UAE Requires Police Clearance for Pakistanis’ Work Visas

UAE Tightens Entry Rules for Pakistanis, Requires Police Clearance for Work Visas

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has imposed strict entry laws on Pakistani nationals, especially those seeking employment, requiring them to submit work visa applications and police clearance certificates.

Pakistan Overseas Employment Promotion Association (POEPA) Vice President Adnan Paracha said that action against Pakistanis involved in illegal activities such as pickpocketing is on the rise. The UAE administration has responded to reports that have brought attention to these problems, including those from the Pakistani newspaper Express News. “This decision is part of the UAE’s efforts to ensure stricter adherence to its laws, which is an important step in maintaining the strong ties between the two countries,” Paracha stressed.

With the new police certificate requirement, the UAE has increased the number of Pakistani cities from which it has banned visit visas from 24 to 30. The ban reflects the abuse of visit visas and the difficulties in controlling immigration.

Paracha went on to highlight the persistent challenges Pakistanis have in obtaining work visas for the United Arab Emirates, a problem that has prevented around 100,000 Pakistanis from finding jobs in the nation in the last 12 months. After Saudi Arabia, the UAE is the second-largest provider of remittances to Pakistan and continues to be a popular destination for Pakistani migrant workers.

This development takes place in the context of wider regional worries on the increase in Pakistani beggars, especially in Saudi Arabia. To stop more instances of Pakistanis begging while on Umrah visas, Pakistan’s Minister of Interior responded on November 20 by announcing that the names of about 4,300 beggars had been added to the Exit Control List. This comes after Saudi Arabia warned Pakistan in September to address the growing number of beggars entering the Kingdom on false pretenses of religious pilgrimage.