UAE Tasheel Centres 2026: Which MOHRE Services They Handle, What Documents to Bring and How Employers and Workers Use Them

If you employ people in the UAE, or you are a worker waiting for a permit or contract to be processed, you will hear the word “Tasheel” quickly. Someone will say “go to Tasheel,” “Tasheel will print the contract” or “ask Tasheel about the permit.” For first-time employers this can be confusing. What exactly is a Tasheel centre? Which services can it process? And what do you still have to do somewhere else, such as the Emirates ID or visa steps?

This guide explains Tasheel service centres in plain language: what they are, which MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation) transactions they typically handle, what they do not handle, which documents to bring, how fees work, how to find a centre, when the online route is simpler, and how to spot scams.

Published: 10 November 2026

Verification note. Service lists, fees and procedures change. Where we give a figure or a service, we mark anything that must be confirmed as verify with MOHRE. Always confirm the current position on the official MOHRE website and app, or on the UAE Government portal (u.ae), before you pay or submit anything. Fees shown in this article, where mentioned, are official government charges only and are not Yalah service fees.

Quick Answer

What is a Tasheel centre? A Tasheel centre is a service centre licensed to process Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) transactions for private-sector employers and workers, such as work permits, labour contracts and establishment services, on behalf of the ministry.

What do they handle? Typically labour-ministry steps: new work permits, work permit renewal and cancellation, labour contract registration and amendment, and establishment-card services. Exact availability can differ by centre, so confirm before you travel (verify with MOHRE).

What do they not handle? Residence visa stamping, Emirates ID, medical and biometric steps belong to other authorities, mainly the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and, in Dubai, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). A Tasheel centre does not replace those steps. See our guide on ICP vs GDRFA typing centres in Dubai for the difference.

Is there an online alternative? Yes. Many MOHRE services can also be completed through the MOHRE website and mobile app, so a centre visit is not always necessary (verify with MOHRE which services are available online for your case).

What is a Tasheel centre, in simple words?

MOHRE is the federal ministry that regulates private-sector employment in the UAE. Many of its transactions need data entry, document checks and payments. Instead of everything being done at the ministry itself, MOHRE works with licensed service centres, commonly called Tasheel centres, that process these transactions for the public.

Think of a Tasheel centre as an authorised counter for labour-ministry paperwork. You bring documents, the staff enter the transaction in the ministry system, you pay the official charge plus the centre’s service charge, and you receive a receipt and a transaction number. The centre is not the decision-maker. The approval or rejection comes from MOHRE’s system, not from the centre staff.

This matters for two reasons. First, the centre cannot override a rejection. If MOHRE’s system blocks a transaction, for example because of a company-file issue, the centre can only tell you the reason. Our article on a blocked company file at MOHRE explains common causes. Second, the quality of the service depends on the individual centre, so keep your receipts and transaction numbers.

Which MOHRE services do Tasheel centres typically handle?

The list below describes the types of private-sector labour transactions commonly processed through service centres. Availability can differ by centre and can change over time, so treat this as a guide and confirm with MOHRE (verify with MOHRE).

For a clear explanation of the permit types themselves, read our guide to UAE work permit categories under MOHRE. If a worker is under 18, the rules differ, and our article on the juvenile work permit in the UAE covers that case.

What Tasheel centres do not handle

Many delays happen because people expect one counter to finish the whole job. A UAE employment visa usually involves several authorities, and each controls its own step.

Two points deserve emphasis. First, free zone companies usually deal with their own free zone authority for permits, not with MOHRE through Tasheel, although some situations cross over (verify with MOHRE or your free zone authority). Second, a labour dispute is not a Tasheel service. If you need to complain about unpaid wages or another labour issue, read our guide to the MOHRE labour complaint process.

For the full picture of how the visa and permit steps connect, our employment visa cost guide walks through each stage.

Documents to bring to a Tasheel centre

Requirements depend on the transaction. The lists below are typical, not complete. Confirm with MOHRE or the centre before you go (verify with MOHRE).

For the employer or company

• Valid trade licence
• Establishment card (or establishment number)
• Authorised signatory details and ID of the person submitting
• Authorisation or power of attorney, if a representative or PRO is submitting on the company’s behalf
• Payment method accepted by the centre (confirm card or cash options)

For a new work permit or labour contract

• Copy of the worker’s passport
• Passport-size photograph, where required
• Offer letter or draft contract details (job title, salary, start date)
• Qualification or experience documents, where the job category requires them
• Entry permit or residence details, where the worker is already in the UAE

For renewal or cancellation

• The existing work permit or transaction details
• Valid establishment details
• Documents relating to the reason for cancellation, where relevant

Practical tips on documents

1. Match names and spellings. The name on the passport, offer letter and contract should be identical. Small differences cause rejections.
2. Check the job title. The profession on the contract should match the permit and the visa.
3. Bring originals and clear copies. Rules differ by centre, so bring both.
4. Take photos of everything. Keep a copy of every receipt and document you hand in.

If a worker is changing profession, the steps affect the permit, visa and Emirates ID together. Our article on changing profession on a UAE residence visa explains the sequence.

Fees: what you pay and how to check it

Two types of charge are usually involved:

1. The official government fee, set by MOHRE. It depends on the transaction and, for work permits, on the employer’s classification. The UAE Government portal describes private-sector work permit fees as varying by company category, with a range from a low amount for top-category companies up to a much higher amount for lower categories (verify with MOHRE for the current figure for your category). To understand the classification system, read our guide to MOHRE company classification: first, second and third category.
2. The service centre’s own charge, which is added on top of the government fee for processing the transaction. The amount is regulated and can change, so ask for the current charge and check it against MOHRE’s published information (verify with MOHRE).

How to avoid paying the wrong amount:

• Ask the centre to show the breakdown between the government fee and the service charge before you pay.
• Pay only through the official payment channel at the centre and keep the receipt.
• Compare the figure with the fee shown on the MOHRE website or app for the same transaction.
• Remember that under UAE labour rules, the employer bears the cost of recruiting and permit fees, not the worker. If anyone asks a worker to pay these costs, treat it as a red flag and check the position with MOHRE.

We do not quote any Yalah service fees in this article. The figures that matter here are the official ones, and they must be checked at source.

How to find a Tasheel centre

1. Use the official MOHRE channels. The MOHRE website and mobile app list approved service centres, which is the safest starting point (verify with MOHRE for the current list).
2. Check the centre’s licence. An authorised centre displays its licence and shows official fee information.
3. Choose by location and hours. Centres have different opening hours, and some close for part of the day. Phone ahead.
4. Ask what the centre can process. Not every centre offers every service, so confirm that yours is available before you travel.
5. Avoid unofficial intermediaries. Anyone outside a licensed centre offering to “fix” a MOHRE transaction for a fee deserves caution.

The typical process, step by step

1. Prepare the documents. Collect everything on the checklist above. Check names, job titles and dates.
2. Check the status of the company file. If the establishment has a block, the transaction may fail. Resolve it first.
3. Visit the centre or start online. Give the staff the transaction type clearly.
4. Review the data entered. Ask the staff to read back the worker’s name, passport number, job title and salary before submitting. Errors are expensive to correct later.
5. Pay and ask for the breakdown. Keep the receipt and transaction number.
6. Wait for approval. Approval comes from MOHRE’s system. Timelines vary, so ask for the expected time and note it down (verify with MOHRE).
7. Collect the documents or notification. Where a contract or permit is issued, check every detail on the final document.
8. Continue with the remaining steps. If the worker needs a visa, medical test and Emirates ID, those steps follow with ICP or GDRFA and the authorised centres.

If the worker already holds a residence visa and the question is about the status of that visa, our guide to checking UAE visa status online shows the official route.

Tasheel centre or the online route: which is better?

Which services are available online changes over time, so check the MOHRE website or app for your specific transaction (verify with MOHRE). In many cases an employer who keeps a clean file and has all the data ready can complete routine steps online. A centre is most useful when you want help entering data correctly or when the transaction needs something the online route does not offer.

You may also need your labour card document later for banks, schools or other formalities. Our guide on downloading your UAE labour card explains how.

Scam warnings and receipt checks

Because Tasheel centres handle money and documents, they are a target for fake agents and fake messages. Watch for the following:

• Unofficial “Tasheel agents” on social media who promise guaranteed approvals or faster permits for a payment. MOHRE’s system decides approvals. No agent can guarantee one.
• Requests for payment outside the centre’s official channel, such as to a personal account or an unlicensed wallet.
• No breakdown of fees, or a figure far from what MOHRE shows for the same transaction.
• Pressure to pay now or messages claiming your permit will be cancelled unless you click a link.
• Fake job offers that ask the worker to pay a “Tasheel fee” or “permit fee” in advance. Our guide on verifying a UAE job offer explains how to check an offer through MOHRE.

Receipt checklist before you leave a centre:

1. The receipt shows the centre’s name and licence details.
2. It shows the transaction type and number.
3. It shows the amount paid, ideally split into government fee and service charge.
4. The worker’s name and passport number are correct.
5. You can find the transaction on the MOHRE website or app afterwards (verify with MOHRE for how to look it up).

If a transaction you paid for does not appear in the official system, go back to the centre with your receipt first. If the matter is not resolved, raise it with MOHRE through its official channels.

Common mistakes employers make

1. Assuming the centre can approve the transaction. The centre processes it. MOHRE approves it.
2. Submitting with mismatched names or job titles. This is the most common cause of rejection.
3. Ignoring a blocked company file. Fix the block before you pay for new transactions.
4. Mixing up MOHRE steps and ICP or GDRFA steps. They are separate authorities with separate systems.
5. Not keeping receipts. Without a receipt and transaction number, disputes are difficult.
6. Asking the worker to pay recruitment or permit costs. UAE labour rules place these on the employer.
7. Using unlicensed intermediaries. The cheapest offer can become the most expensive problem.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Tasheel centre in the UAE?

It is a licensed service centre that processes MOHRE transactions for private-sector employers and workers on behalf of the ministry, such as work permits, labour contracts and establishment services.

Is Tasheel the same as MOHRE?

No. MOHRE is the federal ministry that sets rules and approves transactions. Tasheel centres are service points that enter and submit transactions on MOHRE’s system. Approval comes from MOHRE.

Can a Tasheel centre issue an Emirates ID or a residence visa?

No. Residence visa stamping and Emirates ID are handled by ICP and, in Dubai, GDRFA, along with their authorised centres. A Tasheel centre handles the labour-ministry part only.

Which services can I do at a Tasheel centre?

Typically work permit issuance, renewal and cancellation, labour contract registration and amendment, and establishment-card services. Availability can differ by centre, so confirm before you go (verify with MOHRE).

What documents should I bring?

For employers: trade licence, establishment details, authorised signatory or PRO authorisation. For workers: passport copy, photograph, and contract or offer details. Requirements vary by transaction, so confirm first (verify with MOHRE).

How much does it cost?

You pay an official MOHRE fee, which depends on the transaction and, for work permits, on the employer’s classification, plus the centre’s service charge. Ask for the breakdown and compare it with MOHRE’s published figures (verify with MOHRE).

Do workers have to pay Tasheel or permit fees?

Under UAE labour rules, recruitment and work permit costs are the employer’s responsibility. If a worker is asked to pay them, check the position with MOHRE.

Can I do the same transaction online instead?

Often yes. Many MOHRE services are available on the MOHRE website and app. Check whether your specific transaction is offered online (verify with MOHRE).

How do I know a centre is genuine?

Find it through the official MOHRE channels, check that it displays its licence, ask for the fee breakdown and confirm that your transaction appears in the official system afterwards.

What if my transaction is rejected?

Ask the centre for the exact reason, fix it (for example a name mismatch or a company-file block) and resubmit. If you believe the rejection is wrong, use MOHRE’s official channels.

Need help with MOHRE paperwork?

If you are unsure whether your case needs a Tasheel centre, the online route or a different authority, we can look at your situation and tell you the correct sequence for your permit, contract and visa steps. You can also read our overview of visa and PRO services in Dubai.

Message Yalah on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/971525802100

If you are growing a UAE business and wondering who should run your accounts, our sister firm Qaspro Global compares in-house, outsourced and AI-assisted accountant costs.

Related reading

• UAE work permit categories under MOHRE
• MOHRE company classification: first, second and third category
• ICP vs GDRFA typing centres in Dubai
• UAE labour card download
• MOHRE labour complaint process
• Blocked company file at MOHRE
• UAE employment visa cost