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UAE Standard Work Visa Eligibility Calculator
Check Your Visa Eligibility Score in 60 Seconds
Free • UAE
1. Have you received a UAE job offer?
2. Highest qualification (attested)?
3. Monthly salary offered (AED)?
4. Certificate attestation status?
UAE Standard Work Visa Overview
UAE Standard Work Visa is one of the most searched immigration pathways for people moving to UAE
This page gives you a fast, no-signup way to check where you stand before you spend money on application fees or agents. Our calculator mirrors the official rule set and then translates the answers into a clear, percentage-based eligibility score. You will see exactly which requirements you already meet, which ones need work, and what the realistic next step looks like.
If you want a deeper, AI-personalised plan covering documents, timeline, costs and alternative pathways, run the full assessment — it compares your profile against every visa we track for your destination and ranks the routes most likely to succeed for someone with your background.
UAE Standard Work Visa Requirements
Job offer from UAE employer
Confirmed job offer from a MOHRE-licensed (mainland) or Free Zone employer with valid establishment card.
MOHRE approval (mainland)
Mainland: employer must obtain MOHRE work permit + offer letter signed by employee. Free Zone: handled by Free Zone authority (DMCC, IFZA, etc.).
Qualifications
Skill Level 1: Bachelor’s degree + 5 yrs experience. Skill Level 2: Bachelor’s degree. Skill Level 3: Diploma. Levels affect salary, family sponsorship, end-of-service benefits.
Attested certificates
Educational certificates must be attested by issuing country authorities + UAE Embassy + UAE MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
Medical fitness
DHA / DOH medical test (HIV, Hepatitis B/C, TB, syphilis) — failure leads to deportation for communicable diseases.
Visa duration
2-year standard contract (mainland) or 2–3 years (Free Zone). Renewable.
Official UAE Visa Information
UAE Standard Work Visa FAQs
Common mistakes to avoid
Submitting non-attested certificates — guaranteed delay/rejection.
Failing the medical test (TB, Hep B/C) leads to deportation; pre-screen abroad if at risk.
Confusing Free Zone visa (employer = Free Zone entity) with mainland MOHRE visa.
Missing the 60-day Emirates ID deadline.
Employees switching jobs without MOHRE permission incur 6-month/1-yr labour bans.
Improve your chances
- 1
Negotiate AED 20,000+ to qualify Skill Level 1 + Golden Visa eligibility (some categories).
- 2
Pre-attest certificates in your home country before signing the offer.
- 3
Choose a Category A or B employer (MOHRE classification) for lowest fees and best processing.
- 4
Bundle family residency immediately after Emirates ID issuance — schools and banking depend on it.
- 5
Maintain residency: avoid more than 180 consecutive days outside UAE.
Skill levels & salary thresholds (MOHRE, 2026)
| Skill Level | Profile |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Bachelor’s + 5 yrs / Master’s / PhD — AED 4,000+ (or AED 3,000 + housing) |
| Level 2 | Bachelor’s degree — AED 4,000+ |
| Level 3 | Diploma — AED 4,000+ |
| Level 4–5 | High school / unskilled — generally not sponsoring family |
Fees (AED, 2026)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Work permit (Skill Level 1, Cat. A employer) | AED 250 |
| Work permit (Skill Level 2, Cat. B) | AED 1,200 |
| Work permit (Skill Level 3, Cat. C) | AED 3,450 |
| Entry permit | AED 1,200 |
| Medical test | AED 320 |
| Emirates ID (2 yrs) | AED 370 |
| Visa stamping | AED 460 |
| MOHRE refundable deposit (employer) | AED 3,000 per worker |
Family sponsorship requirements
| Family member | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Spouse | AED 4,000/month salary OR AED 3,000 + housing |
| Children | Same salary threshold; daughters sponsorable until marriage; sons until 18 (or 25 if studying) |
| Parents | AED 20,000/month salary + housing proof |
Step-by-step application process
- Self-assess eligibility. Use this calculator and review the official UAE Standard Work Visa Eligibility Calculator criteria before paying any fees. Confirm you meet every hard gate (age, language, health, character, qualifying offer or investment) — failing one gate cannot be offset by scoring well elsewhere.
- Gather and translate documents. Collect passport, civil documents, qualifications, language test, police clearances from every country lived in 12+ months since age 17, and proof of funds. Obtain certified translations and apostilles/attestations where the destination authority requires them.
- Submit the formal application. Lodge online through the official government portal listed on this page. Pay the correct government fee, complete biometrics at the designated centre, and upload supporting evidence in the exact format the authority specifies.
- Respond to requests for evidence. Caseworkers commonly request additional payslips, employer letters, or medicals. Respond inside the deadline given — most refusals come from missed deadlines, not weak profiles.
- Travel and activate status. On approval, collect your visa vignette or eVisa, enter the country before it expires, register your address where required, and collect any biometric residence permit/card. Keep digital and paper copies of every document.
Sources & references
Every figure on this page is sourced from official government or regulator publications. Cross-check before applying — rules change.
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) —
- UAE Government Portal — Visa & Residency —
- GDRFA Dubai —
This calculator is editorial guidance, not legal advice. Immigration thresholds, points, salary floors and occupation lists change frequently — always verify your route against the official government source linked on this page before applying. For complex cases, consult a licensed immigration adviser regulated in the destination country.
Helpful resources
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