SWABI, June 18: The matriculation condition for fresh visa-seekers for the United Arabs Emirates is posing problems for the local people in getting work visas.

The UAE government has recently imposed a condition for fresh visa-seekers that they must be at least matriculate to be eligible for work visa, visa applicants told Dawn.

Workers said a majority of Pakistanis, especially those from the NWFP, who were employed in the UAE, would not be able to meeting this requirement.

They said according to the rules, not only the fresh job/visa seekers, those who had been working in the UAE for years were also needed to have matric certificates for renewal of their visas.

“I have spent two years for getting a driving licence and after that worked for a year. Then, I returned home and now seek a new visa, but the new condition has destroyed all my dreams,” said Mohammed Khan, a worker.