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To check your work permit status in the UAE, use the MOHRE inquiry service at inquiry.mohre.gov.ae. Choose Application Status for a permit still in progress, Pre-approval status for the first approval, or Electronic Work Permit Information once it is issued. MOHRE says its permits take 2 working days. A plain warning: the portal did not load from our checks on , so this guide uses our reading of .
Which check to use
| What you want to know | Where to check | Run by |
|---|---|---|
| Has my work permit application moved? | Application Status, inquiry.mohre.gov.ae | MOHRE |
| Is the first approval through? | Pre-approval status | MOHRE |
| Details of my issued permit | Electronic Work Permit Information | MOHRE |
| A copy to keep | Print Electronic Work Permit | MOHRE |
| Is my entry permit or residence issued (Dubai)? | GDRFA status inquiry | GDRFA |
| Same, other emirates | ICP application tracking or file validity | ICP |
When we read it, the MOHRE portal had 32 options, among them Worker Insurance and a domestic worker inquiry. None of them is called "labour card". Use Electronic Work Permit Information instead.
Before you start
You will need some of these, depending on the option:
- Your passport number, nationality and date of birth
- The application or transaction reference your employer received
- Your work permit number or personal number, if the permit is issued
- Your employer's name or establishment number
MOHRE did not show us which fields each option needs, and we could not re-check on 24 October. If one search fails, try another option before you assume something is wrong.
How to check, step by step
- Open inquiry.mohre.gov.ae on a computer. The options are easier to scan than on a phone.
- Pick the option that matches your stage from the table above.
- Fill in the fields exactly as on your passport.
- Read the result. If the permit is issued, save the electronic permit or print it.
- Once MOHRE is done, switch to the UAE visa status check for the entry permit and residence.
What the results usually mean
- No record found. The employer may not have filed yet, or you are using the wrong option. Ask your employer for the reference.
- Pending or under process. MOHRE is working on it, or waiting for something from the company.
- Approved or issued. The work permit exists. The visa is the next step, not the end of the process.
- Cancelled. A previous permit was closed. If you are changing jobs, that starts the 90-day window for your transfer: see change jobs in the UAE.
Fees behind the status you see
A status check is part of MOHRE's online services. MOHRE says its website and app services are free apart from federal fees. If your status is waiting on payment, the company owes these:
| MOHRE fee line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee, permit from abroad | AED 50 |
| Two-year permit, Category 1 | AED 250 |
| Two-year permit, Category 2 | AED 1,200 |
| Two-year permit, Category 3 | AED 3,450 |
| Business centre commission cap | AED 72 per service |
Source: MOHRE recruiting a worker from overseas page, checked .
The employer pays these. u.ae says recruitment and residency costs are the employer's, and charging job seekers recruitment fees is illegal.
Processing time
MOHRE gives 2 working days for a new permit, a transfer and a cancellation. After that, GDRFA lists 48 hours for an employment entry permit in Dubai. ICP gives 2 days for residency in the other emirates. A medical test and Emirates ID come after. Our work visa processing time page puts the whole chain in order.
Why a permit stays stuck
- The company has no electronic quota available.
- The job title does not fit the company's licensed activity.
- You still have an active permit with a former employer.
- Your degree is not attested for a skilled level job.
- The company's licence has violations or has expired.
The worker cannot fix most of these. Your employer's authorised representative has to. Keep a note of the date you signed the job offer so you can ask clear questions.
Practical tips
- Check after 2 working days, not every hour. The status rarely moves faster than that.
- Save a screenshot of every status with the date. It helps if there is a dispute later.
- If the permit was issued under the wrong job title or salary, raise it before the visa stage. It is harder to change later.
- A cancelled permit you did not agree to can affect your next job. Read the labour card guide on what the permit record holds.
Official sources
- MOHRE inquiry service: the option list, read . Not reachable from our checks on .
- MOHRE recruiting a worker from overseas: fees, processing time, quota rule.
- GDRFA status inquiry: entry and residence permits in Dubai.
- ICP application tracking: visas in the other emirates.
- u.ae labour rights: who pays.