Work Permit

A work permit is the authorisation MOHRE issues allowing a foreign national to work for a specific mainland employer in the UAE. It is distinct from, and a prerequisite to, the residence visa: the typical sequence is approved offer letter, work permit, entry (or status change), medical fitness test, Emirates ID, and residence stamping linked to that employment. MOHRE issues multiple permit types — new hires, transfers between employers, part-time and temporary work, juveniles, freelancers, and family-sponsored residents taking jobs — each with its own conditions. Working without the correct permit exposes the employer to fines and the worker to penalties and possible bans, and 'working on a visit visa' remains one of the most common compliance traps. In disputes, the permit's data (employer, role, dates) is the official record of who employed whom and when.