United Arab Emirates: Consular Process to be Required for Some Employment Visa Applicants

Employment visa (entry permit) applicants from certain countries will soon have to process their immigration applications through designated UAE consular service centers in their home country before entering the UAE, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).

Applications for employment residence permit renewal as well as new residence visa applications for dependents will not be impacted by this change. Further details are expected in upcoming months, including applicability of the new process to employers in free zones.

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