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First time visit-visa holders will take longer to obtain work permits

DUBAI: Filipinos job-hunting in the UAE for the first time on visit visas will take longer to obtain work permits.

This following a new law requiring all new foreign workers applying for employment visa to secure a Certificate of Good Conduct from their home country where they have been residing for the past consecutive five years

The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) today issued an announcement on the steps to be taken for the certificate to be obtained, explaining that a clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation would suffice. (Please see attached announcement)

good conduct law

The steps would, among others, require the visit visa holder to have an NBI form # 5 from PCG notarized and apply for a special power of attorney (SPA) authorizing his or her representative in the Philippines to submit the said form to the NBI office.

Upon release, the representative would need the document to be authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and attested by the UAE Embassy in Manila.

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Lou Parocco, who had managed and directed multi-national as well as government companies for the past 21 years, said that to be heavily impacted by the new law – UAE Cabinet Decree 1/8 of 2017 – are those who are in the country and looking for a job on a visit visa.

“Specifically, yung mga first time visit visa holders na nandito na, may job offer na at malapit nang matapos ang visit visa period nila,” Parocco, who has been working as human resource director at a multinational company in Dubai, said.

Vagelyn Federico, also an HR expert said the new law will make the processing time longer. She said those coming to the UAE to take their chances should consider having their NBI clearance with them.

“It will take time,” Federico said.

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Jonathan Jacinto, HR director at Tecom media company said that in all new processing time could entail a minimum of 15 working days from the time the documents leave the UAE to the time the NBI clearance is authenticated by DFA and attested at the UAE embassy in Manila.

This, not counting the days spent in the UAE queueing at PCG or Embassy for the free NBI Clearance Application form (NBI Form # 5), having it filled out and going to nearest UAE police station for finger printing.

Jacinto said the applicant t must abide by this. “Otherwise hindi mapo-proseso ang employment visa nhya at hindi rin sya pwedeng magtrabaho habang wala yung NBI clearance,” he said.

The new law took effect today, February 4.

The law also has provisions requiring those who have been in the UAE for less than five years to obtain their clearance from the country of origin; while those already in the UAE five years and above can have their good conduct certificate from the UAE authorities.

2 Comments

  1. Will you still need an NBI Clearance if You are shifting from one company to another?

    1. Hi Mark! If you have been working in the UAE for less than 5 years and would want to switch jobs, then you will have to secure this certificate.

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