Overview
Under the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), it is illegal to work in the UAE without a valid work permit issued by MoHRE, and employers may not recruit or employ anyone without one.
A work permit and a residence visa are different documents. The work permit authorises the job with a specific establishment. The residence visa, issued by the immigration authorities (ICP, or GDRFA in Dubai), lets you live in the country. Most employees hold both, tied to the same employer.
A smaller group of people can sponsor themselves: skilled employees on a Green visa and holders of a Golden visa. They still need a work permit or contract to take a job, but their residence does not depend on one employer.
Work routes
| Route | Who it is for | Job offer or sponsor needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Standard work visa | Employees of private and government-sector employers | Yes. The employer must apply |
| Green visa for skilled employees | Degree-holding employees in higher skill levels earning at least AED 15,000 a month | A valid work contract is required, but residence is self-sponsored |
| Golden visa | People with exceptional talent or rare specialisations, such as doctors, scientists, executives and PhD holders | No employer sponsor; residence is self-sponsored |
| Mission work permit | Workers brought from outside the UAE for a temporary job or time-bound project | Yes |
| Part-time work permit | Workers on a part-time contract, from inside or outside the UAE | Yes; more than one employer is possible with MoHRE approval |
| Freelance work permit | Individuals working independently, including foreigners on self-sponsored residence | No employer sponsor or employment contract |
MoHRE lists 13 work permit types in all. Others cover transfers between employers, residents on family sponsorship, juveniles, students, trainees and private tutors.
Eligibility
Standard work visa (MoHRE work permit)
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- The job must match the business activity of the employer’s establishment.
- The employer’s trade licence must be valid and free of violations.
- For specialised professions, you must meet the licensing conditions for that profession.
- The application must be made by someone legally authorised to represent the company.
Green visa for skilled employees
- A valid work contract and work permit in the UAE.
- A job at occupational level 1, 2 or 3 in the MoHRE classification.
- At least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
- A salary of at least AED 15,000 a month.
Golden visa
- Eligibility depends on the sub-category, such as doctors, scientists, inventors, executives, athletes and PhD holders.
- Evidence usually includes recommendation letters, experience or accredited degrees.
- The federal authority provides an online eligibility checker.
Job offer and sponsorship
For the standard route you need a job offer first, because only an establishment registered with MoHRE can apply for the permit. The offer and the employment contract use MoHRE’s standard forms.
Exceptions are the self-sponsored routes. Green visa holders and Golden visa holders are not sponsored by an employer for residence, and freelance permit holders work without an employment contract.
Who does what
Work visa applications fail most often when it is unclear who is responsible for which step. This is how the duties are split.
What the employer does
- Hold a valid trade licence and stay compliant with the Wages Protection System.
- Apply for the work permit and the residence visa.
- Pay the work permit fee, which depends on the company’s MoHRE classification.
- Renew the permit on time and settle any fines for late issue or renewal.
- Confirm you have received your dues when a permit is cancelled.
What you do
- Provide a valid passport, photographs and your qualification documents.
- Complete the medical fitness test and biometrics for the Emirates ID after arrival.
- Sign the offer letter and employment contract.
- Do not start work until the work permit has been issued.
- For ECR passports: get emigration clearance in India before departure.
Documents
Common documents
- Valid passport
- Passport photographs
- Signed job offer and employment contract on the MoHRE forms
- Educational or professional certificates required for the role, attested where the authorities ask for it
- Medical fitness result and Emirates ID biometrics, completed in the UAE
- For ECR passport holders: emigration clearance obtained through the eMigrate system before departure
Route-specific documents
| Route or case | Additional documents |
|---|---|
| Green visa for skilled employees | Work contract showing a salary of at least AED 15,000 a month; Bachelor’s degree or equivalent |
| Golden visa | Documents for your sub-category, such as recommendation letters, proof of experience or accredited degrees |
| Licensed professions | The licence or approval required to practise the profession |
For photo sizes and background rules, see our visa photo requirements tool.
How to apply
Receive and sign a job offer from a UAE employer registered with MoHRE.
The employer applies for the work permit, and the entry permit that lets you travel for work.
If your passport carries an Emigration Check Required (ECR) endorsement, obtain emigration clearance from the Protector of Emigrants through India’s eMigrate system before you fly. This applies to employment in all 18 ECR countries, which include the UAE.
Enter the UAE on the work entry permit, not on a visit visa.
Complete the medical fitness test and give biometrics for your Emirates ID.
The employer completes the residence visa. The official Work Bundle platform combines these steps: it needs 5 documents and 2 in-person visits.
Renew the permit and visa before they expire, usually every two years.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| MoHRE work permit, issue or renewal | AED 250 to AED 3,450 | Depends on the company’s classification: category 1 pays the least, category 3 the most. Paid by the employer |
| Two-year permit to recruit from outside the UAE | AED 250, AED 1,200 or AED 3,450 | Category 1, 2 or 3 establishment. Paid by the employer |
| Residence visa, medical test and Emirates ID | Not confirmed here | Set by ICP or GDRFA and by the health authority; check their fee pages |
Work permit fees are charged to the establishment, not the worker. We could not read a current official fee table for the residence visa, medical test and Emirates ID, so no figure is given for them.
Processing time
| Stage or route | Official timeframe |
|---|---|
| Work permit, residence visa, medical and Emirates ID through the Work Bundle | About 5 working days, down from 30, according to the UAE Government portal |
| Other channels and special permits | Not published |
These are official targets, not guarantees. Timing also depends on the employer’s file, your medical result and security checks.
Validity and renewal
| Route | Validity | Renewal and conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Standard work visa and work permit | 2 years | Renewable while the job continues and the conditions are met |
| Green visa for skilled employees | 5 years | Renewable for a similar period |
| Golden visa | 10 years | Renewable under the category rules |
| Mission work permit | For the temporary job or project | Tied to that project |
Family and job changes
Dependants
Residents can sponsor family members if they meet the conditions set by the immigration authorities. Green and Golden visa holders can sponsor a spouse and children under their own residence.
We did not confirm the current salary or housing conditions for family sponsorship from an official page, so check ICP or GDRFA before you apply.
Changing employers
Your standard work permit is tied to one establishment. To move, the new employer applies for a work permit to transfer you; this permit is also valid for two years.
Do not start with the new employer until the transfer permit is issued. When a permit is cancelled, the company must confirm that you have received all your entitlements.
Common mistakes
- Travelling on a visit or tourist visa and starting work before a work permit is issued.
- Accepting an offer from a company that is not registered with MoHRE or has a suspended file.
- Signing a contract with terms that differ from the job offer.
- Paying an employer or agent for the work permit: the fee is charged to the establishment.
- Leaving India without emigration clearance when your passport has an ECR endorsement.
- Letting the permit or residence expire, which leads to fines.
How we can help
My Visa Assistance provides visa information, document checklists and application support. For a work visa or permit, that means:
- An assessment call to identify which route fits your job offer and profile.
- A personalised document checklist for that route.
- Help completing the application forms and booking appointments.
- A review of your file before you submit it.
What we do not do: we are not a recruitment agency or a registered recruiting agent, we do not arrange jobs or employer sponsorship, and we cannot guarantee approval. Decisions are made only by the government authorities.
Send us an enquiry or call +91 85518 05523. If you are travelling as a visitor instead, see our UAE visa guide.
FAQs
No. The UAE Labour Law makes it illegal to work without a valid work permit issued by MoHRE, and employers may not employ anyone without one.
For the standard work visa, the employer must apply. The UAE Government portal states that the employer applies for the standard work visa, which is valid for two years and renewable.
MoHRE charges between AED 250 and AED 3,450 to issue or renew a work permit, depending on the company’s classification. This fee is paid by the establishment.
The standard work visa is valid for two years and can be renewed. A Green visa for skilled employees is valid for five years and a Golden visa for ten.
It is a five-year self-sponsored residence for skilled employees. You need a valid work contract, a job at occupational level 1, 2 or 3, at least a bachelor’s degree and a salary of at least AED 15,000 a month.
Yes. The new employer applies to MoHRE for a work permit to transfer you from one establishment to another. That permit is valid for two years.
Yes, if your passport has an Emigration Check Required (ECR) endorsement. India’s Ministry of External Affairs lists the UAE among the 18 ECR countries, and ECR passport holders going there for employment need emigration clearance from the Protector of Emigrants through the eMigrate system. Passports without the ECR endorsement do not need it.
The UAE Government portal says the Work Bundle platform has cut processing from 30 working days to about 5. Actual timing depends on your employer, your medical result and security checks.
Official sources
Last verified: . The facts on this page come from these official pages. Immigration rules, fees and timeframes change, so confirm them before you apply.
- UAE Government portal: work permits
- UAE Government portal: work visa
- UAE Government portal: Golden visa
- MoHRE: issuance of a new work permit, overseas
- GDRFA Dubai: Green visa for high-level skilled workers
- Ministry of External Affairs, India: emigration abroad for employment
What we could not verify
- Residence visa, medical test and Emirates ID fees were not confirmed from a current official fee table.
- Family sponsorship conditions were not confirmed.