Immigration Services UAE & Saudi Arabia

Standard UAE Employment Visa processing takes approximately 7–15 working days from initial application through to visa stamping. The timeline depends on documentation readiness, medical clearance, Emirates ID processing and the specific free zone or mainland authority involved. Express processing options are available for priority cases through select free zones, reducing end-to-end time to as little as 3–5 working days.

In the UAE, the employer acts as the sponsor for the Employment Visa. The employee must hold a valid labour contract registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) for mainland companies or with the relevant free zone authority. The employer is responsible for all visa processing costs, medical insurance and repatriation expenses under UAE labour law.

The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residency visa valid for 5 or 10 years, renewable automatically. Eligibility categories include investors with AED 2 million minimum investment, entrepreneurs with an existing project valued at AED 500,000, specialised talent in medicine, science, engineering, IT and the arts, outstanding students with a minimum 95% GPA, and exceptional individuals such as athletes and cultural pioneers. No sponsor or local bank guarantee is required.

Yes, employees holding a valid UAE Residence Visa can sponsor their spouse, children and in certain cases parents. A minimum monthly salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation is required. Male children are sponsored until age 25, while female children remain sponsored until marriage. Parents require proof of dependent status and a higher salary threshold of AED 20,000.

Saudi Work Visa processing typically takes 4–8 weeks and involves multiple stages: MISA (Ministry of Investment) or MOA approval, document attestation from the Saudi Cultural Mission and Chamber of Commerce, visa stamping at the Saudi Embassy, and post-arrival Iqama processing. The Temporary Work Visa is significantly faster at 1–2 weeks as it bypasses the full attestation and residency cycle.

A Saudi Work Visa is designed for long-term employment and leads to an Iqama (residency permit), requiring full medical, biometrics and document attestation. A Saudi Temporary Work Visa permits stays of up to 90 days per visit, renewable, without triggering Iqama processing. It is commonly used for project-based assignments, commissioning engineers and short-term technical roles, with simplified sponsorship through the employer's Qiwa portal.

Core documents include a valid passport with at least six months validity, passport-sized photographs, a medical fitness certificate from an approved health centre, Emirates ID or Iqama application form, attested degree certificates and professional qualifications, a clean criminal record certificate (Dubai Police or MOI), tenancy contract or accommodation proof, and bank statements or salary certificates depending on the visa category. Additional documents vary by visa type and jurisdiction.

Qiwa is the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) portal used by employers for work visa applications, labour contract registration, employee record management and Saudisation compliance. Absher is the Ministry of Interior portal used by individuals for Iqama renewal, exit and re-entry permits, family sponsorship, and traffic services. Nitaqat is the Saudisation categorisation system that determines an organisation's ability to obtain and renew work visas based on Saudi national employment ratios. GOSI manages social insurance registration. All four platforms are essential components of Saudi immigration and labour compliance.