UAE Work Visa Types 2026: All 13 MOHRE Work Permits, Fees & How to Get One

If you want to work in the United Arab Emirates, you need to understand one thing first: the UAE does not have a single "work visa." There are two separate layers — a work permit issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) that gives you the legal right to work, and a residence visa issued through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or GDRFA that lets you live in the country. You need both, and your employer normally handles both.

This guide explains every MOHRE work permit type in 2026, the official fees, the Green Visa and freelance routes for people who want to work without an employer sponsor, the exact step-by-step employment visa process, and the mistakes that get applications rejected. If you want the bigger picture of your rights as a worker once you are employed, start with our complete guide to UAE labour law and employee rights.

Work permit vs residence visa: the two-layer system explained

Many job seekers confuse these three terms:

• Work permit: MOHRE's permission for a specific establishment to employ a specific worker. It is applied for by the employer, not the worker. Without it, you cannot legally work in the mainland UAE (free zones have their own licensing, but most follow the same federal rules).
• Employment entry permit: the entry visa that lets you enter or remain in the UAE for 60 days from the date of entry while your residence formalities (medical test, Emirates ID, residence visa) are completed.
• Residence visa: the long-term permission to live in the UAE, linked to your employment. It is issued after the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics.

The practical order is: job offer → employer applies for work permit → entry permit issued → you arrive (or complete status change inside the UAE) → medical test → Emirates ID → residence visa. Only when the visa is issued and the labour contract is registered is everything fully complete.

The 13 MOHRE work permit types (2026)

MOHRE issues 13 types of work permits, each matched to a specific employment situation. Your employer chooses the one that fits — you cannot apply for one yourself. The current official list (per the UAE Government portal u.ae, updated August 2026) is:

Permit type	Who it is for	Typical validity
Recruit from outside the UAE	Hiring a worker who is currently outside the country	2 years
Transfer between establishments	Moving a non-UAE worker from one employer to another	2 years
Resident on family sponsorship	Employing a resident already in the UAE on a family member's visa	2 years
Temporary work	Assigning a worker already in the UAE to another company for a limited task	Limited period
One-mission	Bringing in a worker from abroad for a specific, time-bound project	Project length
Part-time	Working fewer hours/days than full-time; can hold more than one with approval	2 years
Juvenile	Employing 15–18 year-olds under special safeguards	1 year
Student training & employment	Employing a student aged 15+ already in the UAE	3 months
UAE/GCC national	Employing a UAE or GCC national	2 years
Golden Visa holder	Employing someone who holds a Golden Residency Visa	2 years
National trainee	Training a UAE citizen according to academic qualifications	12 months (renewable)
Freelance	Self-employed individuals with no employer or active contract	Per service/task
Private teacher	Qualified professionals offering private tuition	2 years

1. Standard work permit (recruit from outside the UAE)

This is the classic route: a UAE company offers you a job while you are in your home country, applies for the work permit, and you arrive on an employment entry permit. It is valid for two years and renewable. Processing time is officially two working days once the employer submits a complete application with the approved job offer attached.

2. Transfer permit

If you are already employed in the UAE and move to a new employer, the new company applies for a transfer permit. Note that changing jobs has its own rules — see our guide to UAE notice period rules for resignation and termination so you leave your current job cleanly and your end-of-service settlement is correct (read our gratuity-after-resignation guide too).

3. Family-sponsored resident permit

If you are in the UAE on your spouse's or parent's visa, a company can hire you under this permit instead of switching your sponsorship. This is useful for people who want to keep their family sponsorship while working.

4. Temporary and mission permits

The temporary permit lets a company borrow a worker already in the UAE for a short assignment; the mission permit brings someone in from abroad for a single project. Both are time-bound — they are not routes to long-term employment.

5. Part-time permit

The UAE Labour Law has allowed employees to hold a second, part-time job since 2010, and MOHRE formalised it with the part-time permit. You can work for more than one employer in skill levels 1 and 2 without the other employer's approval, subject to MOHRE rules. Official government fees are an application fee of AED 100 plus an approval fee of AED 500.

6. Freelance permit

The freelance permit is for self-employed professionals who provide services to individuals or companies without being sponsored by a specific employer and without an employment contract. It is also the gateway document for the Green Visa freelancer track (see below). Note that you still need the MOHRE freelance/self-employment permit before you can be issued a 5-year Green residence.

7. Golden Visa holder permit

Golden Visa holders do not need employer sponsorship to live in the UAE, but if they take a job, the employer still registers them with MOHRE under a Golden Visa holder work permit. The permit is tied to that specific employer and is generally valid for two years — it is not portable if you switch companies.

8. Juvenile and student permits

The UAE allows limited employment from age 15 under strict safeguards: juvenile permits (15–18) are valid one year, and student training permits are valid three months. Working conditions for young workers are heavily restricted by the Labour Law.

9. Private teacher permit

Added as the 13th permit type, this authorises qualified professionals to offer private tuition, with a two-year validity.

UAE work permit fees 2026

Official federal fees for a two-year work permit depend on the employer's MOHRE classification category:

Service	Category 1	Category 2	Category 3
Work permit application	AED 50	AED 50	AED 50
Issuance of 2-year work permit	AED 250	AED 1,200	AED 3,450
Work permit renewal (2 years)	AED 250	AED 1,200	AED 3,450
Transfer & employment between establishments	AED 250	AED 1,200	AED 3,450
Mission permit issuance	AED 250	AED 250	AED 250
Transfer / contract modification	AED 50	AED 50	AED 50

Other useful official figures: many inside-UAE services (temporary, part-time, juvenile and training permits for valid residence-visa holders) carry a federal fee of AED 50; the Golden Visa holder / freelance two-year permit is AED 250; the part-time permit totals AED 600 (AED 100 application + AED 500 approval). On the residence side, GDRFA lists the work entry visa issuance fee at AED 200 plus 5% VAT, with an AED 500 in-country fee if the sponsored person is already inside the UAE, plus Knowledge and Innovation Dirham charges.

The Green Visa: 5-year residency without employer sponsorship

The Green Visa (Green Residence) is the UAE's 5-year self-sponsored residence, updated by ICP in August 2026. It is available in three tracks:

• Skilled workers: must have a valid employment contract, be in MOHRE occupational levels 1–3, hold at least a bachelor's degree, and earn at least AED 15,000 per month.
• Freelancers and self-employed: must hold a MOHRE freelance/self-employment permit, hold a bachelor's degree or specialised diploma, and show freelance income of at least AED 360,000 per year for the previous two years (or demonstrate financial solvency).
• Investors and partners: must show proof of investment or an active partnership in a UAE-based project with the relevant licences and approvals.

The Green Visa lets you sponsor your family, gives a 6-month grace period after cancellation or expiry, and does not tie you to a single employer. The Green Visa work permit application fee is AED 200 plus 5% VAT. If you are already inside the UAE, add the Knowledge Dirham (AED 10), Innovation Dirham (AED 10) and the AED 500 in-country fee.

The freelance route: working for yourself in the UAE

If you do not want an employer at all, the freelance route has two doors: (1) a freelance permit with a free-zone or MOHRE framework that lets you invoice clients, and (2) the Green Visa freelancer track for 5-year self-sponsored residency once you meet the income threshold. You will need your own visa costs, health insurance and annual permit renewals, so budget accordingly. This route suits consultants, creatives, developers and other professionals with portable clients.

Employment visa process: the 6 steps (from outside the UAE)

For a standard hire from abroad, MOHRE sets out a six-step procedure the employer follows:

1. Log in: the employer's PRO logs in via UAE PASS or the establishment account.
2. Submit the application: the establishment files through the MOHRE website, smart app, Tasheel or another service channel.
3. MOHRE checks: the application is electronically referred to the Ministry to verify conditions and documents.
4. Complete missing requirements: if anything is missing, the establishment is notified to complete it.
5. Work permit approval: once conditions are met, the permit is approved.
6. Pay fees and attach the job offer: the employer pays the fees and attaches the job offer approved by the worker.

After the work permit, the residence track runs: employment entry permit (valid 60 days from entry) → medical fitness test → Emirates ID biometrics → residence visa issuance. In practice the whole process takes two to three weeks if documents are ready. The two-working-day figure applies to the work permit issuance itself, not the full residence process.

Offer letter vs labour contract: what to verify

Your job offer is attached to the work permit application — but the offer is not the contract. After you arrive, the employer must register the official MOHRE labour contract, and its terms (salary, job title, probation, notice) must match what you were offered. Always download and check your registered contract; we explain exactly how in our guide to checking your UAE labour contract online. If the registered contract differs from your offer, raise it with HR immediately and keep the signed offer letter as evidence.

Who pays the visa fees? (Your employer does)

UAE Labour Law prohibits employers from charging recruitment and employment costs to the worker. The work permit fees, entry permit costs and standard visa processing are the employer's responsibility — if an agent or employer asks you to pay for your own work permit, that is a red flag. Report it through the channels in our guide to filing a MOHRE labour complaint. You may legitimately pay for your own attestation, translations and (on the Green/freelance routes) your own visa costs, since there you are your own sponsor.

7 mistakes that get work visa applications rejected or delayed

1. Passport valid less than 6 months: GDRFA requires at least six months' validity. Renew before applying.
2. Name mismatches across documents: the name on your passport, degree and application must match exactly — the most common rejection reason.
3. Unattested qualifications: degrees usually need attestation from your home country plus the UAE embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
4. Signing an offer that differs from the contract: verify the registered MOHRE contract after arrival, not just the offer letter.
5. Working before the permit is issued: starting work on a visit visa while "the visa is processing" is illegal — both you and the employer can be penalised.
6. Paying an agent for your own work permit: recruitment costs are the employer's burden; paying them yourself often means you are dealing with a scammer.
7. Ignoring the 60-day entry permit window: complete your medical, Emirates ID and residence formalities before the entry permit expires to avoid overstay fines.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for a UAE work permit myself?

No. The work permit application is submitted by the establishment (employer) through MOHRE's channels. The only self-driven routes are the freelance permit and the Green Visa, which still go through MOHRE/ICP processes.

How long does a UAE work visa take?

The work permit itself is officially processed in two working days once a complete application is submitted. The full journey — entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and residence visa — typically takes two to three weeks.

How much does a UAE work visa cost in 2026?

Official federal fees for issuing a two-year work permit range from AED 250 to AED 3,450 depending on the employer's MOHRE category. The work entry visa costs AED 200 plus 5% VAT (GDRFA), with an extra AED 500 in-country fee if you are already inside the UAE. The employer pays these — not the worker.

What is the difference between the Green Visa and a normal employment visa?

A normal employment visa ties your residency to your employer. The Green Visa is a 5-year self-sponsored residence that does not require an employer sponsor, with a 6-month grace period after cancellation and the right to sponsor family.

Can I work in the UAE on a visit visa?

No. Working on a visit or tourist visa is illegal and can lead to fines, detention and deportation for the worker, and penalties for the employer.

Can I change jobs in the UAE?

Yes. Your new employer applies for a transfer work permit. Make sure you serve your notice period correctly — see our notice period rules guide — and confirm your end-of-service benefits with our gratuity guide.

Do Golden Visa holders need a work permit?

They do not need sponsorship to live in the UAE, but if they take a job, the employer registers a Golden Visa holder work permit (AED 250 federal fee, two-year validity, tied to that employer).

What salary do I need for the Green Visa as a skilled worker?

At least AED 15,000 per month, plus a bachelor's degree and a MOHRE occupational classification in levels 1–3.

What income do freelancers need for the Green Visa?

At least AED 360,000 per year of freelance income for the previous two years, or demonstrated financial solvency, plus a MOHRE freelance/self-employment permit.

What should I do if my employer delays my visa or salary?

Salary delays are a separate, serious matter — read our guide on WPS salary-delay rights and what to do. For visa or contract violations, use the MOHRE complaint process.

The bottom line

The UAE's work visa system is a two-layer machine: MOHRE's work permit (13 types, employer-applied, AED 250–3,450 for the standard two-year issuance) plus the residence track (entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, residence visa). Pick the route that matches your situation — standard employment, transfer, part-time, freelance, Green Visa or Golden Visa — verify your registered labour contract against your offer letter, and never pay recruitment costs that the law puts on the employer. Do that, and your UAE career starts on solid legal ground.