UAE Labour Card | Everything You Need to Know

The United Arab Emirates is a land of opportunities, and did you know more than 4,000 people were interviewed in the country’s amnesty program until December 31, 2024? Keep in mind that working legally in the UAE requires a UAE labour card, also known as a work permit. It is as important as your identity card because it’s an entry ticket to work in the UAE or the Emirate of Dubai legally. Whether you are an expat or a local worker, having a valid labour card is crucial for legal employment in the UAE.

Understanding how to check UAE labour card online is a key step in ensuring you are compliant with the UAE labour law rules. No worries because the process of getting a labour card online is easy, thanks to the policymakers. You can apply for your labour card through the website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). In this article, I will guide you on how you can check your UAE labour card online in 2026. Let’s go!

What is the UAE Labour Card?

The UAE labour card acts as your permit that proves you are legally allowed to work in the United Arab Emirates. This card is issued by the relevant free zone or MOHRE. It’s a work ID that an employee should carry this vital document all the time, even while traveling. This card not only proves your legal status to work, but it also acts as a record of your employment history.

Without it, you risk legal complications, making it vital for both your peace of mind and your professional journey in the UAE. It contains the following information about an employee;

Employee Name
Employee Occupation
Employee’s Nationality
Employee’s Contact Number
Labour Card Expiry Date
Employee’s Personal ID Number
Employee’s Labor Card Number or Work Permit Number

Eligibility Criteria to Apply for Labour Card UAE 2026

The employer is responsible for issuing the work permit to the employee. After getting the work permit, employees can apply for the UAE labour card online. Now, here are the easy steps that will guide you on how an employee can apply for the labour card online.

Let’s explore in steps:

Step 1: The Employee must get the signed contract letter from the company, written both in English and Arabic.
Step 2: After getting the signed contract letter, the employer must apply for the visa quota approval from the MOHRE. If the company is in a free zone, approval must be obtained before inviting an employee to the UAE.
Step 3: MOHRE will issue a “pink visa” (especially designed for employees) that will allow employees to enter the United Arab Emirates.
Step 4: After getting the visa, employees must go through the medical and fitness examination and obtain the medical certificate from the local hospital (place of birth country).
Step 5: Along with a medical certificate, employees must submit all other relevant documents such as degrees, diplomas, and other official documents by visiting TAS-HEEL (a service center to assist you in UAE labour laws) or the Emirates ID center for submission.
Step 6: Employees can track their application through the MOHRE website. Once the application is approved, employees can get an officially signed work permit online.
Step 7: Employees can print out work permits by registering with TAS-HEEL or eNetwasal.

Mostly, MOHRE issues the work permit within two days of submission of the application

Documents Required for UAE Labour Card

Before applying for a labour card in the UAE, you must obtain the following documents;

Below are the terms and conditions for employers;

Passport Size Photograph
Academic Records (all degrees, diplomas, certificates, etc.)
Copy of Passport and Visit Visa
Medical Certificate
Three Copies of the Employment Contract
Copy of the Company’s Trade License

How to Check UAE Labor Card Status Online?

Checking your MOHRE labour card status online is not a big deal now. You can check it by following three easy methods;

Visit Tas-heel Service Centers

Tas-heel Service Center (TSC) is an online UAE government system located across the United Arab Emirates that maintains all the information related to UAE jobs and labour law policies. You can visit TSC, and the staff will provide you with the details of your employment contracts, work permit, and UAE labour card number

Use the Official MOHRE App

The official MOHRE mobile application is easily available on Google and iOS Stores; you can download it. After signing in using the UAE pass, click on your profile icon to see all your details, such as employment contract, labour card number, company name, expiry, etc. You can also access your digital UAE labour card through this app.

Use the UAE Pass App

You can also access your labour card from the UAE Pass mobile app (widely available in the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store). Just register yourself as a UAE employee and enter your details. After logging in, go to the MOHRE section and tap on the Labour Card. All other sections will be auto-filled with your UAE Pass credentials. If not, enter the manual details. After submitting the details, you can view your labour card digitally. Isn’t it like icing on the cake?

Easy Steps to Print & Download UAE Labour Card Online

The UAE government has banned physical labour card, but you don’t need to worry as you can have it digitally. Downloading and printing your labour card is easy. Let’s have a look at how you can get it in minutes;

Step 1: Visit “MOHRE” website.
Step 2: Click on the “Services” button at the top.
Step 3: From the menu dropdown, select the option “New Inquiry Services”.
Step 4: Under the “Choose a Service” option, select the “Print Electronic Permit” option. If you don’t find this option, you can type it, thanks to the search box!
Step 5: Now enter your “Work Permit No”, “Transaction No”, “Person Code”, “Date of Birth”, and “Captcha”.
Step 6: Click on “Search”, and it’s boom! Your labour card is ready to download and print.

Labour Card Validity, Fee, Expiry, Fines and Renewals

Congratulations, as you got your labour card online. Now what’s next? You must know the card validity, MOHRE labour card fees, UAE labour card processing time, expiry dates, and late renewal charges. Here are the guidelines and instructions for each;

Labour Card Validity & Expiry

Typically, labour card validity is only for two years for private sector employees and three years for government employees. After that, you have to renew it. To avoid the fines, you have to renew it before expiry or within 50 days after the expiry. After 50 days, MOHRE imposes late renewal fines.

UAE Labour Card Fee

UAE labour card fee depends on the type of your employment contract and the company you work for. However, the fee ranges between AED 50 to AED 3,450 in the United Arab Emirates. Below is the breakdown of the fee structure;

Work Permit From Inside The Country (Valid Residence Visa Holders)

Sr. No.	Permit Type	Fee
1	Juvenile Work Permit	50 AED
2	Temporary Work Permit	50 AED
3	Part-Time Work Permit	50 AED
4	Training Permit	50 AED
5	Worker Testing Permit	50 AED
6	Residence Visa Holder Work Permit	50 AED
7	Golden Visa Holder or Freelance Work Permit for Two Years	250 AED

Work Permits From Outside The Country (All Employment Types)

Sr. No.	Service Type	Category 1	Category 2	Category 3
1	Work Permit Application	50 AED	50 AED	50 AED
2	Issuance of Work Permit – Two Years	250 AED	1200 AED	3450 AED
3	Issuance of Work Mission Permit	250 AED	250 AED	250 AED

Renewal of Work Permits, Modification of Employment Contracts, Transfer of Employees from One Establishment to Another (All Contract Types

Sr. No.	Service Type	Category 1	Category 2	Category 3
1	Work Permit Renewal – Two Years	250 AED	1200 AED	3450 AED
2	Modification of Employment Contract	50 AED	50 AED	50 AED
3	Transfer From One Establishment to Another Permit	50 AED	50 AED	50 AED
4	Permit for Transfer and Employment of Workers from One Establishment to another	250 AED	1200 AED	3450 AED

Licensing of Meditation and Employment Agencies

Sr. No.	Service Type	Issuance	Renewal
1	Meditation Agency License – One Year	25,000 AED	12,500 AED
2	Employment Agency License – One Year	50,000 AED	25,000 AED

UAE Labour Card Fines

You will find the UAE government very strict when it comes to the labour card expiry. I hope no employee may face this, as the UAE government imposes a fine of up to AED 500 if you don’t renew your labour card within 50 days after its expiry. That huge amount for a worker, indeed.

To check the complete list of fines according to your category, follow the steps below;

Step 1: Go to the MOHRE website.
Step 2: In the services section, click on New Inquiry Services.
Step 3: Click on “Choose a Service” and in the drop-down menu, select UAE Fine Calculator.
Step 4: Enter your labour card number UAE, and security code.
Step 5: Click on “Search” to get the estimated fine on your labour card.

Labour Card or Work Permit Renewal

As I mentioned earlier, you can request renewal of your labour card within 50 days after its expiry; however, I recommend that you apply via the MOHRE website before the expiry to avoid any inconvenience. People from Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan need to attach/upload their national identity cards with the application for verification purposes.

You can also visit the TAS-HEEL center for renewal purposes from 8 AM to 8 PM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. These are the same centers where you can apply for an e signature card to simplify all your other business transactions. The federal fee for renewal ranges from AED 300 to AED 5000, depending on the type of your employment contract and your employer. On average, renewal applications take up to 10 days after approval from MOHRE.

Do you want to modify the personal details on the Dubai labor card? No worries. You can also request modification by attaching the relevant documentation and the genuine reason for modifying it. You will get a modified labour card within a few days.

Benefits of the UAE Labour Card

Having a labour card UAE while working is essential as it keeps employees on the safer side. It will help you to get your work done in UAE government departments, such as clearance and end-of-service benefit calculations, gratuity calculator UAE, and assist you in legal proceedings (if any).

The UAE government tracks your payroll, transactions, overtime, and working hours and ensures it is aligned with the latest labour law rules. If an employee wants to inquire about benefits, gratuity in salary, labour laws, and even health insurance-related issues, they need to enter their labour card number in the payroll system to access it.

Think of this card as a guarantee card for getting the benefits as per the MOHRE guidelines and UAE labour law rules, such as;

Employees’ working hours must be 8 hours a day and a maximum of 48 hours a week. If an employee works more than 48 hours a week, they will be eligible for overtime.
Overtime is limited to 2 hours mostly.
Employees should get the working hours and overtime calculations in a correct manner from their employers while working in the UAE.

It is illegal for an employee to work in the UAE without a work permit or labor card, as UAE labour law ensures fair and safe working conditions for both employers and employees.

Employers should also hire employees without discrimination of religion, sex, or disability. Say no to favoritism! Just get your UAE labour card and start a professional career in the United Arab Emirates.

Types of UAE Labour Card and Work Permits (2026 Updated)

Below are some other types of work permits in the UAE as of 2026;

Work Permit for Foreign Workers
Transfer Work Permit
Temporary Work Permit
One-Mission Work Permit
Mission Visa (Short-Term Work Visa)
Juvenile Work Permit
Student Training Work Permit
National Apprentice Permit
Freelance Work Permit
Work Permit for Citizens Sponsored by Relatives
Part-Time Work Permit

How to Apply for a Lost or Damaged Labour Card in the UAE?

Have you lost your labour card in the UAE, or has someone stolen it? Don’t be sad. You can get it back quickly. Just follow the steps below;

For a Damaged Labour Card:

Step 1: Visit the Tas-heel Centers or MOHRE’s e-forms.
Step 2: Ask the staff for the damaged card; they will provide you with the form.
Step 3: Fill out the form with your details.
Step 4: Attach a copy of the National Identity Card, a colored photograph, damaged labour card.
Step 5: Submit the application form with the fee. The duplicate labour card issuance fee is around AED 200.

For Lost or Stolen Labour Card:

Step 1: Go to the Police Station and file a complaint regarding the loss of the labour card by providing all the details.
Step 2: Visit the Ministry’s e-form center, such as Tas-heel.
Step 3: Apply by attaching the filed police complaint and other relevant documents.
Step 4: The UAE labour department will verify your application and grant approval for the issuance of duplicate labour cards.
Step 5: After getting approval, you will receive your duplicate original UAE labour card in just a few days (2-3 working days).

Important Amendments in UAE Labour Law 2026

The UAE government authorities encourage employers to adhere to the policies of the labour law and the HR Ministry, especially for the labour card and the MOHRE labour contract. Recently, MOHRE has made some amendments to the labour law that highlights;

All UAE-based companies must adhere to the practice of “fixed-term contracts”.
Employees have to give 14 days’ notice to employers when resigning during the probation period of fixed-term contracts. If an employee is going to join another UAE company, the notice period will be 30 days.
Either the employer or the employee can end the fixed-term contract at any time for legitimate reasons.

There are also some minor changes in payroll and HR regulations on flexible working hours. Employers must comply with the payroll and the latest HR functions.

Final Words

If you want to work in the United Arab Emirates, a labour card must be your priority as it’s an essential document for every employee. It’s your legal proof that you are allowed to work here. The UAE labour card system requires a lot of paperwork, but as soon as you know the ins and outs of this process, it becomes icing on the cake. The only thing you should do is get all your documents in advance. It’s then up to the employer.

Having a labour card in the UAE will ensure you are getting fair wages, health insurance, and other UAE legal benefits. Think of it as your safeguard that ensures your payroll is set up as per the UAE labour law rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can apply for a labor card from the website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). You can also apply from the MOHRE mobile app and Tasheel centers.

You can check your UAE labor card number from the MOHRE app, from which you can also use it digitally. Secondly, you can visit Tasheel centers and inquire about your labor card information.

The UAE labor card is an essential document, and you can’t work without this card. You can face penalties if you don’t have a labor card.

Yes, you can say that the UAE authorities have integrated the labour card into the Emirates ID. The Emirates ID is considered an all-rounder document for all the official tasks, and you don’t need to carry your labour card if you have your Emirates ID with you.

The employee will face a fine of AED 50,000 per employee if an employee is found without a labour card, as it’s illegal. For a second offense, the fine will be doubled, and the employer will face a fine of AED 100,000 per employee.

UAE Labour Card | Everything You Need to Know

What is the UAE Labour Card?