Expats in UAE applaud visa extension changes

This week has seen the start of the UAE’s new visa extensions, with expats in general more than happy about the changes.

The new regulations, rolled out on Saturday 21st, have been seen by the expat community as useful for those looking for jobs in the emirates. Under the new laws, those arriving on visitor visas can now extend their time in Dubai by another 30 days without having to leave the country, and new visas are also being applied to divorced and widowed expat women. Jobseekers don’t now have to worry about extending their stays rather than concentrating on finding a suitable position.

Expats arriving to find a new job are normally allowed a three month tourist visa stay, after which they must leave the country and obtain a new entry permit should they wish to stay longer. Commonly referred to in the expat community as a ‘visa run’, the trip can be expensive once air fares, hotel charges and incidental costs are factored in. Local travel agents offer package deals aimed at saving money, but most jobseekers wish lawmakers had stated three rather than just one month extensions.

Job hunting in the UAE is acknowledged to be a stressful experience, with worries over visa timescales not helping expats who’ve not yet managed to secure a position. The Dh600 fee for the extension is being seen as an investment hopefully leading to a well-paid job, and is a convenient way to ensure unsuitable jobs aren’t accepted simply because the applicant doesn’t want to return to the home country. Lawmakers are hoping the new visa extensions will mean companies can recruit from the expat labour pool already in the UAE without having to resort to recruiting from overseas.