Relocation Recommendations: Visas and Immigration

Globalisation is definitely a signature element of our current reality. The UN estimates that around 281 million people live outside their country of origin as of 2020.  Whether for work or lifestyle reasons, individuals and families make the decision to change location every single day. This openness to change allows companies of all shapes and sizes to access a much wider pool of talent. The ability to browse international locations for the right fit enables businesses to grow and develop much faster, increasing their diversity and creativity. But when it comes to relocation and global mobility, the first crucial step to ensure you get right is visas and immigration. With so many country-specific requirements and constant updates, getting expert help is the only way to make sure you can avoid issues and onboard your dream team smoothly. Here we take you thought the basic fundamentals of why you need the right guidance to get the job done.

Visas and Immigration

When you operate a company that employs staff from outside of the country in which the business is based, you need to ensure those individuals have the proper documentation. Everyone understands that visas and immigration are how countries regulate their population, visitors and citizenry. They probably also realise that every country has a unique approach to their immigration policies. Many elements can be a factor in how those policies are applied including government priorities, economic status, geopolitical upheaval and trade agreements. That is why it can be so important to work with a partner who has expert knowledge of that nation’s regulations. There are likely to be many different options on visas or how to secure seamless immigration, a partner with expert knowledge of the local rules will be able to advise on which options are best suited to your business and the individual, incoming employee.

Evolving Requirements

In addition to the need to grasp the complex framework for a country’s visas and immigration policies, there is an element of evolution to be expected. Countries and governments are consistently reviewing and updating their priorities when it comes to immigration, be that due to new alliances with other nations, mutually beneficial treaties or inclusion into a new regional grouping. This makes it vital that companies interested in global mobility and employee relocation must work with an organisation that is connected enough to be consistently up to date with all the relevant rules related to individual countries, so they can provide the best advice. Currently, every country in the world has adopted several additional layers to their immigration policies and procedures. Following the spread of Covid-19, countries have had to evaluate their border policies to combat the impact of the pandemic. This has resulted in increased restrictions and, of course, strict guidelines for any in-coming residents to ensure adherence to necessary safety protocols.

The UAE: A Snapshot

The UAE itself is a pretty good example of the GCC and Middle East region in terms of visas and immigration. The unassailable growth of this part of the world has seen many of its nations become significant players on the global scene. Their adoption of innovation and inclusivity, not to mention generous tax rules and beautiful climate, have made them extremely popular with expatriate workers and foreign investors. Having recognised the value of this type of human and monetary investment, many of these countries, especially the UAE, have continued to evolve their immigration policies to streamline the influx of personnel and talent. Within the UAE itself there is a wide range of visa options available and different immigration procedures to be followed. From business visas, to employee visas and dependent visas, it is vital to explore the right options for your company and your staff, so that you can make the right decisions and get everything off to the right start.

At EER we work to ensure that we have the most up-to-date information and can offer expert advice on visas and immigration in Dubai and the UAE.  If you are looking into relocation and want to find out more about how to navigate immigration for your team, get in touch today on info@eerme.com or call us on +971 4 421 1819.