Complete Guide to UAE Employment Visa Application & Renewal

In this competitive world, finding a career supporting job in the most flourishing business hub of the world is a smart decision. UAE employment visa is truly appreciable for supporting work and legally residing with employer sponsorship giving you access to healthcare and banking services beside career growth.

Reportedly, the ICP and MoHRE system is best for standard visa cycle completion. You are in the right place to learn about the complete guide to your UAE employment visa process.

Let’s explore it.

Entry permit for UAE employment visa process

Do you know about pink visa?

Yes, employers in the UAE often refer to the entry permit as a pink visa which is delivered once MoHRE approves the entry permit submitting the employment contract.  Job applicants enter UAE with a permission of 60 days where medical testing ensures the final settlement for full residency formalities.

Medical fitness requirement for UAE employment visa process

UAE welcome you to start your career life, once you ensure your 100% medical fitness. Here are certain points that you need to know about your medical fitness. Here is a quick list that you must check —

• Necessary health screening approved under DHA/EHS centers within 30 to 90 days of entry.
• Standard tests comprising Hepatitis B & C, HIV, Tuberculosis chest X-ray & physical exam.
• The certificate will be valid only for 90 days.
• Expiry of visa will require retesting.
• Positive results for disallowance can cause rejection.
• Results must be linked to the ICP/MoHRE system digitally.

Also, reader about Emirates ID renewal.

Emirates ID detail for UAE employment visa process

Once the medical test is done, Emirates ID will be required to be delivered as it is also a necessary part of the visa process. Here is a quick breakdown that you must learn about the Emirates ID for you UAE employment visa process —

• Emirates ID application starts once entry permit approval is done.
• Visa applicants must visit the ICP service center for biometric activities like photo+fingerprint processing.
• ID processing typically requires 5 to 7 working days once biometric enrollment completes.
• Emirates ID is mandatory for residency visas and it directly links with the visa records.
• Preparation for visa renewal must start a month early punctually.

Labor card steps for UAE employment visa process

You also require to learn about the labor card as it’s important for your residency cycle and work permit. MoHRE provides quota approval and work permit to the employer. With completion of the medical fitness test and Emirates ID, a digital work permit is provided that serves as one labor card record.

Largely in the UAE employment visa process, digital cards are provided through UAE government portal or MoHRE. This ensures completion of legal employment status through the UAE employment visa process.

Readers also prefer to learn about trade license renewal in UAE 2026.

Quota approval in UAE employment visa process

Visa quotas identify foreign worker capacity under company’s sponsorship. In 2025, mainland quota estimates through Emiratization requirements, license type and office space compliance.  In the free zone office size varies in terms of 1 visa per 9m.sq. Quota increases with approvals that get influenced through faster entry permits delivered by MoHRE.

Changes for skilled workers in UAE employment visa process

It’s important to learn about the current updates on the UAE employment visa process, especially regarding skilled workers. Here is a quick breakdown —

• Golden Visa & Green Residency options are now valid for the skilled professionals, AI, tech and critical talent categories.
• Freelance Green Visas are also audited for the security purpose keeping prevention of misuse as strict.
• Golden visa holders can get employment changes without losing the residency though the work permits are required.
• AI automation regarding work permits emphasis on speed approvals with lesser manual checkpoints.
• Emiratization quotas for the Emirati workers have now enforced penalties for non-compliance. 

Costs and timelines regarding UAE employment visa process

Here is the major part that every single job seeker in the UAE would seek to know in 2025-2026.

How much will it cost?

Stage	Typical Cost (AED)	Timeline
Quota approval & work permit	250 – 3,450	3 – 10 days
Entry permit (Pink visa)	500 – 1,200	3 – 5 days
Medical test	300 – 800	1 – 3 days
Emirates ID	370 – 600	5 – 7 days
Visa stamping	500 – 1000	2 – 4 days
Total estimated cost	3000 – 7000+	2 – 4 weeks

How PRO services speed UAE employment visa process?

PRO (Public Relations Officer) services assist companies in managing documentation, biometrics appointment, MoHRE/ICP submission, DHL courier processing as well as tracking approvals. PROs minimize delays, do correction in application error and ensure compliance.

These procedures could otherwise add more weeks to the processing. These are particularly valuable for document attestation, quota application and follow-ups with government portals such as ICP, GDRFA & MoHRE. 

Conclusion

The UAE employment visa process appears to be well structured and dynamic with support of strong compliance under ICP & MoHRE. From the entry permits through labor documentation, Emirates ID and healthcare, largely candidates achieve the entire process within 2 to 4 weeks under a cost of AED 3000 to 7000+.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)