For a foreign national with an employment contract and approval from the competent Yemeni labour or civil-service authority.
Yemen
Yemen sits in Western Asia. Its immigration system runs 23 distinct routes — led by family, short stay & visit and work, each set out in official law. 18 of them cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.
- Immigration routes
- 23across 9 route categories, each set out in official law
- Source-cited routes
- 18 of 23cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
- Largest category
- Family7 of the 23 routes — see them under Family below
- Region
- Western Asia
- Capital
- Sana'a
- Population
- 41,773,878
- Official language
- Arabic
- Currency
- YER
- Time zone
- UTC+03:00
Immigration routes
All 23 routes, grouped by purpose — 18 of 23 cite an official government source directly. Any route below without one says so on the route.
Work
2 routes
Work entry visa published by IPNA Aden for a foreign worker with an employment contract, the competent labour or civil-service approval and an eligible occupation.
Business & self-employment
1 route
Business visitor visa published by the Immigration, Passports and Nationality Authority in Aden for a documented businessperson applying through the competent Yemeni mission.
Talent & merit
1 route
For a scientist, writer, artist, industrialist, economist or other person who renders distinguished service to Yemen.
Study
2 routes
For a foreign national accepted by a Yemeni university, institute or school with the competent education authority's support.
Visitor visa for short-term study based on admission or approval from a university, institute or school and the relevant education authority memorandum.
Family
7 routes
For another foreign relative of a Yemeni citizen where an urgent circumstance requires residence.
Portal category labelled Multi-entry Visa whose current checklist concerns a spouse, child or companion of a Yemeni or foreign resident sponsor.
For a foreign child of a Yemeni mother who meets one of the regulation's dependency or protection grounds.
For the foreign husband of a Yemeni woman following lawful entry, a valid continuing marriage and the required ministerial position.
For the foreign mother of a Yemeni son or daughter who is her sole provider.
For the foreign wife of a Yemeni citizen following lawful entry and a marriage valid under Yemeni law.
Entry route for the wife, minor child or dependent parent of a foreign resident who has a valid work permit and enough salary to support the family.
Residence-based status
2 routes
For a foreign national who does not qualify for special or ordinary residence but is granted temporary residence.
For a foreign worker whose role justifies longer residence, such as specified oil-sector staff or bank and company managers.
Short stay & visit
5 routes
Family visit visa for a foreign relative invited by a Yemeni or foreign resident host.
— No eligibility summary published for this route yet
Tourist-group visa for a group of at least ten foreign visitors arranged through accredited tourism agencies.
Urgent tourist visa issued at a Yemeni border crossing after IPNA approval and an accredited in-country tourism-agency request.
General visit visa on the IPNA Aden portal for a foreign visitor supported and accommodated by a Yemeni or a foreign resident in Yemen.
Humanitarian protection
2 routes
For an asylum seeker in the Aden area using the UNHCR channel for non-Somalis or an IPNA centre for Somalis.
For a new asylum seeker in Sana'a who registers with the Bureau of Refugee Affairs at the IPNA compound.
Transit
1 route
Seventy-two-hour transit visa published by IPNA Aden for onward travel through Yemeni territory.
Official sources
- natlex.ilo.orgGovernment
See which Yemen routes you actually qualify for.
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