completing work while in the country
should obtain the relevant work and residence permit status to remain
compliant.
Dubai previously
had a lenient amnesty scheme, which permitted those overstaying their visas to
legalise their status or leave without facing any penalty. The scheme ran from
September to December 2024 and enabled many to resolve their visa issues. It is
reported that following the end of the visa amnesty more than 6,000 violators
may have been arrested during company inspections earlier this year.
The recent
crackdown has led to a perceived reduction in the number of overstayers in the
country.
Who is affected?
Individuals
working in the UAE while holding only a visitor visas are non-compliant and are
advised not to do so. Company inspections are becoming more frequent with
severe penalties in place for those found to be non-compliant and deportation
for anyone found to be working illegally. Fines ranging from Dh100,000 to
Dh1million could be imposed on companies employing workers without the correct
permits in place.
What to expect /impact?
Increased company
inspections by the UAE authorities mean that rules are being followed, and
companies can expect high penalties for non-compliance. The number of overstays
has decreased significantly.
Furthermore, rules
have been implemented so that those entering under visit visa status are
obliged to confirm air tickets, hotel reservations and a certain amount of
money in a further crackdown on irregular stays.
What you need to do
For further
information on working restrictions in the UAE, please contact the Paperwork
Centre at: info@paperwork.ae