Key takeaways
- A UAE company can hire a person who is on another company's visa once that person's existing work permit is cancelled, after which the new employer applies for a transfer work permit through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
- The MOHRE transfer work permit is valid for two years, takes 2 working days to process, and carries a federal application fee of AED 50 (checked October 2026).
- A transfer application to MOHRE must be filed within 90 days of the cancellation of the worker's previous work permit.
- A worker who leaves a UAE job for an illegitimate reason, or leaves during probation without following the legal steps, can be barred from a new work permit for one year.
- If the worker is still in probation with the old employer, the new employer may owe that employer the cost of recruitment under Article 9 of Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
- A free zone company issues staff visas through its own free zone authority, so the free zone's rules set the process there.
Can a UAE company hire someone who is already on another company's visa?
Yes. UAE law lets a non-national worker move from one registered establishment to another, and MOHRE issues a dedicated "transfer work permit" for exactly this. What it does not allow is working for you while the old permit is still active: the worker has to be released from the previous employer first.
The legal footing is Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and its Executive Regulations (Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022), which let a worker transfer when a fixed contract expires without renewal, ends under Articles 42 or 45 of the Decree-Law, or is ended by the employer for a reason not attributable to the worker.
The regulations contain no stand-alone requirement for a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the old employer. In practice, though, the old work permit must be cancelled before yours can be issued, and the cancellation is filed by the old establishment, so the old employer's cooperation still matters on timing.
What conditions apply to the worker and to your company?
The worker must be an adult with no live permit, and the hiring company must hold a valid licence with no violations that would lead to suspension. The table lists MOHRE's published conditions.
| Condition | What MOHRE requires |
|---|---|
| Worker's age | At least 18 years old |
| Existing permit | The worker must not hold an active work permit |
| Timing | Application filed within 90 days of cancelling the previous permit |
| Job match | The occupation must match the establishment's licensed activities |
| Licence | Valid, with no violations that would lead to suspension |
| Applicant | The establishment's authorised signatory |
| Job offer | An official job offer form signed by both employer and employee |
Source for the table: MOHRE transfer work permit service page, checked 21 October 2026.
Documents include a photo, a passport copy valid for at least six months, and certificates matched to the job's skill level. MOHRE can refuse or cancel permits where an establishment submits incorrect documents or does not comply with the Wages Protection System.
How do you hire them, step by step?
For a mainland company, MOHRE issues the work permit and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or the emirate's authority, such as GDRFA in Dubai, issues the residence visa.
- Confirm the worker's exit from the old job is lawful: the contract has expired, both sides have agreed to end it, or the required notice of 30 to 90 days has been served under Article 43 of the Decree-Law.
- Check that no work permit ban applies to the worker (see the ban section below); MOHRE answers on 600590000.
- Wait for the old employer to cancel the worker's current work permit through MOHRE; cancellation requires confirmation that the worker has received all entitlements.
- Agree the job offer and sign the official MOHRE job offer form with the worker.
- Have your authorised signatory file the transfer work permit application on the MOHRE website, the MOHRE app or at a service centre, within 90 days of the cancellation.
- Once MOHRE issues the permit, complete the residence visa, medical test and Emirates ID steps through ICP or your emirate's immigration authority, and issue the employment contract.
What does a transfer cost and how long does it take?
The MOHRE federal fee to apply for a transfer is AED 50, and the permit lasts two years. Issuance and renewal fees run from AED 250 to AED 3,450, depending on the company's classification (A, B or C).
| Item | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Federal fee, transfer application | AED 50 | MOHRE service page, checked October 2026 |
| Permit issuance or renewal | AED 250 to AED 3,450 by company category | u.ae work permits page, checked October 2026 |
| Processing time | 2 working days | MOHRE service page |
| Residence permit cancellation (Dubai, GDRFA) | AED 100, plus AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 Innovation Dirham | GDRFA, checked October 2026 |
Category C is for companies found violating labour law, so a clean record lowers the permit fee. Residence visa, medical test and Emirates ID charges vary by emirate; check the ICP or GDRFA portal for current amounts.
When can a worker be banned from a new work permit?
A foreign worker who leaves a job for an illegitimate reason, or leaves during probation without following Article 9, may not be granted a work permit for one year under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Article 50(1) also bars other employers who know about the ban from hiring the worker.
| Situation | Ban outcome | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Worker ends contract during probation, employer has not breached its obligations | One-year ban can apply | Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Art. 9(6) |
| Work abandonment report proven valid | One-year ban can apply | u.ae MOHRE page; Executive Regulations Art. 28 |
| Worker leaves before contract end for an illegitimate reason | One-year ban can apply | Decree-Law Art. 50(1); Executive Regulations Art. 28(2) |
| Family-sponsored visa holder, same-establishment permit, skills the UAE needs, or Golden Visa holder | Exempt | Executive Regulations Art. 28(2) |
Work abandonment means more than 7 consecutive days of absence where the employer cannot locate or contact the worker. Employing a worker who is not permitted to work for you carries a fine of AED 50,000 to AED 200,000 under Article 60(1).
What if the worker is still on probation?
A worker can move during probation, but Article 9 of the Decree-Law requires written notice to the original employer, and the new employer compensates the original employer for recruitment costs. Probation cannot exceed six months. If the worker leaves the country during probation, 14 days' written notice is still required, and a return within three months to take a new permit triggers the same compensation unless the parties agree otherwise (Article 9(4)). Budget for this before you make the offer.
If you'd rather not track visa renewals and permit dates by hand, the free UAE compliance calendar lists them for your company.
AED 50: the federal MOHRE fee to apply for a work permit transfer between two UAE establishments; the permit is valid for two years. Source: MOHRE transfer work permit service, checked 21 October 2026.
What do most guides not tell you?
- The "no NOC" headline hides a sequencing problem. The Executive Regulations do not require an NOC, but MOHRE will not issue your transfer permit while the worker holds an active one, and only the old establishment can cancel it. Agree the cancellation date in writing before the worker resigns, or your start date slips.
- The 90-day window can bite quietly. MOHRE requires the transfer application within 90 days of cancelling the previous permit. A worker with a long gap between jobs can fall outside it; confirm the position with MOHRE before relying on a transfer.
- Grace periods are not uniform. GDRFA states a 60-day grace period after a residence permit is cancelled, while the u.ae residence visa page says grace periods reach up to 6 months depending on resident category. Confirm the period for the specific worker.
- Free zone staff follow a different door. A free zone company's visas come from its free zone authority, and moves between free zones or from a free zone to the mainland can involve cancelling at one authority and issuing at another. Start with the free zone authority; no single process was verifiable for every free zone.
Which deadlines apply to your company after the hire?
New hires add permit renewals, visa expiries and Wages Protection System obligations. The free UAE compliance calendar lists your company's UAE tax and compliance deadlines, personalised from a few questions, as a PDF and calendar file.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a work permit and a residence visa?
A work permit from MOHRE authorises a person to work for a specific employer, while a residence visa from ICP or the emirate's immigration authority gives the person the right to live in the UAE. A mainland employee needs both, and a cancellation of one must be reflected in the other.
Can I hire a part-time employee in the UAE?
Yes. MOHRE offers a part-time work permit for fewer hours or days than a full-time role, and it lets a worker hold permits with more than one employer with Ministry approval.
What types of work permits exist in the UAE?
MOHRE lists 13 work permit types, including recruitment from outside the UAE, transfer between establishments, family sponsorship resident, temporary, mission, part-time, juvenile, Golden Visa holder, freelance and private teacher permits. The transfer permit is the one used when a worker moves from one UAE employer to another.
How do I get an employment visa for a new hire in the UAE?
For a mainland company, you first obtain the MOHRE work permit, then complete the residence visa, medical test and Emirates ID steps through ICP or the emirate's immigration authority. A free zone company applies through its free zone authority instead.
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
- MOHRE: Transfer work permit service
- u.ae: Work permits
- u.ae: Grounds for banning the issuance of a new work permit for one year
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relationship (u.ae)
- Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, Executive Regulations of Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (UAE Legislation)
- GDRFA Dubai: Cancellation of all types of residence permits
- u.ae: General provisions for the residence visa
Last checked: 21 October 2026
This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.