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:
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
- Application submitted via MOHRE or Free Zone portal;
- Signing of the Offer Letter electronically (in Arabic/English) by the employee.
- Outside UAE: 60-day entry permit issued;
- Inside UAE: Status change without exit (additional fee applies).
- Chest X-ray and blood test;
- Biometric data submission to ICP (Immigration).
- Dubai: Basic coverage (in some cases, optional);
- Abu Dhabi: Standard base-level insurance;
- Note: Without an active health policy, the visa cannot be stamped.
- Mainland: PDF card with QR code via MOHRE App;
- Free Zone: ID card available in the employee portal.
The contract and card are now fully digital; physical plastic cards are no longer issued.
- 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.
What is ILOE?
Wage Protection System (WPS):
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Benefits of a UAE Work Visa
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually 2–3 weeks once the company's establishment card and visa quota are in place. The main steps are work permit, entry permit or status change, medical test, Emirates ID biometrics and visa stamping.
Two years, renewable as long as the employment contract and work permit remain active.
The employer. By UAE labour law the company bears the cost of the work permit, visa and mandatory health insurance and cannot recover these costs from the employee. Our turnkey service starts from AED 5,900.
A passport valid for at least 6 months, a photo on a white background, a signed offer letter and, for skilled positions, an attested degree. The company provides its trade licence and establishment card.
Yes. If the employee is already in the UAE on a visit or another visa, the status can be changed inside the country for an additional fee.
WPS (Wage Protection System) requires salaries to be paid through approved channels by the 15th of the following month. ILOE is mandatory unemployment insurance for employees, costing AED 5–10 per month; it must be activated within 4 months.
The employer must cancel the work permit and residence visa. The employee then has a grace period to leave the UAE or move to a new visa; the length depends on the visa category.
