Need a UAE labour card, but unsure who applies or what your employer can charge? The key is understanding your work permit—not paying an agent for a card. Your employment category determines the correct route.
This guide explains the standard MOHRE overseas process and the basic federal private-sector rules workers should know, using current official sources.
In this guide, you'll discover:
- Who applies and which authority handles your case.
- Documents, fees and application steps.
- Pay, working hours and leave rights.
- Notice, final dues and complaint channels.
Let's dive in.
| Quick fact | Standard overseas permit |
|---|---|
| Authority / scope | Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE); mainland private sector across all seven emirates |
| Portal / applicant | MOHRE website or smart app; employer’s authorised signatory |
| Federal fees | AED 50 application + AED 250 / 1,200 / 3,450 issuance, by establishment category |
| Time / validity | 2 working days listed for the permit service; 2-year permit |
| Core documents | Passport valid 6+ months, photo and signed official job offer |
| Support | MOHRE: 600590000; Labour Claims and Advisory Center: 80084 |
What is a UAE labour card, and who issues it?
A UAE labour card is the everyday term workers use for their employment permit record. In the standard mainland private-sector route, the employer obtains the appropriate MOHRE work permit. A residence visa or Emirates ID does not replace permission to work; free-zone and domestic-worker routes differ.
Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, as amended, governs the federal private-sector employment rules discussed here. Government employees and domestic workers have separate regimes.
Free zones require a scope check. Most combine free-zone procedures with federal labour law, while Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) have independent employment frameworks.
Keep related guidance together: explore our Labour ILOE MOHRE guides.
UAE labour card eligibility and required documents
The standard overseas service requires age 18 or above. The employer needs an available electronic quota, a valid unrestricted licence and an authorised signatory; the candidate must not hold an active work permit.
| Document | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Passport and photograph | Passport valid at least six months; clear colour photo with white background |
| Official job offer | MOHRE form signed by employer and employee |
| Academic evidence | Levels 1–2: bachelor’s or higher; 3–4: diploma or higher; 5: high school; 6–9: no certificate requirement |
| Professional licence | Required for regulated professions; academic attestation depends on the role |
| National identity card | Clear, valid copies of both sides for Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran |
Official permit fees: what must the employer pay?
The employer must not charge you recruitment and employment fees, directly or indirectly. For the standard two-year overseas permit, MOHRE lists AED 50 for the application plus category-based issuance fees. These are permit charges, not a complete residence, medical, insurance or Emirates ID package quotation for every worker.
| Charge | AED / condition |
|---|---|
| Application: categories 1, 2 and 3 | 50 |
| Two-year issuance: category 1 | 250 |
| Two-year issuance: category 2 | 1,200 |
| Two-year issuance: category 3 | 3,450 |
| Business-centre commission | Maximum 72 per service within the permit package |
| Website / smart app | No extra service charge beyond federal fees; listed figures exclude tax and collection charges |
How does the employer apply for your work permit?
- Step 1 — Open the correct service. The employer opens “Issuance of a New Work Permit - Overseas” and selects “Start Service”.
- Step 2 — Use the employer account. The authorised signatory follows the live sign-in and application prompts. The public service card does not expose every authenticated field; do not assume a worker can self-issue this permit.
- Step 3 — Submit evidence and fees. Provide the signed offer and applicable documents, follow the live payment prompts and retain the transaction reference. MOHRE reviews the request.
- Step 4 — Track the application. Select “Application Status” on the service page, or use the MOHRE smart app or Inquiry Service. Correct any request returned for missing information.
- Step 5 — Finish the remaining formalities. After approval, complete the applicable immigration, medical and identity procedures. Ask HR for the issued permit and approved contract copies.
Offline assistance is available through the service’s business-centre channel; the same employer-led requirements apply. The official Work Bundle also advertises integrated employer services and UAE Pass (national digital identity) sign-in.
Track the identity stage separately with our Emirates ID status guide; ICP’s ID Card Status service is not a work-permit checker.
Basic worker rights: pay, hours and leave
Check basic salary separately from total pay. Basic wage affects overtime and traditional gratuity; allowances are not interchangeable with it. Keep your contract, payslips and attendance records.
| Right | General federal private-sector rule |
|---|---|
| Salary / WPS | Current Wage Protection System (WPS) guidance: previous month’s wages due on the first day of each Gregorian month; statutory exclusions apply |
| Normal hours / breaks | 8 hours daily or 48 weekly; no more than 5 consecutive hours without breaks totalling at least 1 hour; sector exceptions apply |
| Overtime | Normally up to 2 additional hours daily; basic hourly wage plus at least 25%; 10pm–4am overtime: at least 50%, excluding shift workers |
| Weekly rest | At least one paid rest day weekly |
| Annual leave | 30 paid days after one year; 2 days monthly where service exceeds six months but is below one year; part-time rules differ |
| Sick leave | After probation: up to 90 days per service year—15 full pay, 30 half pay, 45 unpaid; eligibility conditions apply |
Probation, resignation and end-of-service rules
Probation cannot exceed six months. Employer termination needs at least 14 days’ written notice; a worker moving to another UAE employer during probation gives at least one month, while leaving the UAE requires at least 14 days. After probation, ordinary contractual notice is 30–90 days.
Traditional gratuity applies to eligible foreign full-time workers after one continuous year: 21 days of basic wage per year for the first five years, then 30 days per additional year. Fractional years are proportionate after eligibility; unpaid absence is excluded and the statutory two-years’-wage cap applies.
Final wages and other entitlements are due within 14 days of contract end. An approved alternative savings scheme changes gratuity treatment; do not apply the traditional formula blindly.
Common mistakes, insurance and complaints
Never work on a tourist or visit visa. Keep possession of your passport, follow workplace safety instructions and arrange the correct permit before changing employers or taking additional employment.
Check ILOE (Involuntary Loss of Employment) insurance separately. Covered workers must subscribe; exemptions include domestic workers, temporary-contract employees and specified other categories. Benefit claims have further conditions, including 12 continuous months of subscription.
Check any recorded insurance penalty with our ILOE fine checking and payment guide; insurance is not a substitute for a work permit.
For missing wages or permit disputes: use MOHRE’s “Register Labour Complaints - Private Sector Employees” service or contact 80084. Keep the signed offer, contract, payment records and written messages; call 600590000 for general permit support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I apply for a labour card myself?
For the standard MOHRE overseas service, the employer’s authorised signatory submits the application. You provide the signed offer and relevant documents. Other permit categories have their own conditions, so do not treat this employer-led route as the application method for every freelancer, resident or free-zone worker.
Is an Emirates ID enough to start work?
No. An Emirates ID identifies its holder; it does not replace the appropriate work permit. A residence status also does not, by itself, establish permission for a specific employment arrangement. Confirm the permit route with your employer or licensing authority before starting the job.
How long does a labour card take?
MOHRE lists two working days for the standard overseas work-permit service and a two-year permit duration. That service time does not cover every immigration, medical or identity stage. Missing documents, eligibility issues or requests for corrections can affect your actual case; track the application rather than relying on an agent’s guarantee.
Can my employer deduct permit costs from salary?
Article 6 prohibits the employer from charging the worker recruitment and employment fees, directly or indirectly. The published permit charges are therefore not an invitation to collect a labour-card payment from you. Save any deduction evidence and ask MOHRE to assess the circumstances if a disputed charge appears on your payslip.
Do the same rules apply in every free zone?
Not without checking scope. Most free zones have their own permit procedures alongside federal employment protections, but DIFC and ADGM operate independent employment frameworks. Confirm both the permit issuer and the applicable employment law. A mainland MOHRE fee table should not be quoted as a universal free-zone price.
Conclusion: protect your permit and your rights
Your UAE labour card starts with the correct employment route, not a payment to an unofficial agent. Confirm who issues the permit, check the signed offer and save the documents before problems arise.
- Confirm the authority: MOHRE mainland, the relevant free zone or a separate domestic-worker route.
- Protect your pay: know your basic salary, employer-paid recruitment costs and leave entitlements.
- Keep your evidence: preserve permit, contract, payslips and written notice for any dispute.
Take the next step: ask HR to open the official MOHRE overseas work-permit service and confirm your application reference. Which part of the permit process would you like explained in the comments?
Official Sources & References
- MOHRE — Issuance of a New Work Permit - Overseas — https://www.mohre.gov.ae/en/services/recruiting-a-worker-from-overseas-2022
- UAE Legislation — Labour Relations Law, consolidated text — https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1541/download
- UAE Legislation — Labour Relations Law status — https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1541
- UAE Government — Working hours and overtime — https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/working-hours
- UAE Government — Types of leaves — https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/Types-of-leaves
- UAE Government — Terminating employment contracts — https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/terminating-employment-contracts
- UAE Government — End-of-service benefits — https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/end-of-service-benefits-for-employees-in-the-private-sector
- UAE Government — Private-sector employment laws — https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/employment-laws-and-regulations-in-the-private-sector
- UAE Government — Payment of salaries/wages — https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/payment-of-wages
- UAE Government — Preparing to work — https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/preparing-to-work
- UAE Government — Recruiting in free zones — https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/business/Doing-business/doing-business-in-free-zones/recruiting-in-free-zones
- MOHRE — Work Permit Quotas For Establishments — https://www.mohre.gov.ae/en/services/work-permit-quotas-for-establishments-2022
- UAE Government — Insurance against job loss — https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Workplace-regulations/insurance/unemployment-insurance-scheme
- ICP — ID Card Status — https://icp.gov.ae/en/services/priority-services/id-card-status/
- Work Bundle — Integrated employer services — https://workinuae.ae/index-en.html
- ADGM — Employment Affairs Office — https://www.adgm.com/operating-in-adgm/employment-affairs-office#regulations-and-relevant-documents
- ADGM — Work Permit Guidance — https://assets.adgm.com/download/assets/ADGM+RA+Work+Permit+Guidance+2024.pdf/3b295b4487ce11ef8ad1064e6f3513dc
- MOHRE — Contact Us — https://www.mohre.gov.ae/en/contact-us.aspx
- MOHRE — Register Labour Complaints - Private Sector Employees — https://mohre.gov.ae/en/services/register-labor-complaints-private-sector-employees-2022
- MOHRE — Cancellation of Work Permits and Employment Contracts — https://www.mohre.gov.ae/en/services/cancellation-of-work-permits-and-employment-contracts-2022
All information verified from official United Arab Emirates (UAE) federal and emirate-level sources on 5 November 2026.
