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Dreaming of living and working in Dubai, UAE? To work in Dubai, you need a valid employment visa in UAE. Though the process of obtaining a work visa in UAE is comparatively simpler, it would be better if you have a good understanding of the work visa processing in UAE.
UAE has a vibrant and diverse expatriate population. Based on the latest surveys, it is estimated that 80% of the overall population are foreign expatriates. A significant majority of the total population comprises foreign expatriates from South Asia. Being one of the most preferred employment destinations in Asia, the UAE government has an integral role in implementing employment and visa-related formalities. The official formalities are pretty smooth and straightforward. We shall go through the formalities in detail.
Work Visa In UAE
Dubai is one of the seven emirates in UAE, and the process for getting an Employment Visa in UAE is similar to that of other emirates. Dubai employment visas or work visas in UAE are issued to skilled and qualified professionals who are employed by organizations, companies, institutions, and business enterprises as technicians, engineers, technical experts, senior executives, etc. To pursue a job and reside in the UAE, a foreign national must acquire a valid residency visa. The foreign national may acquire the Work visa after the issuance of the Residency Visa. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) issues the work permit for the Employment Work visa in UAE.
In most cases, foreign nationals would have secured a job before they enter the Emirates. Therefore, foreign nationals need not perform the official Work Visa issuance-related formalities all by themselves after entry. The entire visa-related formalities must be carried out by the company hiring the employee. And it is also mandatory by law that the hiring company should bear the expenses involved in attaining the Work visa of the employee.
When it comes to employment in Dubai, UAE the Work visa issued may differ according to the category and duration of the job. The visa application process involves documentation and certain legal procedures.
Requirements to obtain Work Visas in UAE
To obtain an Employment visa in UAE, employees will need the following documents:
- A valid passport and a photocopy
- Passport photos
- An Emirates ID card
- An entry permit (work permit approval from MOHRE)
- The results of a medical screening
- A copy of a company card from the employer
- A copy of the company’s commercial license
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How It Works — Step by Step
- Check eligibility — share your passport copy and situation on WhatsApp or email, or visit any of our four offices, and get a free quote within 10–30 minutes.
- Work permit — the employer applies for the work permit through MOHRE (mainland) or the free zone authority.
- Entry permit or change of status — issued so the employee can enter the UAE or switch status from inside the country.
- Medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics — we book the appointments and guide you through them.
- Handover — we share the issued visa and hand over your documents at our office or through our free delivery.
Visa rules change from time to time, so we confirm the current ICP, GDRFA or MOHRE requirements for your case before applying.
Who Needs This Service
Every foreign national who works for a UAE employer needs an employment visa. The employer is the sponsor and applies on the employee's behalf:
- New hires joining mainland or free zone companies
- Employees changing jobs within the UAE
- Employers and HR teams handling visas for their staff
- Professionals whose job title requires attested educational certificates
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to attest my degree for an employment visa?
For many professional job titles, yes — the degree must be attested in the issuing country and by the UAE embassy there, which now completes the UAE MOFA attestation digitally. We handle the attestation and any Arabic translation.
Can I start work before the visa is issued?
You should only start work once the work permit is approved; the employer can advise on the permitted start date.
Can my employer apply while I am outside the UAE?
Yes. The employer applies for the work permit and entry permit, and you complete the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics after arriving.
Employment Visas for Companies: Bulk Visas and PRO Support
For employers, a work visa is a sequence of company-side approvals before it is a personal file. Mainland companies work through MOHRE: the establishment card and quota, then a work permit for each hire, then the entry permit or status change, medical, Emirates ID and residence with GDRFA or ICP, and finally the contract registration. Free zone companies do the same through their free zone authority's portal instead of MOHRE.
- New companies: immigration file and establishment card first, then the first visas. We handle this as part of mainland setup or free zone setup.
- Several hires at once: one tracker per employee, attested degrees checked before the work permit is filed, medicals grouped where possible.
- Ongoing PRO work: renewals, cancellations, transfers and trade license renewal through our PRO services.
Work permit rules and skill levels are published by MOHRE. Company visa quotas and fees depend on the license and activity, so each request gets its own written quote.
The Correct Order: Work Permit to Residence Visa
- Work permit: the employer applies to MOHRE (mainland companies) or to the free zone authority. The job title decides whether an attested degree is required.
- Entry permit or status change: an entry permit if the employee is abroad, or a status change if they are already in the UAE.
- Medical fitness test: at an approved health center in the emirate.
- Emirates ID biometrics: fingerprints and photo at an approved center.
- Residence visa: issued electronically through GDRFA (Dubai) or ICP (other emirates), linked to the passport and Emirates ID.
- Employment contract: registered with MOHRE for mainland employees.
Employers often ask us to run this sequence for new hires so no step is missed. If you are on a visit visa, see our status change service.
Degree Attestation for Skilled Job Titles
For many professional job titles (engineers, teachers, accountants, managers, healthcare staff), MOHRE or the free zone asks for an attested degree before the work permit is approved. A degree issued abroad is authenticated in the issuing country and legalized by the UAE embassy there, which now completes the UAE MOFA attestation digitally. Some roles also need an equivalency certificate. We handle degree certificate attestation for more than 50 countries, and our checklist of documents to attest for a UAE visa covers the family side too.
High earners with a degree may also qualify for the self-sponsored Golden visa for professionals (AED 30,000 monthly salary, MOHRE skill level 1 or 2).
Changing Jobs and Visa Transfer
When you change employer, the new company applies for a new work permit and the old one is cancelled, usually without you leaving the UAE. The steps depend on whether you move between two mainland companies, between free zones, or between the mainland and a free zone. Your family's visas stay linked to your residence, so plan the timing with us to keep everyone's status valid. If your old visa has already been cancelled, the grace period applies; see visa cancellation.
Last checked: 29 September 2026 against MOHRE and ICP guidance on work permits and employment residence.
