🇦🇪 UAE Opens Sponsor-Free Visit Visa for Job Seekers & Short-Term Projects — Effective 30 June 2025
From 30 June 2025, the United Arab Emirates will issue a revamped visit visa that covers both job hunting and project work. The new policy lets skilled professionals enter Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the other emirates without employer sponsorship.
What’s New?
- Purpose – search for employment or complete a time-bound work mission
- Validity options – 60, 90, or 120 days, single entry
- No local sponsor required – apply on your own from abroad or inside the UAE
- Target users – freelancers, consultants, contractors, and recent graduates
Official announcement: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/visit-visas
Who Qualifies?
| Eligibility Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Skill level | MOHRE Skill Levels 1–3 |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree or higher |
| Recent graduates | Finished a top-500 global university within the past two years |
| Funds | Proof of money to cover the full stay |
Visa Fees (June 2025)
| Stay Length | Base Fee (AED) | Security Deposit (AED) | Typical Extras* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 days | 200 | 1,000 | Service + gov’t fees |
| 90 days | 300 | 1,000 | 80–100 |
| 120 days | 400 | 1,000 | 100–120 |
*Add AED 500 if you convert the visa while already inside the UAE. Fee tables: https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services/1f2b7420-b7f7-11ed-5210-4cd98f768936
Recommended: How to Apply for a Dubai (UAE) Work Visa by Yourself in 2025
Why This Matters
- Move first, sign later – test the market, attend interviews, or deliver a project before seeking a full work permit.
- Supports the gig economy – ideal for IT freelancers, engineers, designers, and consultants serving Expo-legacy, AI, and green-energy projects.
- Streamlines hiring – UAE firms can trial talent on short missions without upfront sponsorship costs.
Quick Application Checklist
- Passport valid 6 + months
- Degree certificate (attested)
- Proof of skill-level classification or recent top-500 graduation
- Bank statement showing funds for accommodation and daily costs
- Passport photo and completed e-form
Submit online via ICP or GDRFA portals; pay fees; receive an e-visa in PDF.
Next Steps After Arrival
- Job seekers – convert to a standard work-residence permit once you secure an offer.
- Project specialists – exit and re-enter on a new mission or switch to a multiple-entry work visa if needed.
- Freelancers – explore free-zone permits for long-term, sponsor-free residence.
Bottom Line
The UAE’s updated visit visa removes the biggest barrier—sponsorship—for skilled people who want to explore, network, and deliver short projects in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Pack your CV, line up meetings, and be ready to land in the Emirates from 30 June 2025.
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