Relocation to RAK
Immigration Procedure
- Contract with the new employer sponsor has to be signed before the application for work/residency visa is submitted to the relevant authority
- Visa – see the Visa Factsheet for detailed information on visas
- Medical check and fingerprinting have to be done within 30 days after arrival to the UAE.
Driving License
While tourists may drive in the UAE on their national or international driving licenses, all residents in the UAE must obtain an UAE driving license within 30 days of the beginning of their stay in the UAE. To obtain a driving license in the UAE, one needs to be a resident of the United Arab Emirates. If the person is a resident of Ras Al Khaimah but has a visa issued in another emirate, then the person needs to obtain a transfer form, allowing the person to obtain driving license from Ras Al Khaimah.
Individuals, who have driving licenses from any of the GCC countries or any of the countries mentioned below, can transfer to a RAK driver's license without having to take driving lessons or tests: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States.
Those who want to transfer their license must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, have a residence visa in RAK, and fill in the driver's license form with two passport size photographs, original passport and one photocopy, original driver's license and one photocopy, eye test report, and AED 260. For other than GCC licenses, it is also required to obtain a letter from the Embassy or Consulate, from which the driver's license was issued, confirming that the driver's license is valid. If the driver's license is not in English or Arabic, it is also required to have the license translated at the Consulate or Embassy. Individuals with an Indian international driving license will be required to obtain a new license in order to drive in the UAE.
