Who pays for a UAE work visa?
By Asli UAE · Updated 3 October 2026
Short answer: your employer. If someone asks you to pay for your own work visa to get a job, stop and check. Here's what's normally included, and how to read job ads that say “visa provided”.
What the law says
Under the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), an employer may not charge a worker recruitment fees or costs, directly or indirectly. The employer is also not allowed to keep your passport or other official documents.
In practice this means the hiring company arranges and pays for your work permit and residence visa process, including the medical fitness test and Emirates ID. Rules and fees are set by the government and can change, so always check the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) website for the latest.
“Visa provided” vs “own visa”
- Visa provided — the employer will sponsor your employment visa. This is what most people coming from abroad need.
- Own visa / visa holders only — the employer wants someone who already has a valid UAE visa (for example on a family or golden visa). These jobs are usually not open to people outside the UAE.
- Not mentioned — ask the employer before you accept. Many large employers sponsor visas for all staff without saying so in the ad.
Before you travel
- Get a written offer that names the employer, the job and the salary.
- Make sure you will enter the UAE on an employment entry permit arranged by the employer — not a visit visa “that will be changed later”.
- Never pay an agent in your home country for a UAE job unless they are licensed by your own government's overseas employment authority, and even then ask what the employer is paying.
Common questions
Do I have to pay for my medical test or Emirates ID?
These are part of the residence visa process, which the employer arranges and pays for when it hires you.
Can I come on a visit visa and look for work?
Visit visas are for visiting. Some people do look for work while visiting, but if an agent tells you to travel on a visit visa for a job they have already “confirmed”, be very careful — it's a common way scams start.
How do I find jobs where the employer gives the visa?
Use the “Visa provided” filter on Asli UAE. It shows jobs whose ads say the employer provides or sponsors the visa.