How does the UAE employment visa actually work?

Your employer sponsors it: a MOHRE-registered contract leads to a 2-year renewable residence visa handled almost entirely by the company — it remains the visa most UAE residents hold.

Last updated: 2026-11-02 · Reviewed against official UAE government sources · Rules change often — always confirm with ICP or GDRFA before acting.

From offer to Emirates ID

Stage	What happens
Work permit	Employer registers the contract with MOHRE (mainland) or the free zone authority
Entry / status change	You enter on the permit or adjust status in-country
Medical + biometrics	Medical fitness test and Emirates ID capture
Residence stamp	2-year visa (3 years with some government and free-zone employers)

Changing or losing a job

The visa is tied to the sponsoring employer. On cancellation you get a grace period to find new sponsorship or switch to a self-sponsored visa — the current grace length depends on your visa class, so confirm it with ICP/GDRFA rather than assuming quoted figures. Earning AED 15,000+? The Green Visa removes employer dependence; at AED 30,000+ with a degree, check the Golden salary route.

Field notes — mistakes people actually make. Recurring issues reported in expat communities and case write-ups (individual cases vary):

Signing an offer letter whose terms differ from the MOHRE contract filed later — the filed contract is the one that binds.
Handing over the passport for 'safekeeping' — employers may hold it for processing steps, not indefinitely; withholding is unlawful.
Resigning before checking how the cancellation date interacts with the grace window and dependents' visas.

Verify at the source

Rules change without notice. These official pages decide your case — check them before acting on anything above:

Frequently asked questions

Who pays for a UAE employment visa — me or the employer?

By law the employer bears recruitment and visa costs for mainland employment. Passing visa costs to employees is a compliance violation you can raise with MOHRE.

Can I work a second job on an employment visa?

Only with a part-time work permit through MOHRE or your free zone. Unpermitted second jobs expose both you and the employer to fines.

My employer is delaying my visa — what can I do?

Working without a stamped residence visa beyond the legal window puts you at risk. Raise it with MOHRE (mainland) or the free zone authority — both take sponsorship delays seriously.

Sources & verification. Each page lists the official pages its figures come from, and carries the date we last reviewed it (2026-11-02). Where we could not confirm a figure against a primary government source, the page says so instead of asserting it. against UAE government portals (u.ae, ICP) and current legal-advisory publications. This site is an independent guide by Growtoday Holdings FZE, Dubai — not a government website and not legal advice. Requirements vary by emirate, nationality and case; confirm with ICP/GDRFA or a licensed advisor before making decisions.

Not sure where to verify this?

The AI assistant points you to which office decides and what to confirm, from this guide's content — it does not rule on individual eligibility.

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