The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) issues 13 types of work permits for the private sector. Which one you need depends on where the worker is (inside or outside the UAE), their visa status, nationality, age, and whether the role is full-time, part-time, temporary, or freelance. Working, or employing someone, without the correct permit is illegal under the UAE Labour Law and attracts fines.
This guide breaks down all 13 permits, what each is for, how long it's valid, what it costs, and how employers apply, based on MOHRE and official UAE Government (u.ae) guidance.
What is a UAE work permit?
A UAE work permit is official authorisation from MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation) that allows a person to work for a private-sector establishment registered with the Ministry. Under Article 6 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (the UAE Labour Law), it is illegal to work in the UAE without a valid MOHRE work permit, and equally illegal for an employer to hire someone without one.
Two things often confused with a work permit:
- A residence visa lets you live in the UAE. A work permit lets you work. Most employees need both, and for mainland companies the employer arranges them together during onboarding.
- Free zone employees are generally licensed by their free zone authority rather than MOHRE. The 13 permits below apply to MOHRE-registered (mainland) establishments. If you're weighing up mainland vs free zone hiring, see our guides to setting up in IFZA and Sharjah Media City (Shams).
Key takeaway: The employer, not the employee, applies for the work permit, and the employer bears the government fees.
The 13 types of MOHRE work permits
Work permit to recruit a worker from outside the UAE
Valid 2 yearsThe standard route for hiring international talent. The employer obtains this permit to bring a new employee into the country from abroad, after which the residence visa and Emirates ID process follows. Valid for two years and renewable. This is the most common permit in the UAE private sector and represents full-time, employer-sponsored employment.
Best for: companies hiring candidates who are currently overseas.
Work permit to transfer a worker from one establishment to another
Valid 2 yearsIssued when a non-UAE national already employed in the country moves to a new employer. The sponsorship transfers with the employee, which means they typically avoid repeating the full onboarding cycle, including steps such as new biometrics for an Emirates ID. Valid for two years.
Best for: hiring candidates already employed by another UAE company.
Work permit for a resident on family sponsorship
Valid 2 yearsAllows a company to employ someone who already holds a UAE residence visa sponsored by a family member (for example, a spouse or parent). The employee keeps their family-sponsored visa; the employer only needs the work permit, often making this one of the fastest and most cost-efficient hires. Valid for two years.
Best for: hiring spouses and dependants already resident in the UAE.
Temporary work permit
Limited periodLets an establishment engage a worker who is already in the UAE to perform a specific task for a limited period at a different company, after which the worker returns to their original employer. It supports short-term secondments and project-based needs without breaking the original employment relationship.
Best for: short-term projects and inter-company secondments.
Mission work permit
Project durationAllows an employer to bring a worker in from outside the UAE to complete a specific temporary job or a time-bound project. Once the mission ends, so does the arrangement: no long-term sponsorship is created.
Best for: overseas specialists needed for a defined project.
Part-time work permit
Per contractEnables hiring, from inside or outside the UAE, under a part-time contract where working hours or days are fewer than a full-time role. With MOHRE approval, a part-time permit holder can work for more than one employer at the same time.
Best for: flexible roles, and professionals building a portfolio of employers.
Juvenile work permit
Valid 1 yearPermits the employment of a young person aged 15 to 18, under strict conditions designed to guarantee a safe and appropriate working environment for minors. Valid for one year.
Best for: structured youth employment within legal safeguards.
Student training and employment permit
Valid 3 monthsAllows an establishment to train and employ a student aged 15 who is already in the UAE, under conditions that ensure a safe, suitable environment. Valid for three months, designed around internships and short training placements.
Best for: student internships and work-experience programmes.
UAE / GCC national work permit
Valid 2 yearsCovers the employment of UAE citizens and nationals of other GCC states in MOHRE-registered establishments. Valid for two years. For UAE nationals, this permit also connects to Emiratisation obligations. See our MOHRE compliance support if you need help meeting quota requirements.
Best for: hiring Emirati and GCC talent.
Golden Visa holder work permit
Valid 2 yearsIssued to establishments employing someone inside the UAE who holds a Golden Residence Visa. The employee keeps their long-term self-sponsored residency; the employer simply adds the work permit. Valid for two years.
Best for: hiring senior professionals and investors on Golden Visas.
National trainee work permit
Valid 12 monthsIssued to MOHRE-registered establishments training a UAE citizen in line with their approved academic qualifications. Valid for 12 months, renewable by mutual agreement: a structured pathway for developing Emirati graduates.
Best for: graduate training programmes supporting Emiratisation.
Freelance work permit
Per MOHRE termsIssued to individuals, including foreign nationals on self-sponsored residence visas, who want to work independently without an employer sponsor or an active employment contract. Freelancers earn by delivering services, tasks, or projects to individuals or companies without becoming their employee.
Best for: independent professionals and consultants. (Setting up as a company instead? Compare with a free zone licence.)
Private teacher work permit
2 years · FreeAllows qualified professionals to give private lessons legally. Eligible applicants include registered school teachers, government and private-sector employees, unemployed individuals, school students aged 15 to 18, and university students. It's free of charge and valid for two years, applied for via MOHRE's app, website or digital channels. Tutoring without this permit exposes individuals to fines under Ministerial Resolution No. 710 of 2023.
Best for: teachers and students offering legal private tuition.
Hiring in the UAE and not sure which permit applies?
Stevva's PRO and corporate services team handles work permits, visas and MOHRE compliance end to end, so you can focus on the hire, not the paperwork.
Talk to StevvaComparison table: all 13 permits at a glance
| # | Permit | Who it's for | Worker location | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Recruit from outside the UAE | New overseas hires | Outside UAE | 2 years |
| 2 | Transfer between establishments | Employees changing employer | Inside UAE | 2 years |
| 3 | Family sponsorship resident | Dependants on family visas | Inside UAE | 2 years |
| 4 | Temporary work permit | Task-based work at another company | Inside UAE | Limited period |
| 5 | Mission work permit | Overseas worker for a defined project | Outside UAE | Project duration |
| 6 | Part-time work permit | Reduced hours; multiple employers possible | Inside or outside UAE | Per contract |
| 7 | Juvenile work permit | Ages 15–18 | Inside UAE | 1 year |
| 8 | Student training & employment | Students aged 15 | Inside UAE | 3 months |
| 9 | UAE / GCC national | Emirati and GCC citizens | Inside UAE | 2 years |
| 10 | Golden Visa holder | Golden Residency holders | Inside UAE | 2 years |
| 11 | National trainee | UAE citizens in training roles | Inside UAE | 12 months |
| 12 | Freelance permit | Independent self-employed professionals | Inside UAE | Per MOHRE terms |
| 13 | Private teacher | Qualified tutors and students | Inside UAE | 2 years (free) |
Source: MOHRE via u.ae (official UAE Government portal), current as of August 2026.
Conditions for getting a work permit
MOHRE applies the same core conditions across permit types:
- The worker must be at least 18, except under the juvenile or student training permits.
- The job must match the company's licensed business activity.
- The employer's trade licence must be valid and free of violations.
- Regulated professions require the relevant professional licence or qualifications.
- The application must be submitted by a legally authorised company representative.
If your trade licence needs renewing or amending before you can hire, Stevva's licence amendment and renewals team can bring it current quickly.
How much does a UAE work permit cost?
Issuing or renewing a MOHRE work permit costs between AED 250 and AED 3,450, depending on the company's classification: A, B or C. The tiering rewards compliance: companies with clean records on the UAE Labour Law, the Wages Protection System (WPS) and workforce-diversity policy sit in cheaper categories, while firms with violations fall into Category C and pay the most.
Two cost notes worth knowing:
- The employer pays. Passing recruitment or permit costs to the employee is not permitted.
- The private teacher permit is free, and several digital-first permit processes have been streamlined under MOHRE's ongoing service upgrades.
Key takeaway: Your compliance record directly prices your hiring. Staying compliant with WPS and MOHRE resolutions keeps every future permit cheaper. Stevva runs payroll and WPS administration for exactly this reason.
How to apply, renew or cancel a work permit
Applying. Employers apply through MOHRE's digital channels (the MOHRE website and app), with Tasheel centres available to assist with submission. Since 2024, the government's Work Bundle platform has consolidated work permit, residence visa, medical test and Emirates ID steps into a single flow: from around 15 steps and 16 documents down to roughly 5 steps and 5 documents, and from about 30 working days to around 5.
Renewing. The original issuance conditions must still be met, documents and qualifications must be up to date, and fees are paid according to permit type and company classification.
Cancelling. The employer submits a cancellation request with the required data and attachments, settles any fines for late issuance or non-renewal, and must confirm the worker has received all end-of-service entitlements. If you're calculating final settlements, try Stevva's UAE gratuity calculator.
When MOHRE can refuse or suspend permits
MOHRE may decline to issue or renew permits, or may cancel them, where an establishment submits incorrect documents, turns out to be fictitious or inactive in its licensed activity, or breaches the Wages Protection System or other labour-market regulations.
Separately, under Ministerial Resolution No. 543 of 2022, a company's file can be administratively suspended (blocking all new work permits) for violations including breaches of MOHRE's fines framework, failure to provide compliant worker accommodation, human-trafficking allegations, or misuse of MOHRE systems.
For growing companies, this is the hidden cost of poor HR administration: one compliance lapse can freeze your entire hiring pipeline.
Get your UAE work permits handled by Stevva
From selecting the right permit type to MOHRE filings, WPS payroll and visa processing, Stevva supports employers across the UAE mainland and free zones.
Book a free consultationFrequently asked questions
How many types of work permits are there in the UAE?
MOHRE issues 13 types of work permits for private-sector establishments registered with the Ministry. They cover overseas recruitment, employer transfers, family-sponsored residents, temporary and mission work, part-time roles, juveniles and students, UAE/GCC nationals, Golden Visa holders, national trainees, freelancers, and private teachers.
Who issues work permits in the UAE?
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) issues work permits for the private sector. Free zone employees are typically covered by their free zone authority's own employment framework instead.
How much does a UAE work permit cost?
Issuing or renewing a MOHRE work permit costs between AED 250 and AED 3,450, depending on whether the employer is classified in Category A, B or C. Compliant companies pay less; companies with labour-law violations pay the most. The private teacher permit is free.
How long is a UAE work permit valid?
Most permits (including overseas recruitment, transfer, family sponsorship, UAE/GCC national and Golden Visa permits) are valid for two years. The juvenile permit is valid for one year, the national trainee permit for 12 months, and the student training permit for three months.
Can I work in the UAE on my spouse's visa?
Yes. If you hold a residence visa under family sponsorship, an employer can hire you using the "work permit for a resident on family sponsorship." You keep your family-sponsored visa; the employer obtains only the work permit, which is valid for two years.
Can I work for two employers in the UAE?
Yes, under the part-time work permit. A worker on a part-time contract may work for more than one employer, provided MOHRE approval is obtained.
Do Golden Visa holders need a work permit?
Yes. A Golden Visa grants long-term residency, but to be employed by a UAE company the employer must still obtain a Golden Visa holder work permit from MOHRE, valid for two years.
Is it legal to freelance in the UAE without a company?
Yes, through MOHRE's freelance work permit, which allows individuals (including those on self-sponsored residence visas) to work independently without an employer sponsor or employment contract. Freelancers in free zones may alternatively operate under a free zone freelance licence.
Is private tutoring legal in the UAE?
Only with a private teacher work permit from MOHRE. The permit is free, valid for two years, and open to registered teachers, employed and unemployed individuals, school students aged 15 to 18, and university students. Tutoring without it attracts fines.
Who pays for the work permit: employer or employee?
The employer. UAE labour rules place recruitment and permit costs on the establishment, and MOHRE fees are billed to the company based on its classification.
What happens if someone works without a permit?
Working without a valid MOHRE permit is illegal under Article 6 of the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021). Both the worker and the employer face penalties, and violating companies can be blocked from obtaining new permits.
How long does it take to get a UAE work permit?
Under the government's Work Bundle platform, the combined work permit, visa, medical and Emirates ID journey has been reduced to around five working days, down from roughly 30. Individual permit approvals through MOHRE's digital channels are often processed within a few working days.
Sources: MOHRE; the official UAE Government portal (u.ae), Work Permits, updated July 2026; Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021; Ministerial Resolutions No. 710 of 2023 and No. 543 of 2022; Arabian Business UAE work permit coverage (2026).
Rozmina Qureshi
Rozmina is an Operations Executive at Stevva Incorporations, managing MOHRE filings, work permits and visa processing for employers across the UAE. She writes Insights to make government processes predictable for the companies that rely on them.
Last updated August 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Regulations change; verify current requirements with MOHRE or speak to Stevva before acting.