UK work visa from the UAE: requirements, cost and how to apply

Do you need a TB test?

Not because you live in the UAE. The UAE is not on the GOV.UK list of countries where you need a TB test.

You still need a test if you’ve lived in a listed country (for example India, Pakistan or Nigeria) for 6 months or more and were living there within the last 6 months. Check the full list.

If you do need one, there are approved clinics in the UAE. Find a TB clinic in the UAE on GOV.UK.

Do you need to prove your English?

Yes. You need English at level B2 (upper intermediate). The UAE is not on the list of countries whose citizens are exempt. You can usually prove it with:

• an approved English test (a Secure English Language Test, or SELT)
• a degree taught in English (if it’s not from a UK institution, Ecctis must confirm it)
• a UK school qualification, such as a GCSE or A level, that you started before you turned 18

All the ways to prove your English.

Do you need a police certificate?

Only for some jobs. You need a criminal record certificate if you’re applying from outside the UK for one of 69 jobs in health, education or social care. You need one from each country where you’ve lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, since you turned 18.

In the UAE it’s called a Police Clearance / Good Conduct Certificate. What GOV.UK says about getting one in the UAE:

• Outside the UAE, police where you live take your fingerprints. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, or the Governors of the Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey, legalise them.
• Send it to the UAE Embassy to be attested. The fee is £37.50, by postal order made payable to UAE Embassy. The Embassy then sends you an application form.
• Send back the signed form with two biometric photos, the attested certificate, passport copies, 115DHS in bank notes, a stamped self-addressed envelope and a further £37.50.
• The Embassy sends everything to the UAE authorities. This could take up to twelve weeks. The certificate comes back to the Embassy for attestation, then is sent to you.
• Inside the UAE, Dubai Police General Headquarters charges AED 110 for expatriates or AED 60 for nationals. It takes 48 to 72 hours.

GOV.UK last updated its information for United Arab Emirates on 17 March 2017. Check the details with the issuing office before you apply. Read the full GOV.UK section.

Where do you prove your identity?

After you apply online, you prove your identity. Depending on your passport, you either scan it with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or give your fingerprints and photo at a visa application centre. The UAE has UK visa application centres. Book or find a centre in the UAE.

How much does it cost?

The fees are the same wherever you apply from, and they are set in pounds.

For example, a 3-year visa costs £819 plus £3,105 for the healthcare surcharge: £3,924. Your partner and children pay too if they come with you. The fee is lower (£628) if your job is on the Immigration Salary List. All the fees.

How long does it take?

You’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks after you’ve applied online and proved your identity. Your visa can last up to 5 years, and you can extend it.

How to apply from the UAE

1. Find a job with a UK employer on the licensed sponsor list. Check the job’s SOC code is eligible.
2. Get your certificate of sponsorship reference number from your employer.
3. Prove your English at level B2.
4. If your job needs one, get a police certificate from each country you’ve lived in.
5. Apply online on GOV.UK: apply from outside the UK. Pay the fee and the healthcare surcharge.
6. Prove your identity with the ID Check app or at a visa application centre in the UAE.

Not sure the Skilled Worker visa is right for you? Compare all UK work visas.