visas
How to Get an Employment Visa in Dubai Without Leaving the UAE
How to get a UAE employment residence visa without leaving the country. Covers the full inside-country process with exact government fees across Tasheel, Amer, and Tawjeeh.
Gov. fee
AED 4,900 – 7,300
Timeline
2–4 weeks
For
Employees already in the UAE on any visa status, being sponsored by a Dubai mainland…
Steps
8
Start
Your employer's PRO submits your signed offer letter and work permit application at…
Last updated: April 2025
- 1Submit Offer Letter, Labor Card, and Work Permit
- 2Pay Labor Card Insurance and MOHRE Labor Fee
- 3Apply for Inside-Country Entry Permit
- 4Change Visa Status
- 5Complete Medical Fitness Test
- 6Register for Emirates ID
- 7Final Labor Card Submission
- 8Residence Visa Issuance
Step by step
Submit Offer Letter, Labor Card, and Work Permit
Your employer's PRO submits your signed offer letter and work permit application at Tasheel, registering your employment contract with MOHRE.
Where to go
Tasheel service center
Address / portal
Any Tasheel branch in Dubai
Est. cost
AED 278
Est. time
2–3 days
Advice
Provide before their visit: passport (original + copy), white background photo, signed offer letter, and prior UAE visa page if applicable. The job title must match your visa category exactly. Some employers arrange ILOE (Involuntary Loss of Employment) insurance at the Tasheel stage -- confirm with your PRO whether this applies to your contract.
Pay Labor Card Insurance and MOHRE Labor Fee
Two payments at Tasheel: labor card insurance (AED 189) and the MOHRE labor fee — AED 1,285 for Category 1/2, AED 3,555 for Category 3.
Where to go
Tasheel service center
Address / portal
Any Tasheel branch in Dubai
Est. cost
AED 189 insurance + AED 1,285 (Cat 1/2) or AED 3,555 (Cat 3) labor fee
Est. time
2–3 days
Advice
Labour category is based on job title and qualification, not salary. Confirm with your employer before submission.
Note
Category 3 carries a much higher MOHRE fee. If you believe your role qualifies as skilled, raise it with your employer before submission — reclassification after the fact is difficult.
Apply for Inside-Country Entry Permit
Your employer applies for an inside-country entry permit at Amer, allowing your status to change to employment residence without leaving the UAE.
Where to go
Amer service center
Address / portal
Any Amer branch in Dubai
Est. cost
AED 1,126
Est. time
2–3 days
Advice
Your PRO needs the MOHRE labor number (MB number, issued after Step 1) to open the Amer entry permit file. All remaining steps depend on this approval -- your PRO should track it and notify you as soon as it clears.
Change Visa Status
Your current visa status is formally changed to employment residence at an Amer center. This must be completed before medical or Emirates ID can proceed.
Where to go
Amer service center
Address / portal
Any Amer branch in Dubai
Est. cost
AED 676
Est. time
2–3 days
Advice
Bring a copy of your current visa page and UAE entry stamp. If your existing visa has expired, inform your employer before this step.
Complete Medical Fitness Test
Blood test and chest X-ray at an ICA-approved clinic, coordinated through Amer. Results are submitted electronically to immigration.
Where to go
Amer service center (coordinates the clinic appointment)
Address / portal
Any Amer branch in Dubai
Est. cost
AED 323
Est. time
2–3 days
Advice
Bring your passport (original), entry permit copy, passport-size photo (white background), and an active email address and mobile number -- the clinic registers these for result delivery.
Note
Certain medical conditions affect UAE visa eligibility. If you have a pre-existing condition, seek legal advice before starting the process.
Register for Emirates ID
Submit your Emirates ID application and complete biometric enrollment (fingerprints and photo) at an Amer typing center. Covers a 2-year card.
Where to go
Amer service center
Address / portal
Any Amer branch in Dubai
Est. cost
AED 386
Est. time
2–3 days
Advice
Track card dispatch via the ICA app. Keep your registration receipt until the physical card arrives.
Final Labor Card Submission
Final labor contract submission to complete MOHRE registration. Skilled workers (Category 1/2) use Tasheel; limited skilled (Category 3) use Tawjeeh.
Where to go
Tasheel (skilled) or Tawjeeh (limited skilled)
Address / portal
Any Tasheel or Tawjeeh branch in Dubai
Est. cost
AED 78 (skilled, via Tasheel) or AED 152 (limited skilled, via Tawjeeh)
Est. time
2–3 days
Advice
Confirm which service center applies before visiting — Tasheel and Tawjeeh are separate networks.
Residence Visa Issuance
Your PRO submits the residence visa issuance application at Amer. Once approved, your UAE employment residence visa is stamped in your passport.
Where to go
Amer service center
Address / portal
Any Amer branch in Dubai
Est. cost
AED 546
Est. time
2–3 days
Advice
At the Amer stamping counter, the PRO brings: sponsor original Emirates ID, passport copy, e-visa confirmation, Emirates ID application reference, Tawjeeh sign-off (for the applicable labor category), signed final contract, and ILOE insurance. If ILOE arrears are outstanding, Amer collects an AED 400 annual fine at this stage -- your PRO should resolve this before booking the appointment. Your passport is held briefly during stamping -- avoid booking travel until it's returned.
Note
Passport must have at least 12 months of validity. GDRFA may reject applications on passports close to expiry.
Overview
The inside-country route lets you get UAE residence without leaving. Your employer's PRO handles all service center visits across three networks: Tasheel for MOHRE labor submissions, Amer for residency and Emirates ID, and Tawjeeh for limited-skilled labor card finalization.
Total government fees are AED 4,900–7,300 depending on labor category — Category 3 (limited skilled) carries higher MOHRE fees than Category 1/2. The process takes approximately 2–4 weeks. Your role is to provide documents on time and attend the medical appointment.
What to prepare -- employee provides to the PRO before Step 1: passport (original + copy), passport-size photo with white background, signed offer letter, copy of any existing UAE visa page.
The employer or PRO provides: company trade licence, establishment card, PRO card, and sponsor's original Emirates ID. The company must hold an active establishment card (immigration file) before any visa processing can begin.
Common mistakes: job title in the offer letter does not match the visa category -- causes rejection at MOHRE; starting before the employer has a valid establishment card in place; committing to a start date before the residence visa is stamped in the passport.
At the Amer stamping appointment (Step 8), the PRO brings: sponsor original Emirates ID, passport copy, e-visa confirmation, Emirates ID application reference, Tawjeeh sign-off, signed final contract, and ILOE insurance. Outstanding ILOE arrears attract an AED 400 annual fine collected at Amer -- your PRO should confirm ILOE status before booking the stamping appointment.
Related guides
How to Use an Amer Center in Dubai
→How Amer service centers work in Dubai — how to book, what documents to bring, and what to expect at the counter for residency transactions.
How to Get a Foreign Document Attested in the UAE
→How to attest a foreign document (birth certificate, marriage certificate, or degree) for use in UAE visa or government procedures. Covers the home-country-to-MOFA chain with exact MOFA fees.
How to Get an Employment Visa in Dubai from Outside the UAE
→For employees currently outside the UAE. Your employer initiates the process in Dubai; you enter on an entry permit once it is approved.
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