Employment Visa in the UAE
For professionals who have entered into an employment contract with a company registered in the UAE.
from AED 8 500
What Is an Employment Visa?
An employment visa is a 2-year residency visa issued to an individual who is officially employed by a UAE-based sponsor company. From the government’s perspective, the visa process involves two interrelated components:
- Immigration Component — Entry Permit → Residency Visa → Emirates ID;
- Labour Component — Work Permit / Labour Card issued by MOHRE or the relevant Free Zone Authority.
Both components must remain valid and active. If either part is inactive or expired, the individual is considered to be working illegally under UAE law.
Step-by-Step Process for Obtaining an Employment Visa
1 Pre-Approval / Job Offer Letter
- Application submitted via MOHRE or Free Zone portal;
- Signing of the Offer Letter electronically (in Arabic/English) by the employee.
2 Entry Permit (Work Visa)
- Outside UAE: 60-day entry permit issued;
- Inside UAE: Status change without exit (additional fee applies).
3 Medical Test + Emirates ID Biometrics
- Chest X-ray and blood test;
- Biometric data submission to ICP (Immigration).
4 Mandatory Health Insurance (Paid by Employer)
- Dubai: Basic coverage (in some cases, optional);
- Abu Dhabi: Standard base-level insurance;
- Note: Without an active health policy, the visa cannot be stamped.
5 Residency Visa Issuance (Sticker or e-Residence)
Issued for 2 years, with the option to renew upon expiry.
6 Work Permit / Labour Card
- Mainland: PDF card with QR code via MOHRE App;
- Free Zone: ID card available in the employee portal.
7 WPS Registration (Wage Protection System)
- Company sets up salary accounts (C3 card/e-wallet, or corporate IBAN);
- Monthly SIF file submission; salary must be credited by the 15th of the following month.
8 ILOE Insurance (Mandatory for Mainland Employees)
Must be registered within 4 months of visa activation.
What is ILOE?
- Involuntary Loss of Employment Scheme is a government-mandated insurance program that provides income protection in case of job loss.
- Salary ≤ AED 16 000 → AED 5/month (or AED 60/year).
- Salary > AED 16 000 → AED 10/month (or AED 120/year).
- Coverage: Up to 60% of basic salary, capped at AED 20 000/month for a maximum of 3 months.
Wage Protection System (WPS):
- An electronic salary transfer platform regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE.
- Employers submit a Salary Information File (SIF); employees receive payment via a bank or exchange house.
- A discrepancy greater than 10% from the declared salary triggers NON-COMPLIANT status.
- Repeated violations result in visa processing bans and blacklisting by MOHRE.
The contract and card are now fully digital; physical plastic cards are no longer issued.
How Smart Advisors Group Delivers Turnkey HR Compliance Solutions
Entry Permit & Visa Processing – e-card/channel registration, medical test coordination, and Emirates ID issuance.
Work Permits (MOHRE / Free Zone) – contract submission and renewals.
WPS Setup – salary file registration, bank coordination for payroll processing.
ILOE Subscription – bulk employee enrollment and contribution tracking.
Corporate & Family Health Insurance – basic and premium plan options.
Post-Visa Compliance Reporting – ESR, VAT, Corporate Tax, and UBO updates.
Need to set up the system from scratch or streamline your existing process?
Smart Advisors Group experts are ready to provide a checklist of required documents and a detailed support proposal.
Benefits of a UAE Work Visa
1 Legal right to live, work, and conduct business in the UAE
2 Bank account opening
3 Family sponsorship with simplified eligibility requirements
4 Property rental and ownership
5 Driving license eligibility
6 Vehicle registration
7 Access to loans and credit facilities
8 Visa-free entry to several countries, including some GCC nations
Frequently Asked Questions:
No. MOHRE considers salary payments an unconditional obligation of the employer, regardless of cash flow status.
Yes, if the visa is issued under a mainland company. For part-time employees under free zone visas, it is currently not mandatory.
By law, the employer is only required to provide health insurance for the employee. Family members must be insured by the employee, unless covered under the company’s internal policy.
The visa must be cancelled or transferred to another employee within 30 days. Failure to do so results in a penalty of AED 25 per day.
We’re Here to Answer Your Questions
Ready to discuss the best way to obtain your visa? Contact us, and we will prepare a personalized solution tailored to your goals, budget, and relocation plans.
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