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: signed offer letter, passport copy, photo, and prior UAE visa page. The job title must match your visa exactly.
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
All remaining steps depend on this approval. Your PRO should track it and notify you the moment 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, entry permit copy, and a passport-size photo.
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
Your passport is held briefly during stamping — avoid booking travel until it's back.
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.
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