UAE - Work Permit

INTRODUCTION

The UAE is always updating its visa rules to make the country more welcoming for residents, investors, and visitors. In 2025, new changes have been introduced to make it easier for people to live, work, and do business in the UAE.

If you’re an expat living in the UAE, a business owner looking to invest, or a tourist planning a visit, it’s important to stay updated on these new rules. For Indian travellers, the new visit visa rules in the UAE for Indian nationals bring important updates, making travel more convenient and accessible. They affect everything from residency visas and work permits to tourist visas and long-term stay options like the Golden Visa.

So, here are the latest New Visa Rules in UAE 2025 in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

UAE New Visa Rules in 2025

  • New Visit Visa Rules in the UAE

Extended Stay Options: The UAE now offers 60-day and 90-day visit visas, providing visitors with more flexibility to explore the country or conduct business.

Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa: The five-year multiple-entry tourist visa allows visitors to enter the UAE multiple times, with each stay lasting up to 90 days, extendable for an additional 90 days. This visa caters to frequent travellers and business visitors seeking convenience.

Documentation Requirements: Applicants are now required to provide proof of sufficient funds (minimum balance of AED 5,000), confirmed accommodation details (such as hotel bookings or an invitation letter from a UAE-based host), and a return flight ticket to ensure compliance with the visa’s temporary nature.

Removal of the 10-Day Grace Period: Previously, visitors were granted a 10-day grace period after their visa expired to exit the country without penalties. However, this grace period has been removed. Now, overstaying beyond the allowed visa duration results in immediate fines and possible deportation. Visitors are strongly encouraged to adhere to their visa validity to avoid unnecessary complications.

  • Visa Extension Policies

In-Country Extensions: Visitors can extend their visas without exiting the UAE, simplifying the process and reducing associated costs.

 

Duration and Limits: Each extension grants an additional 30 days, with a maximum of two extensions permitted, allowing a total stay of up to 120 days within a year.

  • New visit visa rules in the UAE for Indians

Effective from February 13, 2025, Indian passport holders with valid visas, residence permits, or Green Cards from countries including Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are eligible for a visa-on-arrival in the UAE.

Starting in 2025, eligible Indian nationals holding a regular passport with a validity of at least six months can get a single-entry, 14-day visa on arrival in the UAE. This expansion simplifies the entry process for a broader segment of Indian travelers.

  • Updates on UAE Residence Visas

Five-Year Residency Visa for Retirees: Expatriates aged 55 and above can apply for a renewable five-year residency visa, provided they have at least 15 years of work experience and meet specific financial criteria related to property ownership, savings, or income.

Golden Visa Program Expansion: The prestigious Golden Visa, offering a 10-year residency, now includes superyacht owners, scholars, and humanitarian leaders. Eligible individuals can also sponsor their families under this program.

Blue Visa for Environmental Leaders: Launched to promote sustainability, the Blue Visa is a 10-year residency granted to leaders in environmental sustainability, including activists, researchers, and industry pioneers committed to climate action.

Dubai Gaming Visa: Dubai Gaming Visa is a 10-year residency permit designed to attract professionals in the gaming industry, including game developers, esports athletes, and content creators. Applicants must present a portfolio showcasing their work in the gaming sector, a proposal outlining their intended contribution to Dubai’s gaming ecosystem, and valid health insurance.

  • Introduction of the Unified GCC Visa

GCC Grand Tours: The UAE is collaborating with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to implement a unified visa system. This initiative will enable travellers to visit all six GCC countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, under a single visa, promoting regional tourism and economic integration.

  • Stricter Compliance Measures

The UAE has implemented stricter penalties for overstaying visas, including fines and potential bans from future entry. Travelers are advised to adhere strictly to their visa conditions to avoid such penalties.

  • New employment visa rules in UAE

New UAE employment visa rules in 2025 streamline the hiring process, offering faster approvals, enhanced flexibility for job changes, and improved work permits for skilled professionals and foreign workers.

How to Apply for UAE Visas?

1. Determine the Type of Visa

  • The UAE offers various visa types, including:
  • Tourist Visa (Short-term & Long-term)
  • Visit Visa (For family or business visits)
  • Residency Visa (Employment, Investor, Freelancer, Retirement, Golden Visa, etc.)
  • Student Visa
  • Freelance Visa
  • Green Visa & Golden Visa
  • Dubai Gaming Visa (For professional gamers and e-sports industry experts)

2. Check the Eligibility Criteria

  • Each visa type has different eligibility criteria. Some key requirements include:
  • Passport validity (minimum of six months)
  • Sufficient financial proof (for self-sponsored visas)
  • Employment contract (for work visas)
  • Investment proof (for investor and entrepreneur visas)
  • Sponsorship (for family visas)

3. Gather Required Documents

  • The required documents vary based on the visa type but typically include:
  • Passport-size photographs (as per UAE standards)
  • Valid passport with at least six months’ validity
  • Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or rental agreement)
  • Flight tickets (return tickets for short-term visas)
  • Bank statements (for certain visa types)
  • Health insurance coverage
  • Sponsor’s Emirates ID (for family or employment visas)

 4. Submit the Application Online or Through an Agency

  • For Tourist & Visit Visas: Apply through airlines (Emirates, Etihad), travel agencies, or hotel partners.
  • For Residency & Work Visas: Apply through a company, sponsor, or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
  • For Golden, Green, & Investor Visas: Apply through the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP) or GDRFA Dubai.
  • Applications can be submitted:
  • Online via ICP (icp.gov.ae) or GDRFA Dubai (gdrfad.gov.ae)
  • Through Amer Centers in Dubai for certain visa types
  • Through authorized travel agencies

5. Pay the Visa Fees

  • Visa fees vary depending on the type and duration of stay.

6. Undergo Medical Examination & Biometric Registration

  • Medical fitness tests are mandatory for employment, investor, and long-term residence visas. Biometric registration (fingerprints & eye scan) is required for new applicants.

7. Receive Visa Approval & Stamping

  • Once approved, the visa will be electronically issued. For residency visas, the passport must be submitted for visa stamping.

8. Entry & Emirates ID Registration

  • Upon arrival, complete the Emirates ID application (for residency holders). Collect the Emirates ID after visa stamping to complete the process.
  • Keeping up with the new UAE visa rules in 2025 is essential for anyone planning to live, work, or invest in the country. These changes bring great opportunities for professionals, business owners, and skilled workers.

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Work Permit;

The Work Bundle aims to simplify and accelerate work procedures for private sector companies through an integrated platform. It enables employers to onboard new employees and access a wide range of services, including the issuance, renewal, and cancellation of work permits and residency visas, as well as medical examination and fingerprinting services required for Emirates ID issuance — all through one integrated bundle. The initiative supports the UAE Government’s direction under the Zero Bureaucracy Programme and promotes federal-local government collaboration, enhancing the UAE’s competitiveness in the financial and business sectors.

The Work Bundle improves the user experience by consolidating 5 platforms into a single unified platform. It has streamlined processes by reducing 8 services into 1 integrated experience. The number of steps has been cut from 15 (requiring 16 documents) to just 5 steps (requiring only 5 documents). Furthermore, the number of required in-person visits has dropped from 7 to 2, significantly reducing processing time from 30 working days to just 5 working days.

Types of work permits;

  • MoHRE has different types of work permits. It issues the permits to establishments registered with them, depending on the nature of the job. The types of work permits are as follows:
  • 1 Work permit to recruit a worker from outside the UAE – This is issued under specific conditions and regulations. The permit is valid for two years.
  • 2 Work permit to transfer a non-UAE worker from one establishment to another – This permit is valid for two years.
  • 3 Work permit for a resident on a family sponsorship – It enables companies to hire residents under family sponsorship from within the UAE. The permit is valid for two years.
  • 4 Temporary work permit – It allows establishments to assign a worker already in the UAE to perform a task for a limited period in a different company, after which the worker returns to their original employer.
  • 5 Mission work permit – It allows establishments to bring in a worker from outside the UAE to complete a specific temporary job or time-bound project.
  • 6 Part-time work permit – It enables establishments to hire and employ a worker — whether from inside or outside the UAE — under a part-time contract, where the working hours or days are fewer than those of a full-time employee. A worker may work for more than one employer after obtaining approval from the Ministry.
  • 7 Juvenile work permit – It enables establishments to recruit a juvenile aged between 15 and 18 years, under specific conditions that ensure a safe and appropriate working environment for minors. This type of work permit is valid for 1 year.
  • 8 Student training and employment permit – It enables establishments to employ a 15-year old student who is already in the UAE, in accordance with specific terms and conditions that ensure a safe and suitable training and work environment. The permit is valid for three months.
  • 9 UAE/GCC national work permit – It allows establishments to employ a UAE or a GCC national. The permit is valid for two years.
  • 10 Golden visa holder work permit – It is granted to establishments wishing to employ individuals inside the UAE who hold a Golden Residency Visa. The permit is valid for two years.
  • 10 National trainee work permit – It is issued to establishments registered with the Ministry that wish to train a UAE citizen in accordance with their approved academic qualifications. The permit is valid for 12 months, renewable upon mutual agreement between the two parties.
  • 11 Freelance work permit – It is issued to individuals who wish to engage in freelance work independently (including foreign nationals on self-sponsored residence visas) without being sponsored by an employer in the UAE and without requiring an active employment contract. The individual generates income by providing services for a specific period, completing a task, or offering a defined service to individuals or companies — without being considered an employee of those entities.
  • 12 Private teacher work permit

Process for applying for;

Conditions for issuing a work permit

Following are the conditions for issuing a work permit:

1 The worker must be at least 18 years old, except in the case of a juvenile work permit or a student training/employment permit

2 The occupation assigned to the worker must be aligned with the business activity of the establishment

3 The company’s trade licence must be valid and free of violations

4 The worker must meet the conditions stipulated in the applicable legislation for specialised professions or any other roles that require a licence to practise the profession

5 An individual legally authorised to represent the company must submit the application for the work permit.

MoHRE may refrain from issuing or renewing, or may cancel work permits if the establishment:

  • Provides incorrect documents
  • Is fictitious or does not exercise its registered activity or
  • Is not compliant with the ‘Wages Protection System’ or any other labour market regulatory systems in the UAE.

Cost of work permits;

  • The cost of issuing and renewing a work permit ranges from AED 250 to AED 3,450, and it depends on the company’s classification: A, B or C.

    The classification reflects the extent of companies’ compliance with the UAE’s labour law, the Wages Protection System, relevant MoHRE resolutions and directives, laws relating to workers’ rights and with the policy of promoting cultural and demographic diversity. Companies with a history of violations and non-compliance will be placed in category C.

    Learn more about the updated fees for work permit renewals, amendments, and worker transfers between companies as per Cabinet Resolution No. 37 of 2022 Regarding the Amendment of Some Provisions of Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020 Concerning Service Fees and Administrative Fines in the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

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