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UAE work permits from MOHRE
A work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) lets your company employ a person legally. We prepare the file, the job offer, the contract and the permit application.
- Federal fees from AED 50 per permit application
- Typically 2 working days per MOHRE transaction
- Renewal opens 60 days before the permit expires
Who are you hiring?
Pick the person you want to hire to see the permit you need, how long it lasts and the federal fee.
You need the overseas work permit. Your company must have quota available, and the issuance fee depends on your company's MOHRE category.
- Valid for
- 2 years
- Quota
- Required
- Federal fees
- AED 50 application, then AED 250, 1,200 or 3,450 by category
Federal MOHRE fees only, before tax, collection charges, worker insurance and immigration costs. MOHRE revises fees from time to time, so we confirm the current fee before you pay.
Work permits, in brief.
A MOHRE work permit is the approval a UAE employer needs from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation before a person can work for the company. Most permits run for 2 years and are tied to an approved employment contract.
Every employer registered with MOHRE needs one for each worker, including part-time staff, students and UAE nationals. My Eloah Business Hub opens the company's labour file, prepares the job offer and contract, and files the permit, renewal or cancellation through MOHRE's Tasheel system.
- Issued by
- MOHRE, through the Tasheel system
- Standard permit
- 2 years
- Federal fees
- From AED 50; none for UAE and GCC nationals
- Turnaround
- Typically 2 working days per transaction
Six permits for long-term hires.
These are the permits most employers use. The overseas permit needs available quota. The dependent, Golden Visa, national and trainee permits do not.
| Permit | Who it is for | Valid for | Federal fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas | A person recruited from outside the UAE | 2 years | AED 50 application, plus issuance of AED 250 (category 1), AED 1,200 (category 2) or AED 3,450 (category 3) |
| Transfer | A worker moving from another UAE employer | 2 years | AED 50 in categories 1, 2 and 3 |
| Dependents sponsored by family | A resident on a family member's visa | 2 years | AED 50 application plus AED 250 issuance |
| Golden Visa holders | A person holding a valid Golden Visa | 2 years | AED 50 |
| UAE nationals and GCC citizens | Emirati and other GCC citizens | 2 years | None |
| UAE national trainees | An Emirati on a training contract | 12 months, renewable | AED 50 |
Your company's MOHRE category sets the issuance fee for an overseas permit, so the same hire can cost AED 300, AED 1,250 or AED 3,500 in federal fees. Fees exclude tax and collection charges. A Tasheel service centre may add commission of up to AED 72 per service.
Five permits for shorter work.
These cover second jobs, short projects, young workers and students. None of them needs a bank guarantee, and only the mission permit needs quota.
| Permit | Valid for | Federal fee | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time | 1 year | AED 50 | The worker already holds a valid residence visa and MOHRE work permit, and the current employer gives a no-objection letter |
| Temporary | 6 months | AED 50 | The current employer approves the electronic form. Granted once |
| Mission | 3 months, renewable once | AED 50 | Quota is required |
| Juvenile | 1 year | AED 50 | Age 15 to under 18, written guardian consent, a medical fitness certificate and an occupation that is not on the prohibited list |
| Students, training and work | 3 months | AED 50 | Age 15 or over, proof of student status, a medical fitness certificate and a no-objection letter from the school or university |
A candidate must not hold another active work permit unless the new permit is part-time or temporary.
What one new employee costs in government fees.
A worked example for a Dubai Mainland company hiring a skilled worker from abroad at standard speed. The MOHRE permit is one part of the cost. Insurance and immigration steps make up the rest.
| Step | Authority | AED |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit application | MOHRE | 50 |
| Work permit issuance | MOHRE | 250, 1,200 or 3,450 by category |
| Workers Protection Programme insurance, skilled worker, 30 months | MOHRE | 137.50 |
| Work entry visa | General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) | 230 |
| Medical fitness test, standard | Dubai Health (DHA) | 250 |
| Emirates ID, 2 years | Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) | 300 |
| Residence permit | GDRFA | 240 |
| Employer total, approximate | 1,458 (category 1), 2,408 (category 2) or 4,658 (category 3) |
Add AED 42.50 for a low-skilled worker and roughly AED 1,070 if the worker is already in the UAE. Health insurance is priced by the insurer and sits outside this total. Unemployment insurance is paid by the employee: about AED 126 for 2 years on a basic salary up to AED 16,000, or about AED 252 above that. In Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, the visa and residence steps go through ICP, and Workers Health Insurance costs AED 320 (Basic) or AED 440 (Enhanced) per person per year plus VAT and fees.
Four rules that catch employers out.
Most MOHRE applications fail on a missed condition or document. These are the points to check before you file.
File the contract after the worker arrives
A new employment contract must be filed within 60 days of the worker's entry to the UAE or change of status.
Transfer window after cancellation
A transfer permit must be issued within 90 days of the cancellation of the worker's previous permit.
Every permit needs worker protection cover
For each worker you provide a bank guarantee of at least AED 3,000 or a 30-month insurance policy: AED 137.50 for a skilled worker, AED 180 for a low-skilled worker, or AED 250 at a high-risk establishment not registered with the Wage Protection System (WPS).
Fines and dues are settled first
To cancel a permit you pay any fines for late issuance or non-renewal, state that the worker's dues are settled, and in most cases obtain the worker's signature.
What to prepare for a new permit.
This is the standard set for a company employee. Some permit types add a document, such as a no-objection letter or guardian consent.
Six steps to hire from abroad.
This is the order for a hire from outside the UAE; a hire already in the UAE follows the same MOHRE route with a transfer permit, issued within 90 days of the previous permit's cancellation.
Start on WhatsApp →Open the labour file
We register your company, owners, authorised signatories, activity and location with MOHRE to issue the establishment card, typically in 2 working days.
Check your quota
MOHRE grants quota electronically to establishments in good standing, and the job is picked from the quota available on your file.
Job offer, contract and pre-approval
We file the job offer, the contract terms and the permit pre-approval together on Tasheel, with the offer signed by you and the worker.
Pay fees and arrange worker cover
Once MOHRE approves the permit, you pay the federal fees and put the bank guarantee or insurance in place.
Entry visa, medical and residence
The worker enters on a work entry visa, then completes the medical fitness test, Emirates ID and residence permit with the immigration authority.
Submit the contract
The employment contract is filed with MOHRE within 60 days of the worker's entry or change of status.
MOHRE work permits, answered.
Ask anything else on WhatsApp and we will answer for your company.
How much does a work permit cost in the UAE?
The federal application fee is AED 50. For a worker recruited from abroad, MOHRE adds an issuance fee of AED 250, AED 1,200 or AED 3,450 depending on your company's category. Fees exclude tax, collection charges, worker insurance and immigration costs.
How long does a MOHRE work permit take?
MOHRE's standard turnaround is 2 working days for each work permit or establishment transaction. The full hire usually takes longer because the entry visa, medical test, Emirates ID and residence permit follow.
What is a labour file or establishment card?
It is your company's registration with MOHRE, covering the owners, authorised signatories, activity and location. You need it before you can apply for any work permit. MOHRE lists a fee of AED 406 and a typical turnaround of 2 working days.
How does work permit quota work?
MOHRE grants quota electronically without a separate application. Your company needs a valid trade licence, no restrictions on its file, a valid Ta'qeem report and a job that matches its licensed activity. Overseas and mission permits use quota.
When can I renew a work permit?
You can renew a work permit and contract from 60 days before the expiry date. Federal fees and insurance for a renewal are paid when you apply.
How do I cancel an employee's work permit?
You file MOHRE's cancellation request form with a statement that the worker's dues are settled, and the worker signs to consent. The signature is waived in some cases, such as a worker who is outside the country. Cancellation typically takes 2 working days.
Can I employ someone who is on a spouse or family visa?
Yes. You apply for the work permit for dependents sponsored by family. It runs for 2 years, needs no quota and costs AED 50 to apply plus AED 250 on issuance.
Who pays for worker insurance in the UAE?
The employer pays for the Workers Protection Programme cover, and for Workers Health Insurance in the Northern Emirates. The employee pays for unemployment insurance, known as Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) insurance, at AED 5 or AED 10 plus VAT per month. The fine for not subscribing to ILOE is AED 400.
Tell us who you are hiring, and we will map the permit.
Message My Eloah Business Hub on WhatsApp with the role and where the person is now, and we will send the permit type, the documents and a quote.