Mission Work Permit
Also known as: Mission Visa, Work Mission Permit, Business Mission Visa, MOHRE Mission Permit
Quick Answer
A mission work permit is the MOHRE permit that lets a UAE company bring a worker from outside the UAE for a temporary job or a time-bound project. It lasts three months, can be renewed once, and works together with a business-mission entry permit from ICP or GDRFA Dubai, which lets the worker enter and stay.
What a mission work permit is
MOHRE defines it as "a permit granted to an establishment for the purpose of recruiting workers for short term employment based on projects", and u.ae says it "allows establishments to bring in a worker from outside the UAE to complete a specific temporary job or time-bound project". It is one of MOHRE's 13 work permit types. It gives the right to work; to enter and stay, the worker also needs a business-mission entry permit from ICP or GDRFA Dubai, and ICP requires MOHRE's approval first when the employer is subject to the UAE labour law.
Who can apply
Only a UAE establishment registered with MOHRE can apply, through its authorised signatory. MOHRE's conditions include a valid licence with no violations that suspend the company, a job that matches the company's licensed activities, a worker aged 18 or over who holds no other active work permit, and an electronic quota; MOHRE says all skill levels and professions are eligible. Under Cabinet Resolution No. 203 of 2022, existing establishments get electronic permits for 5–10% of their registered employees, up to 100. A foreign company with no UAE licence cannot apply itself and needs a UAE sponsor.
Validity and extension
MOHRE lists the permit as valid for three months, renewable once for a similar period, so the realistic maximum is two three-month periods. The entry permit must be used within 60 days of issue, and ICP allows a work mission visa to be extended once, subject to MOHRE's approval of the extension. A job that runs longer needs a standard employment visa.
Processing time and costs
MOHRE lists a service time of 2 working days. MOHRE sets the fees for the permit, and ICP or GDRFA Dubai set the fees for the entry permit; MOHRE notes that its fees do not include tax and collection charges. Health insurance and any sponsor or agent charges come on top, so the total depends on the sponsor, the number of specialists and the length of the stay.
Documents and the medical
MOHRE's page lists no medical, but ICP's document list for the work mission entry permit includes a medical fitness certificate for work, together with a passport valid for at least six months, a temporary job contract or a letter stating the purpose of entry, an employer certificate, a health insurance policy valid in the UAE and a return ticket.
Inside or outside the UAE
The official texts describe the mission permit as recruitment from abroad: u.ae says it brings in "a worker from outside the UAE", and Cabinet Resolution No. 37 of 2022 lists the mission permit under work permits from outside the country. Plan for the worker to be outside the UAE when it is filed and issued. Working on a visit or tourist visa while waiting is prohibited, and u.ae says violators, employees and employers alike, face fines.
How ZETUP PRO helps
For a company abroad with no UAE entity, ZETUP PRO arranges the UAE sponsor, the mission work permit and the entry permit, passes government fees on at cost with the official receipts, and sends a written quote within 24 hours.
Official sources: MOHRE: Mission Work Permit (service page) · u.ae: Work permits (types and validity) · Cabinet Resolution No. 37 of 2022: work permits from outside the country (Schedule 2) · Cabinet Resolution No. 203 of 2022: electronic quota · ICP: visa issuance (work mission entry permit, documents) · ICP: visa extension (work mission visa, once)
Frequently asked questions
What is a mission work permit in the UAE?
It is the MOHRE permit that lets a UAE company bring a worker from outside the UAE for a temporary job or a time-bound project. The worker also needs a business-mission entry permit from ICP or GDRFA Dubai to enter and stay.
How long is a mission work permit valid?
MOHRE lists three months, renewable once for a similar period. The entry permit must be used within 60 days of issue, and ICP allows the work mission visa to be extended once, subject to MOHRE's approval.
How much does a mission work permit cost?
It depends on the sponsor, the number of specialists and the length of the stay. The price is made up of MOHRE's permit fees, the ICP or GDRFA Dubai entry permit fees, health insurance and any sponsor or agent charges; MOHRE's fees exclude tax and collection charges.
Can a foreign company apply for a mission work permit?
No. Only a UAE establishment registered with MOHRE, with electronic quota and licensed activities that match the job, can apply. A foreign company with no UAE licence needs a UAE sponsor.
Is a medical test needed for a mission visa?
MOHRE's page lists none, but ICP's document list for the work mission entry permit includes a medical fitness certificate for work.
Related
Term
Labour Card
Term
Entry Permit
Term
MOHRE
Term
ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security)
Term
GDRFA
Term
Medical Fitness Test
Service
Visa Processing
Guide
UAE Mission Visa 2026: Rules and How to Apply
Guide
UAE Mission Visa for Foreign Companies
Guide
Can You Work on a Visit Visa in the UAE?
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