Work Visas in United Arab Emirates
How to get a work permit and which routes actually exist
Almost all employment in the UAE runs through an employer who sponsors the residence permit, holds the work permit, and remains responsible for the employee's legal status. The employer applies for a work permit through the labour authority, an entry permit follows, and the residence permit and Emirates ID are issued after a medical fitness test inside the country. Free zone employment works the same way but through the free zone authority rather than the federal ministry.
| Labour authority, mainland | Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation source |
| Residence authority | ICP federally, GDRFA in Dubai source |
| Typical employment permit length | Commonly two years, renewable, tied to the employer |
| Required in-country steps | Medical fitness test, biometrics, Emirates ID source |
| Grace period after cancellation | Commonly around 30 to 180 days depending on the permit type source |
How employer sponsorship works
The employer, not the employee, is the applicant. The company applies to the relevant authority for a work permit, then for an entry permit that allows the person to enter for the purpose of employment. Once inside the country the employee sits a medical fitness test, gives biometrics, and receives an Emirates ID and a residence permit linked to the employer's establishment file.
Because the permit is attached to the employer, the employment relationship and the immigration status are the same thing. A resignation, a dismissal, or the closure of the company all end the basis of residence, and the employer is required to cancel the permit.
Federal labour law regulates contracts, working hours, leave, and termination for mainland private-sector employment, and the current framework uses fixed-term contracts with defined notice periods rather than open-ended employment.
Mainland and free zone are two different systems
A mainland company is licensed by the emirate's economic department and its employees are sponsored under the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. A free zone company is licensed by one of the many free zone authorities, each of which runs its own establishment cards, work permits, and quotas.
The distinction matters beyond paperwork. Free zones have historically allowed full foreign ownership and their own internal rules, while mainland licensing has been progressively opened to full foreign ownership in many activities. A free zone licence generally restricts where the company may trade directly, which is the usual reason a business chooses mainland instead.
Sponsoring yourself through a company
Forming a free zone company is a recognised way to hold residence without an employer. The owner takes an establishment card and then an investor or employee permit issued through the same company, which makes the person their own sponsor in practical terms.
Costs vary widely between free zones and depend on the licence activity, the number of permits requested, and whether physical office space or a flexi-desk is required. Annual licence renewal is a continuing obligation, and if the licence lapses the residence that depends on it lapses with it.
End of service and what happens when a job ends
Private-sector employees who complete at least a year of continuous service are generally entitled to an end-of-service gratuity calculated on basic salary, with the accrual rate commonly rising after five years of service. Contributory savings schemes have been introduced as an alternative in some cases.
When employment ends the residence permit is cancelled and a grace period begins. Its length depends on the permit type and has been extended in recent years, but it is finite: once it expires the person is out of status and daily overstay fines accrue. Transferring to a new employer within that window is the normal route, and it is now considerably simpler than under the old no-objection-certificate practice.
Indicative employment permit costs
| Item | Who normally pays | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit and labour card | Employer | Cost varies by company category and skill level |
| Entry permit | Employer | Issued before travel or on status change |
| Medical fitness test | Employer or employee | Standard and express options exist |
| Emirates ID | Employer or employee | Issued for the permit's duration |
| Health insurance | Employer | Mandatory in Dubai and Abu Dhabi |
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Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.