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UAE work visa requirements for Sri Lankan citizens

For Sri passport holders · Checked 2026-08-15

Route available

The UAE issues work visas through the employer; on the Sri Lankan side the job order must be SLBFE-approved and carries a legal fee cap.

What the employer must have

  • A UAE-registered employer must apply to MoHRE for the work permit and sponsor the residence visa.
  • The demand must be approved by SLBFE as a job order.

What you must do before you leave

  1. Register with SLBFE before you leave. It is not optional: section 53(3) of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act No. 21 of 1985 requires every Sri Lankan leaving for employment to register with the Bureau first, and registration is what puts you inside the welfare and insurance system if things go wrong.
  2. Use a licensed foreign employment agency and check its licence number on slbfe.lk before you hand over anything.
  3. Ask for the JOB ORDER, and read the maximum fee printed on it. SLBFE approves each job order with a maximum amount the Sri Lankan agency may charge you — charging above it is an offence, and the figure is published on SLBFE's own site for anyone to check.
  4. Complete the pre-departure training the Bureau requires for your job category and keep the certificate.
  5. Check the maximum chargeable amount on the job order before paying your agency anything.

Things to watch

  • SLBFE states plainly that it cannot guarantee a listed vacancy is still open, because the agency may already have filled it. Always confirm the job order is live before you pay, resign or travel.
  • The maximum chargeable amount on the job order is the whole protection. If an agency asks for more than the printed figure, that is the moment to walk away and report it to SLBFE — not after you have paid.
  • The residence visa is tied to the sponsoring employer.

⚠️ 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 a Sri Lankan passport holder work in the UAE?

The UAE issues work visas through the employer; on the Sri Lankan side the job order must be SLBFE-approved and carries a legal fee cap.

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

A UAE-registered employer must apply to MoHRE for the work permit and sponsor the residence visa. The demand must be approved by SLBFE as a job order.

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

Register with SLBFE before you leave. It is not optional: section 53(3) of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act No. 21 of 1985 requires every Sri Lankan leaving for employment to register with the Bureau first, and registration is what puts you inside the welfare and insurance system if things go wrong. Use a licensed foreign employment agency and check its licence number on slbfe.lk before you hand over anything. Ask for the JOB ORDER, and read the maximum fee printed on it. SLBFE approves each job order with a maximum amount the Sri Lankan agency may charge you — charging above it is an offence, and the figure is published on SLBFE's own site for anyone to check. Complete the pre-departure training the Bureau requires for your job category and keep the certificate. Check the maximum chargeable amount on the job order before paying your agency anything.

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

SLBFE states plainly that it cannot guarantee a listed vacancy is still open, because the agency may already have filled it. Always confirm the job order is live before you pay, resign or travel. The maximum chargeable amount on the job order is the whole protection. If an agency asks for more than the printed figure, that is the moment to walk away and report it to SLBFE — not after you have paid. The residence visa is tied to the sponsoring employer.

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 Sri Lankan citizens can work in

All work visa guides

1,200 live UAE vacancies for Sri Lankan workers

From Sri Lanka's SLBFE register — vacancies registered for Sri Lankan workers.

See all jobs and apply