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UAE work visa requirements for Indian citizens

For India passport holders · Checked 2026-08-15

Route available

The UAE gives work visas only through a UAE employer who applies for your work permit and sponsors your residence visa; Indians use this route in very large numbers, and if your passport is ECR you must get eMigrate emigration clearance before flying.

What the employer must have

  • A UAE-registered employer must apply to MoHRE for your work permit and sponsor your residence visa — you cannot apply on your own.
  • The standard employment visa the employer obtains is valid for two years, tied to that employer, and renewable.
  • The employer handles the in-country steps after arrival (medical test, Emirates ID, residence stamping).

What you must do before you leave

  1. Check your passport status: ECR (Emigration Check Required) or ECNR. The UAE is one of the 17 ECR countries.
  2. If your passport is ECR, you must obtain emigration clearance through the eMigrate portal (emigrate.gov.in) before departing for employment — this is required by the Emigration Act, 1983.
  3. Recruit only through a recruiting agent holding a registration certificate from the Protector General of Emigrants, or a foreign employer registered on eMigrate; sub-agents are illegal under the Emigration Act, 1983.

Things to watch

  • Emigration clearance applies only to ECR-stamped passports; ECNR holders do not need it for any country — but everyone still needs the employer-sponsored work permit. Working on a visit visa is illegal in the UAE.
  • The work visa is tied to the sponsoring employer for its two-year term.
  • India's MEA caps what recruiting agents may charge (45 days' wages, maximum Rs 20,000 as published on mea.gov.in) — anyone demanding more is acting illegally.

What you may lawfully be charged

THE MOST A REGISTERED RECRUITING AGENT MAY LAWFULLY CHARGE YOU is ₹30,000 plus 18% GST — ₹35,400 in total, once. Not per year, not per document.

Rule 25(1), Emigration Rules under the Emigration Act 1983.

⚠️ Never pay anyone for a job offer or a visa on this route. Legitimate employers and licensed agents do not charge workers for jobs.

Official sources

This describes the immigration system, not your personal case, and not this specific vacancy.

Common questions

Can an Indian passport holder work in the UAE?

The UAE gives work visas only through a UAE employer who applies for your work permit and sponsors your residence visa; Indians use this route in very large numbers, and if your passport is ECR you must get eMigrate emigration clearance before flying.

What does an employer in the UAE need before hiring a Indian worker?

A UAE-registered employer must apply to MoHRE for your work permit and sponsor your residence visa — you cannot apply on your own. The standard employment visa the employer obtains is valid for two years, tied to that employer, and renewable. The employer handles the in-country steps after arrival (medical test, Emirates ID, residence stamping).

What must a Indian citizen do before leaving to work in the UAE?

Check your passport status: ECR (Emigration Check Required) or ECNR. The UAE is one of the 17 ECR countries. If your passport is ECR, you must obtain emigration clearance through the eMigrate portal (emigrate.gov.in) before departing for employment — this is required by the Emigration Act, 1983. Recruit only through a recruiting agent holding a registration certificate from the Protector General of Emigrants, or a foreign employer registered on eMigrate; sub-agents are illegal under the Emigration Act, 1983.

What should Indian workers watch out for with the UAE job offers?

Emigration clearance applies only to ECR-stamped passports; ECNR holders do not need it for any country — but everyone still needs the employer-sponsored work permit. Working on a visit visa is illegal in the UAE. The work visa is tied to the sponsoring employer for its two-year term. India's MEA caps what recruiting agents may charge (45 days' wages, maximum Rs 20,000 as published on mea.gov.in) — anyone demanding more is acting illegally.

Should I pay an agent for a job in the UAE?

No. Never pay anyone for a job offer, a visa, or a place on a list. Legitimate recruitment for this route does not require the worker to pay for the job itself. Verify any agent against the official registers linked on this page.

Other countries Indian citizens can work in

All work visa guides

1,234 live UAE vacancies for Indian workers

From India's eMigrate register — vacancies registered for Indian workers.

  • Mason

    PROSCAPE LLC · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · 1500 AED / month

  • Steel fixer

    abanos furniture & decoration industry · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · 1500 AED / month

  • Electrician

    abanos furniture & decoration industry · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · 1500 AED / month

  • Carpenter

    COMBINED GROUP CONTRACTING CO DUBAI BRANCH · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · 1500 AED / month

  • Fitter

    COMBINED GROUP CONTRACTING CO DUBAI BRANCH · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · 1500 AED / month

  • Helper (to skilled workers)

    COMBINED GROUP CONTRACTING CO DUBAI BRANCH · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · 1200 AED / month

  • Sales man

    NESTO HYPER MARKET LLC · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · 1400 AED / month

  • Cleaner

    ADNH Catering - LLC- O.P.C · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · 950 AED / month

  • Welder

    PIONEER POWER ELECTROMECHNICAL WORKS LLC · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · 1600 AED / month

  • Fabricator

    PIONEER POWER ELECTROMECHNICAL WORKS LLC · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · 1600 AED / month

  • Scaffolder

    PIONEER POWER ELECTROMECHNICAL WORKS LLC · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · 1600 AED / month

  • Plumber

    PIONEER POWER ELECTROMECHNICAL WORKS LLC · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES · 1600 AED / month

See all jobs and apply