---
title: Getting a Work Permit from MOHRE in the UAE
country: uae
service: "mohre-work-permit"
category: employment
difficulty: moderate
estimated_time: "Typically 5-10 working days from MOHRE work-permit application to employment-contract issuance; varies by sponsoring entity and worker classification."
cost_range: "AED 250-3,450 by worker classification — employer-paid"
last_verified: 2026-05-11
canonical: https://publicservices.guide/uae/mohre-work-permit/
status: current
confidence: low
tags:
  - "first-month"
  - mandatory
  - mohre
  - employment
sources:
  - https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/job-offers-and-work-permits-and-contracts/work-permits
  - https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/job-offers-and-work-permits-and-contracts/expatriates-employment-in-private-sector
  - https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/job-offers-and-work-permits-and-contracts/employment-contracts-duration-and-models-in-the-private-sector
  - https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/services-centres-for-workers-and-employers
  - https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/eservices-for-jobs
---

# Getting a Work Permit from MOHRE in the UAE

**Country:** 🇦🇪 UAE  
**Last verified:** 2026-05-11  
**Estimated time:** Typically 5-10 working days from MOHRE work-permit application to employment-contract issuance; varies by sponsoring entity and worker classification.  
**Cost:** AED 250-3,450 by worker classification — employer-paid

## Required documents

- **Passport** *(جواز السفر)*
  - Required: Original with at least 6 months remaining validity
  - _Note:_ Your passport is the universal identity document for the MOHRE application. The work permit and the subsequent residence visa stamp are linked to this passport.
- **Job offer letter signed by the employer** *(خطاب العرض الوظيفي)*
  - Required: Original signed by the employer and the prospective employee
  - Issued by: Your employer — the sponsoring entity in the UAE
  - _Note:_ The job offer letter sets the terms of your employment contract: salary, role, contract duration, and benefits. Sign carefully — once registered with MOHRE, the terms become legally binding.
- **Educational and professional credentials** *(الشهادات الأكاديمية والمهنية)*
  - Required for: Skill-level classification under MOHRE rules
  - Attestation: Educational credentials typically require attestation by the issuing country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Embassy in that country
  - _Note:_ Your MOHRE skill-level classification (Levels 1-5) depends on your job role and educational background. Skill level affects work-permit fees and grace-period rules at residence-visa cancellation.

## Costs

- **Work-permit fee (entry-level worker, MOHRE skill level 4-5):** 250 AED — Quoted figure is the lower end of MOHRE's classification range. Actual fee depends on worker category and skill level.
- **Work-permit fee (skilled worker, MOHRE skill levels 1-3):** 1500 AED — Mid-range representative figure within MOHRE's classification framework.
- **Work-permit fee (specialist or executive):** 3450 AED — Upper end of MOHRE's published fee range for specialist or executive classifications.
- **Tasheel service-centre fee (typing):** 100 AED — Tasheel is MOHRE's network of authorised service centres for typing and document submission. Most employers use Tasheel; some submit online directly via MOHRE's portal.

## Steps

### 1. Receive and Sign the Job Offer Letter

- Your prospective employer issues a signed job offer letter detailing the role, salary, contract duration, and benefits.
- Review the offer carefully — once registered with MOHRE, the terms become legally binding.
- Sign and return the offer letter to your employer.

> **Tip:** If material terms differ from what was discussed during recruitment, negotiate revisions before signing. The job offer letter is the basis for the employment contract that MOHRE registers.

### 2. Your Employer Applies to MOHRE for the Work Permit

- Your employer submits the work-permit application through MOHRE's portal or via a Tasheel service centre.
- MOHRE classifies the worker (skill levels 1-5) based on job role and educational credentials.
- Work-permit fees are paid by the employer (AED 250-3,450 depending on classification, plus AED 100 Tasheel fee if applicable).

> **Tip:** Tasheel is MOHRE's network of authorised service centres. Some employers use Tasheel; others submit online directly. The choice does not affect your application but may affect turnaround time.

_Links:_
- [u.ae — Job offers and work permits](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/job-offers-and-work-permits-and-contracts/work-permits)

### 3. Receive the Entry Permit (if outside UAE)

- Once MOHRE issues the work permit, your employer applies for an entry permit on your behalf via ICP.
- The entry permit is sent to you electronically — typically as an email PDF or via the ICP smart services notification.
- Travel to the UAE on the entry permit. The 60-day window to complete the residence-visa procedure starts on the date you enter the UAE.

> **Tip:** Plan to attend the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometric capture in your first 2-3 weeks in the UAE — see the residence visa guide for the 60-day window.

_Links:_
- [u.ae — Expatriates employment in private sector](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/job-offers-and-work-permits-and-contracts/expatriates-employment-in-private-sector)

### 4. Sign the Employment Contract

- Once you arrive in the UAE, your employer presents the employment contract for signature.
- Verify that the contract terms match the job offer letter you signed.
- Sign the contract — MOHRE registers it under the Labour Relations Law.

> **Tip:** The employment contract typically specifies probation period, working hours, leave entitlement, and end-of-service benefits. Read carefully — material terms here are legally binding.

_Links:_
- [u.ae — Employment contracts duration and models](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/job-offers-and-work-permits-and-contracts/employment-contracts-duration-and-models-in-the-private-sector)

### 5. Provide IBAN for WPS Salary Credits

- Open a UAE bank account once you have your Emirates ID — see the bank-account guide.
- Provide your account's IBAN to your employer's HR/payroll team.
- Your employer registers the IBAN with MOHRE under the Wage Protection System.
- Confirm the first salary credit lands successfully — banks send an SMS on WPS-flagged credits.

> **Tip:** WPS registration is the employer's responsibility, not yours. If your first salary does not credit, escalate to your employer's HR — they must complete the WPS registration.

### 6. Maintain Your Work-Permit Status

- Your work permit and residence visa renew together at the end of the 2-year cycle — your employer initiates both.
- If you want to change employer, your current employer cancels the labour contract and work permit through MOHRE; your new employer initiates a new work-permit application.
- If you leave the UAE permanently, your employer cancels the work permit and residence visa; you sign the cancellation application.

> **Tip:** Standard workers receive a 30-day grace period at residence-visa cancellation to complete sponsorship transfer or exit. Skilled workers in levels 1-3 receive 90 days. Plan transitions accordingly.

_Links:_
- [u.ae — MOHRE service centres for workers and employers](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/services-centres-for-workers-and-employers)

## FAQ

### Who initiates the work permit — me or my employer?

Your employer. The MOHRE work permit is employer-initiated through the MOHRE portal or via a Tasheel service centre. Your role is to provide the documents your employer requests and to sign the employment contract.

### How long does MOHRE take to issue the work permit?

Typically 5-10 working days from the MOHRE application to the work-permit and employment-contract issuance, depending on the sponsoring entity's MOHRE registration status, the worker's classification, and any document verifications required.

### What's the difference between a work permit and an employment contract?

The work permit is the federal-level authorisation issued by MOHRE that allows your employer to employ you. The employment contract is the underlying agreement between you and your employer, registered with MOHRE under the Labour Relations Law. Both are issued together — the work permit cannot exist without a registered employment contract.

### What is Wage Protection System (WPS)?

WPS is a federal MOHRE system that monitors timely salary payments for private-sector employees. Your employer credits your salary to a bank account you nominate, and the bank confirms the credit to MOHRE. WPS linkage is required for private-sector salary credits. Your employer initiates the WPS registration; you provide your bank account IBAN.

### What if my employer doesn't pay my salary on time?

WPS flags late or missing salary payments to MOHRE automatically. You can also file a complaint via MOHRE's service centres — see the u.ae employment service centres for the procedure.

### What is Tasheel?

Tasheel is MOHRE's network of authorised service centres for typing and document submission. Many employers use Tasheel for work-permit applications, employment-contract printing, and related paperwork. The fee is typically AED 100 per application (employer-paid).

### How is my skill level classified?

MOHRE classifies workers into skill levels (1-5) based on job role, educational credentials, and salary band. Level 1-3 are skilled workers (engineers, professionals, specialists); levels 4-5 are general or entry-level workers. Classification affects work-permit fees and grace-period rules at residence-visa cancellation.

### What happens to my work permit if I want to change employer?

Sponsorship transfer requires MOHRE approval. Your current employer cancels the labour contract and work permit through MOHRE; your new employer applies for a new work permit on your behalf. Skilled workers in levels 1-3 receive a 90-day grace period to complete the transfer; standard workers receive a 30-day grace period.

### Can I work part-time on a MOHRE work permit?

Part-time work permits exist under MOHRE's flexible work-permit framework. Discuss with your employer whether your role is eligible. Part-time work permits are a separate classification from full-time standard work permits.

## Local tips

- Your work permit («تصريح عمل») is initiated by your employer through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). You do not apply for it directly — your role is to provide documents the employer requests and to sign the employment contract.
- The MOHRE work permit is the federal-level employment authorisation. It is separate from your residence visa, but the two are sequenced — work permit first, then residence-permit application via ICP. MOHRE's primary site (mohre.gov.ae) is geo-restricted; the federal aggregator u.ae mirrors the substantive procedural content.
- The Wage Protection System (WPS) is a federal monitoring system that ensures timely salary payments. Your employer must register your bank account IBAN with MOHRE under WPS before the first salary credit.

## Sources

- [u.ae — UAE Government Portal](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/job-offers-and-work-permits-and-contracts/work-permits) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — The u.ae aggregator Work permits page documents the MOHRE work-permit procedure for private-sector employment. It establishes that the employer initiates the work permit through MOHRE or Tasheel service centres, the work-permit-fees by classification (AED 250-3,450), and the requirement that a registered employment contract follow the work-permit issuance. The MOHRE primary site (mohre.gov.ae) is geo-restricted; u.ae carries the substantive procedural content per gov.ae federal-services architecture.
- [u.ae — UAE Government Portal](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/job-offers-and-work-permits-and-contracts/expatriates-employment-in-private-sector) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — The u.ae Expatriates Employment in Private Sector page documents the full sequencing: job offer letter → MOHRE work permit → entry permit (issued through ICP for non-Dubai employers, GDRFA for Dubai-employer-sponsored) → employment contract registration → residence-visa application. It also documents the role of MOHRE-licensed service centres in processing applications.
- [u.ae — UAE Government Portal](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/job-offers-and-work-permits-and-contracts/employment-contracts-duration-and-models-in-the-private-sector) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — The u.ae Employment Contracts Duration and Models page documents the standard employment-contract framework under the MOHRE Labour Relations Law: typical 2-year duration matching the standard work visa, probation provisions, working hours, leave entitlement, and end-of-service benefits. The contract is registered with MOHRE under the Labour Relations Law upon work-permit issuance.
- [u.ae — UAE Government Portal](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/employment-in-the-private-sector/services-centres-for-workers-and-employers) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — The u.ae MOHRE Service Centres page documents the Tasheel network — MOHRE's authorised typing service centres processing work-permit applications, employment contracts, and related paperwork on behalf of employers. Tasheel fees are typically AED 100 per application, additive to the MOHRE work-permit fee.
- [u.ae — UAE Government Portal](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/eservices-for-jobs) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — The u.ae eServices for Jobs page documents the digital channels for MOHRE-related services: work-permit applications, employment-contract registration, labour-contract cancellation, and complaint filing. Most MOHRE eServices are accessible via UAE Pass login through MOHRE's authorised channels.

---

Verification pending — see the canonical page for the latest trust state.
Canonical: https://publicservices.guide/uae/mohre-work-permit/