All 13 MOHRE work permit types from u.ae, from recruitment abroad, transfer and part-time to mission, juvenile, Golden Visa, freelance and private teacher permits, with the Cabinet Resolution 37/2022 fee schedule, conditions, renewal, cancellation and suspension rules.
Under Article 6 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, it is illegal to work in the UAE without a valid work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), and an employer may not recruit or employ any worker without one. This guide is built from u.ae's Work permits page (updated 19 October 2026) and the fee schedules of Cabinet Resolution No. 37 of 2022 that u.ae links to, read on 25 October 2026.
The 13 types of work permit
Quick answer: MOHRE issues 13 types of work permits to establishments registered with it, depending on the nature of the job (u.ae).
| # | Permit | What it is for (u.ae) | Validity (u.ae) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Recruiting a worker from outside the UAE | Hiring from abroad, under specific conditions | 2 years |
| 2 | Transfer | Moving a non-UAE worker from one establishment to another | 2 years |
| 3 | Resident on family sponsorship | Hiring a resident who is on family sponsorship inside the UAE | 2 years |
| 4 | Temporary | Assigning a worker already in the UAE to a task at a different company for a limited period, after which they return to their original employer | Not stated |
| 5 | Mission | Bringing in a worker from abroad for a specific temporary job or time-bound project | Not stated |
| 6 | Part-time | Hiring a worker, from inside or outside the UAE, on a part-time contract with fewer hours or days than full-time | 2 years (u.ae Arabic page) |
| 7 | Juvenile | Recruiting a juvenile aged 15 to 18, under conditions for a safe working environment | 1 year |
| 8 | Student training and employment | Employing a 15-year-old student already in the UAE | 3 months |
| 9 | UAE/GCC national | Employing a UAE or GCC national | 2 years |
| 10 | Golden Visa holder | Employing a person inside the UAE who holds a Golden residence visa | 2 years |
| 11 | National trainee | Training a UAE citizen in line with their approved academic qualification | 12 months, renewable by mutual agreement |
| 12 | Freelance | Individuals, including foreign nationals on self-sponsored residence visas, who work independently without being sponsored by an employer and without requiring an active employment contract | Not stated |
| 13 | Private teacher | Qualified people giving private lessons | 2 years, free of charge |
Under a part-time permit, u.ae states a worker may work for more than one employer after obtaining MOHRE's approval. u.ae's Arabic page adds that this applies to Level 1 and Level 2 occupations, under set controls, and that the original employer's consent is not required. The private teacher permit is open to teachers at government or private schools, public- and private-sector employees, unemployed people, school students aged 15 to 18 and university students, through MOHRE's app, website or digital channels (Ministerial Resolution No. 710 of 2023).
Work permit fees
Quick answer: Issuing or renewing a work permit costs AED 250 to AED 3,450, depending on the company's MOHRE classification (u.ae). The full schedule is in Cabinet Resolution No. 37 of 2022, in force since 1 June 2022.
Schedule 1: work permits from inside the country (valid residence visa holders)
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Juvenile work permit | AED 50 |
| Temporary work permit | AED 50 |
| Part-time work permit (for holders of valid work permits issued by MOHRE) | AED 50 |
| Training permit | AED 50 |
| Worker testing permit | AED 50 |
| Residence visa holder work permit | AED 50 |
| Golden Visa holder or freelance (self-employed) work permit, two years | AED 250 |
Schedule 2: work permits from outside the country (all employment types)
| Service | Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work permit application | AED 50 | AED 50 | AED 50 |
| Issuance of work permit, two years | AED 250 | AED 1,200 | AED 3,450 |
| Issuance of mission work permit | AED 250 | AED 250 | AED 250 |
Schedule 3: renewal, contract changes and transfers (all contract types)
| Service | Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work permit renewal, two years | AED 250 | AED 1,200 | AED 3,450 |
| Modification of employment contract | AED 50 | AED 50 | AED 50 |
| Transfer from one establishment to another permit | AED 50 | AED 50 | AED 50 |
| Permit for transfer and employment of workers from one establishment to another | AED 250 | AED 1,200 | AED 3,450 |
The category is the company's MOHRE classification, which reflects its compliance with the Labour Law, the Wages Protection System and MOHRE's resolutions; companies with a history of violations are placed in category C (u.ae). u.ae calls the categories A, B and C; the schedule numbers them 1, 2 and 3. The schedule published on u.ae is marked as an unofficial translation. These are MOHRE's fees only: the residence visa, Emirates ID, medical test and health insurance are separate (see our UAE visa processing guide).
Conditions for a work permit
u.ae lists these conditions for issuing a work permit:
- The worker must be at least 18, except for a juvenile work permit or a student training and employment permit.
- The worker's occupation must match the establishment's business activity.
- The company's trade licence must be valid and free of violations.
- For specialised professions, or any role that needs a licence to practise, the worker must meet the conditions in the applicable legislation.
- The application must be submitted by a person legally authorised to represent the company.
MOHRE may refuse to issue or renew work permits, or may cancel them, if the establishment provides incorrect documents, is fictitious or does not carry out its registered activity, or is not compliant with the Wages Protection System or other labour-market regulatory systems (u.ae).
Renewal and cancellation
Renewal: the conditions for issuance must still be met, all required documents, certificates and qualifications must be provided, and the fee is paid according to the permit type and the company's classification (u.ae). For the renewal window and process time, see our labour card guide.
Cancellation: submit a formal cancellation request, complete the required data and attachments, settle any outstanding fines for late issuance or non-renewal of the permit, and confirm that the worker has received all their entitlements (u.ae). See also our visa cancellation guide.
The detailed rules are in Articles 6 and 7 of Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 (the Labour Law's Implementing Regulation), and Article 3 of Ministerial Resolution No. 46 of 2022 sets out when an employer is not considered late in issuing or renewing a permit.
When MOHRE suspends new work permits
Under Ministerial Resolution No. 543 of 2022, u.ae states that firms are denied new work permits if they commit any of four violations:
- Breaches set out in Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020 on MOHRE's service fees and administrative fines.
- Failing to provide appropriate labour accommodation under Ministerial Resolution No. 44 of 2022.
- Facing allegations of human trafficking.
- Abusing access to MOHRE's systems in a way that could disrupt the ministry's operations.
The resolution sets how long the suspension lasts and what the firm must do to become entitled to work permits again.
The Work Bundle
The Work Bundle puts the issuance, renewal and cancellation of work permits and residence visas, plus the medical test and fingerprinting for the Emirates ID, on one platform. u.ae states it replaces 5 platforms with 1, merges 8 services into 1, cuts the steps from 15 (with 16 documents) to 5 (with 5 documents) and the in-person visits from 7 to 2, and reduces processing time from 30 working days to 5 working days. When we read it on 25 October 2026, workinuae.ae offered applications in Dubai through Invest in Dubai and listed Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah as "Coming Soon".
How ZETUP PRO helps
ZETUP PRO handles MOHRE work permits and contracts, WPS and visas for mainland companies on a published monthly retainer. For leave, notice and gratuity, see our UAE Labour Law guide for employers.
Free PDF: UAE Employer Labour Law Checklist 2026 | See the pricing | Book a free PRO Health Check
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many types of work permits are there in the UAE? A: MOHRE issues 13 types of work permits, depending on the nature of the job (u.ae).
Q: How much does a work permit cost in the UAE? A: Issuing or renewing a two-year work permit costs AED 250, AED 1,200 or AED 3,450 depending on the company's MOHRE category, plus a AED 50 application fee for a permit from outside the country. The juvenile, temporary, part-time, training, worker testing and residence visa holder permits for people already in the country cost AED 50, and a Golden Visa holder or freelance permit costs AED 250 for two years (Cabinet Resolution No. 37 of 2022).
Q: How long is a UAE work permit valid? A: u.ae states two years for seven of the 13 types, including recruitment from abroad, transfer and part-time. A juvenile permit is valid for one year, a student training and employment permit for three months, and a national trainee permit for 12 months, renewable by mutual agreement. u.ae gives no duration for temporary, mission and freelance permits, although the fee schedule prices a two-year freelance permit.
Q: Can an employee work part-time for more than one employer? A: Yes. Under a part-time work permit, u.ae states the worker may work for more than one employer after obtaining MOHRE's approval; its Arabic page limits this to Level 1 and Level 2 occupations.
Q: What is a mission work permit? A: A permit for bringing a worker from outside the UAE to complete a specific temporary job or time-bound project (u.ae). Issuance costs AED 250 in every company category.
Q: Does a Golden Visa holder need a work permit? A: Yes. MOHRE issues a Golden Visa holder work permit to establishments that want to employ a Golden Visa holder inside the UAE, valid for two years (u.ae), at AED 250 (Cabinet Resolution No. 37 of 2022).
Q: Can MOHRE stop a company from getting new work permits? A: Yes. Under Ministerial Resolution No. 543 of 2022, firms are denied new work permits for four violations, including breaches of the MOHRE fines resolution, inadequate labour accommodation, human-trafficking allegations and abuse of MOHRE's systems (u.ae).
Related guides
All guidesLabour Card in Dubai (2026): MOHRE Work Permit Cost, Validity & Renewal
The MOHRE labour card (work permit) in Dubai for 2026 — cost by company category (AED 250–3,450), two-year renewal fees, 2-year validity, MOHRE's 2-working-day process and late-renewal fines.
UAE Labour Law 2026: The Employer's Guide to Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021
The UAE Labour Law for private-sector employers, article by article from MOHRE's official text: contracts, probation, working hours, overtime, leave, notice, gratuity, disputes and fines.
Absconding in the UAE (2026): What It Means, How Employers Report It, and the One-Year Ban
Absconding (work abandonment) in the UAE, from MOHRE's service page and the Labour Law: the 7-day rule, how an employer files the report, documents, 2 working days, the one-year work-permit ban and who is exempt.
Annual Leave in the UAE (2026): Days, Pay, Carry-Over and the Rules for Employers
UAE annual leave under Article 29 of the Labour Law and its Implementing Regulation: 30 days a year, 2 days a month after six months, full pay, carry-over up to half, public holidays, part-time leave and pay on exit.
Need Professional Help?
ZETUP PRO handles all the complexity covered in this guide. Book a free PRO Health Check to see how we can help your business.