Employment of expatriates in privately held companies
The work permit allows you to enter the UAE and stay for two months until your employer finalises your residence permit, which would be valid for two years or one year depending on your contract.
Initial steps
To enter the UAE for employment purposes, your employer in the UAE must first issue you an official work offer that conforms to the standard employment contract adopted in the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), which is the entity responsible for regulations for the private sector in the UAE. The employment offer must be duly signed by both the employer and employee, and registered with the ministry and at that point, the employer can apply for a work permit for the employee.
Verify your job offer
You can inquire about the authenticity of a job offer you receive from the UAE through the eService or call on toll free number 800 60 (from within the UAE) or use these communication channels provided by MoHRE. Read our tips to avoid labour and visa fraud.
Initial work permit
To process your work permit, the employer will ask you for the following:
- a color photograph with a white background
- a copy of the worker's passport valid for six months
- authenticated academic qualifications, if required depending on job level (whether high school, diploma, university degree or equivalent)
- a letter of approval issued by the competent entity, if required for certain posts (such as a physician, pharmacist, nurse, teacher and others).
*Remember that UAE law requires your employer to pay the costs of the issuance of an entry visa and travel to the UAE, and the costs of post arrival processing requirements such as medical tests in the UAE, and the issuance of your residency permit. Be aware of your rights.
There are ten types of work permits that are issued to expatriate workers. Learn more about these work permits. Usually, it takes five calendar days to issue a new work permit in the UAE.
Employment residence permit
The work permit allows you to enter the UAE and stay for two months until your employer finalises your residence permit, which would be valid for two years or one year depending on your contract.
Working without first obtaining the proper visa status is illegal and could lead to imprisonment, fines and/or deportation.The penalties apply to both: the employer and the employee.
Be familiar with the employment laws
Expatriates coming to reside in the UAE for employment purposes must be familiar with their rights and obligations. Read this brochure issued from MoHRE. This will help ensure that your stay in the UAE is a successful one.
Read also the UAE Labour Law and employment resolutions and circulars.
Read more about employment in the UAE in the following pages:
