The United Arab Emirates allows foreign skilled workers to live in the country on a residence visa that entitles them to certain benefits and facilities.

Skilled labourers can apply for two types of UAE visas to live in the country — the standard work visa (which is valid for two or three years) or a five-year Green visa for work, according to Gulf News.

The most common is the standard work visa that is issued to people employed by a mainland company or free zone company. However, the employer is required to apply for the standard residence visa.

The applicant is required to provide a colour photograph with white background, a copy of Passport valid for at least six months, and attested university degree if needed.

If a worker is hired from a region outside the UAE, he will have to first receive an entry permit on which he can arrive in the UAE. The permit is valid for two months, during which the employer must sort out the employee’s work visa.

The worker will then undergo a medical fitness test and also provide biometric data (fingerprint and eye scan) for the Emirates ID.

The worker will then be required to submit documents and results of the medical fitness test to apply for a residence visa.

Benefits of having a UAE residence visa include having the ability to open a bank account, access financial facilities, access government health services and health insurance, register children in government schools and in private schools, work and invest and travel visa–free to certain destinations.

After receiving the residence visa and Emirates ID, the worker can also apply for his family’s visa.