Work Permits in Dubai: How They Work and How to Apply

Understanding and applying for a work permit

1. 1

   Know that the permit is the employer's responsibility

   Employers may not recruit or employ any worker unless a work permit is issued in accordance with MoHRE procedures. So the permit is tied to lawful hiring, not something you arrange casually on the side.

2. 2

   Check the basic age condition

   The worker must be at least 18 years old to be issued a work permit, except in the case of a juvenile work permit or a student training and employment permit. If you fall outside the standard case, a specific permit type applies to you.

3. 3

   Pick the permit type that fits your situation

   There are several kinds. A temporary work permit lets an establishment assign a worker already in the UAE to perform a task for a limited period in a different company, after which the worker returns to their original employer. A part-time work permit lets an establishment hire a worker — from inside or outside the UAE — under a part-time contract, where the working hours or days are fewer than those of a full-time employee.

4. 4

   Consider a transfer permit if you are changing employers

   A work permit to transfer a non-UAE worker from one establishment to another is valid for two years. This is the route when you move between companies rather than starting entirely fresh.

5. 5

   Look at freelance or juvenile permits where relevant

   A freelance work permit is issued to individuals who wish to engage in freelance work independently — including foreign nationals on self-sponsored residence visas — without being sponsored by an employer in the UAE and without an active employment contract. A juvenile work permit lets an establishment recruit a juvenile aged between 15 and 18 years, under specific conditions that ensure a safe and appropriate working environment for minors.

6. 6

   Make sure your employer stays compliant

   MoHRE may refrain from issuing or renewing, or may cancel, a work permit if the establishment provides incorrect documents, is fictitious or does not exercise its registered activity, or is not compliant with the Wages Protection System or any other labour market regulatory systems in the UAE. Working with a legitimate, compliant employer protects your status.

7. 7

   Confirm current fees and processing times

   Amounts and timeframes are not fixed here — check the current figures on the authority's website before you apply, renew or cancel a permit.

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