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Employment Visa (تأشيرة عمل)

Start a job in the Gulf with the right permits: sign the offer, let your employer obtain the work permit and entry permit, pass the medical test and biometrics, and receive your residence and labour card. Ministries and platforms differ by country.

Curated by Raaya · Last reviewed Oct 2026

Steps

  1. Collect and attest your documents

    5 days

    Your employer will ask for scans of your passport (valid for at least six months), a recent photo on a white background and, for skilled roles, your highest degree or diploma. Degrees are usually attested in three stages: by the issuing country's authorities, by the UAE embassy in that country, and by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs once you arrive. Some employers also ask for a police clearance certificate and experience letters.

    Start attestation early; it is the slowest part of the process and the job title on your permit may depend on it.

    Other Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman each require attestation by their own embassy and foreign ministry. Saudi Arabia and Qatar verify professional qualifications for many skilled occupations before issuing the visa.

    Tip: Ask your employer which job title and qualification level they will apply under before you pay for attestation.

    Valid passport copyPassport-size photo (white background)Attested degree certificatePolice clearance certificate
    Attach my documents

  2. Review and sign the MoHRE offer letter

    1 day

    In the UAE mainland, the employer creates an offer letter in the MoHRE system and you sign it before the work permit is requested. Read it carefully: job title, basic and total salary, contract type, working hours, annual leave and probation should match what you agreed. The same terms carry into the employment contract you sign later.

    Free zone companies use the free zone authority instead of MoHRE, but the checks are similar.

    Other Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia records contracts on Qiwa, which you accept online. Qatar uses the Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Interior systems; Bahrain uses the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA); Kuwait the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM); Oman the Ministry of Labour.

    Tip: Keep a copy of the signed offer; if the final contract differs, raise it before you sign the contract.

  3. Employer pays the work permit and visa fees

    1 day

    The employer applies for the work permit (pre-approval) and the entry permit and pays the government fees. Under the UAE labour law the employer bears recruitment and work permit costs, and must not recover them from the worker. Fees depend on the company's classification with MoHRE and on the emirate, so there is no single figure to quote.

    Other Gulf countries: in Saudi Arabia the employer pays work visa, Iqama and expat levy fees via Qiwa and Muqeem. In Qatar the employer applies to the Ministry of Labour and MOI. In Bahrain the employer pays LMRA work permit fees; in Kuwait PAM and MOI fees; in Oman Ministry of Labour fees.

    Tip: If anyone asks you to pay for your visa or work permit, ask for it in writing and check the labour ministry rules before paying.

  4. Receive your entry permit or status change

    3 days

    Once the work permit is approved, the employer obtains your entry permit for employment. You receive it by email; travel on it and enter the UAE. If you are already in the UAE on another visa, the employer can apply for a change of status instead.

    The clock starts on entry: ICP states that residency procedures must be completed within 60 days of entry to avoid overstay fines, so plan medical and biometrics for your first days.

    Other Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia issues a work visa stamped or recorded against the passport, and the Iqama follows after arrival. Qatar issues a work entry visa and many applicants complete medical and biometrics at a Qatar Visa Centre before travel. Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman issue an entry visa or permit for employment through the NPRA, MOI and ROP respectively.

    Tip: Check that your name and passport number on the permit exactly match your passport before you travel.

    Valid passport copy
    Attach my documents

  5. Attend the medical fitness test

    1 day

    A medical fitness test is required for the employment residence: usually a blood test and a chest X-ray at an approved centre. Some occupations, such as food handlers, nannies and healthcare workers, have extra tests. Results are sent electronically.

    In Dubai the test is done at a DHA-approved centre, in Abu Dhabi at a DoH-approved centre, and in the other emirates through Emirates Health Services (EHS). Your employer or typing centre usually books it.

    Other Gulf countries: for many nationalities, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman require a pre-departure examination at approved clinics in the home country, plus checks after arrival. Qatar runs examinations at the Medical Commission or at Qatar Visa Centres abroad.

    Tip: Take your passport, entry permit and a photo; arrive early, as walk-in queues can be long.

    Where
    Approved medical fitness centre (DHA / DoH / EHS) · Bring passport, entry permit and photo. Blood test and chest X-ray; extra tests for some occupations.
    Valid passport copy
    Attach my documents

  6. Give biometrics for your Emirates ID

    1 day

    After the residency application is filed, you may receive an SMS to visit an ICP customer happiness centre to give fingerprints and a photo for the Emirates ID. Go at your booked time with your original passport.

    Since April 2022 there is no residence sticker in the passport; the Emirates ID card carries your residence and employer details.

    Other Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia issues the Iqama (shown digitally in Absher). Qatar issues the QID after fingerprinting at the MOI. Bahrain issues the CPR card via the Information and eGovernment Authority. Kuwait issues the Civil ID through PACI. Oman issues the resident card through ROP.

    Tip: If you are not asked for biometrics, your existing record may be reused; check the application status instead of visiting.

    Where
    ICP customer happiness centre · Fingerprints and photo for Emirates ID. Bring original passport and application reference.
    Valid passport copy
    Attach my documents

  7. Sign your employment contract in MoHRE

    2 days

    The employer submits the employment contract to MoHRE based on the signed offer letter. You sign it electronically or at a service centre, and MoHRE issues your work permit (often still called the labour card). Check that the contract matches the offer: salary, job title, contract duration and benefits.

    Keep a copy: the registered contract is what labour disputes and end-of-service calculations rely on.

    Other Gulf countries: Saudi contracts are authenticated on Qiwa; Qatar contracts are registered with the Ministry of Labour; Bahrain work permits are issued by the LMRA; Kuwait contracts and permits are handled by PAM; Oman contracts are registered with the Ministry of Labour.

    Tip: Download your contract and work permit from the MoHRE app and keep them with your passport scan.

  8. Receive your residence and Emirates ID

    5 days

    ICP or GDRFA (for Dubai) approves the residence and the Emirates ID card is printed and delivered. The digital ID is available in the UAE PASS and ICP apps as soon as it is issued. Check the profession and employer name on the card.

    With the Emirates ID you can open a bank account for salary payments, get a phone line in your name and rent a home.

    Other Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia shows the Iqama in Absher; Qatar the QID in Metrash; Bahrain the CPR card; Kuwait the Civil ID in the Kuwait Mobile ID app; Oman the resident card from ROP.

    Tip: Ask HR for a salary certificate once you have the ID; banks and landlords often request it.

  9. Finish your first-month setup

    3 days

    A few obligations start as soon as you are employed. Open a bank account so the employer can pay you through the Wage Protection System. Subscribe to the Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) unemployment insurance scheme, which is mandatory for most private-sector and federal employees in the UAE; missing it can lead to a fine. Collect your health insurance card from HR, and keep copies of your contract, work permit and Emirates ID.

    Other Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia pays salaries through its wage protection system and records employment with GOSI; Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman also run wage protection systems, and nationals and some expats contribute to social insurance.

    Tip: Set up UAE PASS on your phone; most government services use it to sign in.

    • Open a salary bank account
    • Subscribe to ILOE unemployment insurance
    • Collect health insurance card from HR
    • Download contract and work permit from MoHRE
    • Set up UAE PASS with your Emirates ID
    • Save scans of all documents in one place

  10. Set a reminder to renew permit and residence

    1 day

    Work permits and employment residence are renewed together by the employer before expiry. Renewal needs a valid passport and valid health insurance, and sometimes a new medical test. Remind HR early, especially if your passport is close to expiry.

    If you change jobs, the new employer applies for a new work permit; the old one must be cancelled first. Ask for written confirmation of cancellation.

    Other Gulf countries: Saudi employers renew the Iqama and work permit via Muqeem and Qiwa; Qatar via MOI and Metrash; Bahrain via LMRA and NPRA; Kuwait via PAM and MOI; Oman via the Ministry of Labour and ROP.

    Tip: Check your residence expiry in the ICP or UAE PASS app every few months.

Documents you'll need

Valid passport copyNeeded for the work permit, entry permit and residence. Must be valid for at least six months.
Passport-size photo (white background)Recent colour photo; uploaded with the work permit and residence applications.
Attested degree certificateNeeded for skilled job titles. Attest in the issuing country, at the UAE embassy there, and with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Police clearance certificateRequested by some employers and for some occupations. Issued by the police in your home country; check whether it must be attested.

Official sources

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General guidance, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change; confirm with the official source before you act.

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