Key takeaways
- A UAE work permit is the labour approval that lets an employee enter the country and work for a named employer; it allows entry and a stay of two months, per u.ae (as of October 2026).
- A UAE residence visa is the separate immigration permit, finalised after the employee arrives, that lets the person live in the UAE; u.ae describes it as valid for one or two years depending on the contract.
- A mainland UAE employer gets the work permit from MOHRE; a free zone employer gets both the work permit and the residence visa from its own free zone authority, because free zone staff are sponsored by that authority.
- The employer pays for the entry visa, the travel to the UAE, the post-arrival medical test and the residency issuance; UAE law puts these costs on the employer, not the employee.
- MOHRE issues 13 work permit types to establishments registered with it, and the fee for issuing or renewing a permit runs from AED 250 to AED 3,450 depending on the company's A, B or C classification (u.ae, October 2026).
- Working without the right status is illegal and can lead to imprisonment, fines or deportation for both the employer and the employee.
What is the difference between a work permit and a residence visa in the UAE?
A work permit gives a person the right to work for a specific employer; a residence visa gives the person the right to live in the UAE. They come from different authorities, they do different jobs, and one does not replace the other.
The work permit is a labour document: on the mainland the employer applies for it through MOHRE, and u.ae says it lets the worker enter the UAE and stay for two months. The residence visa is an immigration document that the employer finalises after the worker arrives.
| Item | Work permit | Residence visa |
|---|---|---|
| What it allows | Entry and employment with a named employer | Living in the UAE |
| Who applies | The employer | The employer |
| Typical validity | Two months on entry (initial permit) | One or two years, depending on the contract |
| Stage | Before arrival | After arrival |
Source: u.ae pages on employment of expatriates and on the residence visa for working in the UAE, checked 21 October 2026.
How does the process work from job offer to residence?
The sequence runs from a signed job offer to a work permit, then entry, then the residence visa; the employee cannot skip ahead. Here is the order for a mainland hire, based on the u.ae employment process.
- The employer issues a job offer in MOHRE's format; both sides sign and MOHRE registers it. The offer must be in Arabic, English and a third language the worker understands.
- The employer applies to MOHRE for the initial work permit, attaching the signed offer.
- The employer collects the documents: a colour photograph on a white background, a passport copy valid for six months, authenticated qualifications where the job level requires them, and an approval letter for regulated posts such as physician, pharmacist, nurse or teacher.
- The worker enters the UAE on the work permit.
- The employer submits the employment contract to MOHRE within 14 days of arrival.
- The employer finalises the residence permit.
Fixed-term contracts cannot exceed three years, though they can be renewed. Giving MOHRE false information can bring a fine of up to AED 20,000 (u.ae, October 2026).
Who issues the work permit and the visa on the mainland and in a free zone?
On the mainland, MOHRE handles the work permit and the immigration side runs through ICP and the emirate's GDRFA; in a free zone, the free zone authority issues both. The split matters because it decides which portal you use and whose rules apply to your staff.
| Setting | Work permit | Residence visa | Which rules apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland | MOHRE (eSignature card first, then pre-approval) | ICP and the emirate's GDRFA (GDRFA Dubai for Dubai private sector workers) | Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 |
| Free zone | Respective free zone authority | Respective free zone authority | The free zone's own employment rules, generally aligned with federal law |
| DIFC and ADGM | Their own authorities | Their own authorities | Independent employment frameworks |
On the mainland, MOHRE issues an eSignature card only after inspecting the premises, and that card is a prerequisite for any employer application. MOHRE sets the hiring quota from legal form, premises area, projects and need; GDRFA then issues the firm card that opens the company's immigration file. In a free zone the visa quota depends on your package, so check the authority's rules before you promise a hire a start date.
What types of work permit does MOHRE issue?
MOHRE issues 13 work permit types to establishments registered with it, each with its own purpose and validity. Choose by where the worker is today and how long you need them. All figures below are from u.ae, checked 21 October 2026.
| Permit type | What it is for | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Recruitment from outside the UAE | Bringing in a worker from abroad | 2 years |
| Transfer between establishments | Moving a worker already in the UAE to a new employer | 2 years |
| Family sponsorship resident | Hiring UAE residents on family sponsorship | 2 years |
| Temporary | A limited task for another company | Limited period |
| Mission | A specific temporary project for an overseas worker | Time-bound |
| Part-time | Fewer hours or days; several employers with approval | Not stated |
| Juvenile | Workers aged 15 to 18 | 1 year |
| Student training and employment | A 15-year-old student in the UAE | 3 months |
| UAE or GCC national | Employing a UAE or GCC national | 2 years |
| Golden visa holder | People in the UAE with a Golden Residency Visa | 2 years |
| National trainee | Training a UAE citizen | 12 months |
| Freelance | Independent work, no employer sponsor | Not stated |
| Private teacher | Private lessons by qualified professionals | 2 years |
The general conditions: the worker must be at least 18 (except juvenile and student permits), the job must match the establishment's licensed activity, the trade licence must be valid and free of violations, and a legally authorised representative must submit the application.
AED 250 to AED 3,450: the range of fees for issuing and renewing a MOHRE work permit, depending on the company's A, B or C classification. Source: u.ae, Work permits page, checked 21 October 2026.
What does it cost to renew a residence visa, and what if it lapses?
Renewing a residence permit through ICP costs AED 300 in total (three fees of AED 100 each), and the service is listed as taking 2 days. After expiry or cancellation the holder gets a grace period before fines start, and its length depends on the category.
| Item | Amount or period (ICP, as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Application, renewal (per year) and smart service fees | AED 100 each, AED 300 total |
| Overstay fine after the grace period | AED 50 per day |
| Grace period: Golden, Green and Blue Residence holders | 180 days |
| Grace period: skilled workers in levels 1 to 3, property owners | 90 days |
| Grace period: permits issued with a guarantor or host | 60 days |
| Grace period: all other categories | 30 days |
The AED 300 total is our sum of the listed fees. For a work residence, ICP asks for the employment contract plus either a MOHRE work permit or proof of Wage Protection System compliance, depending on the employer. These figures cover ICP renewal only; initial issuance, medical test and typing centre charges aren't published in the sources we checked, so confirm them with your authority before budgeting.
What most guides don't tell you
The two-month entry window on the work permit is the time in which the rest of the process has to be finished, not a cushion. If the contract isn't filed with MOHRE within 14 days of arrival, or the residence step stalls, the worker is in the country on a permit that is running out, so line up the medical test and Emirates ID steps before the worker lands.
Licence activity and quota stop more applications than documents do. The job on the offer must match your licensed activity, and a mainland licence must be valid and free of violations before MOHRE will issue a permit, so amend the licence before you add a role outside it.
Free zone staff are sponsored by the free zone authority, not by their employer, and each free zone has its own employment rules; DIFC and ADGM run independent frameworks. A hire who has worked on the mainland therefore can't assume the same rules, notice periods or paperwork apply, so ask the authority before you promise terms.
If you'd rather not track visa expiries, renewal windows and contract filing dates by hand, the free UAE compliance calendar lists them for your company: 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 MOHRE and when does my company need to register with it?
MOHRE is the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the federal authority that issues work permits to mainland establishments registered with it. A mainland company needs an eSignature card and a firm card before it can hire; most free zone companies deal with their free zone authority instead.
How do I hire someone who is already on another company's visa?
Use the transfer between establishments permit if you are a mainland employer: it moves a non-UAE worker who is already in the country to a new employer, valid for 2 years. Free zone companies apply through their own free zone authority, whose transfer rules and cancellation steps can differ.
Can I hire a part-time employee in the UAE?
Yes, a part-time work permit lets a mainland employer engage a worker for fewer hours or days than full-time, whether the worker is inside or outside the UAE. A part-time worker can serve more than one employer with Ministry approval.
What types of work permits exist in the UAE?
u.ae lists 13 MOHRE work permit types, from recruitment from outside the UAE and transfer between establishments to temporary, mission, part-time, juvenile, golden visa holder and freelance permits. The table above sets out what each is for and how long it lasts.
Which deadlines apply to your company?
Visa renewals, contract filings and licence dates all run on different clocks, and missing one costs money. The free UAE compliance calendar lists the deadlines that apply to your company, personalised from a few questions, as a PDF and calendar file.
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: Employment of expatriates in privately held companies
- u.ae: Job offers and the employment process (private sector)
- u.ae: Work permits (MOHRE, 13 types)
- u.ae: Recruiting on the mainland
- u.ae: Recruiting in free zones
- u.ae: Working in free zones
- u.ae: Residence visa for working in the UAE
- ICP: Renewal of residency permits
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Employment Relationships, as cited on u.ae
Last checked: 21 October 2026
This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.