UAE labour card: how the MOHRE work permit works

What is a labour card in the UAE?

A labour card is the permit that lets a foreign national work for a specific employer in the UAE. On the mainland, MOHRE issues it to the employer, for one named employee, in one job. People still say labour card, but MOHRE's services refer to an electronic work permit, and most of the process now runs online.

The permit sits alongside the residence visa and the Emirates ID, not instead of them. The work permit lets you work for that employer, the residence visa lets you live in the UAE, and the Emirates ID identifies you. A typical job needs all three.

The legal basis is Article 6 of the Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. The UAE government portal puts it plainly: it's illegal to work in the UAE without a valid work permit, and an employer may not hire a worker unless a permit has been issued under MOHRE's procedures.

The 13 MOHRE work permit types

MOHRE issues 13 types of work permit to establishments registered with it. The right one depends on where the worker is now and how they'll work.

Most new hires from abroad use the first type. If your new employee is already in the UAE, the transfer or family-sponsored permit usually applies instead, and MOHRE checks that the worker doesn't hold a valid permit with another company.

How much does a labour card cost?

MOHRE's published fee for a two-year work permit when you recruit from overseas depends on the category MOHRE gives your establishment:

MOHRE says the permit package covers printing the job offer, the employment contracts and the permit application. On MOHRE's website and smart app the service is free apart from these federal fees, while business service centres may charge a commission of up to AED 72 per service in the package.

Budget for the rest of the hire too. The UAE government portal lists a bank guarantee of AED 3,000 per employee, paid by the employer through an approved UAE bank and refundable after the employee's service ends and the permit is cancelled. The entry permit, medical fitness test, Emirates ID and residence visa carry their own fees, which our employment visa service sets out for each hire.

Who pays? The employer. The UAE government portal says recruitment, travel and residency permit costs are borne by the employer, and that charging recruitment fees to prospective employees is illegal.

How to get a labour card, step by step

For a mainland company hiring from abroad, the stages run in this order. The UAE government portal describes the same sequence, and MOHRE's Work Bundle platform now lets employers handle several stages in a single application.

• 1. Register the company with MOHRE. Your establishment needs a MOHRE establishment card linked to its trade license, and an electronic signature card. MOHRE inspects the premises and issues the signature card if there are no violations. See our establishment card guide.
• 2. Agree the job offer. The worker signs a job offer. The profession has to fit your licensed activity, the worker must be at least 18 for a standard permit, and the hire must sit within the quota MOHRE approves for your company.
• 3. Apply for the work permit. Submit the documents in the checklist below through MOHRE's eServices or the Work Bundle.
• 4. Pay within 60 days. The approved permit is valid for 60 days. If the fees and bank guarantee aren't paid in that window, the permit is cancelled and you apply again.
• 5. Get the entry permit. With the company's file open at the immigration authority (GDRFA in Dubai), you apply for the employee's work entry permit, which is valid for two months.
• 6. Medical test, Emirates ID and labour card. Within those two months the employee completes the medical fitness test, applies for an Emirates ID through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), and receives the labour card from MOHRE.
• 7. Residence visa. Once everything is complete, the residence visa linked to the work permit is issued.

The Work Bundle joins work permits, residency, Emirates ID, medical tests and contract procedures in one application, with a single payment channel and one-time data entry, according to the UAE government portal.

Documents checklist

The UAE government portal lists these documents for a mainland work permit:

• A copy of the trade license
• The establishment's electronic signature card
• A colour photo of the worker on a white background
• A copy of the worker's passport, valid for at least six months
• The worker's qualifications, authenticated by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• For doctors, pharmacists, nurses, teachers and other regulated professions, an approval letter from the relevant authority
• A signed job offer

Qualifications usually take the longest, because attestation often starts in the country that issued the certificate. Start early with degree certificate attestation, and check whether the role also needs an equivalency certificate.

How to check a labour card or work permit status

Employers track work permit applications through MOHRE's eServices on its website and smart app. Employees can usually look up their own permit and contract through MOHRE's enquiry services, using the reference numbers on their offer or contract.

If the status shows a problem, such as a missing document or an unpaid fee, fix that item rather than starting a new application. Our employment visa service page explains how to check the residence side as well.

Renewal, changes and cancellation

MOHRE's FAQ says the employer must renew the work permit when it expires. If the electronic work permit is still valid and details change, you apply for an amendment; if it has expired, you apply for a renewal. The FAQ also lists cases where an employer is not treated as late in renewing or issuing a permit.

Cancellation also runs through MOHRE. Before a permit is cancelled, the employer pays any fines for late issue or non-renewal and confirms the worker's dues are settled, and the worker signs; MOHRE lists two working days for the service. Cancelling also matters for the bank guarantee, which can be refunded once the permit is cancelled.

Fines for failing to renew a permit, and for employing someone without one, are set under Cabinet Resolution No. (21) of 2020 and its amendments, and the Labour Law sets separate penalties. Renewing on time is cheaper than any of them.

Mainland vs free zone: who issues the permit

MOHRE's permits are issued to establishments registered with MOHRE, which means mainland companies. Free zone companies usually hire through their own free zone authority, which runs its own employee permit and visa process, with its own portal, fees and timelines.

If you haven't set up yet, the choice affects hiring. Compare the routes on our free zone company formation and mainland company formation pages.

Common reasons a labour card is delayed

• The passport has less than six months' validity.
• The job title doesn't fit the company's licensed activities.
• The company has used up its MOHRE-approved quota.
• The worker still holds a valid permit with another company.
• Qualifications aren't authenticated, or a regulator's approval is missing for a licensed profession.
• The fees or bank guarantee weren't paid within the 60-day window.
• The establishment card or electronic signature card has expired.

Our employment visa and work permit service runs the whole sequence for you, from the MOHRE application to the residence visa. Global Sky PRO is a private PRO consultancy: MOHRE, ICP and GDRFA make the decisions, and we keep you updated at each step.