Employment Residence Visa in Dubai

Who runs this process

Before you start

• Signed job offer from a licensed Dubai employer
• Employer has a valid trade licence, active establishment card, and no MOHRE blocks (e.g. WPS salary arrears)
• Passport valid for at least 6 months
• Attested education certificates if the role is in a skilled category

The journey

Each step is marked by who acts: YouEmployerYou + employer Steps on the highlighted spine sit inside the 60-day window.

1. 1
   EmployerMOHRE / Tasheel

   Employer registers the job offer and applies for the work permit

   Usually filed via a Tasheel service centre or the MOHRE portal; a PRO often handles this

   The employer registers the signed job offer with MOHRE and applies for initial work permit approval. MOHRE checks the company's quota, Emiratisation standing, and compliance record. Under the federal Work Bundle initiative, MOHRE cut the end-to-end procedure from 30 working days across 15 steps to 5 working days across 5 steps. A standard work permit, once issued, is valid for two years.

   You get

   MOHRE work permit approval with reference number · Work permit valid for two years once issued

   Typical time

   part of the 5-working-day Work Bundle journey (indicative, confirm on the portal)

   Fee

   Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by employer (u.ae states issuing or renewing a work permit ranges from AED 250 to AED 3,450 depending on company classification. A single figure cannot be quoted because it also varies by role skill level (1-5).)

   Watch out for

   • WPS salary arrears or expired establishment card block the application before it starts
   • Unattested degree certificates stall skilled-category approvals

   Free Zone: The free zone authority (e.g. DMCC, JAFZA, DIFC) replaces MOHRE for this step; permits are filed through the free zone portal.

   Full guide: Employer registers the job offer and applies for the work permit

2. 2
   EmployerGDRFA Dubai

   Entry permit issued (or in-country status change)

   Filed with GDRFA Dubai by the employer or PRO after work permit approval

   GDRFA issues the employment entry permit (sometimes called the 'pink visa'). If the candidate is abroad, it authorises entry into the UAE and must be used within 60 days of the date it was issued. If the candidate is already in the UAE on another status, a change of status is processed instead. The separate 60-day residency countdown does not start here: it starts on the date of entry.

   You get

   Employment entry permit (valid 60 days from date of issue) or status change confirmation

   Typical time

   2-5 working days (indicative, confirm on the portal)

   Fee

   Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by employer (Entry permit and status change are priced separately)

   Deadline

   The employee must enter the UAE within the entry permit's 60-day validity period, counted from its date of issue.

   Watch out for

   • Name spelling mismatches between passport and application cause rejections
   • Starting work on a visit or tourist visa before this stage is illegal and risks deportation

   Inside UAE: No exit required: status changes inside the UAE without leaving. See the dedicated guide.

   Full guide: Entry permit issued (or in-country status change)

3. 3
   YouUAE border entry / GDRFA (for status change)

   Enter the UAE (or activate the status change)

   The candidate enters the UAE on the entry permit. This is the moment that matters: the 60-day countdown to complete every residency formality runs from the date of entry, not from the date the permit was issued. Candidates already inside the UAE activate the status change instead.

   You get

   Legal presence in the UAE under employment entry status · Start of the 60-day residency completion window

   Typical time

   same day (indicative, confirm on the portal)

   Fee

   Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by employer (Entry itself carries no fee, but an in-country status change is priced separately)

   Deadline

   Residence issuance procedures must be completed within 60 days of the date of entry, otherwise overstay fines are imposed on the applicant.

   Watch out for

   • Delaying arrival burns the 60-day permit validity

   Inside UAE: Status change replaces physical entry; see /change-visa-status-uae-without-leaving/

   Full guide: Enter the UAE (or activate the status change)

4. 4
   YouDHA-approved medical fitness centre (Dubai)

   Medical fitness test at a DHA-approved centre

   Employer or PRO typically books the appointment and pays

   Blood test and chest X-ray screening for communicable diseases (including HIV and tuberculosis). Results typically arrive within about 48 hours; express tiers are faster. A positive result for specified conditions leads to visa refusal, with limited exceptions handled case by case.

   You get

   Medical fitness certificate

   Typical time

   results in ~48 hours (standard tier) (indicative, confirm on the portal)

   Fee

   Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by employer (Fee depends on service tier (standard / express / VIP))

   Watch out for

   • Booking at a centre not approved for visa medicals invalidates the result

   Full guide: Medical fitness test at a DHA-approved centre

5. 5
   YouICP customer happiness centre (or Amer centre handling ICP services)

   Emirates ID application and biometrics

   Fingerprints, iris scan, photograph, and digital signature are captured. The Emirates ID application is filed at the same time. Since 11 April 2022, ICP has stopped issuing the residence sticker and GDRFA Dubai no longer stamps residence permits in the passport: the Emirates ID card now carries the details that used to appear on the sticker and serves as proof of residence. That makes this step central to the whole process.

   You get

   Emirates ID application receipt; card delivered by Emirates Post after visa issuance

   Typical time

   appointment ~30-60 min; card in 5-10 working days after issuance (indicative, confirm on the portal)

   Fee

   Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by employer (Priced by visa duration (per year) plus service fees)

   Watch out for

   • Biometrics appointment slots can slip in peak season, so book immediately after the medical

   Full guide: Emirates ID application and biometrics

6. 6
   You + employerMOHRE

   Sign and register the MOHRE labour contract

   Employee signs electronically; employer submits to MOHRE

   The employee electronically signs the labour contract matching the registered job offer, and the employer submits it to MOHRE for attestation. The contract terms must match the original offer, and silent changes are a MOHRE complaint ground.

   You get

   Attested MOHRE labour contract

   Typical time

   1-3 working days (indicative, confirm on the portal)

   Fee

   Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by employer (Included in work permit fees for most categories)

   Watch out for

   • Contract terms differing from the signed offer letter, so check before signing

   Full guide: Sign and register the MOHRE labour contract

7. 7
   EmployerLicensed insurer (Dubai: DHA-compliant plan)

   Employer enrols the employee in health insurance

   Health insurance is mandatory for all UAE residents, and in Dubai the employer must provide at least the essential benefits plan before the visa can be issued. The policy number feeds into the residence visa application.

   You get

   Active health insurance policy

   Typical time

   same day to 2 working days (indicative, confirm on the portal)

   Fee

   Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by employer (Depends on plan tier; employer must cover the employee by law)

   Watch out for

   • Visa application stalls silently if the insurance policy is not yet active in the system

   Full guide: Employer enrols the employee in health insurance

8. 8
   EmployerGDRFA Dubai

   Residence visa issued digitally by GDRFA

   Filed by employer/PRO; nothing for the applicant to attend

   With medical clearance, biometrics, contract, and insurance in place, GDRFA issues the residence visa electronically. There is no passport stamping, because the residence permit is linked to the Emirates ID. A standard employment residence visa is valid for two years and is renewable subject to the conditions set by the visa-issuing authority.

   You get

   Digital residence visa linked to Emirates ID; Emirates ID card delivered by post

   Typical time

   2-5 working days (indicative, confirm on the portal)

   Fee

   Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by employer (Residence fee priced per year of validity)

   Watch out for

   • Checking status obsessively on the wrong portal, because Dubai visas are tracked via GDRFA, not ICP

   Full guide: Residence visa issued digitally by GDRFA

9. 9
   AuthorityMOHRE

   MOHRE activates the work permit: the legal start of work

   Automatic once residency is issued; employer confirms in the MOHRE system

   MOHRE activates the work permit after the residence visa is issued. Only now is the employee legally cleared to start work. The labour card exists digitally in the MOHRE app rather than as a physical card.

   You get

   Active work permit / digital labour card

   Typical time

   1-2 working days (indicative, confirm on the portal)

   Fee

   Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by employer (Normally covered by the earlier work permit fees)

   Watch out for

   • Starting work before activation exposes the employer to a fine of no less than AED 100,000 under Article 60 of the UAE Labour Law

   Full guide: MOHRE activates the work permit: the legal start of work

Documents checklist

Where this goes wrong

What comes next

• Sponsor your spouse and children
• Open a UAE bank account
• Check your visa status online