UAE Work Permit Guide: All 13 Types Explained and Who Can Apply

The right UAE work permit is the first legal requirement for working in the country's private sector. Whether you are a fresh graduate, an experienced professional, a student looking for a first job or a freelancer, the permit you need depends on your situation. This UAE work permit guide explains all 13 types, who is eligible for each, who must apply and what to expect.

In the private sector, work permits are issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). They are set out under the UAE Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, and its executive regulations. The permits let companies hire talent from inside the country or abroad. They also give jobseekers more flexible options, from freelance work to temporary contracts. This guide is based on a report by Gulf News and is organised as a reference you can return to.

UAE Work Permit Types at a Glance

• Work permit for recruiting a worker from outside the country
• Transfer work permit
• Work permit under the residence of a relative
• Temporary work permit
• One-mission permit
• Part-time work permit
• Juvenile work permit
• Student training and employment permit
• UAE and GCC national permit
• Golden Visa work permit
• National trainee permit
• Freelance permit
• Private teacher work permit

Who Issues a UAE Work Permit and Under Which Law

For private-sector jobs, every UAE work permit comes from MOHRE. The legal basis is Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, known as the UAE Labour Law, together with its executive regulations. The law created several permit types so that both employers and workers have options that match their needs, such as short projects, part-time hours, training placements or independent work.

• Issuing authority: Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
• Legal basis: UAE Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, and its executive regulations
• Official government information: the UAE government portal

Who Applies for a UAE Work Permit: the Employer or You?

The general rule is simple. Apart from the freelance permit, which individuals can apply for directly, all other permits must be requested by the company hiring you. The private teacher permit is also applied for by eligible individuals through the MOHRE website.

This matters because many jobseekers wait for a permit they cannot apply for themselves. If you have a job offer, your employer starts the process. If you plan to work independently or give private lessons, you can start it yourself.

Planning to work on your own? Read our guide to the freelance visa in the UAE.

UAE Work Permit 1: Recruiting a Worker From Outside the Country

This permit allows registered establishments to recruit a worker from outside the UAE. If you are coming to the country for employment, the company or organisation hiring you applies for this permit.

The employer is responsible for completing all hiring procedures under the UAE Labour Law:

• Applying for your residence visa
• Medical testing
• Obtaining your Emirates ID card
• Obtaining your Labour Card
• Stamping the UAE residency visa on your passport within 60 days of your arrival

The employer pays for all of these costs. A company that does not obtain a work permit for an employee faces a fine of no less than Dh50,000 and no more than Dh200,000. For more on the ID card, see our Emirates ID guide.

UAE Work Permit 2: Transfer Permit for Changing Jobs

Under this permit, an expatriate worker is transferred to and from an establishment registered with MOHRE. It is the permit used when you move between jobs inside the UAE. Your new employer applies for it, so ask them to confirm they have started the transfer before you leave your current role.

UAE Work Permit 3: Work Under the Residence of a Relative

This permit applies to people whose residence visa is sponsored by a family member. In this case the establishment only needs to apply for a work permit. It does not become the sponsor of the worker's visa. It is the route for family members who live in the UAE on a relative's visa and want to take up private-sector employment.

UAE Work Permit 4: Temporary Work Permit for Short Assignments

A temporary work permit lets you work legally for an employer for a limited time. It is a MOHRE service for recruiting a worker who already lives in the UAE to carry out certain work for a period not exceeding six months. It suits short assignments, seasonal needs and cover roles.

UAE Work Permit 5: One-Mission Permit for a Single Project

According to MOHRE, a one-mission work permit is issued to a registered establishment wishing to recruit a worker from abroad to complete temporary work or a particular project for a specific time period. The key difference from the temporary permit is where the worker comes from. The temporary permit covers workers already in the UAE, while the one-mission permit covers workers brought in from abroad for one defined job.

UAE Work Permit 6: Part-Time Permit for More Than One Employer

With a part-time permit, an employee can work under a part-time labour contract. The permit lets you work for more than one employer without the approval of your original employer. The guide says the working hours must be no less than 20 hours a week. Confirm the current rule with MOHRE before you rely on it.

UAE Work Permit 7: Juvenile Permit for Ages 15 to 18

This permit allows a person aged 15 to 18 to be employed at a registered establishment. The law adds extra protections:

• Teenagers need written consent from a parent or guardian
• Working hours are reduced compared with an adult, to a maximum of six hours a day
• Juveniles cannot be employed for hazardous or hard work

UAE Work Permit 8: Student Training and Employment Permit

A UAE resident aged 15 or above can be employed and trained at a registered establishment under this permit. According to the UAE government portal, u.ae, it is designed for students who want to join the private sector for training. The training permit lasts three months. As with the juvenile permit, a minor needs written consent from a parent or guardian.

UAE Work Permit 9: UAE and GCC National Permit

This permit allows a registered establishment to employ UAE citizens or citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It is an employer-side permit for hiring nationals of the UAE and the wider Gulf region.

UAE Work Permit 10: Golden Visa Work Permit

A Golden Visa does not remove the need for a work permit if you are employed by a UAE-based company. MOHRE announced on July 1, 2021 that it would issue specific work permits for Golden Visa holders. The permit is given in three cases:

• The holder was not working when they received the Golden Visa and now wants to work for an employer
• The current employer wants to renew the work permit and contract after the permit expires
• The holder joins a new job with another employer

UAE Work Permit 11: National Trainee Permit for Emiratis

Companies registered with MOHRE can obtain this permit when they want to train Emiratis in line with their academic qualifications. It is a company permit and is not something a jobseeker applies for directly.

UAE Work Permit 12: Freelance Permit for Self-Employment

The freelance permit is the one permit you can apply for as an individual. According to MOHRE, it is issued to people who want to work for themselves, without sponsorship from a specific employer in the UAE and without a valid employment contract. It suits designers, consultants, writers and other independent professionals.

UAE Work Permit 13: Private Teacher Permit

This permit allows qualified professionals to offer private tuition lessons. You can apply for free through the MOHRE website, mohre.gov.ae. The following people can apply:

• Registered teachers in government or private schools
• Employees in the government and private sectors
• Unemployed individuals
• School students aged 15 to 18
• University students

Which UAE Work Permit Fits Your Situation?

• Coming from abroad for a full-time job: the permit for recruiting a worker from outside the country, applied for by your employer
• Moving from one UAE employer to another: the transfer permit
• Living in the UAE on a family member's visa: the residence-of-a-relative permit
• Looking for work lasting up to six months while living in the UAE: the temporary work permit
• Hired from abroad for one project: the one-mission permit
• Wanting to work for more than one employer: the part-time permit
• Aged 15 to 18: the juvenile permit, with parental consent
• A student seeking training: the student training and employment permit
• Working independently: the freelance permit
• Giving private lessons: the private teacher permit
• Holding a Golden Visa and employed by a UAE company: the Golden Visa work permit

What Employers Must Do for a UAE Work Permit

Under the UAE Labour Law, the hiring company handles the work permit and the hiring steps that follow. For a worker recruited from abroad, that includes the residence visa, medical test, Emirates ID, Labour Card and visa stamping, all at the employer's cost. The penalty for hiring without a work permit is a fine of Dh50,000 to Dh200,000. If an employer asks you to pay these costs, check the rules on the MOHRE website.

Once you are hired, protect your rights by reading our guide to end of service gratuity in the UAE and our UAE health insurance guide.

Common Mistakes With a UAE Work Permit

• Waiting to apply on your own: apart from the freelance and private teacher permits, your employer applies
• Assuming a Golden Visa replaces a work permit: it does not, if you work for a UAE-based company
• Mixing up the temporary and one-mission permits: one is for workers already in the UAE, the other for workers brought from abroad
• Forgetting parental consent: anyone under 18 needs written consent from a parent or guardian
• Ignoring working-hour limits for juveniles: the maximum is six hours a day

UAE Work Permit FAQs

How many types of UAE work permit are there?

The guide lists 13 types, issued by MOHRE for the private sector.

Who issues a UAE work permit?

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) issues work permits for the private sector.

Can I apply for a UAE work permit myself?

You can apply directly for the freelance permit, and eligible individuals can apply for the private teacher permit through the MOHRE website. For other permits, the hiring company applies.

Who pays for a UAE work permit and hiring costs?

For a worker recruited from abroad, the employer pays the costs of the residence visa, medical testing, Emirates ID, Labour Card and visa stamping.

What is the penalty if a company does not get a UAE work permit for an employee?

A fine of no less than Dh50,000 and no more than Dh200,000.

Do Golden Visa holders need a UAE work permit?

Yes, if they are employed by a UAE-based company.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right UAE Work Permit

The UAE work permit system offers a route for almost every worker, from teenagers on their first job to freelancers and Golden Visa holders. The most important step is knowing which permit applies to you and who must apply for it. Check your options on the MOHRE website and the UAE government portal, because rules and fees can change. For more help with finding work, read our guide to jobs in Dubai.