UAE Work Visa From Pakistan: Employer Pays, MOHRE Permit, Emirates ID and Protector
UAE work visa from Pakistan: the employer's MOHRE work permit, entry permit, medical test, residence visa and Emirates ID, protector fee and scam warnings.
A UAE work visa for a Pakistani is applied for by the UAE employer, not by you. The employer gets a work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), then an entry permit, and you finish the medical test, residence visa and Emirates ID after you land. Recruitment and residency costs are the employer's to pay. Your only Pakistani fee is the Bureau of Emigration's Rs 9,200 or Rs 22,200.
The UAE is still one of the biggest markets for Pakistani workers. The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE) registered 229,894 Pakistanis for UAE jobs in 2023, then 64,130 in 2024, 52,664 in 2025 and 51,246 from January to August 2026. Its table does not explain the drop after 2023.
We read the UAE government portal u.ae, the service cards of Dubai's residency directorate (GDRFA Dubai), and BEOE's fee table, protection steps and statistics on 30 September 2026. MOHRE's own website did not load from Pakistan when we tried, so its rules are taken from u.ae pages that cite MOHRE as the source.
How a UAE work visa works for Pakistanis
The process runs in five stages: job offer, MOHRE work permit, entry permit, arrival and medical, then residence visa and Emirates ID. The employer drives almost every stage. u.ae says plainly that the employer must apply for the standard work visa, which lasts two years and can be renewed.
| Stage | Who does it | What the official page says |
|---|---|---|
| Job offer | Employer signs, you sign in Pakistan | Arabic, English and a third language you understand, such as Urdu |
| Work permit | Employer, through MOHRE | Permit to recruit from abroad, valid two years |
| Entry permit (work visa) | Employer, through ICP or GDRFA | Dubai fee AED 200 plus 5% VAT, about 48 hours |
| Medical test | You, in the UAE | Required before residency |
| Residence visa and Emirates ID | Employer and you | Residence valid two years; Emirates ID from ICP |
Working in the UAE without a MOHRE work permit is illegal under Article 6 of the UAE Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. The same article bars employers from hiring anyone without one. So "come first, the permit will follow" is not a plan.
Job offer and MOHRE work permit
Your UAE job starts with a written job offer that the employer signs electronically and sends to you in Pakistan. You sign it, the employer attaches it to its work permit request, and MOHRE's approval is what lets you enter. Keep a copy of that signed offer.
u.ae says the offer must be in Arabic and English, plus a third language you understand. Urdu is one of the nine allowed third languages. Ask for it. Workers in skill levels 1 to 3 sign the offer, and levels 4 and 5 can give a fingerprint instead.
After you arrive, the offer becomes your employment contract. It must be registered with MOHRE within 14 days of arrival, and its terms must match what you signed at home. A UAE contract is fixed term, for up to three years, and can be renewed.
The work permit fee is not yours to pay. u.ae puts the cost of issuing or renewing a work permit at AED 250 to AED 3,450, depending on how MOHRE classifies the company. Companies with a record of violations sit in the most expensive category, C.
Entry permit, medical test and Emirates ID
Once MOHRE approves the permit, the employer applies for your entry permit. After you land, you take a medical test, then the residence visa is issued and you apply for your Emirates ID. u.ae says to finish the residency steps within one month of entering the UAE.
- The employer applies for your entry permit after MOHRE approves the work permit.
- You register with the Protectorate of Emigrants in Pakistan and fly.
- You sign the contract, which is registered with MOHRE within 14 days.
- You take the medical test in the UAE.
- The residence visa is issued and you apply for your Emirates ID.
In Dubai, GDRFA's service card for a job contract visa lists a fee of AED 200 plus 5% VAT. It needs a photo and a passport copy valid for at least six months, and MOHRE must have endorsed the work permit. GDRFA says the entry visa lets you stay 60 days from entry while the residence is completed. Follow the stricter one-month guidance from u.ae.
The medical test happens in the UAE. u.ae lists tests for HIV, hepatitis B, leprosy, syphilis and TB. A positive HIV or leprosy result means residency is refused. Domestic workers also take a pregnancy test.
Dubai's residence permit for private sector workers costs AED 200, plus AED 10 each for the Knowledge and Innovation Dirham charges and AED 20 for delivery. It is valid for two years. After that comes the Emirates ID, issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP). Every resident must have one.
Some jobs also need your degree attested, first by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the UAE embassy. Doctors and lab staff also sit UAE health licensing exams.
Bureau of Emigration protector step in Pakistan
Before you fly, register with a Protectorate of Emigrants office. BEOE charges Rs 22,200 if a licensed Overseas Employment Promoter (OEP) placed you, and Rs 9,200 if you found the job yourself. That sticker on your passport makes your contract something Pakistan can act on.
| Fee item | Through a licensed agent | Direct employment |
|---|---|---|
| Agent service charges | Rs 15,000 (Rs 6,000 for processing cases) | None |
| Welfare fund | Rs 4,000 | Rs 4,000 |
| Insurance premium | Rs 2,500 | Rs 2,500 |
| Registration fee | Rs 500 | Rs 2,500 |
| OEC fee | Rs 200 | Rs 200 |
| Total | Rs 22,200 | Rs 9,200 |
Bring your visa, passport, CNIC, signed contract and State Life insurance certificate. The office checks your documents, you sit a short briefing, and the Protector of Emigrants signs your passport. The full steps are in how to get emigrant protection. BEOE also lists Pakistan's Community Welfare Attachés in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Save their contacts before you fly.
UAE job scams and what the law says
u.ae is blunt about this: charging recruitment fees to job seekers is illegal in the UAE, and the costs of recruitment, travel and your residency are borne by the employer. An agent's Rs 15,000 service charge is BEOE's limit on the Pakistani side, not an opening bid.
- A visit visa sold as a job. UAE law bans working on a visit or tourist visa, paid or unpaid. Overstay fines follow, as the UAE visit visa overstay fine shows.
- No job offer in writing. A real offer is signed by the employer and sent to you before the permit.
- Lakhs of rupees "for the visa". The employer pays the permit and residency costs.
- An agent without a licence. Search the number with the steps to check an overseas job agency.
- Your passport taken on arrival. u.ae says keeping your passport is your right, and companies may not withhold your Emirates ID.
The pattern is the same across the Gulf. The Oman work visa from Pakistan is also employer-led, and the same agent checks apply. Europe works differently again, as the Portugal work visa for Pakistanis shows, but a paid shortcut is a warning sign everywhere.
If a UAE employer does not give you the promised job, or your salary does not arrive in full and on time, u.ae tells workers to contact MOHRE promptly. Tourist visa rules and tracking are covered in how to apply for a UAE visa from Pakistan.
Common questions
Can I apply for a UAE work visa myself from Pakistan?
No. u.ae says the employer must apply. You sign the job offer, and the employer handles the MOHRE permit and entry permit.
Who pays for a UAE work visa?
The employer. u.ae says recruitment, travel and residency costs are borne by the employer, and charging job seekers recruitment fees is illegal.
How long is a UAE work visa valid?
The residence visa for work is valid for two years and can be renewed. The entry permit itself is valid for two months from issue.
Where is the medical test for a UAE work visa done?
In the UAE, after you arrive and before the residence visa. It covers HIV, hepatitis B, leprosy, syphilis and TB.
Do I need a protector stamp for a UAE job?
Yes. BEOE's fee is Rs 22,200 through a licensed agent or Rs 9,200 for direct employment.
Can I work in the UAE on a visit visa?
No. UAE law bans work on a visit or tourist visa, and both the worker and the employer face fines.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 30 September 2026. The employer-led process, job offer rules, work permit types and costs, the medical tests, the one-month residency rule and workers' rights are read on u.ae, including its pages on employing expatriates in the private sector and labour rights, updated 24 September 2026. Dubai's entry permit and residence fees are read on GDRFA Dubai's service cards. Emirates ID rules are read on u.ae's Emirates ID page. The Pakistani fees, protection steps, welfare attaché list and UAE registration figures are read on the Bureau of Emigration's website. Fees in Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates go through ICP and may differ from Dubai's; we did not read ICP's fee card.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
