The most common type of long-term residence visa issued is the UAE Investor Visa, which requires that the applicant invests a substantial amount of money in UAE to qualify.

Who qualifies for a UAE Long-Term Residence Visa?

There are two types of Long-Term Residence Visas for the UAE, which both have their own requirements and eligibility criteria.

10-year UAE long-term residence visa

You’re eligible for the 10-year UAE long-term residence visa if you fall under one of the following categories:

• You invest at least AED 10 million in the public sector (UAE Investor Visa – see below)
• You are a person with a specialized talent, such as a doctor, scientist, inventor, specialist, or of special talent in the field of culture and art; medical doctors, as well as engineers of computer programming, electronics, electrical and biotechnology.

5-year UAE long-term residence visa

You’re eligible for a 5-year UAE long-term residence visa if you fall under one of the following categories:

• You invest in a property in the UAE (UAE Investor Visa also known as the Property Visa UAE)
• You are an entrepreneur with an existing project which has a minimum capital of AED 500,000
• You are an outstanding student who has:
  • A minimum grade of 95% in a public or private secondary school
  • A GPA of at least 3.75 in a university in or outside the country after you graduate

online since information keeps changing. Make sure to know all you need before you apply or invest.

What do I need when applying for a UAE long-term residence visa?

When applying for a AE long-term residence visa, you must have several documents which support your purpose of application.

When you apply for the entry permit, you need documents such as:

• Copy of your passport
• Passport-size pictures
• Bank Statement for the past 6 months
• Any additional documents related to your purpose:
  • Company Trade License Copy
  • Copy of Partnership Contract (if applicable)
  • ID of other partners (if applicable)
  • A copy of the Memorandum of Association (for LLC)
  • Proof of accreditation by the relevant UAE authority (for specialized talents)
  • Proof of patent (for investors)

When applying for the long-term residence visa once you’re in the UAE, you need the following documents:

• Your entry permit
• Medical test
• Passport
• Pictures
• Immigration Establishment Card
• Any documents related to your purpose of travel

Keep in mind: This is not a complete list of documents. The required documents differ for each case, and you may also need to obtain approval from the UAE authorities prior to applying for the visa. Additionally, due to the more sensitive nature of this visa, you may also need to get the help of an attorney or other authorized legal entity.

How to get a UAE Investor Visa?

To get an Investor Visa in Dubai or anywhere else in the UAE, you must invest at least AED 10 million in the public sector in UAE or invest at least AED 5 million in a property.

Investing in the public sector (10 year visa for UAE)

To get a 10 year UAE visa by investment, you must invest at least AED 10 million in the public sector in the country. This includes:

• Making a deposit in an investment fund
• Setting up a new company in the UAE, whose capital is at least AED 10 million
• Becoming a partner in an existing company, provided that your shares are not less than AED 10 million

Additionally, when you invest the money, you must make sure that:

• It is not loaned
• You maintain the investment for at least three years

Buying property (5 year visa for UAE)

You may also get a long-term visa for the UAE by investing in a property which has a gross value of at least AED 5 million. The money you invest cannot be loaned from someone, and you have to maintain it for at least three years.

10 year UAE visa for persons with specialised talents

You may also get a UAE visa for the UAE if you have a specialized talent. For example, if you are a doctor, investor, specialist, scientist, or you have a talent in the field of culture and art. However, the 10 year visa for the UAE for persons with specialised talents is subject to the following conditions:

• For scientists: You must be accredited by the Emirates Scientists Council or hold a Mohammed Bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence.
• For artists: You must be accredited by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development.
• For inventors: You must have a patent of value (accredited by the Ministry of Economy), which is beneficial to the UAE’s economy.
• For doctors and specialists: You must fulfill at least one of the following conditions:
  • You hold a PhD degree issued by one of the top 500 universities in the world
  • You have a PhD degree and 10-year professional experience in your field
  • You have an award or certificate of appreciation related to your field
  • You are a member of an organization related to your field
  • You have published articles or scientific books in renowned publications related to your field
  • You have specialized in an area that’s of priority to the UAE
• For executives: You are the head of a leading and internationally recognized company
• For otherwise exceptional talents: You must have a scientific research that’s been published in a world-class journal or you must have a patent

Can I take my spouse and children with a UAE Investor Visa?

Yes, if you have an Investor Visa for UAE, you are allowed to bring your family members with you, such as your spouse and children. Additionally, the visa can be extended to include one executive director and one advisor.

Can I have a business partner with a UAE Investor Visa?

Yes, multiple business partners can apply under a single UAE Investor Visa. However, that doesn’t mean that you can split the investment multiple ways: each business partner must invest their own AED 10 million.

How to apply for a UAE Investor Visa?

Usually, all foreigners applying for a visa for the UAE have to be sponsored by someone in the UAE, such as their employer (for work visa) or school (for student visa). However, in the case of long-term residence visa for the UAE, you can apply yourself, without the need for a sponsor.

• For UAE Investor Visa, the registered company serves as your sponsor
• For UAE Property Visa, the property you purchase or invest in serves as your sponsor

Applying for the entry permit

Before you apply for a Residence Visa, you must first get a UAE Entry Permit, which is issued for multiple entries and for a duration of six months. You can apply for an Entry Permit online:

• For UAE Investor Visa
• UAE Visa for Entrepreneurs \ Special Students
• UAE Visa for otherwise talented persons

Once you enter the UAE with an entry permit, you have to go to the relevant visa issuing authorities in the UAE and request the long-term Residence Visa.

Applying for the Residence Visa

UAE Residence Visa applications are issued in the UAE at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) of the relevant emirate in which you will live.

The websites of the GDRFA in each emirate:

• Abu Dhabi
• Dubai (see also Amer, a website which Dubai citizens and residents can use to apply for family reunion and visitors can use to extend their Visa On Arrival)
• Sharjah
• Ajman
• Ras Al Khaimah
• Fujairah

You must enter a medical test to prove your medical fitness before applying for the residence visa.

Note: Because the Investor Visa for the UAE is a different category than regular visas, you may need to hire an attorney or legal representative to help you with the process, as well as to find investment opportunities in the UAE. Additionally, the Investor Visa is a relatively new visa, and as such there is contradicting information

How to get an Investor Visa in Dubai?

Foreign nationals who want to settle in the emirate of Dubai, have to apply for an Investor Visa for Dubai. Since Dubai is simply one of the emirates making up the country of the UAE, the application process for an Investor Visa for Dubai is the same as detailed above. The only difference is, of course, that you will apply directly to the GDRFA offices in Dubai, not in another emirate, such as Abu Dhabi.

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With a Global Talent Visa for the UK, if you are a “leader or potential leader” in the fields of academia and research, arts and culture, and digital technology, you can work in the UK for up to five years, without a sponsor or a job offer.

You can also renew the visa as many times as you want and can change jobs without notifying the immigration authorities.

Eligibility Criteria for the Global Talent Visa for the UK

You can use a Global Talent visa to work in the UK if you’re a leader (exceptional talent) or potential leader (exceptional promise) in one of the following fields:

• Academia or research
• Arts and culture
• Digital technology

Academia or research

To qualify for a UK Global Talent Visa in the fields of academia and research, you must be an exceptional talent/promise in one of these fields:

• Science
• Medicine
• Engineering
• Humanities

You must also fit into one of the following categories:

• You have a job offer as a senior academic or researcher (e.g. a university professor) in the UK
• You have received an individual fellowship in the UK
• You are part of a research grant that is approved by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

If you do not have any of the aforementioned, you can still apply for the Global Talent Visa for the UK if your application is endorsed via peer review. In this case, someone with an eminent position and with “internationally recognised expertise” in your field must write you a letter of recommendation.

Arts and culture

To qualify for a UK Global Talent Visa in the fields of arts and culture, you must be an exceptional talent or exceptional promise on one of the following:

• Combined arts
• Dance
• Literature
• Music
• Theatre
• Visual arts

Additionally, you must fit into one of the following categories:

• In the last five years, you have worked regularly in your field and have produced work which is recognized internationally and considered “outstanding” by the Arts Council England
• For application as a leader in your field: You can prove that your work is well known in at least 2 countries

Architecture

To qualify for a Global Talent Visa in the field of architecture, you must:

• Have worked continuously as an architect for the last 5 years
• Have produced work that is published internationally
• Have produced work which the RIBA judges as ‘outstanding’

Fashion design

To qualify for a Global Talent Visa in the field of fashion design:

• You must be considered an exceptional talent or exceptional promise in your field
• You must have worked continuously in the field of fashion design for the last 5 years
• You must be known as a leading figure in the industry.
• You must have work which is sold or exhibited internationally and shown on catwalk exhibitions.
• Your work must be recognised by leading figures in the fashion industry.

Film and television

To decide whether you qualify for a Global Talent Visa in the field of film and television (which also includes animation, post-production, animation, and visual effects),the Producers’ Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT) will judge whether you are a leader or exceptional talent.

Digital technology

To be considered an exceptional talent or exceptional promise in the field of digital technology, you must fit in one of the following categories:

• You have set up or held a senior position in an innovative product-led tech company.
• You have worked in an innovative digital field or concept.
• You have taught, mentored, or taken part in collaborative projects to help the digital technology sector.

Additional requirements include having won awards, developed new skills (commercial or technical) during your career, or having had your research works published or endorsed by an expert.

Required Documents to Apply for the Global Talent Programme in the UK

The documents you have to submit when applying for a Global Talent Visa will depend on your field of qualification. This includes:

• For researchers or academic leaders: A letter from the head of HR of the organisation where you will work. The letter must:
  • Include your name, position, and department
  • State that got the position after applying via an open competition, which was advertised.
  • State that you were interviewed by 4 senior academics from the organisation where you will work.
  • State that you handed in at least three references.
• For work on a research grant: A written confirmation from the funder, stating that the fund was at least £30,000 and it will last at least 2 years.
• For peer-reviewed endorsements: A letter from someone of eminence in your field with “internationally recognised expertise”. The letter must state:
  • How that person knows you
  • That they believe you have exceptional talent or promise
  • That you would contribute to the UK and benefit from being in the UK
• For leaders in arts and culture:
  • Your CV
  • Three recommendation letters, which states how the writer knows you, lists your achievements and details why you would benefit from this program as well as what you can bring to the UK.
  • Up to ten pieces of evidence which attest to your achievements, such as international media recognition, international awards, international appearances, or exhibitions.
• For leaders in digital technology:
  • Three letters of recommendation from organisations which is established in digital technology. Each of the letters must state how the person knows you, including proof of their position, showcase your achievements in digital technology, as well as state how the writer believes you are a leader or potential leader.
  • Evidence of any digital technology business which you have set up or in which you have been a senior member in the last 5 years.
  • Up to ten pieces of evidence which support your qualifications and eligibility.

How to Apply for a Global Talent Visa for the UK?

The application process for a Global Visa for the UK is divided into two parts:

1. Applying for endorsement from an organization that is recognized as an expert in your chosen field.
2. Applying for the Global Talent Visa.

Applying for Endorsement

You have to get an endorsement to attest to the fact that you actually are a leader or potential leader in your field. To submit your application, you must visit the Visas and Immigration website of the UK Home Office and register using your email address.

You must submit the required documents (see below) and pay the endorsement fee. If you do not have all the documents, you can close the application and restart where you left off later.

Then, depending on which field you will work in, the UK Home Office will forward your endorsement application to one of these so-called “endorsements bodies” for review.

The endorsement application can take from one to eight weeks to process, depending on which organization is reviewing your application.

Applying for the Global Talent Visa

Once you receive your endorsement, you have to apply for a UK Visa by submitting the endorsement letter and any requested supporting documents. You must apply no earlier than three months before you intend to depart for the UK. You and all your dependent family members can apply at the same time

You will usually receive your visa within three weeks.

What Is the Duration of a Global Visa?

A Global Talent Visa for the UK is valid for five years, with the possibility of renewal.  If you apply as a leader or exceptional talent, you can apply for settlement in the UK after three years of residence. If you apply as a potential leader, you can apply for settlement after five years.

Global Visa UK Fees

The overall fee for a Global Visa is £608 per person:

• £456 for the endorsement
• £152 for the visa (£97 if you’re from Turkey or North Macedonia)

Can I Bring My Family to the UK with a Global Talent Visa?

Yes, if you are eligible for a Global Talent Visa, you can bring your family to the UK with you, and you can all apply at the same time. This includes your spouse and any minor or dependent children. For each of your dependent family members, you have to pay an extra application fee of £608 and bring the relevant documents.

Can I Switch to a Global Talent Visa?

If you are already in the UK via one of the following visas, then you can apply to switch to a Global Talent Visa:

• Tier 1 Visa
• Tier 2 Visa
• Tier 5 for temporary workers on a Government Authorised Exchange (exchange scheme for sponsored researchers)
• Start-up visa
• Innovator visa

Make sure your visa is still valid at the time of application. If your visa has expired you will have overstayed. If your visa is about to expire, you may not be able to wait out for your application to be processed.

If you are in the UK under another visa category, then you have to leave and apply for the visa from your home country.

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A UK Visa Sponsorship for Employers is the authorization empowering UK employers with the right to assign Certificate of Sponsorship for foreign nationals that come to the UK under a work visa. Those seeking to get a sponsor employer, must have the needed qualification, experience and skills for the position which should be suitable for sponsorship.

A UK employer that wants to hire foreign workers in their organization will be asked to sponsor them in their visa application, by granting them with a certificate of sponsorship for work. The longest an employer can sponsor a foreign worker is five years.

The purpose of a Certificate of Sponsorship is, primarily, to support foreign workers’ visa application but, equally, is to assure the UK authorities that the UK employer will take the needed responsibilities and obligations for activities of the sponsored employee during their employment in their company.

What is a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)?

Certificates of sponsorship (CoS) are not regular paper documents, they are electronic records with a unique number reserved for each foreign employee. This number is to be used by the employee during their application for the work visa (amongst a list of other application documents), and it cannot be put in use later than three months from the issuance day.

Who can get a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK?

Any foreigner who has the required skills, qualification and experience to do a job in either Tier 2 or Tier 5 of the point-based system, is eligible to get a sponsor employer in the UK.

Tier 2 skilled workers:

• Tier 2 General – persons that have a job offer in a  skilled job position or a position ranked in the shortage list that cannot be taken by the settled or EEA workers
• Tier 2 Intra-company transfer – foreigners working in a multinational company willing to either get a job position that cannot be taken by the settled or EEA workers, or to follow a training program within the UK branch of the same company.
• Tier 2 Sportsperson – foreigners with a job offer as an elite sportsperson or coach in the UK who are internationally recognized and whose contribution would be of a benefit for further development of the UK sport field
• Tier 2 Minister of religion – foreigners with a job offer for a position in a faith community as a minister of religion, engage in preaching and pastoral activities, missionaries or are members of religious orders.

Tier 5 temporary workers:

• Creative and sporting: foreigners with a job offer for a position that lasts up to 1 year as a sportsperson, or lasting up to 2 years for a job as an entertainer or artist
• Charity worker: foreigners with a job offer for an voluntary position lasting up to 1 year
• Religious worker: foreigners with a job offer lasting up to 2 years as a preacher, pastor or non-pastor
• Government authorised exchange: foreigners with a job offer lasting up to 1 year for work experience purposes, or lasting up to 2 years for attending a training or research projects for exchange purposes
• International agreement: foreigners they have a short-term position covered by the international law – i.e. a position as foreign government staff, or as a private servant in a diplomatic household

Who Can Sponsor Foreign Workers?

Almost any UK employer is entitled to employ foreign staff in their company.  Yet, they must be authorized for issuing Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).  To issue a CoS, an employer must first get the sponsor license – a license that is appropriate to the type of job they will be occupying with foreign staff.

The legitimacy to sponsor employment of the foreign staff within their company is reserved only to those employers who are capable of coping with the necessary requirements, conditions and procedures set for the UK employment sponsorship.

How to Get a CoS?

A CoS has to be created by the assigned staff of the sponsor employer using Sponsorship Management System (SMS), after the staff was given the login details of a licensed sponsor (following the successful application for the license).

The sponsor has to complete all the mandatory fields in the system with the needed information regarding the sponsored foreign employer. The information includes ID information, passport info, current home address, identification numbers, work address, work dates, home address in the UK, migrant employment, labour market test, other as required in the online form.

There is a fee to be paid by the sponsor employer for assigning a certificate of sponsorship as in the following:

• Tier 2 CoS – £199
• Tier 5 CoS – £21
• Free to nationals of the Turkey, Croatia and North Macedonia

Another fee known as “Immigration Skills Charge” is applicative when it comes to issuing Tier 2 (General) and Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) CoS. The fee needs to be paid latest 10 days from assigning the CoS; otherwise workers visa will be cancelled.

What are the Types of CoS?

Depending on the job a foreign employee will be performing in their business, the employer must require a sponsor license to issue certificates of sponsorship for either in Tier 2 – skilled workers with long term contracts, or Tier 5 – temporary workers with short-term.

When the employer applies for the license, they have to estimate the number of CoS they are attentive to issue in the first year of the license.

For specific jobs, employers are restricted as regards of the number of CoS allowed to assign each month. These are known as restricted certificates. While, for some jobs there is no limitation on the number of CoS employer can assign, and these are called unrestricted certificates.

Restricted certificates are issued on the following categories:

• Tier 2 (General) out of the UK, with a salary offer under £159,600/year
• Dependants of Tier 4 foreigners willing to switch into a Tier 2 visa

How to apply for a Sponsoring Licence?

Briefly said, the organization can assign CoS and support a foreign employee to come and work with them in the UK if the following conditions are met:

• have open job positions suitable for sponsorship,
• prove that their organization is an eligible business,
• successfully apply for and receive the appropriate sponsor license,
• demonstrate having the necessary staff and capacity to properly administrate with the sponsorship process

UK employers have to undergo the following steps of applying to get a sponsor license:

1. Complete, sign and send the online application form for sponsor license
2. Pay the application fee
3. Send the supporting documents to show you are located in the UK
4. Show documents which prove being an eligible and suitable business/organization
5. Send planning permission, or local planning authority consent to operate the type of business at your trading address (if required)
6. Offer the registration certificate with the food authority (if being a food business)
7. During the application, the tiers, categories and subcategories under which the employer wishes to be licensed must be chosen, in order to get the appropriate sponsor license

Table of fees involved in the application for sponsor license

What is considered a job suitable for sponsorship?

Job suitability means that the job position a UK employer offers for the foreign national worker meets the criteria as regards of the salary offered and skills required.

This because for every category there is a criterion for sponsorship, as in the following:

• Tier 2 (General) and Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) – must reach the level 6 and higher of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)
• Ballet dancers, other dancers, film and TV performers, theatre and opera performers, film and TV workers

The sponsor has to take the procedure known as “the resident labour market test” in some cases to assure that the job position that can be occupied by the foreign worker could not be filled by either local or EEA nationals.

The case includes Tier 2 (General), Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) or Tier 5 (Religious Workers) important positions only, excluding cases when of living within a religious order (such as a monk or nun), as well as for Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting) in the creative and entertainment sector.

The test means advertising the job position in minimum two job advertising mediums for 28 days.

What is an Immigration Skills Charge?

Immigration skills charge is a fee to be paid from the sponsor employer when assigning CoS for Tier 2 (General) and Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) foreigners.

The fee is charged for the aforementioned cases if they are expecting to get a job lasting 6 months or longer while they are out of the UK. While, if the foreigner is already in the UK the fee will be charged for any sort of extent of the job period.

Excempt to pay this fee are cases when the sponsor wishes to assign a CoS to the following cases:

• A foreigner with Tier 4 (General) student about to switch into a Tier 2 (General)
• A foreigner already having a Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Graduate Trainee
• A foreigner who is about to get a job within the PhD level of the SOC code
• Dependants of the worker that the sponsor wishes to assign CoS for

The fee depends on the size of the sponsor employer and the length of the contract with the sponsored foreign worker, but the general fee is presented below:

• First year / small or charitable employers – £364
• First year / medium or large employers – £1,000
• Every further half-year / small or charitable employers – £182
• Every further half-year / medium or large employers – £500
• For persons working less than a year and more than half-year – £364 or £1,000

Which are responsibilities of the sponsor?

Assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship to a foreign worker will make the sponsor responsible as in the following:

• Properly examine skills, education, accreditations related to the job requirements
• The issuance of the CoS has to be for a suitable job for sponsorship
• Inform UKVI about any break of the visa conditions from the sponsored worker
• be informed about workers’ immigration status
• keeping dossier of sponsorship for any foreign worker
• keep information and registers about workers presence in the work place and inform IKVI in case of any unexplained absence
• update contact information of the worker
• For any change in the business process – must inform UKVI within 20 working days, if any of the following happen to the sponsor employer:
• Insolvency
• change in the business’ scope of work
• part-taking in a union or take-over

The change must be registered using SMS.

Who cannot be sponsored to work in the UK?

Employers are not allowed to sponsor the following:

• Persons aged below 18 for the category of Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme), Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – International Agreement) for a job as a private servant in a diplomatic household, or in the household of an international organization
• Persons aged below 16 for the any Tier 2 category

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The EU Seasonal Workers Directive is complementary to the EU Blue Card in the sense that both permits are issued to foreign nationals entering the EU with the purpose of employment, and they can both be obtained through a single permit procedure.

However, the nature of the two permits is different because the EU Blue Card is issued to highly qualified workers, whereas seasonal workers do not need university qualifications. Non-EU seasonal workers mostly work in the sectors of agriculture, horticulture, and tourism.

Who Is Eligible for a Seasonal Work Permit in the EU?

Individuals belonging to one of the categories below are eligible for a seasonal work permit in the EU:

• Citizens of an EU member state.
• Third-country nationals who keep their residence in a third country and stay legally for a temporary period in the territory of an EU member state for the purpose of carrying out activities dependent on the passing of the seasons based on a contract between them and the employer of the Member State.

What Kind of Seasonal Work Can I Perform in the EU?

With a seasonal work permit, you can choose to work in one of the following options:

• Farm.
• Agriculture.
• Fruit picking.
• Catering.
• Hotel.
• Hospitality.
• Summer camps.
• Ski resorts.
• Babysitting, etc.

What Are the Benefits of a Seasonal Worker Permit in the EU?

During the period of validity, a third-country seasonal worker is entitled to the following benefits:

• The right to enter and stay in the territory of the EU member state that issued the authorization.
• Free access to the territory of the EU member state that issued the authorization in accordance with national law.
• The right to exercise the authorized employment activity in accordance with national law.
• The right to equal treatment with nationals of the host Member State.
• Accommodation to ensure an adequate standard of living.

Can I Apply for a Seasonal Work Permit in the EU Without a Job Offer?

No, you cannot. In order to be eligible for a seasonal work permit in the EU, you first need to have a qualifying job offer in the EU member state you want to work and then apply for a seasonal work permit in the EU.

How to Apply for an EU Permit for Seasonal Workers?

When applying for a seasonal work permit in the EU, it is up to the Member State to decide whether you have to make the application yourself or whether your employer has to apply on your behalf.

The application procedure when applying by yourself for a seasonal work permit in the EU is as follows:

1. Find seasonal work in an EU State. Find a job offer in any of the member states of the EU before starting your application.
2. Contact the Embassy or Consulate of the EU Member State you want to work in to make an appointment.
3. Collect the required documents to support your application.
4. Submit the documents and application to the diplomatic missions (embassy/consulate) in your home country.
5. Pay the application fee. The fee must be paid by your employer, but in case you pay the fee yourself, you will be entitled to be reimbursed by the employer in accordance with national law. The fees change depending on the country you are applying to.
6. Wait for the application to be processed. If approved, you can travel to the EU state to work.

This is just a general guideline on how to apply for a seasonal work permit in the EU, as application procedures may change from country to country.

If your employer has to apply for the seasonal work permit on your behalf, they have to apply at the relevant Immigration/Foreigner’s Center in the EU state. They must apply while you are still abroad.

Remember: When it comes to seasonal workers and EU Blue Cards (highly-skilled workers, researchers), you do not need to apply for a work permit and residence permit separately. You can get them both via the same procedure, known as the Single Permit.

What Are the Requirements for Seasonal Workers in the EU?

When applying for a seasonal work permit in the EU, you have to submit several documents to support your application:

• Seasonal Worker Permit Application Form. A fully completed application form with the required information and data.
• Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and must be valid for at least three months after your intended departure period from the EU. The passport must contain at least two blank pages.
• Photocopies of passport pages. Photocopy your passport pages with your personal information and signature and pages with previous visas.
• Two passport-size pictures. The photos must be recently taken and in accordance with the ICAO standards.
• Work contract or job offer. The document must state the duration of the work contract/offer and your annual salary.
• Proof you have obtained EU health insurance.
• Financial status. Proof you can financially sustain yourself during your stay.
• Letter from your employer. The employer hiring you has to write a letter declaring they are responsible for reimbursing any costs if you overstay and to prove that the position could not have been filled by an EU national.
• Police clearance. A police certificate from the country of residence stating that you do not pose a threat to the public policy, security, or health of the hosting state.
• Proof you have paid the application fee (depending on the country).
• Any other documents that the State’s relevant immigration authorities require.

What Is the Processing Time for a Seasonal Work Permit Application?

The competent authorities of the EU Member State you are applying for will notify you of your application status (approved/rejected) in writing no later than 90 days from the date you have submitted the application.

What Is the Duration of the Seasonal Work Permit in the EU?

The duration of the seasonal work in the EU is regulated by the Member State and changes depending on the type of work you will do. However, the maximum duration of the seasonal work permit is limited to a period of no less than five months and no more than nine months in any 12-year period.

If the seasonal work in the EU expires, you must leave the territory of the EU Member State. But, if it expires during the ongoing procedure for extension or renewal, the EU Member State shall allow you to stay in their territory until a decision is made. This is valid only if you have submitted the application for extension or renewal within the period of validity.

Can I Extend My Seasonal Work Permit for the EU?

You can apply for an extension or renewal of your seasonal work permit while you are in the EU only if you do not surpass the nine months out of a year that you are allowed to. In cases of an extension or renewal, the EU Member State must take the necessary steps to ensure that you will not be obliged to interrupt your employment relationship with the same employer or prevent you from changing employer.

Are Seasonal Workers in the EU Entitled to Holiday Pay?

Yes, social workers in the EU are entitled to equal treatment with the nationals of the EU Member States in terms of working conditions, including pay and dismissal, working hours, leaves, and holidays.

How Many Hours Can I Work With a Seasonal Work Permit in the EU?

You can work for the same working hours as the nationals of the EU Member State you are working in. Usually, you are allowed to work a maximum of 40 to 45 hours per week. However, the maximum working hours can change depending on the branch you work in and the law of labor of the host country, as some EU countries have a longer working time.

Can Foreign Seasonal Workers Apply for Family Reunification?

No, seasonal workers are not allowed to apply for family reunification, despite the fact they will often work in the EU for months at a time.

Can foreign seasonal workers in the EU change employers?

Seasonal workers hired in an EU state can change employers once for the duration that their permit has been issued. That’s because the conditions offered to seasonal workers can be tough at times, and therefore a foreign worker should have the possibility of changing employment if he or she is not satisfied with the conditions provided.

Can Foreign Seasonal Workers in the EU Change Employers?

No, if you have a seasonal work single permit, you are not allowed to travel, work, or move to other states in the EU. You can only work within the state that has issued your permit.

However, the seasonal worker permit is a multiple-entry permit, so you can travel back and forth between your home country and the EU state in which you are working.

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The Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is a UK business visa of the British Point Based System, that is issued to international businesspersons who want to invest £50,000 to £200,000 in the UK. They can either establish a new business or form a business partnership in an existing company. The Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa is given for three years and four months.

Holders of the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa can:

• Start or direct on or more businesses in the UK;
• Get actively involved in business activities – including self-employment;
• Bring family and/or other dependents with you in the UK

You are also allowed to share the same investment funds with another Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa holder, by creating the Entrepreneurial Team. Such funds cannot be included in another visa application with another team

Who needs a Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa?

To be eligible for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa, besides having a purpose of investing the aforementioned sum of money in a UK business, the applicant must also be a citizen of a country that is not in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

Also, the applicant must have full access to a minimum 50,000 up to  200,000£ available in investment funds dedicated to a business in the UK.

How to apply for Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa?

You will have to complete your application process for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa from outside the UK, more specifically from your home country 3 months before the intended travel. You will need to submit your application online through the official website of the UK government, where you will have to give some basic information, on you and your purpose of traveling to the UK, as well as to upload scanned versions of your original documents.

If this is your first time traveling to the UK, you will need to schedule an appointment at the nearest application center, UK embassy or consulate in your home country, where you will need to submit biometrics and a photograph of yours.

The cases when the application can be done from within the UK are when the person is already in the UK with a valid visa and wants to either:

• Switch into Tier 1 Entrepreneur from an existing visa
• Extend the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa

Switching into Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa

If you are in the UK with the following visas, you can apply to switch into the Tier 1 Entrepreneur:

• Tier 1 Investor;
• Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur;
• Tier 2;
• A tourist allowed to be engaged in activities as a potential entrepreneur;
• Tier 1 Post-Study Work;
• Tier 1 General;
• Tier 4/Student Categories

When switching the visa to Tier 1 Entrepreneur, the candidates must also offer their biometric information at authorized Post Offices, such as a photo and fingerprints, a service that costs £19.20. If the candidate is approved for switching the visa, they will automatically receive the Biometric Residence Permit. You are allowed to remain in the UK while the verdict on the application is being processed

There is a limitation of three years that one can stay in the UK with a switched visa to Tier 1 Entrepreneur.

To apply for a switch to Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa, applicants must:

• Have minimum £50,000 available funds
• Be constantly engaged in business
• Pay the Healthcare Surcharge
• Be registered with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as self-employed, or, registered with Companies House as the director of a business

Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension

The application for extension is done when the candidate is within the UK on a Tier 1 Entrepreneu and wants to stay beyond the existing visa period. This application should be done before the end of the existing visa period. The longest period that an extension is give is two years

Visa Requirements for Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa

To have a successful visa application one must:

• Fulfill General Requirements of Application for a UK Visa
• Have 75 points in Attributes in Tier 1 Entrepreneur Migrant;
• Have 10 at least points  for Understanding the English Language – An English language proficiency equivalent to level B1 or above of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework for Language Learning
• Have a Business Plan – The business plan of the planned business project with all parts of it, including investment, costs, as well as the expected returns from business operations;
• The needed Documents to confirm Past Investment and Business Activity – For candidates who previously have been involved in business in the UK;
• The Unconditional Written Consent of the Sponsor
• Be older than 16 years old;
• Parents’ or Legal Guardian’s Letters
• The Criminal Record Certificate
• Provide tuberculosis test results – If the candidate is from a country that has to take the test;
• Must not take public funds of any type;
• Must be registered with the police;
• Must not get a job in the UK during the involvement in business
• Have at least 10 points for financial requirements

Financial requirements

The candidate which is applying for  Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa needs to offer evidence that they and their dependents have enough money to support themselves in the UK.

The amount of money required to be at the applicants disposal is:

• £3,310 – for those applying for an EC from outside the UK;
• £945 – for those applying for LR from the UK
• £1890 – for a dependent child of a visa holder who is outside the UK for less than one year and in this case the maintenance funds must be on hold of the other parent – not the main applicant, who is within the UK with a visa;
• £630 – for a dependent of a visa holder who is within the UK for more than one year

The money should be saved in the bank account for at least three consecutive months before the application.

You cannot cannot use any money that is for investing or gained from working in the UK as evidence of financial subsistence.

Can a Tier 1 Entrepreneur be Revoked?

Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa can be revoked if the applicant fails to comply to the following:

• Was not registered as a self-employed in UK with HM Revenue & Customs;
• Has not registered any new company or joint-company where they were a partner or a director;
• Was not registered as a director or partner of an existing company or joint-company;
• Did not spend the entire investing money appropriately

How to apply for a Settlement Permit?

A foreigner who can apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK must have lived for three up to five continuous legal years in the UK, involved in the business life.

The application for ILR must be done within the valid period of the previous visa. To apply for an ILR one must:

• Fulfill General Requirements of Application for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa
• Have 75 Points in Attributes for ILR in Tier 1 Entrepreneur Migrant;
• Lived in the UK for three or five continuous lawful years
• Must not have any history of overstaying in the UK after visa expiring date.

Points for attributes when for Tier 1 Entrepreneur candidates

When applying for Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa, the candidate has the following available points, and they have to score at least 75 of them. The following amounts of points can be allocated

• 25 Points – are given if the candidate can show the needed documents to prove that they have in their disposition the following available money, whichever:
  • Minimum £200,000
  • Minimum £50,000
• 25  other Points – if this money is kept in one or more regulated financial institutions (in the world);
• 25 other Points – if this money is kept in one or more regulated financial institutions (in the UK) as the candidate is applying for LR;
• 20 Points – if the candidate has or had invested on their behalf in a business in the UK a minimum £200,000, or £50,000 money in cash to the last visa;
• 20 Points – if the candidate has registered either as a self-employed (with HM Revenue and Customs), as a director of a new or existing business, or, as a member of a new or an existing limited responsibility partnership (with Companies House);
• If the last visa of the candidate was a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa either an EC or LR, the candidate needs to be registered in six months of their arrival to the UK, or, of taking the visa;
• 15 Points – If the candidate was registered (in aforementioned institutions) not earlier than three months BEFORE the visa application;
• 20 Points – if the candidate has started a new business in the UK by which they created at least two full-time jobs for settled workers in the UK, or, has directed or invested in a business by which they created at least two full-time jobs for settled workers in the UK.

If the last visa of the candidate was a Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa either an EC or LR, the jobs must have existed at least one year before the last visa.

To get the needed scores for Attributes for EC or LR, the candidate must provide:

• Any document showing the readiness to start, join, or, direct a business in the UK within the six upcoming months;
• Realistic intention to invest the available funds in directing a business;
• Demonstrate that available money is realistically available, and will continue to be to the candidate, up to the time when they will be spent for the business operations;
• A proof that all parts of available funds, were properly spent in business operations (when the candidate was involved in a previous investment and seeks to get extra points by that);
• A disinterest in getting a job in the UK

Points allocated when applying for an ILR

When applying for ILR in Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa, the candidate can score the following available points, and they have to score all 75 of them:

• 20 Points – if the candidate has or had invested on their behalf in a business in the UK a minimum £200,000, or £50,000 money in cash to the last visa;
• 20 Points – if not earlier than three months from visa application the candidate has registered either as a self-employed (with HM Revenue and Customs), as a director of a new or existing business, or, as a member of a new or an existing limited responsibility partnership (with Companies House).If the last visa of the candidate was a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa either an EC or LR, the candidate needs to be registered in six months of their arrival to the UK, or, of taking the visa;
• 20 Points – if the candidate has started a new business in the UK by which they created at least two full-time jobs for settled workers in the UK, or, has directed or invested in a business by which they created at least two full-time jobs for settled workers in the UK.If the last visa of the candidate was a Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa either an EC or LR, the jobs must have existed at least one year before the last visa.
• 15 Points – If the candidate has a legal continuous period of stay in the UK holding Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa, by including verified absences of not more than 180 days per one calendar year.

When given points for Attributes for ILR, the candidate should provide:

• Evidence that they have established and directed a business, as well as frankly operated it;
• Prove the appropriate investment of available funds in the business;
• Show realistic intention of continuing to run the businesses in the future;

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Yet, not everybody can just move to the United Kingdom and get a job. There are a lot of procedures that one needs to complete and conditions to meet in order to be able to work in the UK.

One of the main components of being able to work in the UK is getting the right kind of work visa. There are several work visas for UK, depending on your profession and qualifications.

Following in this article find a list of the main UK work visas, shortly and simply explained.

UK Work Visa Types

The UK Employment Visas are categorized in four main groups, as follows:

• Short-term work visas.
• Long-term work visas.
• Investor, business development and talent visas.
• Other work visas.

Short-term work visas for the UK

The UK short-term work visas are all part of the Tier 5 Visas, part of the UK Point Based System. The main categories of these visas, also known as the UK Temporary Workers Visas, are as follows:

• UK Charity Worker visa (Tier 5). Persons who want to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity in the UK can apply for this visa. A certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer is required.
• UK Creative and Sporting visa (Tier 5). Persons who have been offered work in the UK as a sports person or creative worker can apply for this visa. The main criteria includes the possession of a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer in UK.
• UK Government Authorized Exchange visa (Tier 5). You can apply for this visa if you want to come to the UK for work experience or to do training, an Overseas Government Language Program, research or a fellowship through an approved government authorized exchange scheme.
• UK International Agreement visa (Tier 5). This visa is for persons who are contracted to work for a foreign government or as a private servant in a diplomatic household in the UK.
• UK Religious Worker visa (Tier 5). If you want to move to the UK for a short-term in order to do religious work, such as preaching or working in a religious order, you can apply for this visa.
• UK Seasonal Worker Visa (Tier 5). You can apply for a Seasonal work visa is you want to travel to the UK and do farm work for up to 6 months.
• UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa (Tier 5). A visa for persons who have certain types of British Nationality or are from certain countries, between the age of 18 to 30.

Long-term work visas for the UK

The UK long-term work visas are all part of the Tier 2 Visas, part of the UK Point Based System. The main categories of the UK long-term work visas are as follows:

• Tier 2 General UK work visa. This visa is for persons from outside the EEA and Switzerland who have gotten a job offer in the UK. The applicant must be employed by a licensed sponsor in order to be able to apply.
• Tier 2 UK Intra-company Transfer visa. Persons whose overseas employer has offered a role in a UK branch of the organization can apply for this UK work visa.
• Tier 2 UK Minister of Religion visa. A visa for non-EEA and Switzerland nationals who have been offered a job in the UK within a faith community.
• Tier 2 UK Sportsperson visa. Elite sportsperson or qualified coach, who has been recognized by their sport’s governing body as being at the highest level of their profession internationally, can apply for this visa.

Investor, business development and talent visas

The UK has established several visa types for foreign investors, business developers and talented persons. There are several UK visa types for these categories, as listed below:

• UK Innovator visa. This is a visa for foreigners who want to set up or run a business in the UK.
• UK Start-up visa. This is a visa for persons who want to set up a business in the United Kingdom. Endorsement by an authorized body is a must.
• UK Global Talent Visa. Persons who work in a qualifying field and have been endorsed as a recognized leader or an emerging leader, can apply for this visa.
• UK Graduate Entrepreneur visa (Tier 1). Graduates officially endorsed of having a genuine and credible business idea should apply for this UK work visa.
• UK Investor visa (Tier 1). This is a visa for investors that want to invest £2,000,000 or more in the UK.

Other Types of UK Work Visas

Other United Kingdom work visas are as follows:

• UK Ancestry visa. You can apply for this visa, which permits you to get a job in the UK, if you are a Commonwealth citizen applying from outside the UK. You must prove that at least one of your grandparents was born in the UK.
• Domestic Workers in a Private Household UK visa. Domestic worker in a private household that wish to visit the UK with their employer can apply for this visa.
• Representative of an Overseas Business UK visa. You can apply for this visa if you are the sole representative of an overseas company planning to set up a UK branch or a wholly owned subsidiary for an overseas parent company. Employees of overseas media posted on a long-term assignment to the UK are also eligible.
• Turkish Businessperson UK visa. This visa is for Turkish nationals who want to move to the UK to start a new business or to help run an already established business.
• Turkish Worker UK visa. This visa is for Turkish nationals who have worked in the UK for at least one year as the spouse of a Briton or a settled person.

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With recent media coverage of healthcare cost nightmares in the US, foreigners traveling there have understandably started becoming concerned about the average cost of a doctor visit or a trip to the ER.

Having Travel Health insurance while visiting the USA is optional, but highly recommended and necessary since health services are very costly, more than in any other country anywhere across the globe.

But, just how much does a doctor visit cost in the US? Will visitors have to leave half of their life savings at the hospital because of a simple sprain? What if a more serious medical emergency pops up? What if you get into an accident?

How Much is a Doctor’s Visit Without Insurance in the USA?

The average cost of a doctor’s visit in the US is not too high – provided it is just a consultation and you do not need actual medical treatment. In these cases, the price can range from $200-$300.

On the other hand, if you actually are sick or have sustained an injury and need to visit the Emergency Room, then the prices can quickly add up.

According to a study conducted by the National Institute for Health, the average cost of an ER visit in the US is $2168. The average prices for some of the most common reasons for ER visits are as follows:

• For sprains and strains: $1498
• For open wounds or extremities: $1650
• For a normal pregnancy or delivery: $2008
• For a headache: $1727
• For back problems: $1476
• For a kidney stone: $4247
• For a urinary tract infection (UTI): $2598
• For an upper respiratory infection: $1101
• For an intestinal infection: $2398
• For other injuries: $2103

However, the cost of an ER visit depends on several other factors such as the coverage of your health insurance plan (or whether you have an insurance plan at all) and even which hospital you go to. Additionally, your treatment and even your doctor may affect the cost of your hospital visit.

And keep in mind that the earlier figures are an average, which means some people pay much more than that.

Medical Treatment Costs in USA

The US has some of the highest prices in the world regarding medical treatment, and if you don’t have health insurance, a sprained ankle or another unexpected injury during your trip could end up costing you thousands of dollars. One of the reasons why an ER visit in the US can reach such high prices is due to the cost of medical tests and procedures.

Ambulances

In the US, an ambulance ride is not paid from taxpayer money. Much like the rest of the healthcare services in the US, ambulances are also a private business and can reach hefty fees.

• The cost for an ambulance ranges from $400 to over $1200, depending on the mileage.
• The cost for an air ambulance ranges from $2,000 to upwards of $200,000

Medical tests/screenings

Doctors in the US tend to order more medical tests as compared to other countries. This has been referred to as “defensive medicine” – as a way of protecting themselves from a possible lawsuit. What’s more, these tests are also more expensive.

• Blood tests can range from $100 to upwards of $3,000 in price
• An X-Ray can range from $150 to over $3,000
• An MRI can cost from $1,000 to more than $5,000

Medications

Another reason why medical costs are so high in the US is because the government does not negotiate the prices of prescription drugs with pharmaceutical companies before they release them. As such, these prices are often very high. Diabetes medication, for example, can cost upwards of $500.

On the other hand, you can find over-the-counter medication (cold medicine, pain reliever etc) for very reasonable prices.

Surgery

Prices for surgical procedures in the US depend on the type of procedure you need. For example, tonsillectomy can set you back from $4,000 to $8,000 or more. Gallbladder removal is at least $10,000 whereas brain and heart surgery can reach hundreds of thousands.

In addition, you may also be required to pay additional fees for hospital stay, per-hour costs of the operating room as well as the anesthesia.

Hospitalization

The price of a hospital stay in the US can change from one hospital to the other, but on average, it is about $3,000 per day. This means that a ten-day recovery period may set you back $30,000.

If your condition requires you to recover in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), the price is even higher than that.

Dental treatment

A trip to the dentist can also be pricey, although it’s not going to put you at risk of bankruptcy. A dental examination costs about $50, whereas a tooth extraction is set at about $280. Average prices for some other common dental problems are:

• Tooth filling: $115 – $190
• Root canal: $695
• Sedated tooth removal: $217
• Wisdom tooth removal: $175

Health Insurance for Tourists in the US

Unlike for Schengen Visas, tourists to the US do not necessarily have to purchase travel health insurance before they enter the country. However, when faced with the hefty fees, obtaining short-term travel health insurance is the superior option to paying from your own pocket. If nothing, it will give you peace of mind knowing that even if something happens, you won’t be at risk of going bankrupt from a visit to the ER.

The price of the insurance plan changes. It can be as little as $2 per day to over $10 per day, depending on the coverage you select, the number of days you are staying in the US, as well as your age.

Health Insurance for Expatriates in the US

If you intend to live in the US long-term, you have to get private health insurance. Again, health insurance in the US is not compulsory. You have the option of forgoing it but it will be at your own risk.

If you are a US Work Visa holder, in many cases, your employer will provide health insurance for you. If they do not, you must purchase it yourself through an international health insurance company.

If you are an international student, you can get F1 Visa Health Insurance, which is often offered by the school as a compulsory insurance plan with predetermined coverage. Even so, you usually have to pay for the insurance plan yourself.

Health insurance plans in the US cost an average of $400 per month, depending on the state as well as the coverage and the health insurance company you choose.

Note: Please keep in mind that this article is for informational purposes only and that the costs displayed are an average and may differ from state to state and even from one hospital or one doctor to the other.

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For one, obtaining a work permit in Costa Rica is almost impossible, due to the high level of restrictions the government has put in place to ensure that foreigners do not take the jobs Costa Rica nationals can have.

Additionally, even though Costa Rica offers temporary residence permits for foreigners wanting to live in the country for longer than three months, they do not automatically allow the holder to work. Only Costa Rican citizens or Permanent Residence holders are allowed to work in Costa Rica without prior authorization.

But that’s not to say working in Costa Rica (legally!) is completely impossible for holders of Temporary Residence Permits.

Working in Costa Rica for Foreign Nationals

The most common options foreign nationals have for earning an income while living in Costa Rica include:

• Working remotely (online). You can work for a non-Costa Rican company or as a freelancer, earning your income from abroad, while still living in Costa Rica through the rentista visa. However, you still need to apply for legal residency in Costa Rica if your stay is longer than three months (or one month, if you are on a visa).
• Opening a business. Temporary Residence Permit holders such as investors or rentiers are allowed to set up a business in Costa Rica – they’re just not allowed to work in it. So, you can open a business and earn an income, but you have to hire Costa Ricans to actually work in your company.
• Becoming a permanent resident. However, you can only become a Costa Rica permanent resident and earn working rights if you have blood relations to a Costa Rican or you have lived in the country with a temporary residence permit for at least three years.
• Getting a Costa Rica work permit. As mentioned, this final option is trickier and much more difficult to obtain.

Costa Rica Work Permits

A Costa Rica work permit falls under the “Special Category” of immigration permits, along with a student permit.

This means that it will allow the holder to work and remain in the country under the conditions set by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

The Costa Rica work permits included under the “Special Category” of immigration include:

• Costa Rica work permit for Artists, Athletes, and Entertainers
• Costa rica work permit for Professional and Technical guests
• Costa Rica work permit for Transferee Staff
• Costa Rica work permit for Preventive Maintenance Services and Corrective Post Sales Management
• Costa Rica work permit for working in a specific occupation
• Costa Rica work permit for working in a specific occupation as a domestic worker
• Costa Rica work permit for working in a specific occupation with a company (legal entity)
• Costa Rica work permit for self-employed individuals in the agriculture, construction and services sectors
• Costa Rica work permit for self-employed individuals in a well-established company
• Costa Rica work permit for temporary workers
• Costa Rica work permit for transfrontier workers

Required Documents for a Costa Rica Work Visa

The documents you must submit with a Costa Rica work permit application include:

• Work permit application form, which you can obtain at the immigration department
• A letter of application, including:
  • The reason you’re applying
  • Your full name, nationality, birth place and birth date
  • Passport number
  • Place and date of arrival in Costa Rica
  • Exact address in Costa Rica
  • Your occupation/profession
  • Your contact information
• Two passport-size pictures of yourself
• Proof you have paid the required work permit application fee
• Your birth certificate
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Copies of all the pages of your passport, even the blank ones. They must each be notarized.
• A Statement from your employer, which details your salary, length of employment and job description.
• Registration Documents and the Legal Constitution of the hiring company
• Proof the company hiring you is registered.
• Proof that the worker insurance has been paid (Statement of Insurance Company)
• Proof of income/sufficient financial means.
• Certificate of police clearance from your country.
• Proof of registration with a Costa Rican consulate.

How to Get a Costa Rica Work Visa?

In order to get a Costa Rica work visa, you first have to find an employer that’s willing to hire you. You and your employer have to prove that the position you are taking could not have been filled by a Costa Rican.

Additionally, the process of obtaining a Costa Rica work permit is a lengthy one, and not guaranteed to be successful.

However, if you did manage to find a job that’s eligible for a Costa Rica work visa, the application process is as follows:

Getting a Costa Rica provisional visa

Before you travel to Costa Rica to apply for a provisional visa from the Costa Rica consulate in your country. The application process for a provisional visa is much the same as for a regular entry visa, except that you must specify, in the application letter, that you are requesting a provisional visa.

Even if you aren’t a visa-required national, you have to register with a Costa Rica Consulate.

Applying for the Costa Rica work permit

Once you are in Costa Rica, you have to apply for a work permit at the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (Costa Rica’s Immigration Department).

The Immigration Department takes into account the regulations set by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security while reviewing your application.

Before you apply at the Immigration Department, you must register your fingerprints with the Ministerio Seguridad Pública (Ministry of Public Security) in San Jose.

Keep in mind

This is not an exhaustive list of requirements, and the documents may differ depending on the specific case.

You must obtain all the required documents before you travel to Costa Rica.

You have to translate all the documents in Spanish and have the translations notarized.

All your documents have to be legalized, either through an Apostille stamp (if your country is part of the Apostille convention) or the Costa Rican consulate.

Costa Rica work permit processing time

A Costa Rica work permit can take anywhere between 3 to 8 months to process, on average, but it may take even longer.

Working in Costa Rica through Youth Mobility programs

Another option for living and working in Costa Rica is through the Youth Mobility program. However, this is a very limited option, since it is only available to Canadian citizens aged 18-35 and for only up to a year.

The programs included in Youth Mobility are:

• The Young Professionals Program, aimed at post-secondary Canadian graduates who want to get work experience in Costa Rica.
• The Internship Program, aimed at Canadian students enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution in Canada who will do an internship or work in a Costa Rica institution as part of their course requirements.
• The Working Holiday Program, aimed at young Canadians (graduates and current students) who want to travel to Costa Rica and work in the meantime to finance the trip.

In order to be eligible for a Youth Mobility program, the applicant must have a job offer/contract or a formal internship, as required.

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However, that’s not always the case. The Costa Rica visa policy is divided into four groups:

1. The first group included visa-exempt nationals who are allowed to travel to Costa Rica with just their passport. The passport must be valid for at least one more day from the date of entry into the country.
2. The second group also includes visa-exempt nationals who are allowed to travel to Costa Rica with just their passport. However, in this case, the passport must be valid for at least three months from the date of arrival.
3. The third group includes foreign nationals who need a Costa Rica Consular Visa, which must be applied for at a Costa Rica consulate in their country of residence.
4. The fourth group includes foreign nationals who need a Costa Rica Restricted Visa. This type of visa has to be approved by the Commission of Restricted Visas.

This article will detail the Costa Rica visa policy by country.

Do You Need a Visa for Costa Rica?

You only need a Costa Rica visa if you are from one of the following countries:

Foreign nationals who need a Costa Rica Consular Visa (Third group)

The following countries have to apply for a Costa Rica Consular Visa at a Costa Rica consulate in their country:

Foreign nationals who need a Costa Rica Restricted Visa (Fourth group)

Nationals from the following countries have to apply for a Costa Rica Restricted Visa, which requires authorization form the Commission of Restricted Visas:

Who is Exempt from Costa Rica Visas?

The following nationals are exempt from holding a visa when travelling to Costa Rica:

For stays of up to 90 days

For stays of up to 30 days

Do You Need a Costa Rica Visa if You Already Have a US/Schengen visa?

Visa-required foreign nationals may be exempt from holding a Costa Rica visa if they already have a valid entry visa for one of the following countries:

• An EU member state
• A Schengen country
• USA
• Canada
• South Korea
• Japan

Additionally, foreign nationals on the third and fourth group are exempt from holding a Costa Rica visa if they have a residence permit (not less than six months) for:

• USA
• Canada
• An EU member state

Do US Citizens Need a Visa for Costa Rica?

If you are a US national, and you want to stay in Costa Rica for a period longer than 90 days, you will need a residence permit. You can get a Costa Rica residence permit in two ways:

• By applying for a provisional visa (student visa, work visa) at a Costa Rica consulate before you travel to Costa Rica or
• Enter Costa Rica as a tourist and apply after you arrive in the country at the Costa Rican Department of Immigration (Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería).

This applies to all the foreign nationals included in group 1 and 2 that are allowed visa-free access to Costa Rica.

What if I Need to Apply for a Costa Rica Visa?

If you need to apply for a visa to Costa Rica, you can review the application steps and requirements here.

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Canada’s self-employed program is available to anyone with cultural or athletic experience which allows them to be self-employed.

NOTE: The Canadian government is not accepting applications for agriculture under the self-employed section as of March, 2018.

However, having one of those professions is not enough for your self-employed visa application to stand a chance and be accepted. You must also prove that you have sufficient experience in those two fields to make a significant contribution to Canada.

Read on to find out who is eligible for the self-employed Canadian visa, what are the requirements, and how you can apply for one.

Who is Eligible for the Canada Self-Employed Visa?

You are eligible to apply for the self-employed visa for Canada if you meet the following conditions:

You have sufficient experience and skills

You must have both the experience and skills needed to work as a self-employed person in Canada.

The minimum amount of experience needed for a self-employed person is two years. You must have gained this experience within the five years prior to your application.

Because the Canada self-employed visa is assessed with a point-based system, more experience means more points.

You must have the following experience:

1. Two years of being self-employed in cultural activities/athletics.
2. Two years of participating at a world-class level in cultural activities/athletics.
3. One year of experience in (A) in addition to one year experience in (B).

You have to meet the point-based selection criteria

The visa officers who process your self-employed Canadian visa application assess you on a point-based system. The maximum amount of points is 100 and you will need a minimum of 35 points.

They look at your:

• Experience (35 points)

You get the maximum amount of points if you have at least 5 years of experience.

• Education (25 points)

You get the maximum amount of points if you have a Master’s Degree or Ph.D. and at least 17 years of full-time studies.

• Age (10 points)

You get the maximum amount of points if you are between 21–49 years of age. They want people who will be able to contribute to Canada’s culture and athletics for a longer amount of time.

• Language abilities (24 points)

They will assess your ability to write, speak, read, and listen in either English or French. You can choose the language you are better at to be your first official language. You can take a language test from a designated agency such as IELTS or CELPIP for English, or TEF Canada or TFC Canada for French.

• Adaptability (6 points)

You get adaptability points based on: your spouse’s education level; whether you previously worked/studied in Canada; whether you have relatives in Canada. They look at this to see how well you would potentially immerse yourself in Canada’s culture.

How to apply for a Canada self-employed visa?

Just as with other types of Canada visa, the application is done online.

Check your eligibility

Essentially, you must check whether you are eligible for the visa based on an online questionnaire on the official website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If you are, they will send you an application package to your email address. The application package includes a guide, application forms, and a list of documents you need. Follow the instructions on the guide.

Fill the forms and compile the document file

You have to fill all the necessary forms included on the package. Then, if you are applying online, upload them to your online application.

If you are applying on paper, print them and sign them. Then, gather all the required documents and attach them to the application. You will have to mail the completed application to an address that you will be provided with.

You also have to pay the processing fees and attach a copy of the receipt to your application.

Documents include:

• The standard required documents for all Canadian visa applications.
• Proof of educational status such as a certificate, diploma, or transcripts.
• Proof you have passed the language test.
• Proof of relevant work experience.
• Proof of adaptability.
• Copies of travel documents/passports. They must show the name, date of birth, photo, expiry date, or changes in name, birth date, expiry date etc.
• Police clearances.
• Birth certificates.
• Marriage certificate/divorce or annulment certificate (if married more than once, provide documents for each). (If applicable)
• Death certificate for former spouse/common-law partner. (If applicable)
• If you have a common-law partner: Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409 – original) and proof you have lived together for a minimum of 12 months (shared apartment lease, shared bills, shared address on documents.)
• Information on your child like birth certificate, adoption papers, or proof of custody. (If applicable).
• National IDs or family or household registry/book. (If applicable).
• Police Certificates and Clearances. They should be from every country/territory you’ve lived in for six or more months.
• Canada visa pictures.
• Fee receipts of Canadian Visa.
• If applying as Quebec-selected applicant: Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ)

Make sure you are not missing any documents, forms, or fees. If you are, your visa officers will send the application back to you and ask you to fix any mistakes/attach documents you forgot.

You have to provide your biometric information

Applicants between 14 and 79 years old have to provide their biometric information. This includes fingerprints and pictures.

You provide the biometric information after you send the application.

The officers processing your visa application will inform you when they have received your completed application. Then, they will tell you when you should send them your biometric information.

You should have already paid your biometrics fee when you first sent your application.

You can give your biometric information at a Canada visa application center in your country. If you are from the US, you can do this at an application support center.

If Your Canada Self-employment Visa Application is Accepted

If you acquire the self-employment visa for Canada, when you travel to the country, an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will be waiting for you.

You must have your passport and other travel documents with you, a valid permanent resident visa and your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), as well as proof you can financially support yourself and your family.

The officer will ask you questions that are meant to evaluate whether you still qualify for the self-employment visa. If you give incomplete or false answers, you may not be allowed entry to the country.

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