United Arab Emirates visaWork in the UAEUAE employment visa for Indian workers
A UAE employment visa is a two-year residence sponsored by your employer. The company obtains a MOHRE work permit (AED 250 to AED 3,450 by company category) and a GDRFA or ICP entry permit (AED 210), you enter within 60 days, pass the medical fitness test, give Emirates ID biometrics and receive the residence permit (AED 240). Every fee is paid by the employer by law, and the whole process takes two to four weeks. Workers earning AED 15,000 can self-sponsor a Green visa, and those on AED 30,000 with a degree qualify for the 10-year Golden Visa.
6 min read Verified 29 October 2026 against gdrfad.gov.ae · How we verify
United Arab Emirates employment visa: quick answers
- Who qualifies for a UAE employment visa?
- Anyone with a job offer from a UAE mainland or free-zone employer. Mainland companies obtain a MOHRE work permit after a labour-market quota check; free zones issue their own permits. Skill levels 1 and 2 (managers and professionals) need an attested degree; levels 3 to 5 need a diploma or secondary certificate. There is no salary threshold for the visa itself, but AED 4,000 is needed to sponsor family.
- What does it cost?
- The employer pays everything: MOHRE work permit AED 50 application plus AED 250 (category 1), AED 1,200 (category 2) or AED 3,450 (category 3) for two years, the AED 210 entry permit, the medical test (about AED 320), the two-year Emirates ID (about AED 370) and the AED 240 residence permit. UAE law prohibits recovering these costs from the worker.
- How long does it take from India?
- The MOHRE permit takes two to five working days, the entry permit 48 hours, and the medical, Emirates ID and residence permit about a week after arrival, so two to four weeks from signed contract to residence card is typical. Degree attestation in India adds two to four weeks and should start before the offer.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Employment residence visa, 2 years (3 in some free zones), renewable |
| Government fee | AED 210 entry permit; MOHRE permit AED 250 to 3,450; residence AED 240; all employer-paid |
| Qualification | Attested degree for skill levels 1 to 2; diploma or secondary for 3 to 5 |
| Processing | 2 to 4 weeks end to end; entry permit 48 hours |
| Where to apply | Employer on MOHRE and GDRFA Dubai or ICP |
| Family | Sponsor spouse and children on AED 4,000 (or AED 3,000 plus housing) |
| Premium tiers | Green visa: 5 years self-sponsored at AED 15,000; Golden Visa: 10 years at AED 30,000 with a degree |
| Verified | 29 Oct 2026 against mohre.gov.ae, gdrfad.gov.ae and u.ae |
Who qualifies, and which tier fits
| Tier | Who | Validity | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard employment visa | Any worker with a MOHRE or free-zone permit | 2 years (3 in some free zones) | Employer |
| Green visa (skilled employee) | Bachelor's degree, skill level 1 to 3, salary of AED 15,000 or more | 5 years | Self-sponsored |
| Green visa (freelancer) | MOHRE freelance permit, bachelor's, income of AED 360,000 over two years | 5 years | Self-sponsored |
| Golden Visa (skilled professional) | Bachelor's, MOHRE level 1 or 2, salary of AED 30,000 or more, valid contract | 10 years | None |
The standard visa is tied to the employer: changing jobs means a new permit and a transfer, which is routine since the 2022 labour law introduced unlimited contracts and a grace period of 60 to 180 days after cancellation depending on skill level. The Green and Golden visas remove the sponsor and survive a job change, and holders can sponsor family without the salary test.
Mainland employers must pass the MOHRE quota and the Nafis Emiratisation rules; companies in free zones such as JAFZA, DMCC and DIFC issue permits through the free zone authority, which also charges its own fees. Skill level 1 and 2 roles need the degree attested in India (MEA and UAE Embassy) and then by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A domestic worker, driver or security guard follows a separate permit route with a lower fee.
Fees and who pays them
| Item | AED | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| MOHRE work permit application | 50 | Employer |
| MOHRE work permit, 2 years (category 1 / 2 / 3) | 250 / 1,200 / 3,450 | Employer |
| Entry permit for employment | 210 (AED 200 + VAT) | Employer |
| Medical fitness test | About 320 | Employer |
| Emirates ID, 2 years | About 370 | Employer |
| Residence permit, 2 years | 240 | Employer; +AED 500 if issued inside the country |
| Health insurance | From about AED 700 a year | Employer (Dubai and Abu Dhabi mandatory) |
Article 6 of the 2021 labour law bans recruitment fees charged to workers and requires employers to bear visa costs; an employer asking you to pay is a red flag. Vistolane shows the AED 210 entry permit on the price card at the official rate for transparency; employers using Vistolane for business pay the bundle through the workspace.
How the application runs, step by step
- 1
Offer letter and attestation
Sign the MOHRE standard offer letter; attest your degree in India (MEA and UAE Embassy) for skill levels 1 and 2.
- 2
MOHRE work permit
The employer applies on MOHRE with the offer letter and your documents; approval in two to five working days after the quota check.
- 3
Entry permit
The employer lodges the GDRFA or ICP permit (48 hours). Enter the UAE within 60 days; the permit allows a 60-day stay to complete formalities.
- 4
Medical and Emirates ID
Blood test and chest X-ray at an approved centre; biometrics at an ICP centre. Results take one to three days; VIP service same day.
- 5
Contract and residence permit
The employer uploads the signed MOHRE contract, the residence permit is issued electronically (two years) and the Emirates ID card is delivered within a week.
Timeline for an Indian applicant
| Stage | Typical time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Degree attestation in India | 2 to 4 weeks | MEA and UAE Embassy; start before the offer |
| MOHRE work permit | 2 to 5 working days | Employer applies |
| Entry permit | 48 hours | Travel within 60 days |
| Medical, Emirates ID, residence | 5 to 10 days | After arrival; employer's PRO books slots |
| Emirates ID card delivery | Up to 1 week | Collect from the post office or courier |
Plan three to six weeks from signed offer to first day if your degree is already attested, and six to eight weeks otherwise.
Changing jobs, family and long-term options
Unlimited contracts since 2022 allow resignation with 30 to 90 days' notice; the new employer applies for a transfer permit and the residence is re-issued. After cancellation, skill level 1 and 2 workers have 180 days to find a new sponsor, level 3 workers 90 days and others 60 days. Spouses and children are sponsored on a salary of AED 4,000 (or AED 3,000 plus accommodation); the family visa route page explains the file.
Workers on AED 15,000 or more with a degree can move to the five-year Green visa, and those on AED 30,000 with a bachelor's and a level 1 or 2 role to the 10-year Golden Visa; both are self-sponsored and survive a job change. The UAE has no citizenship pathway for most expatriates, so long-term planning turns on these visas and on Indian tax residency rules for income earned in the UAE.
Document checklist: identity and forms
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid 6 months | Colour scan, two blank pages |
| Photos on a white background | Digital, for the permit and Emirates ID |
| Signed MOHRE offer letter | Bilingual standard form |
Qualification
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Attested degree (MEA, UAE Embassy, then UAE MOFA) | Skill levels 1 and 2 |
| Diploma or secondary certificate | Skill levels 3 to 5, attested where required |
| Professional licence | Doctors, nurses, teachers and engineers: DHA, DOH, MOHAP or KHDA licensing |
Arrival
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Medical fitness test | Approved centre; results in 1 to 3 days |
| Emirates ID biometrics | ICP centre appointment |
| Signed MOHRE contract | Uploaded by the employer within 14 days of entry |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
MOHRE quota or Emiratisation
The employer's quota is exhausted or the company has not met Nafis targets.
The fix. The employer requests a quota increase or hires through a free zone; Vistolane's partner checks quota before the offer is signed.
Qualification not attested
Degree without MEA and UAE Embassy attestation for a skill level 1 or 2 role.
The fix. Complete attestation in India before the permit, or accept a level 3 classification temporarily.
Medical fitness failure
Tuberculosis, HIV or hepatitis found at the arrival test.
The fix. Treatable TB receives a conditional visa; other results end the application and the employer repatriates at its cost.
Previous record or ban
Unpaid fines, absconding report or a labour ban from a previous employer.
The fix. Clear fines and bans through MOHRE and GDRFA before the new permit; bans lift after the cooling period.
Employer compliance
The company has blocked MOHRE files, unpaid WPS salaries or an expired licence.
The fix. Choose an employer with a clean MOHRE record; the partner verifies company status before filing.
Official sources
United Arab Emirates employment visa questions
Other United Arab Emirates routes
Visit the UAE
Tourist visa (30 or 60 days)
AED 210 per person (30-day single entry, incl. VAT)
Read the route
Study in the UAE
Student residence visa
AED 210 entry permit (sponsored by the university)
Read the route
Join family in the UAE
Family residence visa (sponsorship)
AED 210 entry permit per dependant
Read the route
Long-term residence
Golden Visa (10-year residence)
AED 1,920 residence permit (10 years)
Read the route