Published: 14 November 2026
A student asks to join your company for the summer. A university needs a placement for a trainee. A 16-year-old wants a part-time job. All three look simple, but in the UAE an establishment cannot just let a student start, even for a short unpaid internship. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has a dedicated service for this: the Student Training and Employment Permit. This guide explains what it is, who can apply, the official conditions, the steps, and the fee and validity published by MOHRE. It sits alongside our overview of UAE work permit categories.
Quick Answer
The Student Training and Employment Permit is a MOHRE work permit that lets a registered establishment train or employ a student who has reached 15 years of age. The establishment’s authorised signatory applies through MOHRE (website, smart app, a service centre or a Tasheel centre), logs in with UAE Pass, uploads the documents, pays the fees and receives the permit. On MOHRE’s service page, the permit duration is three months, the service is completed in 2 working days, the federal fee is AED 50, and the business centre commission is capped at AED 72. No bank guarantee, insurance or electronic quota is required. Always confirm the latest details on MOHRE’s official page before you apply.
What the Permit Covers
MOHRE lists this service as the issue of a new work permit under the name “Training and Work Permit for Students”. In its own words, establishments registered with the Ministry may train or employ students who have reached the age of 15 years, under specific requirements and controls that ensure a suitable training and employment environment.
In plain terms, the permit covers two situations:
- Training: a student joins your company to learn, for example an internship or work placement.
- Employment: a student works for your company, for example in a holiday or part-time role.
It is one of the permit types available under the UAE’s work permit system. For the full list, see our guide to UAE work permit categories in 2026.
Who Can Be Covered?
The main rules on MOHRE’s page for the student are:
- The student must have reached 15 years of age.
- The student must not already hold a valid work permit.
- The student’s occupation must be consistent with the establishment’s licensed activity.
A student under 15 cannot be covered. This follows the general rule that no one may be employed before completing 15 years. Our guide to the juvenile work permit in the UAE explains the legal basis in Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
Who Can Apply: Conditions for the Establishment
Only the employer side can apply. MOHRE lists these conditions:
| Condition | What MOHRE says |
|---|---|
| Who submits | The application must be submitted by the establishment’s authorised signatory |
| Licence | The establishment must hold a valid licence with no registered violations that result in suspension of its operations |
| Activity match | The student’s occupation must be consistent with the establishment’s activity |
| Occupation | The occupation must not be on the list of jobs prohibited for juvenile students, with an exception for jobs that require skill levels 1 and 2, and dangerous work prohibited by ministerial decree remains off limits |
| Training institution | The institution where the student will train, followed by employment, must not be closed or suspended |
| Student’s permit status | The student must not hold a valid work permit |
| Guarantee | A bank guarantee or insurance is not required |
| Quota | An electronic quota is not required |
The occupation rule is the one most easily missed. Before you offer a role, check that it matches your trade licence and that it is not a prohibited job for young workers.
Do Short or Unpaid Internships Need the Permit?
This is the most common question we hear from employers. The permit is described by MOHRE as covering both training and employment of students. A student who is placed in your company for training is therefore inside the scope of the service, not outside it. We recommend that an employer who plans to take a student, paid or unpaid, short or long, confirms with MOHRE or a Tasheel centre before the first day, rather than assuming that no permit is needed. Penalties and company-file problems for unauthorised work fall on the establishment.
Rules for Students Under 18
A student aged 15 up to 18 is legally a juvenile. Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 sets the conditions for employing a juvenile, which we explain in our juvenile work permit guide. The key points there are:
- Written consent from the juvenile’s guardian or custodian.
- A medical certificate confirming fitness for the work.
- Actual working time of no more than 6 hours a day, with breaks, and no more than 4 consecutive hours of work.
- No work between 7 pm and 7 am.
- No overtime, no work on rest days or official holidays, and no dangerous or harmful work.
If your student is under 18, plan your timetable and tasks around these limits. A student aged 18 or over is treated as an adult for working-time purposes.
Documents
MOHRE’s service page describes the process as entering the required information, reviewing the information retrieved automatically, and attaching the required documents. The exact document list is shown inside the application. In our experience, employers should be ready with:
- A recent colour photo of the student on a white background.
- A copy of the student’s Emirates ID, where the student is a UAE resident.
- Proof that the person is a student, such as a letter or card from the school or university.
- For a student under 18, the guardian’s written consent and a medical fitness certificate.
- The establishment’s licence details and the authorised signatory’s access.
Treat this as a practical checklist, not as MOHRE’s official list. Requirements can change, so follow what the live application asks for.
How to Apply, Step by Step
MOHRE describes the service in four steps:
- Log in. The authorised signatory logs in using UAE Pass through one of the approved channels. If you do not yet have an account, see our guide to UAE Pass registration.
- Submit the request. Enter the required information, check the automatically retrieved information and attach the required documents.
- Pay. Review the request and pay the required fees.
- Receive the permit. The Training and Work Permit for Students is issued when the request is completed. MOHRE will notify you if anything else is needed.
The service channels listed by MOHRE are its service centres, its website, its mobile application, and Tasheel centres. If you prefer a counter service, our guide to Tasheel centres in the UAE explains what they handle.
Fees, Validity and Processing Time
These figures come from MOHRE’s official service page and may change, so check the page before you apply.
| Item | Official figure on MOHRE’s page |
|---|---|
| Permit duration | Three months |
| Service completion time | 2 working days |
| Federal fee | AED 50 |
| Business centre commission | Capped at AED 72 |
| Via MOHRE website or smart app | Free of charge except the federal fee |
| Tax and collection charges | Not included in the figures above |
Because the permit lasts three months, an internship longer than that needs a new permit or another suitable arrangement. Check with MOHRE before the end date rather than letting the student continue without cover.
How This Differs From Other Permits and Visas
Employers often mix up the student permit with other categories:
- Juvenile work permit: a separate permit for employing a person aged 15 to under 18 as a worker. See the juvenile work permit guide.
- Part-time or multiple-job permit: for a worker who already works and takes extra work. See our part-time and multiple job work permit guide.
- Student visa: a residence visa that allows a person to study in the UAE. It is not a work permit. See the UAE student visa guide.
- Employment visa: for full-time employees. See UAE employment visa cost and process.
The student permit works alongside a student’s existing status. A student visa lets someone study; it does not let them work for a company without the right permit.
Students Who Are Not UAE Residents
A student who lives outside the UAE and wants to train in a UAE company has an extra question: what immigration status will they hold while they are here? The MOHRE page covers the work permit only. Entry and stay depend on the visa or residence category the student qualifies for, so confirm the correct route with the official sources, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and the UAE Government portal u.ae, before the student travels. Our guide to UAE visa status check can help you check an existing status.
Common Mistakes Employers Make
- Starting a student before the permit is issued.
- Offering a role that does not match the company’s licensed activity.
- Forgetting that a student under 18 has working-time limits.
- Assuming an unpaid internship needs no permit.
- Applying with someone who is not the authorised signatory.
- Letting the three-month permit run out while the student keeps working.
- Applying for a student who already holds a valid work permit.
When to Ask for Help
If your company file is blocked, your licence activity does not match the role, or you are not sure which permit your case needs, speak to a PRO service before you submit anything. A rejected request costs time. Yalah Dubai handles MOHRE and related document services in the UAE. Message us on WhatsApp at +971 52 580 2100 and tell us the student’s age, the role and the company’s licence activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UAE Student Training and Employment Permit?
It is a MOHRE work permit, listed on MOHRE’s service directory as “Training and Work Permit for Students”. It allows an establishment registered with MOHRE to train or employ a student who has reached 15 years of age, under set conditions.
What is the minimum age?
The student must have reached 15 years of age. A person under 15 cannot be employed or covered by this permit.
Does an unpaid internship need a permit?
MOHRE describes the service as covering the training of students as well as their employment. So a student placed in a company for training falls within its scope, whether paid or not. Confirm with MOHRE or a Tasheel centre before the student starts.
Who can apply for the permit?
The establishment’s authorised signatory submits the application. The student or parents cannot apply on the company’s behalf.
How long is the permit valid?
MOHRE’s service page states a permit duration of three months. Check the page again before applying in case the duration has changed.
How much does it cost?
The page lists a federal fee of AED 50, and a business centre commission capped at AED 72 if you use a business centre. Applying through MOHRE’s website or smart app is free of charge except for the federal fee. The figures exclude tax and collection charges.
How long does it take?
MOHRE states a service completion time of 2 working days.
Do I need a bank guarantee, insurance or a quota?
No. MOHRE’s page says a bank guarantee or insurance is not required and an electronic quota is not required for this permit.
Do students under 18 need guardian consent?
For juveniles aged 15 to under 18, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 requires written consent from the guardian or custodian and a medical fitness certificate, and it limits working hours. See our juvenile work permit guide for the details.
Can a student who already has a work permit get this permit?
No. MOHRE lists as a condition that the student must not hold a valid work permit.
Where can I apply?
MOHRE lists its service centres, website, smart app and Tasheel centres as the service channels. The login is through UAE Pass.
If you run a company and want your accounts in order too, our sister firm Qaspro Global explains how to switch accounting software without losing history.
Related Reading
- UAE work permit categories in 2026
- Juvenile work permit in the UAE
- Part-time and multiple job work permit
- UAE student visa guide
- Tasheel centres and MOHRE services
- UAE Pass registration
- MOHRE company classification: first, second and third category
Sources: the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation service page for the Training and Work Permit for Students (mohre.gov.ae/en/services/training-and-work-permit-for-students-2022) and the UAE Government portal (u.ae). Always confirm current details with them before you apply.
Need help with a student permit or another MOHRE service? Message Yalah Dubai on WhatsApp at +971 52 580 2100.