All British nationals are required to obtain a visa when entering the UAE. A 60 day visit visa stamp is granted upon entry to all, the process of obtaining a residency visa for work purposes takes a little longer.
BCB clients are provided with a Dubai residency visa (for one company employee) through the special arrangement we have with Dubai’s Department of Economic Development as part of their support for the BCB incubator. This visa is valid for the length of time the company is registered with the BCB.
The visa process usually takes from 5 – 10 working days. During this period, you will undergo medical examinations including a blood test and a chest x-ray. The blood test is to test for communicable diseases such as hepatitis and HIV and the x-ray is taken for the purposes of testing for TB.
Once this is done, the BCB will arrange for your paperwork to be given back to the Department of Economic Development to complete formalities and arrange for immigration to put the pink visa sticker into your passport. You will also obtain an Emirates ID card.
The Emirates ID card is a smart ID card required for all government processes. The chip inside contains your visa information and without it you can’t register a car, open a bank account, or connect the electricity and water to your home. The card can even be used at some UAE airports as a substitute for a passport (making long queues a thing of the past). The Emirates ID card is granted in conjunction with the visa and is valid for the same time period.
As a British national you are entitled to enter most regional countries without the need for an extra visa, however on arrival (for a small fee) you will have to apply for a ‘visa on entry’. It’s an inexpensive and usually quick process. The one exception to this rule is Saudi Arabia which requires British nationals to apply for a visa in advance (which can be done in the UAE).
If you need clarification on the visa process please ask, we’re here to help.
