UAE Work Permit 2024: A Guide To Get A Work Permit in UAE

So, you’re planning to stay in UAE for a long time, and in order to earn your living there, you’ll need to work in UAE. It’s worth noting that you’ll need a UAE Work Permit in order to work there. According to the UAE Government, working in the UAE without a work permit is illegal. So, you must apply for a work permit first. Today, we’ll guide you on the importance of an Emirates Work permit and how you can get a work permit.

Let’s get started without any further delay.

According to UAE Labour Law, it’s illegal to work in UAE without a work permit. So, you must have a valid work permit to work. A Work Permit is a document that licenses an individual to work in the UAE. A work permit is provided by a company registered in UAE, and its employer is responsible for providing you with the work permit.

The company’s employer processes the work permit application, and once the whole process is completed and accepted, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) issues the work permit.

A work permit was initially valid for 2 years, but UAE’s Federal National Council (FNC) has extended the validity from 2 to 3 years. This step was taken to lower the employees’ financial burden. Also, FNC has lifted the work permit fees for workers while switching jobs.

FNC has approved another recommendation that an employee should work under the same employer for at least 1 year after the probation period, and this condition can be lifted if the employee and employer mutually agree. An extension of the work permit was made in order to ease the working conditions and increase the potential savings of UAE employees.

MoHRE issues various types of work permits. Let’s have a look at the types of work permits.

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MoHRE issues 12 types of work permits to UAE residents. Let’s have a look at them.

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Although both are important in order to live in UAE, let’s have a look at what’s the difference between them.

A work visa is issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFAD), while a UAE work permit is issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

A work permit allows you to work in the UAE legally, while a work visa allows you to enter and leave the UAE for work purposes. You can get complete information about work visas at UAE Work Visa Guide.

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Before applying for a Dubai work permit, the establishment must fulfill the criteria of MoHRE. It should have:

The above conditions must be fulfilled as MoHRE can cancel or reject the application if:

The company hiring you is responsible for applying for the work permit on your behalf. Once you reach UAE, the employer will handle your work permit and work visa application procedure.

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When canceling a work permit, it’s worth noting that the establishments must have cleared all of the dues and entitlements for the employee. The work permit will not be considered canceled as long as the employee hasn’t signed the agreement. So, the permit will be canceled upon mutual agreement only.

More information can be found on MoHRE official website about the labour laws.

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Issuance and renewal of work permits can cost anywhere between 250 AED to 3450 AED, and it varies with the company’s classifications as companies are classified as A, B, and C.

The classification of the companies reflects their extent with UAE labour laws, MoHRE directives and regulations, Wage Protection Systems, Policies Promoting Demographic and Cultural Diversity, and Workers’ Rights Laws. C-Category companies show that they lack commitment and have a history of violations of UAE laws.

You can see how much it costs for a work permit for different categories below.

Schedule (1)
Work Permit From Inside The Country (Valid Residence Visa Holders)

Sr. No.	Service Type	Fee
1	Juvenile Work Permit	50 AED
2	Temporary Work Permit	50 AED
3	Part-Time Work Permit	50 AED
4	Training Permit	50 AED
5	Worker Testing Permit	50 AED
6	Residence Visa Holder Work Permit	50 AED
7	Golden Visa Holder or Freelance Work Permit for Two Years	250 AED

Schedule (2)
Work Permits From Outside The Country (All Employment Types)

Sr. No.	Service Type		Fee in AED
		Category 1	Category 2	Category 3
1	Work Permit Application	50	50	50
2	Issuance of Work Permit – Two Years	250	1200	3450
3	Issuance of Work Mission Permit	250	250	250

Schedule (3)
Renewal of Work Permits, Modification of Employment Contracts, Transfer of Employees from One Establishment to Another (All Contract Types)

Sr. No.	Service Type		Fee in AED
		Category 1	Category 2	Category 3
1	Work Permit Renewal – Two Years	250	1200	3450
2	Modification of Employment Contract	50	50	50
3	Transfer From One Establishment to Another Permit	50	50	50
4	Permit for Transfer and Employment of Workers from One Establishment to another	250	1200	3450

Schedule (4)
Licensing of Meditation and Employment Agencies

Sr. No.	Service Type	Fee in AED
		Issuance	Renewal
1	Meditation Agency License – One Year	25,000	12.500
2	Employment Agency License – One Year	50,000	25,000

Firms should take utter care not to violate the MoHRE’s laws, as upon violating these four terms, MoHRE will stop issuing any work permits to the firms. The four violations that firms should never commit are:

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A complete guide on UAE work permits has been shared above. You can go through the article to understand the importance of a work permit and how you can apply for one. Do let us know if you still need to ask anything.