Deel launches global business visa service to ease HR challenges

Deel has launched a new Business Visas service aimed at streamlining short-term international business travel and secured its first standalone immigration services licence in the United Arab Emirates.

The introduction of Business Visas addresses the growing complexity faced by HR and mobility teams amid changes to cross-border travel regulations, such as the EU's forthcoming ETIAS entry system and post-Brexit travel limits. Deel's service brings all aspects of visa management - from eligibility checks to expert application reviews - into a single platform, with the aim of reducing administrative overhead and improving compliance.

Managing global mobility

Frequent short-term business trips have become a significant challenge for international employers. Unlike permanent relocation, these trips often do not fall under standard mobility protocols, prompting HR teams to rely on disparate solutions including external legal firms and manual tracking, which can increase compliance risks related to immigration and tax.

With business travel expected to return to pre-pandemic numbers by 2026, Deel notes that 71% of companies are already reporting increased travel volumes. This, in turn, places additional pressure on HR professionals to meet travel requirements efficiently and reduce missed opportunities due to administrative delays or compliance failures.

Platform features

Deel's Business Visas service, delivered in partnership with WorkFlex, is integrated into the company's HR and payroll platform. The new offering supports real-time eligibility checks, maintains up-to-date information on global travel rules, streamlines visa documentation, and provides expert reviews of every application.

Designed for scalability, the platform enables HR teams to manage the visa process for dozens or hundreds of business travellers simultaneously, which the company states can prevent bottlenecks while ensuring needed support. The service extends to independent professionals such as founders and freelancers, who are able to manage their own travel requirements directly.

All-in-one for mobility

Deel reports that the expansion of its immigration capabilities now allows it to support both long-term relocation and short-term business travel, including work permits, permanent moves, temporary visas for offsites, events, and client meetings.

The immigration licence in the UAE marks the beginning of Deel's in-house immigration operations, with plans to expand the service to more countries in the future. The company says clients can now access immigration services directly through Deel's licence for the first time, starting with the UAE.

The Business Visas service is intended for a variety of users including HR managers, mobility leads and independent professionals. Features such as self-service tracking, clear process steps, and automated reminders have been developed to help reduce administrative demands for both organisations and individual travellers.

"Short-term business travel is critical for global companies. Whether it's closing deals, running offsites, or attending industry events," said Pearce Dolan, Head of Product at Deel. "With Business Visas powered by WorkFlex, Deel is the first global payroll and HR platform to offer support for all types of visas, making compliance simple while giving travellers and HR teams a seamless experience."

"Partnering with Deel to power Business Visas allows us to bring speed, accuracy, and compliance to short-term international travel at scale," said Patrick Koch, Co-Founder of WorkFlex. "Our platform ensures every application is expertly reviewed and eligibility is automatically verified, giving HR teams confidence while reducing administrative burden."

Anna Luisa Grebe, Manager Visa & Assignment at WorkFlex, added: "For employees and independent professionals alike, this means a smoother, traveler-friendly experience. With real-time tracking, clear next steps, and automated reminders, short-term business trips are no longer a source of stress, but a seamless part of global operations."