Visa & residency
UAE Work Visa (2026): Steps, Documents & Emirates ID
How to get a work visa and residency in the UAE: the sponsorship steps, documents, medical test, family sponsorship and the rules for changing jobs.
Quick answer
How to get a work visa in the UAE
Receive and sign the job offer
The employer signs the job offer electronically and sends it to you. It must be in Arabic and English plus a language you understand, such as Hindi, Urdu or Tamil. Read it carefully before you approve it.
Employer applies for the work permit
The employer attaches the signed offer to an initial work permit application with MoHRE. Once approved, an entry permit is issued so you can travel. It is valid for 2 months from issue.
Enter the UAE and sign the contract
After you arrive, you and the employer sign the contract based on the offer, and MoHRE registers it. It must be submitted within 14 days of your arrival.
Do the medical test and health insurance
You take the medical fitness test at an approved centre. Since 1 January 2025 the employer must buy health insurance for you before your residence permit is issued or renewed.
Give biometrics for your Emirates ID
You visit a centre to give fingerprints and a photo for your Emirates ID. This and the medical test are usually the only two visits you must make in person.
Residence visa is issued
Complete the residence steps within 1 month of entering the UAE. The residence visa is valid for 2 years and is linked to your employer.
Documents you will usually need
- Passport valid for at least 6 months
- Signed job offer
- Degree certificates attested by your home country's foreign ministry and the UAE embassy or consulate (some professions also need UAE Ministry of Education attestation)
- Professional licence or local exam pass for regulated jobs, such as doctors and lab technicians
- Medical fitness certificate from an approved centre
Key rules
- Permit
- MoHRE work permit + employment residence visa (standard work visa)
- Residence ID
- Emirates ID
- Medical test
- All residence applicants aged 18 and over take a medical fitness test at an approved centre. It screens for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, syphilis, leprosy and tuberculosis. A positive HIV or leprosy result can lead to refusal or non-renewal of residence. Domestic workers also take a pregnancy test.
- Processing time
- Under the government's Work Bundle (workinuae.ae), work permit and residence processing takes about 5 working days, down from 30, with 5 steps, 5 documents and 2 in-person visits.
- Sponsoring family
- A resident employee can sponsor a spouse and children with a monthly salary of at least AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, regardless of job title. Apply for their residence visas within 60 days of them entering the UAE on an entry permit. Family members aged 18 and over must pass the medical test.
- Changing jobs
- The current law does not generally require a no-objection certificate (NOC) to change jobs. You can move once your contract ends, or earlier by mutual agreement, after serving your 30-90 day notice and cancelling your old permit. During probation you must give 1 month's notice to move to another UAE employer. A 1-year work permit ban can apply if you quit during probation without following the rules, if a work abandonment report against you is proven, or if your permit was with a fictitious company. Golden Visa holders and some skilled workers are exempt from the abandonment ban. You can check for a ban by calling MoHRE on 600590000.
Other residency routes
Green Visa (skilled employees and freelancers)
A 5-year self-sponsored residence. Skilled employees need a valid employment contract, a job in MoHRE skill level 1, 2 or 3, at least a bachelor's degree and a monthly salary of at least AED 15,000.
Golden Visa
A long-term renewable residence of 5 or 10 years with no sponsor needed. For skilled professionals, Abu Dhabi's official criteria require a job in MoHRE skill level 1 or 2, a bachelor's degree and a monthly salary of at least AED 30,000. Holders can sponsor family and stay abroad longer than 6 months.
Freelance work permit
MoHRE issues a freelance permit for independent workers, including self-sponsored foreign nationals, who work without an employer sponsor or employment contract.
Official portals
Sources:u.aeu.aeu.aeu.aeu.aeu.aeu.aeu.aeadded.gov.aeadro.gov.aemohre.gov.aekhaleejtimes.comassets.u.aeaccessfinancial.com
Frequently asked questions
How long does a UAE work visa take?
Through the Work Bundle platform, work permit and residence processing takes about 5 working days once your employer applies. Document attestation in your home country can take longer, so start early.
How long is a UAE employment residence visa valid?
The standard work visa is valid for 2 years and can be renewed. Your Green Visa or Golden Visa, if you qualify, lasts 5 or 10 years.
Can I work in the UAE on a visit visa?
No. Working on a visit or tourist visa is prohibited. Penalties can include fines, imprisonment or deportation, and they apply to both worker and employer.
Do I need an NOC to change jobs in the UAE?
In most cases, no. You can move after your contract ends or by mutual agreement, as long as you serve your notice and your old permit is cancelled. Some free zones may still ask for an NOC for internal transfers.
What salary do I need to sponsor my family in the UAE?
At least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 a month plus accommodation, to sponsor your spouse and children. Rules for sponsoring parents are stricter and vary by emirate.
Last reviewed: 17 Oct 2026. General information based on the official sources cited - not legal advice. Check with the relevant authority before acting.
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