Topic Summary
Know the 30-Day Legal Ceiling Upfront
A single temporary work permit in the UAE authorises a maximum of 30 days of work, with one renewal allowed, capping the total at 60 days. Many founders only discover this limit after committing contractors to longer project timelines, so confirm the ceiling before signing any agreement.
Understand Who Actually Qualifies
Only workers currently inside the UAE on a valid visit or tourist visa are eligible — residence visa holders sponsored by another employer are excluded unless they obtain written no-objection from their primary sponsor. Activities requiring sector-specific licensing, such as healthcare or legal services, also need separate regulatory clearance before a permit can be filed.
Budget AED 500–1,000 in Government Fees
Government fees range from approximately AED 500 to AED 1,000 depending on the worker's nationality and activity type, with typing and service centre charges adding a further AED 50 to AED 150. The employer bears all costs, as workers cannot self-sponsor under this instrument.
Separate One-Off Fees from Recurring Costs
Medical screening, Emirates ID, and status-change fees are quoted separately and are not bundled into the permit fee itself. A consultancy at Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone, for example, budgets around AED 1,150 per contractor for the initial permit, plus an additional AED 500 if the project extends into the renewal window.
Apply Before Work Begins, Not After
The legally compliant sequence is to secure the permit first and only then allow the contractor to start billable work. Filing after work has already commenced exposes the employer to compliance risk under the UAE Labour Law framework.
Pre-Submission Checks Prevent Costly Delays
Missing a pre-submission check is the most common cause of processing delays, typically adding three to seven working days to the timeline. Running a thorough eligibility and documentation review before filing is the simplest way to avoid these holdups.
Remember the MOHRE and ICP Split
MOHRE controls whether a worker is authorised to work, while the ICP manages the underlying entry and stay status — two separate authorities that must both be satisfied. The permit is also employer-specific and cannot be transferred to another company, so a new application is required for each hiring entity.
Thirty days. That is the legal ceiling on a single temporary work permit in the UAE, and most first-time founders discover this limit only after they have already promised a contractor a project timeline that runs twice as long. The permit is renewable once, capping the total authorised stay at 60 days (MOHRE, 2026). Government fees start at approximately AED 500 and can reach AED 1,000 depending on the worker's nationality and activity type. Typing and service centre charges add AED 50 to AED 150 on top. Miss a pre-submission check and delays of three to seven working days are typical. Knowing how temporary work permits UAE rules operate before you sign a contractor saves both time and money.
This guide covers what temporary work permits in the UAE are, the step-by-step application process, a full cost breakdown separating one-off from recurring fees, and the most common delays so you can plan around them from day one.
What Are Temporary Work Permits in the UAE
A temporary work permit in the UAE is a short-duration authorisation issued by MOHRE allowing a worker to perform a specific job for a defined employer without a full residence visa. Permits typically cover up to 30 days, are renewable once, and apply to workers entering on a visit or tourist status.
Definition and Legal Basis
MOHRE issues temporary work permits under the UAE Labour Law framework. The ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security) manages the underlying entry status separately. That split matters: MOHRE controls whether you can work, ICP controls whether you can stay.
The permit is employer-specific. It cannot be transferred to another company, and the worker must be physically inside the UAE on a valid visit or tourist visa when the application is filed. The legal maximum is 30 days per permit, with one renewal permitted, capping the total authorised work period at 60 days.
A practical example: a graphic designer based in Jordan flies to Dubai on a 30-day visit visa to finalise a brand rollout for a free zone client. The employer applies for a temporary work permit through MOHRE before the designer starts any billable work. That sequence, permit first then work, is the legally compliant order of events.
Who Qualifies and Who Does Not
Eligibility is straightforward but strict. Here is a quick reference:
Eligible:
Workers currently in the UAE on a valid visit or tourist visa
Short-stay entrants whose visa status has not converted to residence
GCC nationals, who have a streamlined track in some emirates
Not eligible:
Individuals already holding a UAE residence visa sponsored by another employer (a software developer on a spousal residence visa, for instance, cannot accept a temporary work permit from a second employer without the primary sponsor's written no-objection)
Workers whose intended activity requires professional licensing by a sector regulator (healthcare, legal, financial services) without that regulator's separate clearance first
Worth flagging: DSBH does not issue freelance permits or freelance visas. Temporary work permits are employer-tied instruments only. You can explore the full range of business activities in Dubai to confirm which activity category applies to your contractor's role before filing.
Cost Breakdown for Temporary Work Permits in the UAE
A temporary work permit in the UAE costs approximately AED 500 to AED 1,000 in government fees depending on the worker's nationality, activity, and emirate. Additional charges for medical screening, Emirates ID, and status change are quoted separately and are not included in the permit fee itself.
One-Off Versus Recurring Fees
The employer bears all permit fees. A worker cannot self-sponsor under this instrument. A consultancy firm at Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone, for example, budgets AED 1,150 per contractor for the permit application plus service fees, then a further AED 500 if the project extends into the renewal window.
Temporary Work Permit UAE: One-Off vs Recurring Cost Breakdown
Fee Item | One-Off Fees | Recurring Fees |
|---|---|---|
MOHRE permit application fee | Approx. AED 500–1,000 (paid at initial application) | Approx. AED 500–1,000 (same fee applies on renewal for the second 30-day block) |
Typing and service centre charge | Approx. AED 50–150 at initial submission | Approx. AED 50–150 charged again if renewal is processed at a typing centre |
Medical fitness test (if required by activity) | UNVERIFIED: approx. AED 200–300. Confirm before publishing. Paid once at initial application if the activity mandates health clearance | Not applicable on renewal unless the activity or authority specifically requires re-screening |
Emirates ID | Not included. Emirates ID is not issued under a temporary permit that does not convert to a residence visa | Not included. No Emirates ID at any stage under this permit type |
Status change and ICP/visa fees | Not included. Status change is only required if the permit pathway leads to a full residence visa; quoted separately by ICP | Not included. Visa stamping and residence visa processing remain separate ICP charges throughout |
What Is Not Included in the Permit Fee
A founder who budgets only the AED 1,000 MOHRE fee is often surprised by an additional medical test fee when their contractor's activity requires health clearance. Here is what sits outside the permit fee entirely:
Medical fitness test: UNVERIFIED: approx. AED 200–300. Confirm before publishing. Required only for certain regulated activities.
Emirates ID: Not issued for temporary permits that do not convert to a residence visa.
Status change (visit to employment): Only applicable if the worker later converts to a full residence visa; a separate ICP charge.
Visa stamping and entry permit fees: Separate government charges under ICP, not MOHRE.
Labour insurance and pro-rated sick leave: Employers often overlook these obligations even for short-term staff under UAE Labour Law.
You can use the Dubai company setup cost calculator to model the total cost of bringing in short-term contractors alongside your broader company formation expenses.
How to Apply for Temporary Work Permits in the UAE: Step-by-Step
To apply for a temporary work permit in the UAE, the employer registers on the MOHRE portal, submits the worker's passport copy and entry visa details, pays the government fee, and receives the permit digitally. The process typically takes two to five working days when documents are complete and the company's labour file is active.
Step 1: Confirm Your Company's Labour File Is Active
MOHRE links every permit application to the employer's active labour file. A dormant or blocked file stops all submissions immediately, with no exceptions. Free zone companies must also confirm their establishment card is current before initiating any MOHRE transaction.
Check your status through the MOHRE inquiry portal or the MOHRE smart app, which shows real-time labour file status. A Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone client once tried to apply online and received an error, only to discover the establishment card had expired 10 days earlier and needed renewal before anything else could proceed.
Step 2: Gather the Required Documents
Have these ready before you open the portal:
Worker's valid passport copy (minimum 6 months validity from the application date)
Copy of the worker's current UAE entry visa or visit visa stamp
Trade license copy and establishment card of the sponsoring company
Completed MOHRE application form (available on the MOHRE portal or at a typing centre)
Job title and activity description matching an approved MOHRE occupation code
Occupation code mismatch is one of the top three rejection reasons. A marketing agency once submitted an application listing "Social Media Strategist" but MOHRE's system only recognised "Marketing Specialist" as the valid occupation code, requiring a correction before processing resumed. Passport validity under 6 months triggers an automatic hold.
Step 3: Submit via MOHRE Portal and Pay
Applications go through the MOHRE e-services portal or a registered typing centre. Payment is online by card only; cash is not accepted on the portal. Standard processing runs two to five working days. Complex cases or regulated activities take longer.
The permit arrives as a digital document. No physical stamp is placed in the passport. An employer who submits on a Sunday evening can typically expect the digital permit by Wednesday morning, well within the standard window. That two-to-five-day timeline is your planning baseline before the contractor starts any work.
Common Delays and How to Avoid Them
The most common delays in UAE temporary work permit applications include an inactive labour file, mismatched occupation codes, expired establishment cards, missing passport validity, and applications submitted for regulated activities without the required sector regulator approval. Most delays add three to seven working days and are entirely avoidable with pre-submission checks.
Labour File and Establishment Card Issues
An expired establishment card blocks every MOHRE transaction, not just permit applications. A blocked labour file, often triggered by unpaid fines or unresolved ministry queries, requires clearance before any new application moves forward. Establishment card renewal takes two to four working days, so factor that into your project planning.
A logistics company at a Dubai free zone once discovered its establishment card had lapsed two months earlier. The permit application for a visiting technician was held for four days while the card was renewed. That four-day delay cascaded into a missed installation window. The fix is simple: check the card expiry date before your contractor books flights.
Regulated Activities Requiring Dual Approval
Activities in these categories require the named sector regulator's clearance in addition to MOHRE's permit:
Healthcare: Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or MOHAP credential validation
Education: KHDA or the relevant emirate's education authority
Legal services: Ministry of Justice practitioner approval
Financial services: Central Bank of the UAE or the relevant financial regulator
DSBH licenses the business activity; the named regulator approves the individual practitioner separately. Both steps are mandatory. Skipping the regulatory step causes automatic rejection, and the government fee already paid is not refunded. DHA and MOHAP credential checks add three to ten working days to the process.
A clinic licensed at Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone that brings in a visiting specialist follows this exact sequence: DSBH licenses the healthcare activity, DHA approves the specialist's credentials, and only then does MOHRE issue the temporary work permit. Get the order right and the process is predictable. Get it wrong and you lose both time and fees.
The business support services at Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone can help you identify which regulator applies to your specific activity before you file.
Is a temporary work permit the same as a work visa in the UAE?
No. A temporary work permit authorises short-term employment for up to 30 days (renewable once to 60 days) under a specific employer, without granting residence status. A UAE work visa is a residence visa that provides multi-year legal presence, an Emirates ID, and the right to access government services and open a bank account.
How a Free Zone License Connects to Temporary Work Permits
A UAE free zone company can sponsor temporary work permits through MOHRE provided its establishment card is current and the activity is listed on the trade license. The free zone license does not automatically activate MOHRE access; the employer must register a labour file with MOHRE separately after the license is issued.
What Your Free Zone License Covers
A Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone license is issued in one day and authorises the business activity within the free zone. Every package includes the license, Articles of Association, share register, flexi-desk space, and lease agreement.
The visa-inclusive packages add a visa allocation (an investor or partner visa) and an establishment card. Those two instruments are what open the door to MOHRE transactions. Package pricing as of 2026:
0 Visa Package: AED 12,500
1 Visa Package: AED 16,350 (includes one investor visa allocation and establishment card)
2 Visa Package: AED 18,200 (includes two visa allocations and establishment card)
A founder on the 1 Visa Package holds an investor visa and an active establishment card. That establishment card is the instrument the company uses to file temporary work permit applications with MOHRE. Visa processing (entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID, stamping) is always quoted separately from the package price. Maximum visa allocations under any package: two.
Registering a MOHRE Labour File as a Free Zone Company
MOHRE labour file registration is a separate step from the free zone license issuance. A technology company that sets up at Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone, receives its license on day one, then registers its MOHRE labour file within the following week before its first contractor arrives. That sequence is the correct one.
Documents needed for labour file registration:
Trade license copy
Establishment card
Memorandum of association
Tenancy or flexi-desk lease agreement
Once the labour file is active, the company can apply for temporary work permits for visiting workers. One distinction worth knowing: free zone goods traded within the zone are duty-suspended, not duty-exempt. For companies whose temporary workers are involved in trade operations, that distinction affects how you account for goods moving in and out of the zone (UAE Ministry of Economy, 2026).
Ready to set up a company in Dubai and build the structure that makes short-term hiring straightforward from day one?
Temporary Work Permits vs Full Residence Visas: Key Differences
A temporary work permit covers a single short-term engagement of up to 30 days, renewable once. A full UAE residence visa is a multi-year status tied to an employer or a company license, includes an Emirates ID, and allows the holder to open a UAE bank account, rent property, and access government services.
When to Use a Temporary Permit Instead of a Visa
The decision is mostly about duration and what the worker needs to do while in the UAE:
Use a temporary permit when the engagement is 30 to 60 days maximum and the worker returns home afterward
Use a residence visa when the worker stays beyond 60 days, needs an Emirates ID, or requires local banking access
A company cannot convert a temporary permit into a residence visa mid-permit without starting a fresh application from scratch
A founder who brings in an IT consultant for a 45-day data migration project can cover the full engagement with one permit plus one renewal, cleanly and without the paperwork of a full residence visa. That is the ideal use case. For anything longer, explore the UAE residency visa services available through Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone
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Frequently Asked Questions
