How UAE Work Visas Work
The UAE does not have an independent skilled worker visa that you apply for before finding a job. Instead, UAE work visas are employer-sponsored: your employer (the company that hires you) initiates the visa process on your behalf once you have accepted a job offer. This applies to both mainland UAE companies and to free zone companies, though the process differs slightly between them.
All foreign workers in the UAE must hold a valid residence visa and a UAE work permit (labour card) issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) for mainland roles, or by the relevant free zone authority for free zone roles.
The Employer-Sponsored Visa Process
After signing your employment contract, your employer applies for an employment entry permit on your behalf. Once approved, you will receive either an employment entry permit (if you are outside the UAE) or a status change permission (if you are already in the UAE on a visit or another visa). You must then enter the UAE (or change status) within the validity period of the permit.
After arrival in the UAE, the employer and employee jointly complete the following: employment contract attestation with MOHRE; medical fitness test at an approved centre; application for an Emirates ID at a Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) service centre; and residence visa stamping in your passport.
Required Documents
Documents you need to provide to your employer to initiate the process:
- Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity
- Attested educational certificates (degree and transcripts, attested in your home country and by the UAE embassy)
- Passport-sized photograph with white background
- Signed employment contract
- Copy of your current visa (if already in the UAE)
- Medical fitness test clearance (arranged in the UAE after arrival)
- Emirates ID application biometrics (completed at ICP service centre)
Medical Fitness Test
All new work visa applicants must pass a medical fitness test at a government-approved clinic or health centre in the UAE. The test screens for communicable diseases including tuberculosis and HIV. A failed medical fitness test prevents the issue of a residence visa — applicants who fail are typically required to leave the UAE.
Book your medical test promptly after arrival. Results are issued digitally and linked to your file via your Emirates ID application number.
Understanding Your Employment Contract
Since 2022, all UAE employment contracts must follow the MOHRE standard template and be in the standard unlimited-term format (fixed-term contracts were eliminated for mainland companies under the 2022 labour law reforms). Your contract must specify: job title; basic salary; allowances (housing, transport); and working hours.
The UAE Labour Law provides meaningful employee protections including: 30 days of paid annual leave after one year of service; end-of-service gratuity (calculated at 21 days' basic salary per year for the first 5 years); and protections against arbitrary dismissal. Review your contract against the standard template before signing.