UAEResidence permit

Work visa in the UAE

Standard work residence is the status granted against a specific employment contract with a company in the UAE. It is arranged by the employer: the employer obtains the work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and the emirate's immigration service issues the residence. You cannot file the application yourself. That is what sets it apart from the Green Visa and the golden visa, where the resident sponsors themselves.

Visa term

2 years, renewable on the conditions set by the visa authorities.

Work

An ordinary work visa arranged by the sponsoring employer.

Source: The Official Portal of the UAE Government (u.ae)

How the work visa is obtained

The route in depends on where the candidate is at the time of filing.

Hiring from abroad

A candidate with an offer from a UAE company who is outside the country
The work permit costs from AED 250 to AED 3,450 depending on the company's category; the application is filed by the employer
A signed offer, MOHRE approval, then the entry permit

Change of status inside the country

The person is already in the UAE — on a visit or moving to another employer
The same fees plus a separate line for processing without leaving the country
A MOHRE permit for the transfer between companies and a valid lawful status

When this status does not suit

The residence is tied to an employer in the UAE. Three limits follow from that.

There is no employer in the UAE: freelance work, your own project, working directly with clients

The Green Visa for self-sponsored skilled professionals, or a MOHRE freelance permit.

Green Visa

You need a status that does not disappear along with the employment contract

The golden visa — long-term residence with no tie to an employer.

Golden Visa

The person lives mainly outside the UAE: an absence of more than 180 days in a row wipes out the residence

Residence for those who work outside the UAE.

Remote Work Visa

What it costs

ResidenceIssue of the residence visa	200 AED
Knowledge dirhamA federal fee paid by everyone	10 AED
Innovation dirhamA federal fee paid by everyone	10 AED
Delivery	20 AED
Processing inside the countryPaid by those obtaining residence without leaving the UAE	+500 AED
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Processing inside the country” adds 500 AED. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	240–740 AED

Paid separately

Work permit — paid separately at the MOHRE rate for the company's category
Medical examination —
Medical insurance —
Emirates ID — the rate is not published on the ICP and GDRFA cards

The rates of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai. In other emirates the fees are set by the ICP. For each year beyond two, the issuing fee rises by AED 100.

Documents to gather

A passport copy with at least six months' validity
A personal photograph
An employment contract
A MOHRE work permit — where the employer falls under the labour law
The medical examination report

How the process runs

1
The offer
The employer issues a job offer in Arabic, in English and in a third language the employee understands. The signed offer is attached to the work permit application.
2
Work permit
5 working days through the Work Bundle platform
The company files the application with MOHRE, and the ministry checks the set of documents.
3
Entry permit
Once approved, an entry permit is issued, on which the employee enters the UAE.
4
Signing the contract
14 days from the date of arrival
The parties sign the employment contract. The contract term may not exceed three years.
5
Medical examination
Employees give samples at an accredited medical centre.
6
Issue of the residence
about 48 hours in Dubai
The immigration service issues the residence permit.

Who you can bring with you

The holder of work residence sponsors close relatives once they have obtained their own status. Relatives aged 18 and over undergo a medical examination.

Spouse

A sponsor's salary from AED 4,000, or from AED 3,000 if the employer provides housing

Sons

Up to the age of 25

Unmarried daughters

The page sets no age condition

Children with special needs

The page sets no age condition

Trips, renewal and the grace period

There is no minimum stay. An absence of more than 180 days in a row cancels the residence: you can return only on a new entry permit.

The residence is renewed for the same term, and the application is again filed by the employer. Once the permit expires or is cancelled, GDRFA Dubai gives 60 days to leave or arrange a new status.

How the work visa differs from the green and the golden

The main question in choosing is who holds the visa and what happens on dismissal.

	Work visa	Green Visa	Golden Visa
Term	2 years	5 years	5 or 10 years
Who holds the visa	The sponsoring employer	The holder themselves	The holder themselves
Ground	An employment contract	Qualifications, freelance work or a share in a company	Investment, talent or outstanding merit
Absence of more than 180 days	Residence is cancelled	Residence is kept	Residence is kept

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Permanent residence is not granted in the UAE. Work residence is renewed every 2 years; longer stays run on green or golden residence.

Route to citizenship

Time spent living in the country has no bearing on citizenship. A passport is granted on nomination by federal bodies: to investors, doctors, scientists, inventors, figures in culture and their families. The decision is taken by the rulers' courts, the executive councils and the Cabinet, and the previous citizenship may be kept.

Frequently asked questions about Work visa

How many years is a work visa granted for in the UAE?

For two years. After that it is renewed for the same term for as long as the employment relationship continues.

Who arranges the work visa — me or the company?

The company. The applications for the work permit and for the residence are filed by the employer. From the employee a signed offer is needed — it is attached to the application before filing.

How much does residence cost outside Dubai, through the ICP?

The ICP charges AED 100 for the application, AED 100 for each year of residence, AED 100 for the smart service and AED 20 of financial deposit. A change of status without leaving adds a separate line.

What happens to the visa if I am dismissed?

The residence rests on the employment contract, so after dismissal it is cancelled. u.ae writes of flexible grace periods of up to six months depending on the resident's category — the exact term is stated by the emirate's immigration service.

How much time is given to complete the formalities after entry?

A stay in the UAE for the purpose of arranging residence must not exceed 60 days from the date of entry. For each day beyond the permitted stay a fine of AED 50 is charged.

What is checked at the medical examination for the visa?

Infectious diseases, primarily HIV and tuberculosis. Nursery workers, domestic staff, and employees of food outlets, salons and fitness clubs also have tests for syphilis and hepatitis B. On renewal of the visa the tuberculosis screening is taken again.

Other ways to move to UAE

Every route in one list — migration programmes: UAE.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.