UAE work permits & sponsorship
Hiring in the UAE, or moving here for a job? One advisor sets up the work permit, the entry permit and the labour contract, then walks the employee through the medical, Emirates ID and family sponsorship, Mainland or Free Zone, end to end.
Why it matters
An employment visa is the only lawful way to put someone on a UAE payroll. It bundles the work permit, the residency and the Emirates ID, and keeps your company compliant with the Ministry and your Free Zone.
One advisor handles the work permit, the visa, the Emirates ID and the family file together.
An employment visa pairs a work permit with residency, the only lawful way for your hire to be paid and employed by a UAE company.
The file includes the medical fitness test and the Emirates ID, the single document every resident needs for banking, healthcare and daily life.
Above the salary threshold, your employee can sponsor a spouse and children, so the whole household relocates under one residency.
Labour contract, establishment card and immigration quota handled correctly, so the company stays clean with the Ministry and the Free Zone.
Employment visa routes
Mainland or Free Zone, full-time or freelance, new hire or renewal, there is a route for every situation. Choose theone that fits, or let an advisor map it with you.
The standard route for a Mainland (DET / DED) company. The work permit and labour contract are issued through the Ministry of Human Resources, then linked to a two-year residency and Emirates ID.
For staff of a Free Zone company, the work permit and visa are issued by the Free Zone itself, for example IFZA, Meydan, RAKEZ or Shams. Validity and cost vary by zone, and quotas are tied to your office package.
Work for yourself under a Free Zone freelance permit, then attach your own residency visa. A clean route for consultants, creators and specialists who do not need a full company license.
Once an employee holds a valid residency and meets the salary threshold, they can sponsor a spouse, children and in some cases parents. We handle the attestation and the dependant applications as one file.
We renew employment visas before they lapse with a shorter version of the original process, a medical, an Emirates ID renewal and re-stamping, so there is no overstay and no gap in the employee's status.
Change a job title, transfer a sponsor or close a visa cleanly when an employee leaves. We process the labour and immigration steps so the company avoids fines and the record stays accurate.
Own the company you are hiring for?
As a shareholder you do not need to employ yourself. An investor or partner visa gives owners a 2 to 10-year residency in their own right.
The process
Most employment files are issued in 10 to 14 working days. One advisor carries the company and the employee through all five steps, and comes with you to the medical and biometric appointments.
Day 1 to 2
We confirm your company can sponsor, with a valid establishment card and an immigration quota, and open one if it is missing.
Day 2 to 5
The MOHRE or free-zone work permit and the electronic entry permit are applied for, authorising the residency process to begin.
Day 5 to 7
If the employee is already in the UAE, we change their status to employment in process, with no need to leave and re-enter the country.
Day 7 to 10
We book and accompany the employee to the medical fitness test and the Emirates ID biometrics, then track the results to clearance.
Day 10 to 14
The residency is issued and the labour contract registered. The employee is now legally employed, and family sponsorship follows if needed.
Our fees
One all-in price per employee, work permit and government fees included. Indicative figures below, with the exact amount confirmed for your Free Zone, role and quota before you commit.
Free Zone visa
per employee
Work permit and residency through your Free Zone.
Mainland visa
per employee
MOHRE work permit and two-year residency.
Freelance permit
per person
Self-sponsored permit plus your residency visa.
Renewal
per employee
Renew before expiry, no status gap.
Sponsoring several employees, or setting up the company too? We bundle the file and quote one combined price. Ask an advisor for an exact figure.
Why FZM Solutions
We have processed employment visas alongside more than 1,500 company setups since 2013. The same desk that opens your license handles the work permit, the visa, the Emirates ID and the labour contract.
Establishment card and immigration quota set up and topped up, so your company can sponsor the moment you need to hire.
Mainland labour files through the Ministry and free-zone visas through every major authority, run from the same desk.
The medical fitness test, biometrics and Emirates ID are processed in parallel with the visa stamp, so documents land together.
Government and labour fees passed through at cost. You see the work permit, medical and Emirates ID line items before you commit.
An advisor accompanies the employee to the medical and biometric centres, so nothing is lost in translation on the day.
Once the visa is issued, we add the employee's spouse and children with the salary and document checks done up front.
English, Arabic, French, Urdu and Hindi in-house, for you and for the employees you are sponsoring.
More than 1,500 companies and the employment visas that staff them, processed across all seven emirates.
Meet us in person
Sort your hiring at our JLT office, in person.
Office 1908, 19th floor, Jumeirah Bay X2, Cluster X, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai. Walk in for a face-to-face review, or call ahead so your advisor is ready for you.
Continue exploring
Own the company? A partner or shareholder visa may suit you better than an employment visa.
See every route to UAE residency, from investor and employment to property and family.
Hiring under a Free Zone license? Compare IFZA, Meydan, RAKEZ and 40+ zones and their visa quotas.
DET / DED Mainland licenses with MOHRE sponsorship and no activity restrictions.
Trade, professional and E-commerce licenses, the foundation for your sponsorship quota.
Estimate your full setup and visa cost in under 60 seconds. Free, no signup.
Questions and answers
Have another question? Book a 30-minute call and ask them directly.
Insights
Common reasons applications stall, the documents that matter most, and how free-zone and MOHRE costs compare.
Read the articleContracts, working hours, end-of-service and the rules every UAE employer needs to follow.
Read the articleHow visa and work-permit fees differ across IFZA, Meydan, RAKEZ, Shams and the Mainland.
Read the articleWhat the labour card is, who needs one, and how it fits alongside the residency visa and Emirates ID.
Read the articleMaha BadrHighly recommended. A professional team, prompt on every detailed query and seamless on every requirement, trade license, corporate tax, bank account, residence ID, medical.
Largo HomeSimply impeccable. They didn't just meet deadlines, they anticipated them, with quick and effective solutions even in complex situations.
Maciej KolodziejczykVery efficient. Company formation, employment contract, residency visa, and all the prerequisites handled. Friendly and professional throughout.
Ready to incorporate
A 30-minute consultation is all it takes to receive a tailored proposal, a transparent quotation, and a written roadmap delivered the same day. You will deal directly with an experienced advisor throughout the process.
