2-Year Employment Visa Dubai: Cost and Process 2026

Key points

• A 2-year employment visa grants UAE residency based on the official job offer in the UAE.
• The employer is legally required to cover all visa fees — total government fees are AED 2,050, plus health insurance (AED 1,100 on top).
• The visa is tied to one employer: losing the job leads to visa cancellation. The grace period to find new work is 30–90 days depending on skill level.

What is a 2-year employment visa in Dubai?

A 2-year employment visa in the UAE is issued to a foreign national hired by a UAE-licensed company and gives the legal right to reside, work in the country, and sponsor family members. In 2026, obtaining it requires a valid labour contract, medical fitness test, biometrics, and health insurance. The employer is legally responsible for the employee's residency status throughout and pays applicable fees except insurance.

How do you obtain a 2-year employment visa in Dubai?

A 2-year employment visa is initiated and paid for by the employer. The process runs through two regulators: MOHRE handles labour contracts and work permits for mainland companies; GDRFA issues the entry permit and residence visa. From offer letter to Emirates ID, the full cycle typically takes 2–4 weeks after the employee arrives in the UAE.

From the employer's side

Employer must have:

• Valid trade license with visa allocations (Establishment Card)
• Rented office space or flexi-desk. Visa quota is calculated at 9 sq.m per person; with a flexi-desk, the allocation ranges from 1 to 6 visas depending on the free zone

Steps:

1. Issue an offer letter stating position, salary, contract duration, and responsibilities
2. Register the job offer with MOHRE and receive initial work permit approval (free zone companies go through their free zone authority instead)
3. Submit an entry permit application through GDRFA
4. The employee enters the UAE on the entry permit, valid for 60 days
5. Sign and register the employment contract with MOHRE
6. The employee completes the medical fitness test: blood tests and chest X-ray, screened for HIV and tuberculosis per DHA requirements
7. Biometrics (fingerprints) are collected
8. Arrange health insurance for the employee
9. Residence visa and Emirates ID are issued

Note: Mainland companies and some free zones require WPS registration for salary payments.

From the employee's side

Documents required:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months
• Photo
• Offer letter
• Educational certificates, attested in the UAE if required by profession

Steps:

1. Receive and sign the job offer
2. Sign the employment contract
3. Enter the UAE on the entry permit arranged by the employer
4. Complete the medical fitness test and provide biometrics
5. Confirm health insurance coverage with the employer
6. Receive the electronic residence visa and Emirates ID

Most steps are now processed digitally via MOHRE and GDRFA smart services. The residence visa is embedded in the Emirates ID — it is no longer stamped in the passport. Visa and Emirates ID status can be checked via the ICP/GDRFA app or the federal portal.

A mainland company owner can obtain a 2-year employment visa under their own company by appointing themselves to a salaried position. UAE levies no personal income tax — the salary you pay yourself as a director is yours in full, with no deductions at source.

How much does a 2-year employment visa cost in Dubai in 2026?

• Entry Permit — AED 1,140
• Medical fitness test — AED 260–360 + centre fees. Smart/VIP medical centres in Dubai may charge higher amounts (often up to 600–700 AED) depending on the package and processing speed.
• Health insurance — AED 1,100 (basic insurance for visa approval purposes)
• Visa fee — AED 552

Source: These estimates are not final and may change. Please consult your business advisor for accurate costs. Note that the included health insurance is basic and may not cover essential medical needs.

CALCULATE THE COST

How long does a 2-year employment visa take to process?

Standard employment visa processing usually takes from 1 to 3 weeks after the employee arrives in the UAE. The baseline timeline requires 2–3 business days for medical fitness tests and biometrics submission, followed by another 5–7 business days for the official issuance of the residence visa and physical Emirates ID card.

To accelerate this processing timeline, employers can utilize government-approved VIP medical fitness centres. These premium services reduce the turnaround time from the standard 48 hours down to just 2 to 4 hours.

What are alternatives to UAE residency tied to employment?

The 2-year employment visa is the right fit if you have a confirmed job offer and an employer willing to sponsor you. If you plan to work independently, run your own business, or want UAE residency not tied to a single employer, three alternatives are worth comparing: a freelance visa, an investor visa, or a Golden Visa. Each differs on who pays, how long it lasts, and what work it permits.

Source: GDRFA, ICP, Emirabiz, updated for May 2026

Can you sponsor family members on a 2-year employment visa?

The employee acts as the sponsor for family members and usually pays the associated costs (employer may cover this, but it depends on the company).

Requirements:

• Monthly income of at least AED 4,000 for spouse and children, AED 20,000 for parents
• Tenancy contract (proof of UAE residence)
• Legalized family documents proving relationship (marriage, birth certificates, etc.)

Estimated cost:  AED 2,000–4,000 per person

What are the limitations of a 2-year employment visa?

A 2-year employment visa works well inside a stable employment relationship. Outside that relationship, it has four hard constraints worth understanding before you sign.

• You lose the visa if you lose the job. The visa is cancelled when the work permit ends. From cancellation, you have 30–90 days to find a new employer or change your residency status — 90 days for high-skill professions, 30 for unskilled roles.
• Family costs fall on you, not the employer. The employment visa covers the employee only. Sponsoring a spouse or children runs AED 2,000–4,000 per person and is typically the employee's expense unless explicitly stated otherwise in the offer letter.
• One employer, one visa. Freelancing, consulting for other companies, or taking a second job while on an employment visa is not permitted. If your work model involves multiple clients or income streams, a freelance permit or investor visa is a better structural fit.

What to do if your labor contract ends?

Your grace period countdown starts on the date your visa is officially cancelled by MOHRE — not your last working day. The employer is responsible for filing the cancellation; once done, you have 30–90 days to either secure a new job, switch visa status, or exit the UAE.

How long is the visa grace period?

The UAE immigration rules no longer offer a flat 30-day grace period for all residents. The exact duration depends entirely on your professional skill level stated in the canceled residency visa. High-level corporate executives and engineers receive 90 days, while mid-level specialists get 60 days to regularize their residency. Unskilled workers maintain the traditional 30-day window, and the precise timeline is always detailed on your formal cancellation paper.

What are the legal options to transition?

Before your allocated grace period expires, you must complete one of three official legal processes. You can secure a new job, allowing your next employer to issue a work permit and trigger an in-country change of status. Alternatively, you can legally switch to a tourist visa or apply for an official job seeker permit. If no new visa is processed, you must physically exit the UAE before the deadline.

Bottom line for 2-year employment visa seekers

A 2-year mainland employment visa is the employer's legal obligation, not a negotiable perk. Government fees run approximately AED 2,050 per employee plus health insurance — budgetable, predictable, and fully your responsibility under UAE labour law. The calculus changes if you are hiring into a free zone: visa allocation rules, MOHRE registration, and WPS requirements differ by authority, and the cost structure shifts accordingly.