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MoHRE Work Permit and Labour Card in Dubai

The work permit is the government's approval to employ a specific person in a specific role. Without it, nothing downstream moves — no entry permit, no residence visa, no contract.

File a Work Permit Call +971 52 933 0454
Tasheel Direct Submitted, not queued
Quota Handled Including quota applications
Same-Day Typing Where documents are complete

What is a MoHRE work permit and who needs one?

A MoHRE work permit is the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation's approval for a company to employ a named person in a named role. Every private-sector mainland employee needs one. It is issued before the entry permit and residence visa, and it is what makes the employment lawful.

MoHRE Work Permit and Labour Card in Dubai at a glance
AuthorityMinistry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), via Tasheel
Applies toMainland private-sector employers and employees
PrerequisiteValid establishment card, available quota, signed offer letter
Permit typesNew, transfer, temporary, part-time, mission, juvenile, national trainee, student
Typical validityAligned to the employment contract, commonly two years
What MSM handlesQuota, permit typing, renewal, transfer, cancellation and status follow-up

Last updated 2 August 2026 · Reviewed by Mohammed Shareef A, Senior PRO Consultant, 12+ years in Dubai government liaison. Fees and timelines are set by the issuing authority and change without notice — confirm current figures before you budget.

What is the difference between a work permit and a labour card?

Historically they were two things: the permit approved the hire, and the labour card was the plastic card the employee carried. The card was discontinued and the Emirates ID took over that role, which is why searching for "labour card" now mostly returns work permit information.

People still use the old term. When a client says labour card, they usually mean the work permit and the MoHRE record behind it.

  • Work permit: the MoHRE approval to employ a named person
  • Labour card: the discontinued physical card, replaced by Emirates ID
  • The MoHRE record is what an employer and employee are checked against
  • Free zone equivalents are issued by the free zone, not MoHRE
Typing centre agent completing a MoHRE work permit application on a government portal

What is quota and why does it block hiring?

Quota is the number of work permits your establishment card is allowed to carry. It is not unlimited and it is not automatic: it is assessed against your licensed activity, your office space and your existing workforce.

A company with no free slot cannot file a work permit at all, and finding that out on the day you want to hire is a bad way to learn it. Applying for additional quota is a separate transaction with its own approval time.

  • Quota sits on the establishment card, not the trade licence
  • Assessed against activity, office space and current headcount
  • Additional quota is a separate application, not an instant increase
  • An expired establishment card freezes every MoHRE transaction
HR manager reviewing establishment card quota on a laptop in a Dubai office

Which work permit type do you need?

More than most employers realise. MoHRE issues distinct permit types, and using the wrong one is a re-file rather than a correction.

The common cases are a new hire from abroad, a transfer from another UAE employer, and a temporary permit for short project work. Part-time, mission and national trainee permits exist for narrower situations.

  • New employment permit for a hire coming from outside the UAE
  • Transfer permit where the employee moves from another UAE employer
  • Temporary and mission permits for defined short-term work
  • Part-time permits where the employee works for more than one employer
Employer and consultant comparing work permit categories at a desk

What happens when an employee leaves?

The permit is cancelled and the residence visa follows. Doing it in the right order and on time matters, because the leaving employee has a limited grace period afterwards before overstay begins.

Leaving a permit live against someone who has gone is a compliance problem for the company and an immigration problem for the person.

  • Cancellation is filed by the employer through MoHRE
  • The residence visa is cancelled after or alongside the permit
  • The employee has a grace period, not an indefinite one
  • Final settlement and the cancellation paper both matter for the next employer
Employee receiving a visa cancellation document at a Dubai service centre

How MSM files a MoHRE work permit

  1. Check the fileEstablishment card valid, quota available, licence activity consistent with the job title. Any mismatch here is what causes a rejection later.
  2. Offer letterPrepared in the MoHRE format and signed by the employee before the permit is filed. The later contract must match it.
  3. Type and submitThe permit application is typed and submitted through Tasheel, with the passport, photograph and qualification documents attached.
  4. Track approvalWe monitor the application and answer MoHRE queries directly rather than passing them back to you.
  5. Hand overYou get the approved permit and the entry permit application follows immediately, so no time is lost between the two.

Work permit types and when each applies

The permit categories most Dubai employers actually use.
Permit typeUse it whenNotes
New employmentHiring someone from outside the UAEFollowed by an entry permit and residence visa
TransferHiring someone already employed in the UAEPrevious visa cancellation and grace period matter
Temporary workA defined short-term assignmentFixed duration, not a route to residence
Part-timeThe employee works for more than one employerBoth employers must be permitted
MissionA project with a named client and end dateTied to the project, not open-ended
Juvenile / national traineeSpecific age or training programmesAdditional conditions apply
The mistake we see most: A job title that does not match the licensed activity. A trading licence filing a permit for a structural engineer will be questioned, because the activity does not support the role. Check the title against the activity before the offer letter goes out, not after MoHRE has queried it.
MSM tip: Keep a live count of your used and free quota slots and check it before you make an offer. The single most avoidable hiring delay in Dubai is discovering on offer day that the card has no room.

What documents do you need?

Documents for a MoHRE work permit

Trade licence, establishment card and immigration card
Employee's passport copy, valid at least six months
Passport-size photograph to specification
Educational certificate, attested where the job title requires it
Signed offer letter in the MoHRE format
Emirates ID and passport of the authorised signatory
Previous visa cancellation paper, for a transfer
Ejari tenancy contract for the company premises

For skilled job titles, MoHRE checks the qualification. An unattested degree is the most common reason a permit for a professional role is held, and attestation cannot be rushed at the last minute.

Labour Contract Typing

Offer letters, MoHRE contracts, amendments and renewals.

Employment Visa

The entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping that follow the work permit.

Labour & Immigration Card

Establishment card, immigration card and labour file setup.

Sources

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a labour card the same as a work permit?
In current practice, yes. The separate plastic labour card was discontinued and the Emirates ID now serves that purpose, so "labour card" is generally used to mean the MoHRE work permit and the record behind it.
How long does a work permit take to approve?
Often a few working days once the file is complete and quota is available. Qualification attestation, a job title that does not match the licensed activity, or a quota application in progress are what extend it.
Can I hire before the work permit is approved?
No. The permit is the approval to employ. Starting someone before it is issued exposes the company to penalties and leaves the employee without lawful status for the work.
Do free zone companies need a MoHRE work permit?
No. Free zone employers issue permits through their own free zone authority. MoHRE regulates mainland private-sector employment. The steps look similar but the channel and the rules differ.
What is quota and how do I get more?
Quota is the number of work permits your establishment card can carry, assessed against your activity, premises and headcount. Additional quota is a separate application to MoHRE, not an automatic increase.
What happens to the permit if the employee resigns?
The employer cancels it, and the residence visa is cancelled with it. The employee then has a grace period to transfer or leave. Cancelling late shortens that window for them and leaves an open liability for you.

Work permit stuck, or quota exhausted?

Send us the establishment card and the job title. We will tell you today whether the permit can be filed.

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File a MoHRE Work Permit

Quota and job title are the two things that decide whether this is straightforward. Both take one message to check.

Hotline: +971 52 933 0454

Email: info@msmdoc.com

Office: Deira, Dubai — serving all seven emirates.