How to get and use the e-signature card in the UAE: a complete guide

If you have ever dealt with official services in the UAE, you have probably seen or heard the term “e-signature card”. The tricky part is that people use this term for different tools, depending on the authority and the transaction. That’s why many applicants get stuck: they start reading about Emirates ID digital certificates, while their real task is a MOHRE labour signature — or vice versa.

In this guide, we will explain what a MOHRE/Tas’heel e-signature card is and its role in the UAE labour system.

MOHRE/Tas’heel e-signature card: what it is, what it does, and why it exists

In the UAE labour system, many actions are not done by “typing a name” or uploading a scanned signature. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) needs a clear, repeatable way to confirm who is legally allowed to act and sign on behalf of an establishment (company) inside MOHRE channels. That is the main purpose of the MOHRE e-signature card.

Service providers describe it directly as an e-signature card for Ministry of Labour transactions that is issued through Tas’heel channels. In practice, it functions as the “signing identity” used in labour workflows.

What is a MOHRE e-signature card?

A MOHRE e-signature card is a tool that links an authorized signatory (a specific person) to the establishment’s labour transactions, so MOHRE systems can accept and process documents that require an official sign-off. Think of it as a “digital proof” used inside MOHRE processes that says: “This person is the approved signatory for these labour actions”.

What it does in real workflows

Depending on the type of transaction, the e-signature card is used to:

1. Confirm the signer’s authority: It helps the system recognize that the person signing is an approved signatory for labour submissions (not just any employee or PRO).
2. Enable electronic signing in MOHRE channels: Instead of paper signatures and physical stamping, the process becomes electronic: the transaction can be signed/approved and submitted digitally within the MOHRE/Tas’heel workflow.
3. Reduce delays and disputes: When a transaction is submitted with a recognized signatory identity, it’s easier for MOHRE systems and service centers to process it. Practically, this reduces “back-and-forth” where authorities ask: “Who signed this and are they authorized?”.
4. Support high-volume company operations: Companies that regularly handle hiring, contracts, amendments, employee updates, or other labour submissions need a stable signatory mechanism. The e-signature card is part of that operational infrastructure.

What purpose it serves and why the UAE uses this model

The UAE labour environment is built around compliance and traceability. MOHRE needs to ensure that:

• A submission is tied to a real establishment record (labour file).
• The signer is not anonymous.
• The signer has the authority to approve labour actions.

That’s why the MOHRE e-signature card is not just a digital signature tool like you might see in a PDF app. It is closer to an authorization + signing identity used specifically for labour workflows.

Who it usually applies to

In practical terms, it’s most relevant for:

• Business owners/partners/investors who act as authorized signatories for their establishment.
• Company managers designated as signatories.
• PROs handling submissions, where the final sign-off still needs an authorized signatory identity (depending on the transaction type).

What it must not be confused with

To avoid confusion, remember the following:

• A MOHRE e-signature card is not the same as ICP digital signing (Emirates ID certificate-based signing and timestamp services).
• A MOHRE e-signature card is not just a scanned signature or a “typed name” e-signature in a generic document tool.
• A MOHRE e-signature card is not the same as an “authorized signatory card” used in banking or general corporate verification.

What you need before you apply for the MOHRE e-signature card

The core items mentioned in the Tas’heel service description are as follows:

• Passport copy.
• Photo of the authorized signatory.

In addition, depending on your role, service providers may ask for:

• Labour file details/personal file details (MOHRE side)
• Company documents, if you sign on behalf of a business (trade license, authorization, Establishment details)

Note that the applicant should have one personal number across all establishments at labour offices.

Step-by-step: how to get the MOHRE/Tas’heel e-signature card

Step 1. Choose the correct application channel

The most typical route is applying via a Tas’heel service center (or an establishment participating in the e-forms program).

Step 2. Submit the documents

Bring at least:

• Passport copy
• Signatory photo
• Any additional documents the center requests (for example, company authorization documents).

Step 3. The center submits the request electronically

The Tas’heel service center sends the application request electronically, which is followed by the card issuance if approved.

Step 4. Receive the card

After that, the e-signature card is sent to the customer by mail.

Costs associated with the e-signature card

The typical basic costs are as follows:

• AED 120 for the e-signature card application.
• AED 80 for opening a personal file with MOHRE (if required).

How to use the MOHRE e-signature card

In most real workflows, you use the card when the MOHRE/Tas’heel process requests a signatory action. The usage process is simple:

• Activate the card based on the issuer’s instructions (for example, using an activation code/online activation).
• Then use it for signing documents or completing required transactions.
• Run a test signing if the system allows it.

Other e-signature types not to be confused with the MOHRE e-signature card

ICP digital signing (Emirates ID certificate-based signing)

This is a different concept: a digital signature and timestamp service linked to Emirates ID certificates and supported through ICP’s Validation Gateway (VG). It is used for certificate-based document signing and identity verification flows.

Typical use: document signing workflows where Emirates ID certificate-based signing is required.

Signature card as an authorized signatory record (administrative/company use)

Some service providers use “signature card” to describe a document that contains official signatures of authorized company signatories, used in administrative and financial verification.

Typical use: creating/updating authorized signatory information for a company.