A UAE company wins a short contract: installing equipment, running a fit-out, commissioning a system or delivering a time-bound project. The right specialist is abroad, and the job will be over in a few weeks or months. Hiring that person on a standard two-year work permit and residence visa makes little sense. This is the situation the mission work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) is designed for.
This guide explains what the mission work permit is, who can apply, the 3-month rule, the documents to prepare, the MOHRE steps, the official fee shown by MOHRE, what happens after the permit is issued, and how it differs from the temporary work permit and the standard permit for recruiting from abroad. Where the official pages do not state a detail, we say so instead of guessing.
Published: 13 November 2026
Important: MOHRE conditions, fees and procedures can change. The facts below come from the MOHRE service page for the mission work permit and the UAE Government Portal (u.ae), checked in November 2026. Always confirm on the MOHRE website or app before you apply.
Quick Answer
What is a UAE mission work permit? It is a MOHRE work permit that allows a UAE establishment to bring in a worker from outside the UAE to complete a specific temporary job or time-bound project. MOHRE describes it as “a permit granted to an establishment for the purpose of recruiting workers for short term employment based on projects.”
How long does it last? Three months, renewable once for a similar period, according to the MOHRE service page.
What does it cost? The MOHRE service page lists a federal fee of AED 50, with the business service centre commission capped at AED 72. Except for federal charges, the service is free through the MOHRE website and smart app. MOHRE notes these figures do not include tax and collection charges. Entry permit, medical and other charges from other authorities are separate.
Where the Mission Permit Fits Among MOHRE Work Permits
The UAE Government Portal states that MOHRE has 13 types of work permits, issued to establishments registered with MOHRE depending on the nature of the job. The mission work permit is one of them. The three permits people most often confuse are:
| Permit | Where the worker is | Purpose | Duration (official) | E-quota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission work permit | Outside the UAE | A specific temporary job or time-bound project | 3 months, renewable once | Required |
| Temporary work permit | Already in the UAE | Work for a limited period at a different company, then return to the original employer | 6 months | Not required |
| Work permit for recruiting from abroad | Outside the UAE | Standard employment | 2 years | Normal quota rules |
Sources: MOHRE service pages for the mission and temporary work permits; u.ae work permits page.
In short: if the worker is already in the UAE and employed by another company, the mission permit is usually not the right route. If the worker is abroad and the job is a long-term role, the standard recruitment permit is the right route. The mission permit is for the worker abroad who is needed for a short project. For a full overview of every type, see our guide to UAE work permit categories.
Conditions: Who Can Apply
The MOHRE service page lists these conditions and requirements:
- The employee must be 18 years of age or older.
- Licensed professions: an employee in a specialised profession, or any profession that requires a licence, must meet the requirements of the applicable legislation.
- Occupation must match the company’s activity: the proposed occupation must be compatible with the activities of the establishment.
- Valid licence: the establishment must hold a valid licence without registered violations resulting in suspension of its operations.
- Authorised signatory: the application must be submitted by the authorised signatory of the establishment.
- No active work permit: the worker to be recruited must not have an effective work permit.
- All skill levels and professions are eligible, according to the terms of the service.
- Electronic quota: an electronic quota is required.
If your company’s file has problems, such as a blocked file or unpaid fines, the application can stop at the first step. Our guide to a blocked company file at MOHRE explains common causes. For quota questions, see our article on the establishment card and visa quota.
The 3-Month Rule Explained
MOHRE states the permit duration as three months, renewable once for a similar period. In practical terms:
- The maximum covered by the permit is two periods of three months, so about six months in total, if the renewal is approved.
- Plan the project timeline before applying. If the work is likely to run much longer than six months, a standard employment route may be the better choice from the start.
- Renewal is a separate request. Do not assume it is automatic; apply before the first period ends and check the current requirements in the MOHRE app or website.
Pre-approval validity: MOHRE’s published FAQ has stated that the pre-approval for a mission permit is valid for 30 days. We could not confirm this on the current service page, so check the validity shown on your approval and act within it.
Documents to Prepare
The MOHRE service page lists these required documents:
- A clear coloured photo with a white background.
- Passport copy with at least six months’ validity.
- The official MOHRE job offer form, signed by both the employer and the employee. Use only the official MOHRE offer; our guide on job offer verification explains why.
- Academic certificates, depending on skill level:
- Skill levels 1 and 2: bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Skill levels 3 and 4: diploma or higher.
- Skill level 5: high school certificate.
- Skill levels 6 to 9: no certificate required.
- MOHRE notes that workers earning less than AED 4,000 a month, or without a degree, are not considered skilled.
- Professional licence from the competent authority where the job requires one. MOHRE’s examples include doctors and nurses (health authority licence), teachers and teaching assistants (education authority), fitness trainers (sports authority) and advocates (Ministry of Justice).
Certificates issued abroad may need attestation before they are accepted. Check the requirement for your case early, because attestation can take longer than the permit itself.
Step-by-Step: Applying Through MOHRE
MOHRE lists four steps for the service:
- Log in with UAE Pass through one of the approved channels: the MOHRE website, the MOHRE smart app, a service centre (such as a Tasheel centre) or Tawseel.
- Submit the request: enter the required information, review the information the system retrieves automatically, and attach the documents.
- Pay the fees: review the request and pay.
- Receive the permit: the mission work permit is issued when the request is complete. MOHRE notifies you if anything else is needed.
MOHRE states the service completion time as 2 working days. You can follow the application through the MOHRE website inquiry service, the smart app, the call centre on 600590000 or the chatbot.
Practical checklist before you press submit
- Is the company licence valid, and is the file free of suspensions?
- Is there an electronic quota available?
- Does the worker’s job title match an activity on the licence?
- Is the passport valid for at least six months?
- Is the MOHRE offer signed by both sides?
- Are certificates ready, and attested if required?
- If the job is a licensed profession, is the professional licence in place?
- Does the worker currently hold an active UAE work permit? If yes, this route is not open.
After the Permit: Entry, Medical and Emirates ID
The MOHRE page lists the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) as a related entity for this service. After MOHRE issues the permit, the remaining steps for the worker’s entry and stay are handled through the immigration authority that covers your establishment: ICP, or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai.
Depending on the case and the emirate, this can include:
- The entry permit for the worker to travel to the UAE.
- A medical fitness test where required.
- Emirates ID and residence steps where they apply to the case.
- Health insurance as required by the emirate.
The official pages we reviewed do not set out one fixed post-permit list for every mission permit case, so confirm the steps and charges for your emirate with ICP or GDRFA before the worker travels. These charges are separate from the MOHRE fee above.
Official Fees: What MOHRE Shows
From the MOHRE service page for the mission work permit:
| Item | Official figure |
|---|---|
| Federal fee | AED 50 |
| Business service centre commission | Capped at AED 72 |
| Via MOHRE website and smart app | Free, except federal charges |
| Note | Fees shown do not include tax and collection charges |
MOHRE’s figures above cover the MOHRE service only. Immigration, medical, Emirates ID and insurance costs depend on the authority and the case, so check them on the ICP, GDRFA or relevant health authority channels before you budget. The u.ae portal also has a separate page on the cost of work permits.
Common Mistakes That Delay a Mission Permit
- Choosing the wrong permit. Using a mission permit for someone already working in the UAE, or for what is really a long-term job.
- Job title not matching the licence. MOHRE requires the occupation to be compatible with the company’s activity.
- No quota. The mission permit needs an electronic quota.
- Unsigned or unofficial offer. The MOHRE offer form must be signed by both the employer and employee.
- Missing professional licence. Licensed jobs, such as medical or teaching roles, need the licence from the competent authority.
- Short passport validity. Less than six months’ validity stops the application.
- Leaving renewal too late. The permit is renewable once; apply before the first three months end.
Employer and Worker: Who Does What
| Task | Employer | Worker |
|---|---|---|
| Keep licence valid and file clear | Yes | |
| Make sure an e-quota is available | Yes | |
| Prepare and sign the MOHRE offer | Yes | Signs too |
| Provide passport, photo, certificates | Requests them | Provides them |
| Professional licence (if needed) | Checks it | Obtains it |
| Submit via UAE Pass and pay | Authorised signatory | |
| Entry and post-entry steps | Arranges | Attends medical and other steps as required |
Contract terms for the mission period should still follow UAE labour law. MOHRE lists full time, temporary, flexible, remote and job sharing among the contract types for this permit. For more on contract types, see our guide to UAE employment contract types.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOHRE mission work permit?
It is a MOHRE permit that lets a UAE establishment bring a worker from outside the UAE to complete a specific temporary job or time-bound project.
How long is a mission work permit valid?
Three months, renewable once for a similar period, according to the MOHRE service page.
How much does a mission work permit cost?
The MOHRE service page shows a federal fee of AED 50, with the service centre commission capped at AED 72. It is free through the MOHRE website and app except for federal charges. Tax, collection charges and other authorities’ fees are extra.
Can I use a mission permit for a worker already in the UAE?
Generally no. The mission permit is for bringing a worker in from outside the UAE, and the worker must not have an active work permit. For a worker already in the UAE who will work for another company for a limited time, MOHRE has the temporary work permit.
What is the difference between a mission permit and a temporary work permit?
The mission permit is for a worker from abroad, lasts 3 months renewable once and needs an e-quota. The temporary work permit is for a worker already in the UAE, lasts 6 months and does not need an e-quota, according to MOHRE.
Do all professions qualify?
MOHRE states that all skill levels and professions are eligible, according to the terms of the service. Licensed professions must also meet the licensing requirements of the competent authority.
What certificates are needed?
It depends on the skill level: a bachelor’s degree for levels 1 and 2, a diploma for levels 3 and 4, a high school certificate for level 5, and no certificate for levels 6 to 9.
How long does MOHRE take to issue it?
MOHRE states the service completion time as 2 working days, once the request is complete.
Who can submit the application?
The authorised signatory of the establishment, logged in with UAE Pass through the MOHRE website, app or an approved service channel.
Does the worker need a medical test and Emirates ID?
Post-permit steps depend on the case and the emirate and are handled with ICP or GDRFA. Confirm the requirements with the relevant authority before the worker travels.
Can the mission permit be extended beyond six months?
MOHRE states it is renewable once for a similar period. If the work will last longer, consider the standard work permit for recruiting from abroad.
Related Reading
Companies that bring in project workers usually also import the equipment and stock for the job. Our partner Qaspro Global explains landed cost and inventory costing automation so freight, duty and clearing charges land in the right product cost.
- UAE work permit categories explained
- Part-time and multiple-job work permits
- Establishment card and visa quota
- Blocked company file at MOHRE
- UAE visa medical fitness test
- Tasheel centres and MOHRE services
- UAE employment visa cost
Need Help With a Mission Work Permit?
Yalah Dubai helps companies with MOHRE work permits, quota questions, document preparation and the immigration steps that follow. If you need a worker from abroad for a short project and want to get the route right the first time, chat with Yalah Dubai on WhatsApp or call +971 52 580 2100.
This article is general information based on official MOHRE and UAE Government sources checked in November 2026. It is not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change, so confirm with MOHRE and the relevant immigration authority before you apply.