In this guide 7 sections
What the UAE jobseeker visa allows
This visa goes by different names. The UAE Government calls it the jobseeker visit visa. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) calls it the job exploration visa on its service cards.
Are you looking for a Dubai job seeker visa? The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) has the same kind of service. It calls it a visit visa to explore job opportunities. Use the official service name when you check the details. That way you can tell it apart from a tourist visa or a visa linked to a work contract.
Length and entry
The UAE Government’s overview lists 60, 90 and 120 days and describes the route as a single trip. The ICP 60-day, 90-day and 120-day service cards specify single entry. GDRFA Dubai’s service page refers more broadly to one or more visits. Before you plan to leave the UAE and come back, check the entry rules of the visa you are offered.
What you can and cannot do
A visit can give you time for interviews and networking. You can also see where the firms you might work for are based. A company might ask you to cover a shift, do client work or start onboarding that involves doing the job. If so, check the work permission with the relevant authority first.
You cannot start work on a visit visa. The same applies to an unpaid trial that involves doing the job. If an employer asks you to attend an assessment, check what you’ll be doing. Then confirm the permission you need. Abu Dhabi Residents Office guidance on preparing to work
UAE job seeker visa requirements
Articles 20 and 21 of Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022 and the ICP 60- and 90-day service cards set out two possible ways to qualify:
- Skill level. You are classified at professional skill level 1, 2 or 3 under the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) classification.
- Recent graduate. You graduated within the previous two years from a university in the approved global top 500, as recognised by the Ministry of Education.
You also need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and you must meet the financial guarantee requirement. ICP 60-day job exploration service · ICP 90-day job exploration service
Check which proof fits your route
Do you hope to qualify through your skill level? Find out which job classification the authority accepts and how you can prove yours. The ICP cards list a certificate that confirms the professional level. Your job title back home may sum up your work well and still not match the official level. So ask how the authority checks it.
Do you plan to rely on a recent degree? Ask which ranking the authority uses and how it counts the time since you graduated. Check what proof it needs for your university, degree and graduation date. A university’s own marketing or a different ranking may be based on things the authority does not use.
GDRFA Dubai’s published conditions list the professional level and university criteria as separate numbered items. They leave out the two-year wording found in the federal summary. If you apply through Dubai, ask GDRFA which route and proof apply to you before you pay. Use its answer for your form and keep a record of what it told you. GDRFA Dubai job exploration service
Prepare the documents the authority asks for
The published checklists include:
- a passport copy
- a photo
- proof of qualification
GDRFA Dubai and the ICP cards checked say your passport must be valid for at least six months. The UAE Government overview asks for an attested qualification certificate. The ICP 60- and 90-day cards also list health insurance valid in the UAE as a condition. They show extra ID rules for some nationalities too.
Check the exact list for the service you choose. Do this before you pay for insurance, document attestation or translations. Ask these questions:
- Which document needs attestation, and which authorities must handle it?
- How does the issuer treat a degree from a country where you no longer live?
- If your name is spelled differently on your passport and certificate, what supporting proof does the authority accept?
Where you live, the passport you hold and where your degree is from can each affect a different part of the process. For example, someone living in the UK may hold a passport from another country. Their qualification may come from somewhere else again. Follow the instructions for the documents and passport you will actually submit.
How to apply for a UAE job seeker visa
Start by checking who will issue the permit. GDRFA Dubai runs the Dubai job exploration service. It takes applications through its digital channels and approved service centres. For permits handled by ICP, use ICP Smart Services or the UAEICP app. Then pick the job exploration service and the length you need. Not sure who handles your case? Ask before you open a second application. UAE Government visa application channels
- Find the official service. Check the purpose, issuer, length and entry rules. Save the service name and any reference you get.
- Check you qualify and have the proof. Ask which proof fits your route. This matters most if you need official proof of a skill level or the university ranking.
- Review the document checklist. Check that the passport name, number and dates match your form. Prepare your qualification and any insurance proof asked for.
- Check the itemised amount before paying. Separate service fees from any security guarantee. Ask how and when you can request the guarantee back.
- Keep the receipt and application reference. Save them somewhere you can reach while travelling. Track progress through the official service.
- Read the issued visa before booking. Check the passport details, the date you must enter by, the stay allowed and the entry count. If something is unclear, check it with the issuer.
If you are already in the UAE
Are you in the UAE on another status already? Give the issuer the dates and details of your current permission. Then ask:
- whether you can apply or change status from inside the country
- what extra charges might apply
- what you need to do if your current permission ends while an application is pending
The person who sets up an interview may have no role in your immigration application.
UAE job seeker visa cost
Compare each charge, not a single headline price. The amount due when you apply can include the visa fee, service charges and a guarantee. Also budget for the documents and insurance your route needs, plus travel and a place to stay. You might get some money back later, but you still need to have it ready when you pay.
GDRFA Dubai application charges
On 7 November 2026, GDRFA Dubai listed these base visa fees for exploring job opportunities.
| Dubai visit duration | Published base visa fee |
|---|---|
| 60 days | AED 200 |
| 90 days | AED 300 |
| 120 days | AED 400 |
The service page also lists:
- 5% VAT (value added tax)
- AED 1,000 security
- a warranty service fee of AED 20
- an AED 40 fee for collection and return of the guarantee
For people already in the UAE, it lists an AED 500 in-country fee. It also lists two AED 10 charges, for Knowledge Dirham and Innovation Dirham. GDRFA says the total can vary with the applicant’s circumstances. Check the amount and the guarantee terms shown for your application. GDRFA Dubai visa fee breakdown
ICP application charges
The ICP 60- and 90-day cards each showed four items: an AED 100 application fee, an AED 100 issuance fee, an AED 100 smart services fee and an AED 1,000 guarantee. Together they add up to AED 1,300, of which AED 1,000 is the guarantee. Check the live cost for the version you are applying for.
The ICP 120-day service card lists the same three AED 100 fees. But it does not list a guarantee or the full eligibility checklist. Federal rules still refer to a prescribed financial security. Before you pay, ask ICP for the full amount due, the guarantee and the document list for your case.
The checked ICP cards describe a refund request after cancellation or departure, subject to stated conditions. Check which steps apply to your visa and keep the payment reference. Expect the guarantee to be tied up while you travel and while any refund goes through.
Plan your stay around your visa dates
The last day to enter and the length of your stay are two different things. The ICP 60- and 90-day cards say you must use the entry visa within 60 days of issuance. The service length describes the visit you are applying for. Before booking, check the last day you can enter. Once you are in the UAE, check the end date of your authorised stay with the issuer. UAE Government guide to tracking visa status and validity
Track the end date
Put the date your visa ends in your calendar. Set a reminder far enough ahead to give you time to decide. If an employer is still interviewing or waiting for approvals, agree when you will next ask for an update. Set aside the money to leave if you need to.
GDRFA Dubai has a separate extension service for job exploration visits, subject to approval. While your current permission is still valid, ask the issuer whether you can extend, when to apply and what it costs. GDRFA Dubai job exploration extension service
Choose a length that fits your search
Think about what you can get done on the visit before you pick a length. Ask recruiters:
- Can you interview me by video?
- How many rounds does the process have?
- When do you expect to decide?
If you have meetings booked, allow time to get between places and for interviews to move. Are you still finding firms to approach? A few weeks of applying from abroad can help you decide whether an in-person search is worth the cost. Our guide to planning a UAE interview trip can help.
If you get a job offer
Ask the employer which authority will handle the work permit. This can depend on whether the employer is on the mainland or in a free zone. Ask what immigration steps, if any, you need to complete. Agree a start date only when you know when you can legally start. Keep track of when your visit ends while the job application moves forward. Ask the issuer what you must do if the employer’s timetable runs past it.
Make a return plan before you travel
Imagine you have two interviews in Dubai in the first fortnight, and a third employer has only asked for your CV. Plan around the two fixed meetings and treat the third as a maybe. When you price a place to stay, check the cost if an interview moved by a week. Could you finish the process by video from home?
Decide what would make it worth staying longer. A final interview with a set date and time is something real. You can weigh it against the cost of more nights and any permission you would need. A vague promise to get back to you gives you less to plan around. Keep a way home you can use, and a budget that works even if you leave without an offer.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a job offer to apply?
The route is designed for eligible applicants who are still looking for work. So it does not require a local host or employer sponsor. You still need to meet the qualification and financial requirements for the service.
Can I get a UAE job seeker visa without a degree?
The UAE Government lists a bachelor’s degree or equivalent among the requirements for this route. Do you hold another qualification? Ask the issuer whether it accepts it as equivalent before you pay.
How much does a Dubai job seeker visa cost?
GDRFA Dubai lists base fees of AED 200, AED 300 and AED 400 for the 60-, 90- and 120-day options. VAT, security and other charges can add to the amount due. Ask for the itemised total for your application.
Can I start work if I receive an offer during the visit?
An offer gives you something to agree with the employer. To start work, you need the work permission and immigration status required for the role. Ask the employer and the relevant authority to confirm those steps before you start.
Can I leave the UAE and come back on the same visa?
The federal guidance describes this as a one-trip route, and all three ICP cards specify single entry. Do your plans include leaving and coming back? Check the entry count on your own permit with the issuer before booking.
What happens if I need more time to look for work?
Ask the issuer whether your visa qualifies for an extension and when you must apply. If you have no confirmed permission to stay longer, plan to leave by the end of your permitted stay.
Sources
Official sources checked on 7 November 2026.
- UAE Government visa application channels and visa validity checks.
- ICP 60-day job exploration card and ICP 90-day job exploration card for the separate fee schedules and the entry window after issuance. The ICP service guide identifies the three lengths. The standalone ICP 120-day card is verified; the full payable amount, guarantee and document checklist remain unconfirmed.
- GDRFA Dubai job exploration issuance and extension service for the Dubai route and charges.
- Abu Dhabi Residents Office guidance on work while visiting for the visit/work distinction.
