What is the UAE Employment Visa (Mainland)?
The UAE Employment Visa bundles two documents: a work permit issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) that grants the right to work, and a residence visa issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) that grants the right to live in the country.
The employer files a single unified application that triggers both. No labour market test is required. Processing takes 2–4 weeks. All costs are paid by the employer — deducting fees from employee salaries is prohibited by law.
The visa is valid for 2–3 years and renewable with the employment contract. The UAE has no permanent residence or citizenship pathway through employment.
Note: This information is for guidance only and does not constitute immigration advice. Requirements change — verify current figures at the official government source before applying.
Do you qualify?
You must meet one requirement for the UAE Employment Visa: a job offer from a mainland-registered UAE employer. The employer handles the entire application process. No labour market test, no language requirement, and no minimum salary threshold beyond the market rate for the role.
You need a job offer from a mainland employer holding a valid trade licence and MOHRE registration, with the role matching its licence activity. You must be at least 18 — the employer handles the rest, with no labour market test.
The 2026 salary requirements
The UAE Employment Visa has no fixed salary threshold. The employer must pay at least the market rate for the role. However, MOHRE classifies workers into skill levels that affect fee bands, grace periods, and family sponsorship rights.
How MOHRE classifies jobs: MOHRE uses a 9-level classification system. Levels 1–3 cover legislators, managers, executives, professionals, and technicians. Levels 4–5 cover writing professionals, service, and sales occupations. Levels 6–9 cover skilled trades, craftsmen, machine operators, and simple professions. Roles at Levels 1–5 with an attested post-secondary credential and AED 4,000+ salary qualify as skilled labour.
What each band means in practice:
- Skilled (AED 4,000+/month): lower fees, longer grace period (up to 180 days), and the right to sponsor family.
- Semi-skilled or unskilled (below AED 4,000/month): higher fees, shorter grace period (30–90 days), and limited family sponsorship. Sponsorship may still be possible at AED 3,000 where the employer provides housing.
- AED 30,000+/month basic: opens eligibility for the 10-year self-sponsored Golden Visa.
Note on figures: UAE salaries are typically quoted monthly, not annually. There is zero income tax — gross and net are the same, minus any voluntary deductions such as health insurance top-ups. This is one of the UAE's strongest financial advantages for international professionals.
What you need to apply
The employer handles the entire application. You provide your personal documents to the employer's HR or PRO (Public Relations Officer) team, and they process everything through MOHRE and GDRFA. You do not interact with any government authority directly until the medical test and biometrics.
This information is for guidance only and does not constitute immigration advice. Requirements change — verify current figures at the official government source before applying.
Application timeline
From accepting a job offer to starting work in the UAE typically takes 2–5 weeks. The employer handles virtually everything. The Work Bundle platform (workinuae) has consolidated the process from 15 steps to 5, and from 30 working days to as few as 5 for compliant employers.
Most common delay: degree attestation. If your educational certificates have not been attested before arriving in the UAE, the process stops. Attestation involves your home country's foreign ministry, the UAE Embassy in your country, and MOFA in the UAE — this can take 2–4 weeks if not started before travel. Many employers require attestation to be completed before the entry permit is issued.
After you accept the offer, the employer registers the job offer with MOHRE and applies for a work permit. Simultaneously or shortly after, the employer applies for an entry permit through GDRFA. Processing takes 2–5 days for most employers.
Handled by: your employer
The entry permit is valid for 60 days. Travel to the UAE. The employer arranges airport pickup and initial accommodation in most cases.
Handled by: you
Complete the mandatory medical fitness test (blood tests, chest X-ray) at an approved medical centre. Biometrics are collected for the Emirates ID. Sign the official employment contract, which the employer registers with MOHRE.
Handled by: you
The employer processes the residence visa through GDRFA and the Emirates ID through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Once issued, you are legally resident and can begin work.
Handled by: your employer
Health insurance is activated. The employer registers you on the Wages Protection System (WPS) for salary payments. You receive your Emirates ID card — the physical card may take 1–2 weeks after approval.
Handled by: your employer and you
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, employees can change employers. When employment ends, the employer must cancel the work permit and residence visa.
You receive a grace period — up to 180 days for skilled workers (MOHRE Category 1 or 2), 30–90 days for others. During this period you can stay in the UAE and find a new employer, who then processes a fresh work permit and residence visa. Overstaying beyond the grace period results in daily fines of AED 50.
If you are classified as a skilled worker (MOHRE Levels 1–5 with a post-secondary credential and earning AED 4,000+ monthly), you can sponsor your spouse and children for residence visas. Sponsorship may also be possible at AED 3,000 where your employer provides housing.
The employer processes the family sponsorship. Family members receive their own Emirates IDs. Spouses can apply for their own work permits with a different employer. Dependant visa costs are typically the employee's responsibility, not the employer's.
Yes. The UAE has no personal income tax, no capital gains tax on personal investments, and no withholding tax on employment income. What you earn is what you take home.
A corporate tax of 9% was introduced in 2023, but this applies to businesses, not individuals. Social security contributions are required only for UAE and GCC nationals — non-GCC expatriates are not subject to social security deductions.
Almost nothing. Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, the employer is legally responsible for paying 100% of all visa, work permit and recruitment costs. Deducting any fees from your salary is prohibited and can be reported to MOHRE.
Your only personal costs are degree attestation in your home country (AED 750–2,000 depending on country) and any personal travel expenses. The employer covers the entry permit, work permit, medical test, Emirates ID, residence visa and health insurance.
The employer must cancel your work permit and residence visa. You must receive all due entitlements, including any end-of-service gratuity calculated on length of service under UAE labour law.
You then receive a grace period to find a new employer, change your visa status, or leave the UAE. Skilled workers (Category 1–2) receive up to 180 days; others receive 30–90 days. Overstaying results in AED 50/day fines.
A mainland visa (MOHRE) allows you to work anywhere in the UAE. A Free Zone visa restricts you to working within that specific Free Zone unless additional approvals are obtained.
Mainland processing goes through MOHRE; Free Zone processing goes through the zone's own authority. Free Zone packages are typically 30–40% cheaper but come with geographic restrictions.
The choice is made by the employer's business structure, not by the employee — if your employer is a mainland company you get a mainland visa, and if they are in a Free Zone you get a Free Zone visa.
No permanent residence or citizenship through employment. UAE residence is renewable with the employer's contract (every 2–3 years) but is not permanent — it ends when employment ends.
The Golden Visa (10-year, renewable, self-sponsored) is the closest alternative for professionals earning AED 30,000+ basic monthly salary with a bachelor's degree. UAE citizenship is granted at the discretion of the government and is extremely rare for expatriates.
You cannot apply for the UAE Employment Visa without a job offer from a UAE-registered employer.
Every job listed on Workbeyond is from employers who sponsor international talent to work in the United Arab Emirates. Use the filters to narrow by profession, city and seniority level to find roles that match your criteria.
Find visa sponsored jobs in UAE
Every job listed on Workbeyond is from employers who sponsor international talent to work in the United Arab Emirates. Use the filters to narrow by profession, city and seniority level to find roles that match your criteria.
Because the employer files and pays for the entire visa process, confirming that a prospective employer sponsors is the single most important question to ask early.
Planning a move? See the UAE destination guide, or read how to move to Dubai with a job and a visa.
Other visas you may qualify for
The UAE's 10-year self-sponsored residence visa for skilled professionals earning AED 30,000+ basic. Not tied to any employer, and renewable.
The UAE's employment visa for Free Zone companies. Faster and cheaper than the mainland route, with zero income tax — but work is restricted to your Free Zone.