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Anyone looking to work in Dubai needs a work visa. A Dubai work visa, issued by GDRFA or a free zone authority, allows people from foreign countries to live and work in UAE.
Dubai is a fast-growing innovative hub for global professionals. Every year, thousands of expats are hired across industries such as finance, construction, tech, education, AI, media, science, etc. City’s lifestyle, safety, less taxes, and pro-expat policies increase its appeal for job seekers. No wonder why expats make 88.5% of UAE’s total population.
Quick summary:
If you are also planning to start job in Dubai or are a UAE company looking to hire foreign nationals, this guide is perfect for you. We will discuss the meaning of work visa, its types, costs, application process, and more.
A work visa in Dubai (also called as employment visa) is a residence permit that allows foreigners to live and work legally in UAE, usually for 2 to 3 years. To get one, you need a valid job offer, relevant experience, and a valid passport. Employment visa Dubai is issued by General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) for mainland employment, and respective freezone authority in case of a freezone job.
In most of the cases, once a foreigner gets a job with UAE based company, his employer sponsors his visa so that he can legally come here and join his job. However, there are options like golden visa and green visa which are self-sponsored.
Please note that non-citizens must obtain both a work visa and a work permit to work and live legally in Dubai.
No, a work visa and work permit in Dubai are not same. They are distinct but interconnected. A Dubai work permit (or labour card) is a legal permission to work in Dubai whereas a work visa is residence permit that allows you to enter and live in UAE for employment.
Differences between Dubai work permit and visa
| Aspect | Work permit | Work visa |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Confirms that holder is allowed to work in Dubai | Allows foreign workers to live in Dubai for job purpose |
| Issuing authority on mainland | Ministry of Human resources & Emiratisation (MoHRE) | General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) |
| Issuing authority in free zones | Respective free zone authority | Respective free zone authority |
| Scope | Related to employment | Related to immigration |
The common types of Dubai work visa include an employer-sponsored visa, 5-year green visa and the prestigious 10-year golden visa.
Here is a brief explanation of each:
The standard employment visa is the most common residency route for professionals employed in government or private sectors in Dubai. It is issued for 2 or 3 years. The employer sponsors this visa for their hires and handles major responsibilities including work permit, Emirates ID, visa, and paying the fees. Upon expiry, the employer either renews or cancels the visa.
The UAE green visa is a 5-year residency visa meant for skilled employees and freelancers/self employed, who meet certain eligibility.
Eligibility for skilled employees:
Eligibility for freelancers/self-employed:
This visa is self sponsored and includes the benefits of family sponsorship.
Type 3- Golden visa (self sponsored, 10 years visa):
Golden visa is a 10 year residency in UAE meant for entrepreneurs, investors and talented professionals. Doctors, nurses, scientists, business executives, inventors, Ph.D. holders, and those with exceptional skills can apply for this visa.
Since it is a residency option, employees still need a work permit and a valid job contract for working legally in Dubai. Golden visa does provide some exciting benefits though:
Useful insights: Golden visa for professionals
Any person above 18 can get a Dubai work visa as long as both the employee and employer satisfy MoHRE’s criteria. Given below are the basic conditions for getting working visa in UAE:
Eligibility for employees:
Eligibility for employer:
There is no age limit for expats seeking work visa in Dubai. However, when someone is above 65, then sponsor must pay an additional AED 5,000 every two years.
To get a work visa in Dubai, an application must be submitted to GDRFA or to the respective free zone authority. Below given are the detailed steps of Dubai work visa application:
The process starts when a person receives a job offer from a UAE-based employer. Both sides (employer and employee) sign a formal employment contract. This contract becomes the foundation of visa.
If the hiring company is newly established, it must apply for visa quota approval from the Ministry of Labour. A visa quota simply means the number of work visas the company can apply for. The quota depends on the office size. For example, the company must have at least 9 square meters of office space to sponsor one visa.
After securing visa quota approval, the employer applies for work permit with MOHRE or respective free zone authority on behalf of the employee. They must submit all required documents such as employee’s passport copy, photos, and attested educational certificates, company’s trade license, signed job contract, etc., for the same.
The government will check if the employer is a licensed and recognized business entity in Dubai. Once approved, the work permit can be downloaded from the MOHRE website or app. After work permit is approved, employer can apply for employee’s entry permit.
The employer requests an entry permit from GDRFA-Dubai so that the employee can enter the UAE and continue the visa process. If the person is already inside Dubai on another visa, the entry permit helps initiate visa status change (conversion of existing visa into working visa). Entry permit usually provides 60 days in which employee needs to complete the residence visa formalities including medical tests and Emirates ID registration.
Entry permit validity:
Upon arrival in Dubai, the employee must take a medical test at a govt-approved healthcare center. A medical fitness certificate is issued after passing the tests. At the same time, application is made for Emirates ID and the employee completes biometrics registration (fingerprint and photo). Everything is arranged by employer.
The signed labour contract must be uploaded on the Ministry of Labour website within 14 days of receiving medical results.
Health insurance is mandatory for Dubai visas and renewals. The employer must get suitable health insurance for the employee. The cost of insurance will depend on the plan type (basic, premium).
Once all the formalities are completed, the employer will apply for employee’s residency visa. Dubai work visa online apply process is simple. Once approved, GDRFA Dubai (or the respective free zone) will issue Dubai work visa electronically. With all the visas and permits in hand, the employee can officially start working in UAE.
Important notes:
Professionals can apply for a 10-year Dubai golden visa without requiring sponsorship from the employer. Below is the outline of the steps involved:
Prepare important documents including your passport copy, salary proof (minimum AED 30k/month), attested degrees and certificates, police clearance, health insurance, UAE job contract, etc.
Use official portals like ICP or GDRFA to apply for the golden visa. Make sure you apply under the right category i.e., professionals.
Fill in the details on the application form. Upload the necessary documents. Reviewing details once before submission is recommended to avoid mistakes.
Complete the payment of the necessary fees through any of the payment methods available after which your application will be submitted.
Authorities will review your application. After approval from the immigration authority, the golden visa will be granted. The whole process can take 3 to 6 months.
To fast track your golden visa in Dubai, you can call our professional consultants at Dubiz.
The following are the general Dubai work visa requirements:
Please note that the specific requirements may vary depending on the category of visa (such as the golden visa, green visa, or regular visa).
The cost of a work visa in Dubai starts from AED 5,000* for a standard visa (2-year validity).
Here are the key cost components:
| Service | Fee (AED) |
|---|---|
| Labour contract fees | AED 279* |
| Labour card (Work Permit) | AED 250*, AED 1,200* or AED 3,450* (Category A, B or C) |
| WPS – Insurance | AED 189* |
| Medical application | AED 323* |
| Emirates ID (EID) application | AED 684* |
| Tawjeeh submission | AED 152* |
| Visa Issuance (Inside Country) | AED 1,125* |
| Status change | AED 675* |
| Visa stamping (Normal) | AED 546* |
Optional charges:
Please note that these are government fees and are subject to changes.
A digital nomad visa is a special residence permit that allows foreigners to live in Dubai while working remotely for a company outside the UAE. You may come across terms like virtual work visa or remote work visa Dubai, they all refer to the same thing.
Key points:
What’s the eligibility:
You can apply for digital nomad visa through Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) website or via an Amer service center.
A job-seeker visit visa allows a foreign national to visit Dubai and search for job opportunities. It does not require a local sponsor. This visa allows a single-entry visit for either 60, 90, or 120 days. You can apply for a job seeker visa in Dubai through GDRFA’s website here.
To get this visa, the applicant must meet these conditions:
Therefore, even if you do not already have a job in the UAE, Dubai gives you a chance to come, explore, and apply for jobs. Once you receive an offer, you can smoothly switch to an employment visa and start your career in Dubai.
Yes, you can easily convert your UAE visit visa into a work visa from within the country without exiting. The process is called “visa status change”. However, you must first secure a valid job offer from a UAE employer.
Your employer will then initiate the Dubai work visa process. He will apply for your work permit, Emirates ID, and get your medicals done. Once all steps are completed, immigration will convert your visit visa into a work visa.
Important notes:
UAE’s job market, especially in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, is rich and dynamic. Cherry on top: all professions in UAE offer tax free income. In fact, UAE is all set to enter 2026 with one of the strongest job markets globally, with most job openings. Below given are some of the popular job sectors along with most demanded roles:
| Sector | In-demand roles |
|---|---|
| Engineering and construction | Project manager, civil engineer, site labourers |
| Technology and IT | Software engineer, data analyst, cybersecurity analyst |
| Finance and banking | Risk manager, accountant, investment analyst, relationship manager |
| Healthcare | Doctors, nurses, pharmacists |
| Tourism and hospitality | Chef, hotel manager, waiters/service staff |
| Marketing and media | Social media manager, content strategist, paid ads specialist |
| Utilities and renewable energy | Various openings across engineering, technician roles |
Please note that job demand and roles may vary based on market conditions and employer requirements.
Are you someone looking for a nice and reliable job in Dubai? Below we have given some of the top recruiters in Dubai who offer various jobs positions, high salaries and many benefits to foreigners.
| Company | Industry |
|---|---|
| Emirates group | Aviation and logistics |
| Careem (Uber), Noon | E-commerce, mobility, logistics |
| Google, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM | Tech giants, AI, cybersecurity |
| Emaar | Real estate, construction, hospitality |
| Adnoc, Enoc | Oil and gas, energy |
| Emirates NBD, FAB Abu Dhabi, Mashreq Bank | Banking and financial services |
All these industry giants are actively hiring across a wide range of roles in technology, finance, operations, engineering, marketing, sales, data analytics, customer support, supply chain, HR, and consultancy in UAE.
A work visa lets UAE companies hire the best talent from across the globe. And from the employee’s perspective, work visa offers them a stable residency to work in Dubai and build a promising career.
Its application starts with a job offer, after which the employer applies for the work permit, entry permit, medical tests, Emirates ID, and final residency approval. On the other hand, options like green visa and golden visa offer long term residency, sponsor free stay and exclusive benefits to employees in UAE.
Obtaining an employment visa Dubai requires fulfilling all legal requirements and following the process carefully, as explained in this guide. If you do not prefer to deal with the paperwork and procedures yourself, Dubiz Business Setup can help.
For companies in UAE or job seekers, Dubiz can make the visa application much smoother by handling all legal procedures, approvals, and paperwork.
Get your Dubai work visa with us today.
📞 Call: +971 56 369 5485
💬 WhatsApp: +971563695485
📧 Email: info@dubiz.co
Disclaimer: This post is for information only. Although we provide you the latest details, UAE visa rules can change. For the latest updates and advice, check with your employer or an immigration expert like Dubiz.
The validity of a standard work visa in UAE is usually 2 years. However, it can vary with the specific category you are applying for. A green visa will have a validity of 5 years, whereas a golden visa has a validity of 10 years.
Yes. After you secure your UAE work visa, you can get family visa for your spouse, children and parents. However, you must also meet minimum salary and other legal requirements.
The validity of a work permit in Dubai is typically 2 years, which can vary with the category you are applying.
Tawjeeh training is a mandatory training and education program meant for unskilled labourers applying for an employment visa in UAE. It educates them about UAE labour laws, their rights, and their duties.
Upon submission of all the documents, you can expect the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE) to issue the work permit within 2 days.
The processing time for a Dubai work visa typically ranges between 1 to 3 weeks, depending on factors like the company sponsoring the visa, the type of visa applied for, and the accuracy of the submitted documents.
Employers can cancel an employee’s work permit online through the MoHRE app or website. There will be cancellation fees, and submission of cancellation forms and some documents will be required. The process typically takes around 2 working days.
If any employer makes visit visa holders work in UAE by guaranteeing them a job offers with intention of fraud, he/she will face a fine of AED 100,000 to AED 1 million.
The employer can cancel an employee’s employment visa in Dubai by applying for the cancellation of the employment contract and work permit/labour card through MoHRE. This cancellation takes around 2 business days.
The employer can renew the work permit through MoHRE or Tasheel 60 days before it expires. They just need to submit the renewal form, upload the passport, photo, and current work permit, and pay the fees. After approval, a new labour card will be issued.
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