How to Get Work Permit Number in UAE – Application Process

In order to work in the UAE, the foreign citizens must have a valid work permit number issued by the MOHRE. Here I will explained a complete guide on how to get a work permit number via online as well as offline process.

The work permit is an official permission for a foreign citizen to work in the UAE. The employers can apply for a work permit for their employees or workers. The employee cannot apply for a work permit directly to MOHRE in the UAE.

Here I am going to explain how you can apply for a work permit in UAE online to get your work permit number as early as possible. But you must know about the types of work permit in UAE before understanding how to get a work permit number online.

Types of Work Permit in UAE

The MOHRE provides different types of work permit to foreign citizens, UAE & GCC nationals, juveniles, students, Golden Visa holders and other categories of people. Here I provide all types of work permit issued by MOHRE as follows;

Sl. No.	Work Permit Type	Work Permit Issued for
1.	Foreigners Work Permit [Overseas Work Permit]	This work permit allows the employer to hire workers from outside the country.
2.	Temporary Work Permit	This work permit allows the employer to hire workers to complete a specified task within a specified period of time.
3.	Mission Work Permit	This work permit allows the employer to hire workers for short term employment based on projects.
4.	Part Time Work Permit	This work permit allows the employer to hire workers under a part time employment contract. The working hours of such workers are less compared to full time workers and the part time workers can work with more than one employer.
5.	Juvenile Work Permit	This work permit allows the employer to hire workers whose age is minimum 15 years and less than 18 years.
6.	Students Training and Work Permit	This work permit allows the employer to hire students whose age is minimum 15 years with specific requirements and controls. The employer is required to provide proper training and employment environment to the students.
7.	UAE Nationals & GCC Citizens Work Permit	This work permit allows the employer to hire UAE Nationals and/or Citizens of GCC countries.
8.	Golden Visa Holders Work Permit	This work permit allows the employer to hire a male or a female Golden Visa Holder from within the country. This work permit is valid for two years.
9.	UAE National Trainees Work Permit	This work permit allows the employer to provide training to UAE citizens in accordance with their accredited academic qualifications.
10.	Domestic Workers Work Permit	This work permit allows the employer to hire a domestic worker from inside or outside the country.
11.	Dependents Work Permit	This work permit allows the employer to hire dependents sponsored by their family members.
12.	Freelancers Work Permit	This work permit allows the self-sponsored foreigners in the UAE to provide services or perform tasks to individuals or companies without being sponsored by an employer in the UAE and without having an employment contract.
13.	Private Teacher Work Permit	This work permit allows the specialized and qualified professionals to offer private lessons for students, individually or in groups.

Foreign Citizens Work Permit: Categories

The MOHRE issues the work permit to foreign citizens who want to work in a company in the UAE. There are 3 categories of work permits issued to foreign citizens based on their academic qualifications and/or technical skills.

Category 1 Work Permit

The MOHRE issues the Category 1 Work Permit to the foreign citizens who possess a Bachelor’s Degree.

Category 2 Work Permit

The MOHRE issues the Category 2 Work Permit to the foreign citizens who possess a Post-secondary Diploma Certificate.

Category 3 Work Permit

The MOHRE issues the Category 3 Work Permit to the foreign citizens who possess a High School Diploma Certificate.

Eligibility to Get Work Permit in UAE

The MOHRE has set specific eligibility criteria for the employer and the employee/worker to get a work permit in the UAE. I strongly recommend you to check the required eligibility criteria properly before applying for a new work permit to MOHRE, Government of UAE.

Eligibility Criteria for Employee

1. The employee’s age must be minimum 18 years and not older than 60 years.
2. The employee must not have an active work permit.
3. The employee in a specialized profession or any other profession that requires a license, must meet the requirements stated in the applicable legislation.
4. The employee must go through a medical examination to prove that s/he is fit and healthy to work in the UAE.

Eligibility Criteria for Employer

1. The employer must have a valid trade license without any active violation case(s) on the company/establishment.
2. The company/establishment must have an electronic quota available.
3. The application to get a work permit must be submitted by the authorized signatory of the company/establishment.
4. The new employer must comply with the provisions stipulated in Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article No. (9) of the Federal Decree-Law No.33 of 2021 concerning the regulation of labour relations.

Required Documents for Work Permit Application

1.) A Clear Colour Photograph with White Background

2.) A Copy of the Passport with Minimum 6-Month Validity

3.) The Official Job Offer Form Issued by the Ministry and Signed by both the Employer and the Employee

4.) Academic Certificate/Degree in the Name of the Employee:

• A Bachelor’s Degree or Higher for Skill Levels 1 & 2 Candidates.
• A Diploma Certificate or Higher for Skill Levels 3 & 4 Candidates.
• A High School Certificate for Skill Level 5 Candidates.
• The academic documents are not required for Skill Levels 6 to 9 Candidates.
• The MOHRE does not consider the workers as skilled if the workers do not possess a degree or earn less than AED 4000.

5.) Professional License Issued by the Competent Authority:

• A Professional License must be issued by the Ministry of Health or Department of Health for Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists and other Healthcare Professionals.
• A Professional License must be issued by the Ministry of Education or Knowledge Authority Dubai or Sharjah/Abu Dhabi Education Council for Teachers, Assistant Teachers and Other Teaching Professionals.
• A Professional License must be issued by the Youth and Sports Authority or an Advocate, Ministry of Justice for Fitness Trainers.

6.) The workers who have the nationality from Afghanistan or Pakistan or Iraq or Iran, are required to provide a legible (readable) and clear copy of their National ID card issued by respective authority of their home country.

• Kindly provide a copy of both sides of the National ID card.
• Make sure that the National ID is valid i.e. not expired.

7.) Any other document as demanded by the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE), UAE.

Work Permit Fees

The MOHRE takes work permit fees from the employer. The work permit cost depends upon the type of work permit, further details are as follows;

Type of Work Permit	Category 1	Category 2	Category 3
Work Permit Application Fee	AED 50	AED 50	AED 50
Work permit for two years	AED 250	AED 1200	AED 3450
Work assignment work permit	AED 250	AED 250	AED 250
Renewal of a work permit for two years	AED 250	AED 1200	AED 3450
Amendment of the employment contract	AED 50	AED 50	AED 50
Permit to transfer a worker from one employer to another	AED 50	AED 50	AED 50

Note: There will be an Additional Fee of AED 72 if the employer applies for a work permit at Tasheel Centers. You can check the table below to know more about UAE work permit cost in AED.

UAE Work Permit Application Process

To get a work permit number for an employee, the employer has to apply for a work permit online at MOHRE website portal. Kindly follow the steps given below;

Apply for Work Permit Online at MOHRE Website

Make sure you have a stable internet connectivity before you start the work permit application process. With a high speed internet connection, the MOHRE website will open in just 10-15 seconds and you can finish the application process in just

Step 1: Go to MOHRE Website Portal

You should go to MOHRE official website portal @www.mohre.gov.ae.

Step 2: Select Service Directory in Services Section

On the home page, you need to select Services section and then click on Service Directory to open relevant page.

Step 3: Type Work Permit and Click on Search

Find out the Search Box on upper right side and type Work Permit in the box. Then click on Search Symbol to proceed. Soon, the list of work permit services will appear on your screen.

Step 4: Select Issuance of a New Work Permit – Overseas

From the list of work permit services, you should find out Issuance of a New Work Permit – Overseas and click on View Details option.

Step 5: Read the Service Info and Click on Start Service

Read the service information including process, conditions, timing, payment and other info. Thereafter click on Start Service to go to login page.

Step 6: Accept Terms & Conditions and Login

Read all terms & conditions and then click on I Accept to continue. Thereafter you need to login, you can choose to login to MOHRE through UAE PASS or EIDA with Biometric/OTP or login with User Name & Password.

Step 7: Fill up Work Permit Application Form

After successful login, an online form for work permit will appear on screen. You should fill up the application form with all required information about the employer/establishment and the employee.

Step 8: Upload Documents and Pay the Fees

You have to upload all required documents and the colour photograph of the employee. Thereafter pay the work permit fees online using a credit card or other payment method(s).

Step 9: Submit the Work Permit Application

You need to submit the application form on completion of all steps. As you submit the form, the UAE work permit application process is over.

The MOHRE will take 2 working days to check, review and respond to your work permit application. If you have filled up the form correctly and paid the fees, the MOHRE will issue the work permit as per your request.

Apply for Work Permit via MOHRE App

The employer can apply for a work permit by using the MOHRE mobile app. The application process is the same as on MOHRE website and it takes only 5-10 minutes to fill up & submit the application form.

Get MOHRE Smart App for Android and MOHRE UAE App for iPhone or iPad or Apple Watch

After you install MOHRE App on your phone, follow the steps given below.

1. Open MOHRE App on your mobile phone.
2. Register & Login with UAE PASS.
3. Choose Service Directory and search for Work Permit.
4. Tap on Issuance of a New Work Permit – Overseas option.
5. Read the service details and tap on Start Service button.
6. Fill up the work permit application form and upload required documents.
7. Pay the fees and submit the application to finish.

Apply for Work Permit at Tasheel Centers

There are 70+ Tasheel Service Centers available in UAE. You can find a Tasheel Center near your location and go there to apply for a work permit offline.

1. Go to your nearest Tasheel Service Center.
2. Ask the service employee for an application form for a new work permit.
3. Fill up the work permit application form with required information.
4. Attach necessary documents and certificates.
5. Hand over the application form to the service employee.
6. Pay the work permit fees and AED 72 service charge at the Tasheel Center.
7. Get a receipt on completion of the process and exit the service center.

In this way, you can apply for a new work permit in the UAE. The application process is available online as well as offline, the MOHRE takes 2 working days to process your application.

How to get Pre Approval Work Permit

After the employer submit an application for a new work permit, the MOHRE will take two working days.

1. If all information and documents are correct, the MOHRE will grant a Pre Approval Work Permit and an Employment Entry Visa in the name of the foreign citizen employee.
2. The employer should share the Pre Approval Work Permit and an Employment Entry Visa details with the foreign employee candidate.
3. The foreign citizen (employee) can enter the UAE to complete the UAE work permit and residency visa formalities in 60 days.
4. Within 14 days from the foreign employee enters the UAE, the employer must submit the Employment Contract to MOHRE and apply for the Residency Visa, Health Checkup and Emirates ID for the foreign employee/worker.
5. After the foreign employee passes the health test and receives the Emirates ID plus residency visa, the MOHRE will issue the official work permit with a validity of two years.
6. On completion of all formalities, the foreign employee can legally stay and work in the UAE.

How to Check Work Permit Status in UAE

After applying for a new work permit online in UAE, the employer has to wait for 2 working days. If the employer does not receive any email/SMS from MOHRE in 2 working days, there is an online work permit status check service available at MOHRE website.

The UAE work permit status inquiry service is useful for both the employer and the employee/worker.

1. Go to MOHRE Website Inquiry Page @inquiry.mohre.gov.ae.
2. Click on Choose a Service tab and select Pre Approval for Work Permit Information Status for MOI.
3. Enter the Work Permit Number and Captcha Code.
4. Click on Search button to proceed.
5. The work permit status will appear on screen.

How to Cancel Work Permit Online UAE

The employer can apply online to request for cancelling a work permit to end the employment contract with an employee. It is mandatory to pay all pending payments and entitlements to the employee before the employer applies to cancel a work permit at MOHRE website portal.

1. Go to MOHRE UAE official website @www.mohre.gov.ae.
2. Select Services and click on Service Directory.
3. Type Work Permit in the Search Box and click on Search symbol.
4. Go to Page 2 and click on View Details for Cancellation of Work Permits and Employment Contracts.
5. Read the Service Information and click on Start Service.
6. Login and fill up the work permit cancellation form.
7. Upload necessary documents and pay the fees online.
8. Submit the request to finish the process.

The MOHRE will take 2 working days to review and process your request to cancel a work permit.

Conclusion:

You can check the article above to know the eligibility criteria, required documents and work permit cost in the UAE. In case you have a query or question, you can ask it the comment section below.

FAQs