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The UAE has 13 types of work permit, all issued by MOHRE (the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation) for private sector jobs. The main ones are the permit to recruit from abroad and the transfer permit, both valid for two years. Others cover family-sponsored residents, temporary and mission work, part-time contracts, juveniles, students, freelancers and private teachers. MOHRE charges AED 250 to AED 3,450 to issue or renew one, by company category.
A work permit is not a visa. MOHRE lets the company employ you. GDRFA in Dubai or ICP in the other emirates gives you the entry permit and residence. Most employees need both, in that order: see how the work visa process runs.
All 13 work permit types
This is the list on the u.ae work permits page, updated , in the order it gives them.
| Permit | Who it is for | Validity on u.ae |
|---|---|---|
| Recruit a worker from outside the UAE | A company hiring someone who lives abroad | 2 years |
| Transfer between establishments | A non-UAE worker moving to a new employer | 2 years |
| Resident on family sponsorship | Someone on a spouse's or parent's visa taking a job | 2 years |
| Temporary work permit | A worker already in the UAE doing a time-limited task at another company | Not stated |
| Mission work permit | A worker brought from abroad for a temporary job or a set project | Not stated |
| Part-time work permit | A worker on fewer hours or days than full time | Not stated |
| Juvenile work permit | Ages 15 to 18, under safety conditions | 1 year |
| Student training and employment | Students aged 15 who are already in the UAE | 3 months |
| UAE and GCC national | Emirati and GCC citizens in private jobs | 2 years |
| Golden visa holder | Golden residence holders employed by a company | 2 years |
| National trainee | Training UAE citizens | 12 months, renewable by agreement |
| Freelance work permit | Self-employed people with no employer sponsor, including those on self-sponsored residence | Not stated |
| Private teacher | Private tutoring by approved groups | 2 years, free |
Source: u.ae work permits page, checked .
Fees by permit type
| Fee line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Issue or renew a work permit, by company category | AED 250 to AED 3,450 |
| MOHRE application fee, new permit from abroad | 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 |
| Private teacher permit | Free |
| Business centre commission, maximum | AED 72 per service |
Source: u.ae work permits page (checked ) and the MOHRE recruiting from overseas page and classification notice (checked ).
The category is your employer's MOHRE classification, set under Cabinet Resolution 18 and Ministerial Resolution 209, in force since . u.ae now calls them A, B and C. MOHRE still says 1, 2 and 3. They are the same tiers.
We could not read an official amount for the temporary, mission, part-time or freelance permits. News sites print figures that disagree with each other, so we leave them out. The temporary work permit page explains that gap.
Which permit fits your case
Start with two questions: where is the worker now, and who holds their residence?
- Abroad, joining a UAE company full time. Permit to recruit from outside the UAE, then a GDRFA or ICP entry permit. See work visa in Dubai.
- In the UAE on a company visa, moving jobs. Transfer permit. The change jobs in the UAE guide covers notice and timing.
- In the UAE on a husband's, wife's or parent's visa. Family sponsorship permit. Your residence stays where it is.
- Abroad, coming for one project. Mission permit.
- Here already, lent to another company for a short job. Temporary permit.
- Working for yourself. Freelance permit, often paired with a free zone licence or the green visa. See freelance visa in Dubai.
- Golden residence holder taking a job. Golden visa holder permit.
What every permit needs
u.ae sets the same base conditions for all types:
- The worker is at least 18, except on juvenile and student permits.
- The job matches the company's licensed business activity.
- The company holds a valid licence with no violations.
- The worker meets the job's requirements.
- An authorised company representative applies, on the MOHRE app, website or another MOHRE digital channel.
For a permit from abroad, MOHRE also asks for a white-background photo, a passport valid for six months, the MOHRE job offer signed by both sides, and an attested degree that matches the skill level. Levels 1 and 2 need a bachelor's degree, 3 and 4 a diploma, 5 high school, and 6 to 9 nothing. A job paying under AED 4,000 a month, or with no degree, counts as not skilled.
Steps and processing time
- The company checks that it has an electronic quota and a valid licence.
- Both sides sign the MOHRE job offer.
- The authorised representative files the permit type that fits and pays MOHRE's fees.
- MOHRE issues the permit. Its pages give 2 working days for new permits, transfers and cancellations.
- If the worker needs a visa, the employer then applies to GDRFA or ICP.
Why permit applications get stuck
- The job title does not match the company's licensed activity.
- The company has no electronic quota left.
- The worker still has an active permit with a previous employer.
- The degree is not attested, or does not match the skill level claimed.
- The company is in Category 3 because of violations and the fees surprise the budget.
Who pays
u.ae is direct: the employer pays recruitment, travel and residency costs, and charging recruitment fees to job seekers is illegal. Keeping a worker's passport is banned too. If anyone asks you to pay for your own work permit, read our work visa requirements page before you hand over money.
Official sources
- u.ae work permits: the 13 types, validity, conditions, fee range.
- MOHRE recruiting a worker from overseas: documents, skill levels, category fees, commission cap (read ; the site refused our connection on 24 October).
- MOHRE classification notice: the three categories.
- u.ae labour rights: who pays, recruitment fee ban.