Key takeaways
- A UAE mainland employment visa for a new hire runs in a fixed order: signed job offer, MOHRE initial work permit, entry permit, arrival, medical test and Emirates ID biometrics, then the residence visa stamp.
- The MOHRE work permit is issued for 2 years, and the entry permit is valid for 2 months, so a new hire abroad has to travel inside that window (u.ae, checked October 2026).
- A MOHRE work permit costs AED 250, AED 1,200 or AED 3,450 for two years depending on the employer's category, plus a AED 50 application fee (MOHRE, checked October 2026).
- A UAE employer can only start the process once the company holds a valid licence, a MOHRE establishment card, an available e-quota and an authorised signatory to submit the application.
- The employee must be at least 18, must not hold an active work permit with another company, and must have a profession that fits the activity on your licence.
- Free zone companies usually run work permits and visas through their own free zone authority rather than MOHRE, so the forms, quota and fees differ from the mainland process described here.
What are the steps to get an employment visa for a new hire in the UAE?
For a mainland company, the process has eight steps and the order matters, because each approval unlocks the next. Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and Ministerial Decree No. 46 of 2022 set the framework, and u.ae and MOHRE describe the sequence.
- Register the company with MOHRE (mohre.gov.ae) to receive an establishment card, then obtain the establishment e-signature card.
- Confirm your electronic quota with MOHRE; quotas follow Cabinet Resolution No. 203 of 2022.
- Issue the MOHRE job offer using the official form, signed electronically by the employer and sent to the worker. It must be in Arabic and English plus a third language the worker understands.
- Apply on MOHRE for the initial work permit with the signed offer attached. Approval lets the worker enter the UAE.
- Apply to ICP or GDRFA for the work entry permit, valid for two months, and the worker travels to the UAE.
- On arrival, the employer and worker sign the job offer, which MOHRE registers as the binding employment contract within 14 days of arrival.
- The employee takes the medical fitness test and gives biometrics for the Emirates ID.
- Once the results clear, the employer applies for the residence visa, which is stamped in the passport, and MOHRE issues the labour card.
If the worker is already in the UAE on a visit visa, the order changes slightly: the worker signs the job offer before the employer applies for initial approval, and a status change replaces the entry permit step.
Who can apply, and what must your company have in place first?
Your company needs a valid licence with no violations that would lead to suspension, an available e-quota, and an authorised signatory to submit the application. Those are MOHRE's own conditions for a work permit from overseas.
The worker side has three conditions that trip up applications: the person must be at least 18, must not already hold an active work permit with another company, and must be hired into a profession that fits your licensed activity. Regulated professions such as doctors, nurses and teachers need approval from the relevant authority as well. The quota depends on your legal status, facility size, projects and business needs, so a new company shouldn't assume it can hire five people the week after the licence arrives.
What documents does MOHRE ask for?
MOHRE asks for a white-background colour photo, a passport copy valid for at least six months, the signed official job offer form, and qualifications that match the worker's skill level. Professional licences are added where the job is regulated.
| Document | Detail |
|---|---|
| Photo | Clear colour photo, white background |
| Passport | Copy valid for at least 6 months |
| Job offer | Official MOHRE form, signed by employer and employee |
| Qualifications, skill levels 1 and 2 | Bachelor's degree or higher |
| Qualifications, skill levels 3 and 4 | Diploma or higher |
| Qualifications, skill level 5 | High school certificate |
| Qualifications, skill levels 6 to 9 | No certificate required |
| Professional licence | From the relevant authority, for regulated jobs |
| National ID copy | Both sides, for workers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq or Iran |
Accurate as of 16 October 2026. u.ae adds that qualifications should be authenticated by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so confirm attestation before the offer goes out.
What does it cost to hire one employee on a mainland visa?
The MOHRE federal fees for one employee are AED 50 to apply plus AED 250, AED 1,200 or AED 3,450 for the two-year permit, depending on the employer's category. Those figures exclude tax and collection charges.
| Cost item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit application fee | AED 50 | MOHRE |
| Two-year permit, Category 1 | AED 250 | MOHRE |
| Two-year permit, Category 2 | AED 1,200 | MOHRE |
| Two-year permit, Category 3 | AED 3,450 | MOHRE |
| Business centre commission | Capped at AED 72 per service | MOHRE |
| Worker protection: bank guarantee | At least AED 3,000 per worker | u.ae |
| Worker protection: Taa-meen insurance | AED 137.5 (skilled) or AED 180 (low-skilled) | u.ae |
| Medical, entry permit, residence visa, Emirates ID | Not published on the pages checked | ICP, GDRFA, health authority |
Accurate as of 16 October 2026. The worker protection line is a choice: u.ae says employers can pick the bank guarantee or the insurance scheme under Ministerial Resolution No. 318 of 2022. MOHRE assigns your establishment category, so ask for it before you budget.
If you'd rather not track these dates by hand, the free UAE compliance calendar lists your company's visa renewals and other deadlines.
How long does the process take?
MOHRE lists 2 working days for the work permit service, and the medical examination takes about 40 minutes with the report ready in 1 to 2 days. No official page gives one total, because ICP or GDRFA processing, the worker's travel date and biometrics appointments sit outside MOHRE's control.
What you can plan around are the validity windows: the entry permit lasts two months, and the permit has 60 days in which the approval fees and guarantee must be paid. Dubai's government portal also says the residence visa and labour card should be applied for within the first 60 days of arrival.
How is it different if your company is in a free zone?
Free zone companies generally sponsor staff through their own free zone authority rather than MOHRE, so the quota, forms, fees and processing times vary by zone. The medical test and Emirates ID steps still apply because the residence permit comes from ICP.
Say a SHAMS consulting company hires one analyst. It would start with the free zone's visa quota and application channel, not with a MOHRE establishment card. Ask the free zone for its current visa fee schedule in writing before you sign the offer.
60 days: the period in which approval fees and the worker protection guarantee must be paid after a work permit is approved, or the permit is cancelled and you apply again. Source: u.ae, Recruiting on the mainland, checked 16 October 2026.
What most guides don't tell you
- The permit can lapse before the visa does. If the approval fees and guarantee aren't paid inside the 60-day permit validity, u.ae says the permit is cancelled and you restart.
- The job offer is a legal document. It binds both sides once registered as the contract, and giving MOHRE false information can draw fines of up to AED 20,000. Write the salary and job title you'll actually use.
- Replacing a candidate has limits. MOHRE allows a replacement or nationality change within six months of issuance, up to two times, and only if the profession and gender stay the same. A candidate who pulls out late is a recoverable problem, but a different role is not.
- Contract length isn't the same as visa length. The permit runs two years, but u.ae says a fixed-term contract can't exceed three years. Check that your contract term and the visa term are set deliberately.
Which deadlines apply to your company?
Every hire adds permit, visa, Emirates ID and renewal dates that are easy to miss when they sit in different inboxes. The free UAE compliance calendar is a free calendar of your company's UAE tax and compliance deadlines, personalised from a few questions, as a PDF and calendar file.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a UAE employment visa take to process? MOHRE lists 2 working days for the work permit service alone, and the medical report takes 1 to 2 days after a test of about 40 minutes. MOHRE doesn't publish a single end-to-end time for the whole process, so ask your PRO for the current time at ICP or GDRFA before you promise a start date.
What is an establishment card and why do you need it? An establishment card is the MOHRE file and number linked to your business licence, and your company needs it before it can request any work permit. For a mainland company, the establishment e-signature card is also a prerequisite, and MOHRE inspects the facility before issuing it.
How much does a UAE employee visa cost in 2026? The MOHRE two-year work permit costs AED 250, AED 1,200 or AED 3,450 depending on the employer's category, plus a AED 50 application fee, all excluding tax and collection charges (checked October 2026). The medical, entry permit, residence visa and Emirates ID fees aren't published on the government pages Qawi checked, so get them itemised in writing.
What are the medical test and Emirates ID steps for a new employee? After entering the UAE, the employee takes the medical fitness test at an approved centre and gives biometrics for the Emirates ID. The employer then applies for the residence visa once the results clear, and the visa is stamped in the passport.
What is the difference between a work permit and a residence visa? A work permit is the MOHRE approval that lets a specific employer hire a specific worker. A residence visa is the ICP or GDRFA permit that lets the worker live in the UAE, and it is issued on the strength of the work permit.
About Qawi · Qawi is a corporate services firm licensed in the Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) free zone, handling company formation, visas and PRO, bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax for UAE businesses. Guides are researched from FTA, Ministry of Finance and free zone sources. Qawi on LinkedIn
Sources
- u.ae: Recruiting on the mainland
- u.ae: Expatriates' employment in the private sector
- MOHRE: Recruiting a worker from overseas
- u.ae: Insurance system for employees in the private sector
- u.ae: Residence visa for working in the UAE
- UAE Government: Examination of medical fitness for residency visa
- Dubai government portal: Employment in private sector
Last checked: 16 October 2026
This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.