Key takeaways
- The UAE Government portal u.ae lists 13 types of private sector work permit issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), as of 21 October 2026.
- A standard hire from outside the UAE needs the "recruit a worker from outside the UAE" permit, which is valid for 2 years and requires an available electronic quota.
- Short-term and flexible hiring has its own permits: a mission permit lasts 3 months (extendable once for another 3 months) and a part-time permit lasts 1 year.
- Workers aged 15 to 17 are covered by a juvenile permit (1 year), and a 15-year-old student already in the UAE can be trained on a student permit (3 months).
- MOHRE charges a federal fee of AED 50 per permit application, plus a business centre commission capped at AED 72 if you use one; issuance fees of AED 250 to AED 3,450 depend on your company's classification.
How many types of work permits does the UAE have?
The UAE Government portal u.ae lists 13 private sector work permit types. Each one exists for a different kind of worker or arrangement, and your choice decides the validity, the paperwork and whether you need an electronic quota.
The list below reflects the u.ae page as shown on 21 October 2026 (page last updated 19 October 2026). Where u.ae doesn't state a validity, the table says so rather than guessing.
| # | Permit type | Who it covers | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Recruit from outside the UAE | A worker hired from abroad | 2 years |
| 2 | Transfer between establishments | A non-UAE worker moving from one company to another | 2 years |
| 3 | Resident on family sponsorship | A UAE resident on a relative's sponsorship | 2 years |
| 4 | Temporary | A worker already in the UAE assigned to another company for a limited period | Not stated on u.ae (MOHRE service page states 2 years) |
| 5 | Mission | A worker for a specific short-term, project-based job | 3 months, extendable once for 3 months |
| 6 | Part-time | A worker on fewer hours or days than full-time | 1 year (MOHRE service page) |
| 7 | Juvenile | A worker aged 15 to under 18 | 1 year |
| 8 | Student training and employment | A student aged 15 or over for training or work | 3 months |
| 9 | UAE or GCC national | A UAE or GCC national employee | 2 years |
| 10 | Golden visa holder | A Golden Residency Visa holder inside the UAE | 2 years |
| 11 | National trainee | A UAE citizen trained under approved qualifications | 12 months, renewable by mutual agreement |
| 12 | Freelance | An independent freelancer with no employer sponsor | Not stated |
| 13 | Private teacher | A qualified professional giving private lessons | 2 years |
Source: u.ae and the individual MOHRE service pages listed under Sources, checked 21 October 2026.
Which work permit do you need for a normal full-time hire?
For a full-time employee recruited from abroad, you need the "recruit a worker from outside the UAE" permit; for someone already in the UAE on another company's sponsorship, you need the transfer permit instead. Both are valid for 2 years.
The recruitment permit requires an available electronic quota, a worker aged at least 18, an occupation that matches the licensed activity, and a valid licence with no violations that could lead to suspension. The candidate can't already hold an active work permit.
If the worker is a dependent on a relative's residence visa, the family sponsorship permit applies, and MOHRE's service page states that no electronic quota is required for that group. The same is stated for the national trainee route. A Golden visa holder can also be engaged on a dedicated 2-year permit.
What are the short-term and flexible work permits?
Three permits cover work that isn't a standard long-term hire: the temporary permit, the mission permit and the part-time permit. They differ mainly in who the worker's main employer is and how long the arrangement lasts.
- Temporary permit: a worker already in the UAE does a specific task for another establishment for a set period, then returns to the original employer. The current employer must approve the electronic permit form.
- Mission permit: an establishment engages a worker for short-term, project-based employment. It lasts 3 months, can be extended once for the same period, and needs an electronic quota.
- Part-time permit: the worker is 18 or over with a valid residence visa and works fewer hours or days than a full-time employee. Once issued, the worker may work for more than one employer, and MOHRE asks for a no objection letter from the current employer.
If you'd rather not track permit renewals and other dates by hand, the free UAE compliance calendar lists the deadlines for your company.
Which work permits cover young people and trainees?
Workers aged 15 to under 18 can be employed through the juvenile permit (valid 1 year), and students aged 15 or over through the student training and employment permit (valid 3 months). A UAE citizen being trained can be engaged on the national trainee permit.
For a juvenile, MOHRE asks for written consent from the guardian or custodian, a medical certificate confirming fitness for the job, and a Ministry-approved employment contract signed by both parties. Dangerous work banned by ministerial decree is excluded. A student permit also needs proof of student status and, for training, a no objection certificate from the educational institution.
What do UAE work permits cost and how long do they last?
Most permits carry a federal fee of AED 50 per application, with a business centre commission capped at AED 72 if you use one. Issuance and renewal fees range from AED 250 to AED 3,450 depending on the company's classification, as of 21 October 2026.
| Item | Amount (AED) | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Federal application fee | 50 | Permit applications listed on MOHRE service pages |
| Business centre commission (maximum) | 72 | Where a business centre submits the application |
| Two-year permit issuance, Category 1 | 250 | Recruiting a worker from overseas |
| Two-year permit issuance, Category 2 | 1,200 | Recruiting a worker from overseas |
| Two-year permit issuance, Category 3 | 3,450 | Recruiting a worker from overseas |
| Family-sponsored dependent permit issuance | 250 | Resident on a relative's sponsorship |
| Private teacher permit | Free for 2 years | Private teachers |
Fees exclude tax and collection charges, and u.ae points to Cabinet Resolution No. 37 of 2022 for fee amendments. u.ae doesn't state per-type fees for every permit in text, so confirm the amount for your permit and company category with MOHRE before you pay.
13: private sector work permit types listed by the UAE Government portal, with validity running from 3 months to 2 years where stated. Source: u.ae, Work permits (MOHRE), page last updated 19 October 2026, checked 21 October 2026.
How do you apply for a UAE work permit?
The company's authorised signatory submits the application through the MOHRE website, the MOHRE smart app or a Service Center. MOHRE's service pages state a completion time of two working days for most permit services.
- Confirm that your trade licence is valid, free of violations and covers the worker's occupation.
- Check whether the permit type needs an electronic quota, and confirm you have one if it does.
- Collect the worker's colour photo on a white background and a passport copy valid for at least six months.
- Prepare MOHRE's official job offer form, signed by both employer and employee.
- Attach an academic certificate matching the job's skill level (levels 1 and 2: bachelor's degree or higher; levels 3 and 4: diploma or higher; level 5: high school certificate; levels 6 to 9: none) and any professional licence the profession needs.
- Submit through the MOHRE website, app or Service Center and pay the federal fee.
- Complete the separate residence visa and Emirates ID steps once the permit is issued.
What most guides don't tell you
A work permit is not a residence visa. A work permit authorises the job; the residence visa is a separate step. A worker who is already resident (on family sponsorship or a Golden visa) still needs the right work permit.
Choosing by validity alone can backfire. A mission permit lasts 3 months and can be extended once for 3 months, so a project that runs 8 months can't be covered by one mission permit. Plan for that before the 6 months run out.
Free zone companies may not use the same route. The u.ae page describes MOHRE's services for private sector establishments; if your licence is from a free zone, ask the free zone authority which permit and which portal apply to your company.
Which deadlines apply to your company?
Work permits, licence renewals and tax filings all run on different dates. 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
What is the difference between a work permit and a residence visa in the UAE? A work permit is the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) approval that lets a specific employer engage a specific worker in a specific job. A residence visa is the separate immigration permission to live in the UAE, and a worker who is already resident (for example on a family sponsor's visa) still needs a work permit before starting.
How do I hire someone who is already on another company's visa? You apply for a transfer permit, which moves a non-UAE worker from one establishment to another, or for a temporary or part-time permit if the person will keep their current employer. MOHRE's temporary and part-time services both involve the current employer's approval or no objection letter, so agree it with them first.
Can I hire a part-time employee in the UAE? Yes. MOHRE issues a part-time work permit, valid for one year according to its service page, to workers aged 18 or over who hold a valid residence visa, and the holder may work for more than one employer. Your company still needs a valid licence and the job must match your licensed activity.
How do I issue an employment contract that complies with UAE labour law? For mainland companies, the offer and contract start from MOHRE's official job offer form, signed by both employer and employee, which MOHRE requires with most permit applications. Contract terms then need to follow Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and its implementing regulation, Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022.
What is MOHRE and when does my company need to register with it? MOHRE is the federal ministry that regulates private sector employment and issues work permits. Mainland companies that employ staff deal with it directly; if you are in a free zone, check with your free zone authority which employment services run through MOHRE and which through the free zone.
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, Work permits (MOHRE, page showing last update 19 October 2026)
- MOHRE, Issuance of a new work permit: recruiting a worker from overseas
- MOHRE, Temporary work permits
- MOHRE, Mission work permit
- MOHRE, Part-time work permit
- MOHRE, Juvenile work permit
- MOHRE, Training and work permit for students
- MOHRE, Work permit for dependents sponsored by family members
- MOHRE, Work permit for UAE national trainees
- MOHRE, Work permits of Golden Visa holders
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relationship (MOHRE)
- Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, Implementing Regulation (UAE Legislation portal)
Last checked: 21 October 2026
This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.