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Work Permit in Dubai

Work Permit in Dubai

Why is Work Permit Needed in Dubai?

Often referred to as the ‘City of Gold,’ Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates. A booming economy and relatively easy process of obtaining a work permit make Dubai a popular destination among the expatriates. 

To be employed in the country legally, expatriates working in the UAE must have a valid Dubai work permit. Foreign nationals must get the entry permit first and then apply for a Dubai work visa. 

About the Dubai Job Market

Work Permit in Dubai

Number of Expats:

8.84 million

Expats Job Websites:

prospects.ac.uk, Jobandwork.asia, Expat, Gulftalent

Popular Industries for Expats:

Real estate, trading, services, hospitality, travel, and tourism

Types of Dubai Work Visa Available

Before obtaining a Dubai work permit, every foreign national must have an entry permit to enter the country.

The various types of visas that will allow an employee to enter the country are:

1. Visa on Arrival‍

Whether a foreign national will be granted this type of visa depends upon their nationality. If the expatriate is visiting the country for a short period of up to either 30 days or 90 days, they can apply for this visa.

2. Tourist Visa‍

Those foreign nationals who are not granted a Visa on Arrival can apply for this visa.

3. Transit visa

If the Visa on Arrival has not been granted, those traveling through UAE can apply for a Transit Visa.

4. Patient Visa

‍Any foreign national entering the country for medical treatment can apply for this type of visa.‍

5. Retirement Visa

‍If any foreign national has bought a property or invested in a business in UAE, they can apply for a Retirement Visa. It allows them to continue to reside in Dubai once they have retired.

Dubai Work Permit Visa Requirements

To work in Dubai legally, foreign nationals must have a Residence Visa and a Dubai work permit visa.

Foreign nationals must submit the following while applying for a residence visa in Dubai:

  1. A completed application form
  2. Passport-sized photos
  3. A copy of a valid company card
  4. The foreign applicant’s original passport, along with a copy
  5. An entry permit issued by the Ministry of Labor
  6. Health certificate
  7. Proof of payment of the application fee

Upon arriving in Dubai, the expatriates will also need to undergo a medical examination.

To obtain a Dubai work permit, the applicant should have the following:

  1. An employment contract with a Dubai-based company
  2. Proof of accommodations in Dubai, such as a copy of a lease agreement
  3. Copies of the applicant’s birth certificate, passport, and marriage certificate, if applicable
  4. Sufficient evidence that the applicant has enough financial means to support themselves in Dubai during their stay.

Dubai Work Permit Application Process

The employer should obtain the work visa on behalf of the foreign applicants. The visa fee costs also need to be borne by the employer.

The Dubai work permit application process is as follows:

  1. To hire a foreign employee, the employer in Dubai first needs to apply for approval from the Ministry of Labor.
  2. The Ministry of Labor will issue an entry permit, which will allow the foreign applicant to enter the UAE and stay for 30 days.
  3. Next, the applicant needs to travel to Dubai. Upon arrival, they get a time of 60 days to obtain a residence visa.
  4. Once the foreign applicant arrives in Dubai, the employer begins applying for a work permit or labor card.
  5. Then the employee needs to visit an Emirates ID service center with their valid passport and entry visa to obtain an ID.
  6. After that, the employee goes to a government hospital for their medical examination.
  7. Once the medical examination is over, the applicant should apply for a residence visa through the immigration authorities.
  8. The applicant must bring all necessary documents to the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai (DNRD). Here, their residence visa will be stamped onto their passport.

Once the foreign employee has obtained the residence and work permits, they may start working in Dubai.

Dubai Work Permit Processing Time

A foreign national can obtain a Dubai entry permit in two to seven days.

After that, their employer starts the application process for obtaining a work permit. This process involves several steps and may take up to 60 days.

Dubai Work Permit Fees

Dubai Work Permit fees can be categorized as:

Visa typeFees (AED)
Work permit for those sponsored by their parents100
Work permit for an event50
Work permit for a period of time50
Training permit50
Employee probation permit100
Work permit100
Work mission permit50
Transfer of employee permit from one establishment to another50
Transfer of employee permit from one establishment to another owned by the same employer/partner50
Amendment of work permit100

Points to Remember Before Applying for a Dubai Work Permit:

Below are a few of the critical considerations to be kept in mind before applying for a Dubai work permit:

  1. Expats can enter Dubai with a Visitor Visa like the Visa on Arrival or Tourist Visa. After entering the country, they can search for a suitable job and have their prospective employer.
  2. The prospective employer will then have to apply for a work permit on behalf of the expat.
  3. However, an expat can start working in Dubai only when they have their work visa.
  4. In Dubai, employers are required to provide health insurance to their foreign employees.
  5. A foreign employee who already possesses a Dubai Work Visa can bring their spouse and children to the country. In this case, the employee becomes the sponsor of their family.

This is how Multiplier can help with a Dubai Work Permit

We are a global employer of record services company with experience handling and providing HR solutions and a local presence in over 150 countries. For global business organizations looking for efficient employee management, our team of professionals can efficiently handle the process of onboarding and managing employees.

Obtaining a Dubai work permit is a multi-tiered and complicated procedure. Partnering with Multiplier and its in-house experts will offer you a one-stop solution to this entire process by taking care of the application procedure from the initial stages till the delivery of the work permit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A Dubai work visa is valid for one, two, or three years. Additionally, the validity depends upon the employer and the nature of employment

The foreign national has to take a blood test and an X-ray test. In addition, they will be tested for HIV, hepatitis, A, B, and C, tuberculosis, leprosy, or syphilis. In addition, the women applicants will have to undergo additional tests if they are pregnant.

Foreign applicants can have their Dubai entry visa within two to seven days of the application. This visa will allow them to enter Dubai. After this, their employer can start the application process for a Dubai work permit. This may take up to 60 days to finally receive the permit.

Are work permit hurdles slowing down your hiring process?

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