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A labour card in the UAE is the common name for the MOHRE work permit that lets a private company employ you. MOHRE now issues it as an electronic work permit, which you view or print on its inquiry service at inquiry.mohre.gov.ae. There is no separate card fee. The employer pays the work permit fee: AED 50 to apply plus AED 250 to AED 3,450 for two years, by company category.
Most people, forms and even some employers still say labour card. On the MOHRE pages we read in , the word "labour card" does not appear at all.
Labour card, work permit, visa: who issues what
| Document | Issued by | What it proves |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit (the "labour card") | MOHRE | The company may employ you in that job |
| Employment contract | MOHRE | Your pay, hours and terms with that employer |
| Entry permit and residence visa | GDRFA in Dubai, ICP elsewhere | You may enter and live in the UAE |
| Emirates ID | ICP | Your identity and residence |
So when a form asks for your labour card number, it usually wants a number from your MOHRE work permit record. The standard work visa and permit both run for two years.
What the labour card costs now
| MOHRE fee line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application, all categories | AED 50 |
| Two-year permit, Category 1 (A) | AED 250 |
| Two-year permit, Category 2 (B) | AED 1,200 |
| Two-year permit, Category 3 (C) | AED 3,450 |
| UAE and GCC nationals | Exempt |
| Business centre commission cap | AED 72 per service |
Source: MOHRE recruiting a worker from overseas page and classification notice, checked . u.ae gives the same AED 250 to AED 3,450 range for issue or renewal.
The category belongs to the company, not to you. Category 1 companies meet MOHRE's labour rules and an extra target, such as high Emiratisation. Category 3 is for companies with violations, and they pay the top fee with no discount. If someone quotes a "labour card fee" far above these lines, ask what else is inside it.
How to check or print it
- Go to inquiry.mohre.gov.ae.
- Pick Electronic Work Permit Information to see the details.
- Pick Print Electronic Work Permit for a copy.
- Fill in the fields as on your passport, or the reference your employer gave you.
The portal did not load for us on , so we could not re-check the exact fields. Our work permit status check guide covers the other options, including Application Status.
Renewal
The work permit and the employment contract are renewed together on MOHRE. MOHRE's contract page says the permit can be renewed up to 60 days before it expires. The employer files it and pays the same category fee.
Media report a monthly fine for late renewal. We did not find it on a MOHRE page we could read, so check MOHRE before relying on a number. Filing inside the 60-day window keeps the question away.
Documents the employer usually needs
- Your passport, valid for at least six months
- A recent photo on a white background
- The signed MOHRE offer or contract terms
- Attested degree, if your job is at skill level 1 to 4
- A valid company licence with no violations
How long it takes
MOHRE gives 2 working days to issue, transfer or cancel a work permit. Your visa steps at GDRFA or ICP come after the permit, not before.
Mistakes we see with labour cards
- Treating the Emirates ID as proof of employment. It is not. The work permit is.
- Not checking the job title and salary on the permit. They should match the offer.
- Paying a recruiter for the permit. u.ae says the employer pays, and recruitment fees from workers are illegal.
- Handing over your passport to an employer to hold. That is banned too.
- Leaving a job without the old permit being cancelled properly. The new employer cannot transfer you until it is.
When the labour card ends
Your employer cancels it on MOHRE when you leave, before your residence is cancelled at GDRFA or ICP. The order and fees are on our employment visa cancellation page. If you are moving straight to a new job, read change jobs in the UAE first. For the identity card side, see Emirates ID for residents.
Official sources
- MOHRE inquiry service: electronic work permit options; read , unreachable on 24 October.
- MOHRE recruiting a worker from overseas: fees, documents, processing.
- MOHRE employment contracts: renewal window.
- u.ae work permits: fee range, permit types.
- u.ae labour rights: employer pays, passport rule.
