A UAE employment visa is arranged by your employer, not by you. The same federal process applies whether the job is in Dubai or any other emirate. If you are a South African looking for a work visa for Dubai from South Africa, you first need a job offer from a UAE employer, who then obtains the work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).
Once the permit is issued you can enter the UAE and stay for two months while the employer finalises your residence permit. The steps below follow the UAE Government’s guide to employing expatriates in privately held companies and apply to private-sector mainland employment.
Eligibility and Entry Requirements at a Glance
- The employer issues an official job offer on the MoHRE standard contract. Both parties must sign it and it must be registered with the ministry.
- Only then can the employer apply for your UAE work visa (the work permit).
- The work permit lets you enter and stay for two months while the employer finalises your residence permit.
- The residence permit is valid for two years or one year, depending on your contract.
A job offer from a company that cannot or will not sponsor you is not a route to working in the UAE. Free zones can follow different procedures, so ask a free-zone employer which authority handles your permit.
Passport and Travel Document Requirements
The employer asks you for:
- a colour photograph on a white background
- a copy of your passport, valid for six months
- authenticated academic qualifications, if required for the job level
- a letter of approval for certain posts, such as physician, pharmacist, nurse or teacher
No official attestation route for South African documents is given here, so ask your employer which authentication steps apply to your qualifications before you start collecting stamps.
Visa and Supporting Document Requirements
Residence permits are issued through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP). For employment, its service lists a passport valid for at least six months, a work permit from MoHRE if the sponsoring entity is subject to the Labor Relations Law, and an employment contract.
The official guide does not list marriage certificates, birth certificates, police clearances or previous references for the work permit. If your employer asks for any of these, ask them to confirm the requirement in writing.
Financial, Health and Entry Conditions
UAE law requires your employer to pay the costs of the entry visa and your travel to the UAE, and the post-arrival costs such as medical tests and issuing the residence permit.
ICP lists an application fee of AED 100 and a residence issuance fee of AED 100 per year for its residence service in general. Confirm the fee for your category with ICP. Work permit fees and any bank guarantee amounts are not published on the pages we could open, so confirm them with MoHRE or your employer.
Medical test requirements are also not detailed here. Your employer arranges them and pays for them.
How to Prepare or Apply
- Get a job offer from a UAE employer who will sponsor you.
- Check that the offer is on the MoHRE standard contract, signed by both parties and registered with the ministry.
- Send the employer your photo, passport copy and any required qualifications.
- Wait for the employer to obtain the work permit. It usually takes five calendar days.
- Enter the UAE on the permit and let the employer complete the residence permit within the two months.
From inside the UAE you can verify a job offer through the MoHRE eService or the toll-free number 800 60. The UAE Government portal explains each step.
Do not stay beyond 60 days from entry while residence is being completed. ICP applies an overstay fine of AED 50 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for a UAE work visa myself?
No. The employer applies for the work permit once the registered job offer is in place.
How do I get a work visa for Dubai from South Africa?
You need a job offer from a UAE employer. They obtain the MoHRE work permit, and on entry you have two months while they complete your residence permit. The requirements are federal, so they are the same for Dubai.
How long does a UAE work visa take?
It usually takes five calendar days to issue a new work permit. The residence permit follows after you arrive.
Who pays for the visa and medical test?
Your employer. UAE law requires the employer to pay the entry visa, your travel and post-arrival costs such as medical tests and the residence permit.
Can I start work while the visa is processed?
No. Working without the proper visa status is illegal and can lead to imprisonment, fines or deportation, according to the UAE Government portal.
How long is the residence permit valid?
Two years or one year, depending on your contract.
Confirm the current position with MoHRE and the ICP before you travel or apply. See visa requirements and browse all travel and immigration requirements.