UAE employment visa —
5–10 working days, end-to-end.
MOHRE work permit + GDRFA residency stamp + DHA medical + ICP Emirates ID. Full chain handled by YABS — applicant attends medical and biometrics in person; everything else we do.
- From
- AED 2,900
- Timeline
- 5–10 d
- Validity
- 2 years
- Provider
- MOHRE + GDRFA
Definition — Employment Visa
A UAE employment visa is a 2-year residency tied to a UAE-licensed employer. Process: (1) MOHRE work permit via Tasheel, (2) entry permit from GDRFA Dubai or ICP for non-resident applicants, (3) DHA medical fitness test, (4) Emirates ID biometrics at ICP, (5) GDRFA residency visa stamping. Standard processing 5–10 working days; premium expedited 1–2 days. Renewable indefinitely while employment continues. Tied to single employer — moving employers requires a new visa.
MOHRE skill levels and what they unlock.
MOHRE classifies every employment role into one of five skill tiers. Each tier has its own work-permit fee, education evidence requirement, and family-sponsorship implications.
| Tier | Typical roles | Education evidence | Permit fee | Family-sponsorship eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 — Specialist / Executive | C-suite, doctors, engineers, scientists | Attested PhD or specialist certificate | AED 250 (skilled cap) | Yes if salary ≥ AED 4,000 |
| Tier 2 — Skilled professional | Senior managers, qualified technicians | Attested bachelor's degree | AED 250 | Yes if salary ≥ AED 4,000 |
| Tier 3 — Technician / Diploma | Technicians, supervisors, foremen | Attested 2-year diploma | AED 250 | Yes if salary ≥ AED 4,000 |
| Tier 4 — Skilled administrative | Admin, sales, customer-facing roles | Attested high school | AED 500–1,200 | Conditional — depends on accommodation + salary |
| Tier 5 — Unskilled | Labour, helpers, drivers | Not required | AED 1,200+ | Not eligible |
5 steps to employment visa.
MOHRE work permit application via Tasheel
YABS files via approved Tasheel centre. MOHRE approves within 2–3 working days. Government fee varies by skill category (AED 250–1,200).
Entry permit (for non-resident applicants)
If applicant is outside UAE, GDRFA issues entry permit valid 60 days. Applicant travels to UAE on this permit.
Medical fitness test at DHA
DHA-approved medical centre conducts fitness test. AED 320 fee. Same-day results for most applicants. HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis screening.
Emirates ID biometrics at ICP
Applicant attends ICP centre for fingerprints, photo, signature. AED 200 for 2-year EID. Combined with medical, total in-UAE component is 1–2 days.
Residency visa stamping in passport
After medical pass + EID biometrics, GDRFA stamps 2-year residency visa in passport. e-visa available for travel-on-the-go. AED 1,100 government fee.
Where people get this wrong.
Pulled from 500+ YABS engagements. Each pitfall has a knock-on cost in time or AED — knowing them up front is half the value of using a PRO.
Filing as Tier 4 when the role is genuinely Tier 2/3
Cost: Higher permit fee paid; family sponsorship blocked; possible MOHRE re-classification at audit
YABS fix: We classify against the MOHRE Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) using job-description evidence, not just the title.
Skipping educational-certificate attestation before filing
Cost: MOHRE rejection at typing; AED 200 typing fee burned; 14–35 day delay for MoFAIC chain
YABS fix: We confirm attestation chain status (notary → foreign affairs → UAE embassy → MoFAIC) before opening the Tasheel ticket.
Hiring a candidate already on a current employment visa without cancellation
Cost: Both employers held in MOHRE quota; new application blocked; possible labour-law dispute
YABS fix: We require the previous employer's cancellation paper or NOC before starting the new work-permit application.
Forgetting Worker Protection / Involuntary Loss of Employment insurance enrolment
Cost: Work permit auto-suspended after 30 days; AED 100/month penalty; reinstatement fee on top
YABS fix: Every new employment visa we file includes Worker Protection + IL OE setup on day 1.
Document checklist.
- Original passport (minimum 6 months validity)
- Photo (white background, recent, 4 copies)
- Trade licence + Establishment Card (employer)
- Employment offer letter / contract
- Educational certificate (for skilled-category visas, attested via MoFAIC)
- Medical insurance certificate (mandatory for visa stamping)
What you actually pay.
| Item | AED |
|---|---|
MOHRE work permit (skilled category) Government fee, pass-through | 250 |
Tasheel typing centre | 200 |
GDRFA entry permit (non-resident) Skip if already in UAE | 700 |
DHA medical fitness | 320 |
Emirates ID (2-year) | 200 |
GDRFA residency stamping | 1,100 |
Medical insurance (basic, annual) Mandatory; cost varies | 800 |
| Government fees subtotal | 3,570 |
| YABS service fee | 600 |
| 5% VAT (on YABS service fee) | 30 |
| Total | 4,200 |
Government fees vary by activity and approval requirements. Final quote confirmed after activity selection.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a UAE employment visa take?
Standard employment visa: 5–10 working days from MOHRE work permit submission to Emirates ID issuance. Steps include MOHRE work permit (2–3 days), entry permit if outside UAE (3–5 days), medical fitness (1 day), Emirates ID biometrics (1 day), and visa stamping (2–3 days). Premium category roles can be expedited to 24–48 hours total at additional government fee.
Can I work for a different employer on the same visa?
No. Employment visa is tied to a single employer (the visa sponsor). Moving employers requires a new visa: cancel the existing one, transfer to new employer, new MOHRE work permit, new residency stamp. Total transfer time 14–21 working days. Free Zone residency offers some flexibility within zone-licensed companies.
What's the salary requirement for UAE employment visa?
There's no statutory minimum salary for visa eligibility itself, but: (1) family sponsorship by visa holder requires AED 4,000+ basic salary OR AED 3,000+ with company-provided accommodation, (2) some sectors have category-specific minimums set by MOHRE, (3) Wages Protection System (WPS) requires salary be paid via UAE bank monthly. Most professional roles pay AED 5,000+ to enable family sponsorship.
What is IL OE insurance and is it mandatory?
Involuntary Loss of Employment insurance is mandatory for all UAE employees as of 2023. Employer pays AED 60 (salary < AED 16,000/month) or AED 120 (salary > AED 16,000/month) per employee per year. Pays compensation if employee loses job involuntarily. YABS includes IL OE setup in employment visa processing.
Can I get UAE employment visa without a degree?
Yes for skilled-category visas via MOHRE Tier 2 or Tier 3 classifications — administrative, technical, and trade roles. Skilled-category Tier 1 (executive, managerial, specialist) requires attested degree certificate. Unskilled visas (labour, domestic) have separate processing rules. YABS confirms category eligibility before filing.
Also useful.
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This page was last reviewed by the YABS compliance team in Q2 2026 and reflects current Dubai DED, Dubai Municipality, DHA, MOHRE, FTA, and DLD requirements.