UAE free zone visa change

[attif_79]

hi,

I want to ask that if someone has a free zone visa and he wants to switch the job just after 3 or 2 months after so what could be the consequences? in case if he is not giving one month notice or if he leaves after fulfilling the notice period. Can company ban him? or can company ask him to pay visa cost etc etc ..or anything else? thanks.

[shawarma]

You might be able to change jobs within the same UAE free zone without a labour ban because your sponsor (the free zone authority) doesn't change. However, there might be penalties for breaking your contract. That will depend on your contractual obligations such as any required notice period.

[attif_79]

hi,

Hope you are well.

One of my friend who got Free Zone Visa (issued by Tcom authority) he resigned the company just after 2 months work he gave a proper one month notice. But one the day of resigning company asked him to leave the company and didn't give him any copy of receiving of his resignation. Company kept his passport and original ID too. Even though the manager of the company asked him to pay his visa cost.

Now how can he get back his passport and can he join another company in dubai? at the time of cancellation will there be any ban on him ?

Regards.

[shawarma]

That doesn't sound like a good situation for your friend.

Companies are not supposed to keep employee passports, nor are they supposed to ask for employees to pay for cost of processing visas in Dubai (unless the two parties have agreed the employee would pay the costs).

Normally there is an automatic six month labour ban in the UAE when a job is terminated but that shouldn't apply if an employee changes jobs within the same UAE free zone. Or other free zones might be able to ignore the labour ban.

Regarding the passport, I think your friend should contact either the free zone authority or the Dubai labour department to ask about filing a complaint.

[attif_79]

Thank you for the reply.

even if he had Free Zone Visa still Ban will be applied ? if he gets the job except Free Zone so will the ban is ON? Thank you.

Regards.

[shawarma]

Check with the Ministry of Labour and the relevant free zone authority. Each free zone operates different rules, and I have read that they can ignore or are not under the jurisdiction of the Labour Ministry, but I'm not certain of that, and I don't know enough myself to be able to answer your question definitively.

And don't forget to let us know what they say .

[attif_79]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes I spoke to TECOM Authority, and they said that my friend's visa has cancelled already and there is no ban on him he can do work anywhere he wants.... can you please double check it or do I need to ask anywhere else ?.... But his passport is still kept by the company. Thanks & Regards.

[shawarma]

Contact the Labour Ministry to see if you can file a complaint about the company keeping your passport. And/or your embassy.

[attif_79]

Dear Sir,

The Free Zone visa has already been cancelled and he (my friend) can stay in UAE till 15 june.

Now I want to ask that is it possible that he will get visit visa without exiting UAE? Thank you.

Regards,

[shawarma]

Apply at the Dubai immigration office for a UAE visit visa - he will need a sponsor. They'll soon tell him whether or not he can get a visa.

Or if he's from one of the free UAE visa on arrival countries, then he can come and go as and when he pleases, without a sponsor.