# UAE Job Seeker Visa for Indians: Who Can Apply > Who qualifies for the UAE job seeker visit visa, what it costs through GDRFA Dubai, the documents to prepare in India and what happens once an employer hires you. _Published: 2026-10-27 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1058_ ## TL;DR The UAE job seeker visit visa lets you look for work for 60, 90 or 120 days without a UAE sponsor. You need MOHRE skill level 1, 2 or 3 or a degree from a world top-500 university within the last 2 years, plus a bachelor's degree or equivalent. GDRFA Dubai charges AED 200 to AED 400 plus 5% VAT and a refundable AED 1,000 security amount. ## Key takeaways - Eligibility: MOHRE skill level 1, 2 or 3, or a top-500 university graduate within the last 2 years, plus a bachelor's degree or equivalent. - Durations: 60, 90 or 120 days, single entry per ICP, with no UAE host or sponsor needed. - GDRFA Dubai fees: AED 200, AED 300 or AED 400 plus 5% VAT, a refundable AED 1,000 security amount and small guarantee fees. - Documents: colour photo, passport copy valid 6+ months and an attested qualification certificate. - You cannot work on it: the employer must obtain a MOHRE work permit before you start. **The UAE job seeker visit visa lets Indians look for work for 60, 90 or 120 days without a UAE sponsor, according to the UAE government portal u.ae. You qualify if you are at MOHRE skill level 1, 2 or 3, or graduated from a world top-500 university in the last 2 years, and hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent.** ## Article GDRFA Dubai calls it a visit visa to explore job opportunities. It is applied for through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or GDRFA Dubai, not through VFS Global, whose India centres handle Dubai tourist and transit visas for Emirates passengers. The rules below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Tourist visa options are on the UAE visa page for Indian travellers. ### Who can apply for the UAE job seeker visa? You need to meet the skill or graduate test, the education test and the financial guarantee. You do not need a host or sponsor in the UAE. RequirementWhat the official sources sayWhat to prepare in IndiaSkill or recent top graduateMOHRE skill level 1, 2 or 3, or a graduate of the world's top 500 universities within the last 2 yearsEvidence of your occupation and skill level, or a degree certificate showing the university and graduation dateEducationBachelor's degree or equivalentAttested qualification certificateFinancial guaranteeGDRFA Dubai: AED 1,000 refundable security amountFunds to pay the deposit with the visa feePassportCopy valid for 6 months or moreCheck your passport expiry before applyingHow MOHRE classifies a particular job into skill levels is not set out on the pages checked here. If you are unsure whether your occupation counts as level 1, 2 or 3, check MOHRE's classification before paying any fee. ### How much does the job seeker visa cost? The UAE publishes these fees in dirhams only; there is no official rupee amount. GDRFA Dubai lists: DurationGDRFA Dubai feePlus60 daysAED 2005% VAT90 daysAED 3005% VAT120 daysAED 4005% VATOn top of the fee you pay a refundable AED 1,000 security amount, an AED 20 warranty fee and AED 40 in guarantee collection and return fees. Keep your receipts so you can claim the security amount back. ### Which documents do you need, and how fast is the decision? The document list on u.ae is short: - A colour photo. - A copy of your passport, valid for at least 6 months. - An attested copy of your qualification certificate. GDRFA Dubai gives an expected completion time of 48 hours. ICP describes the visa as single entry, so plan your job search to fit one stay of 60, 90 or 120 days rather than several trips. ### Can you work while you are on a job seeker visa? No. Working without a MOHRE work permit is illegal under Article 6 of the UAE Labour Law. The job seeker visa lets you look for work; once an employer hires you, the employer applies for your permits. This is how the standard work visa route then runs: - Work permit: the employer, registered with MOHRE, obtains your work permit. Its cost, paid by the employer, ranges from AED 250 to AED 3,450 depending on the employer's MOHRE classification (A, B or C). - Entry permit or change of status: ICP lists the work entry permit at AED 100 application, AED 100 issuance and AED 100 smart service. If you are already in the UAE, ICP lists an in-country change of status at AED 500. - Residence: a medical fitness test for applicants aged 18 or over, a security check and an Emirates ID application. Residence formalities must be completed within 60 days of entry. - Timing: through MOHRE's Work Bundle, the work permit and residence take about 5 working days, with 5 steps and 2 in-person visits. The standard work visa is valid for two years and renewable. The worker must be at least 18; the official pages publish no upper age limit. ### What if you do not meet the job seeker criteria? Then this visa is not open to you, and the realistic routes are: - Get the job offer first. A UAE employer can sponsor the standard work visa directly, as above. - Higher-paid roles later: the Green visa for skilled workers needs a UAE employment contract, MOHRE classification level 1, 2 or 3, a bachelor's degree and a monthly salary of at least AED 15,000. It gives 5-year renewable residence without employer sponsorship. - Other entry visas: Indians with a valid US visa or Green Card, a UK or EU visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand can get a 14-day visa on arrival for AED 100. Others use tourist visas, for example the VFS/Emirates 30-day tourist visa at INR 7735. These are visit visas; the job seeker visa is the category designed for job hunting without a sponsor. ### Which mistakes should you avoid? - Starting work before the permit. It is illegal without a MOHRE work permit. - Ignoring who your employer is. MOHRE may refuse or cancel permits if an employer gives incorrect documents, is fictitious or inactive, or does not comply with the Wages Protection System. The occupation must also match the employer's licensed business activity. - Skipping attestation. The qualification certificate must be attested. - Forgetting the deposit. The AED 1,000 security amount is refundable, so track it. If you choose to visit the UAE as a tourist first, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 to INR 3,000. Note that VFS's Emirates route asks for a confirmed Emirates ticket. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us. ### Frequently asked questions #### Do I need a sponsor for the UAE job seeker visa? No. u.ae describes the job seeker visit visa as a way to look for work without a UAE host or sponsor. You apply yourself through ICP or GDRFA Dubai and provide the financial guarantee. #### Can I apply for the UAE job seeker visa at VFS in India? No. VFS Global's India centres handle Dubai tourist and transit visas for Emirates passengers. The job seeker visit visa is applied for through ICP or GDRFA Dubai. #### Is there an age limit for the UAE job seeker visa? The official pages checked publish no upper age limit. For the work permit that follows, the worker must be at least 18 years old. #### Is the AED 1,000 deposit refundable? Yes. GDRFA Dubai lists the AED 1,000 security amount as refundable, alongside an AED 20 warranty fee and AED 40 guarantee collection and return fees. ## FAQ ### Do I need a sponsor for the UAE job seeker visa? No. u.ae describes the job seeker visit visa as a way to look for work without a UAE host or sponsor. You apply yourself through ICP or GDRFA Dubai and provide the financial guarantee. ### Can I apply for the UAE job seeker visa at VFS in India? No. VFS Global's India centres handle Dubai tourist and transit visas for Emirates passengers. The job seeker visit visa is applied for through ICP or GDRFA Dubai. ### Is there an age limit for the UAE job seeker visa? The official pages checked publish no upper age limit. For the work permit that follows, the worker must be at least 18 years old. ### Is the AED 1,000 deposit refundable? Yes. GDRFA Dubai lists the AED 1,000 security amount as refundable, alongside an AED 20 warranty fee and AED 40 guarantee collection and return fees. ## Sources 1. [u.ae - Jobseeker visit visa](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Types-of-visas/Visit-visa/jobseeker-visit-visa) — UAE Government (u.ae) 2. [GDRFA Dubai - Visit visa to explore job opportunities (fees)](https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services/2a679791-408a-11ed-4fe5-0050569629e8) — General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai 3. [u.ae - Work permits (MOHRE types, conditions, cost, Work Bundle)](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/work-permits) — UAE Government (u.ae) 4. [ICP - Issuance of a Visa (entry permit categories, fees, documents)](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=64afe3c1035448005bd52e60) — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)