UAE Labour Card 2026: Easy Guide to Check Status & Benefits

The United Arab Emirates is known for its high labour hiring ratio in various fields as compared to other countries. While having high labour hiring and a land of opportunities for people struggling to find labour jobs, it only allows laborers to get hired legally. UAE laws are very strict and labourers are required to follow the law strictly.

Legal work in the UAE requires a labour card also known as a work permit that allows people to work safely and legally. It’s like an identity card that permits workers to work here. Whether you are a foreign or local worker, a labour card is a necessary element if you want to work with proper legal employment in UAE.

Understanding the key steps on how to get a uae labour card online are crucial. The process is so simple and smooth that you can easily apply from the official website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). In this article, I will briefly guide you to the steps to get approval from the ministry of labour card and check your labour card online!

UAE Labour Card guide

What is UAE Labour Card and how to get Labour Card

The UAE labour card is a legal permit that allows you to work in the United Arab Emirates. This card is necessary for all the workers like an identity card and is issued by MOHRE or relevant free zones authorities. The card contains the job details of an employee like your personal details and your job nature and who you work with. Having an employment card all the time saves you from any legal implications and guarantees legal employment. These details are also used when calculating your end-of-service benefits, which you can estimate using a gratuity calculator UAE. The UAE labour card having the following information on it:

Employee Information Details

Required details for records and verification

• Employee Name: ____________________
• Employee Occupation: ____________________
• Nationality: ____________________
• Contact Number: ____________________
• Labour Card Expiry Date: ____________________
• Personal ID Number: ____________________
• Labour Card / Work Permit No: ____________________
how to apply for UAE Labour Card online

Eligibility Criteria to apply a Labour Card in UAE 2026


Every employee in UAE requires a labour card for legal work regardless of any kind of job. Below are the detailed steps that guide an employee to apply the labour card online. 

  • The employee must be older than 18 and younger than 60 to be eligible to apply for the labour card.
  • The employee must be academically qualified for the relevant role in its specific field.
  • The employee has not suffered from any serious disease, having strong physical and mental health and has done required medical tests.
  • Employees from foreign countries must get required medical and other certificates from their own country 

Documents Required for UAE Labour Card

Following are essential list of documents required for submission of application:

  • The latest passport size photograph of employee
  • Company’s trade license Copy
  • Copy of passport entry/visit visa
  • Medical certificate
  • 3 copies of employment contract with employer
  • Valid Academic records Documents include degrees, diplomas, certificates etc depending upon the nature of job.

Application process:

Employers are generally responsible to issue the work permit first and then after getting the work permit the employee will apply for a labour card.

UAE Labour Card & Work Visa Process (Simplified Steps)

Step-by-step guide for foreign employees

1. Residency Visa
Foreign employees must first obtain a residency visa, which allows them to live and work in the UAE and apply for a labour card.
2. Work Permit
The employer issues a work permit, which is required as the foundation for obtaining a labour card.
3. Employment Contract
The employee must sign a formal employment contract written in both English and Arabic.
4. Visa Quota Approval (MOHRE)
The employer must secure visa quota approval from MOHRE. For free zone companies, approval is required before the employee enters the UAE.
5. Entry Permit (Pink Visa)
Once approved, MOHRE issues a “pink visa” allowing the employee to enter the UAE legally.
6. Medical & Document Verification
Employees undergo medical fitness tests and submit required documents including certificates, degrees, and identification papers through TAS-HEEL or Emirates ID centers.
7. Labour Card Issuance
After fee payment and verification, the labour card is issued by the sponsoring company. Processing can be tracked via the MOHRE website.
Final Note: If no additional documents are required, the labour card is usually approved within 2–3 weeks and can be downloaded or printed online from MOHRE.

How to Check UAE Labor Card Status Online?

Checking your UAE labour card status online is simple and only takes a few minutes. It helps you confirm that your job details are correct and that your employment is legally registered. You may need to check your status when starting a new job, renewing your contract, or tracking your application. There are a few easy ways to do this, and one of the most common methods is using the official MOHRE app.

Use the Official MOHRE App


You can use official MOHRE by downloading it from google playstore or apple iOS store. After downloading simply create an account and then sign in to the app. From the profile section on the app you can see all your details like labour card number, its issuance and expiry date, your employment contract details. You can access your digital labour card by clicking on “View Labour Card” option.

Visit Tas-heel Service Centers


Tas’heel Service Center (TSC) are government systems present across the United Arab Emirates that provides information regarding your UAE labour policies.You can physically visit these centres to get you know about employment details, work labour permit and details about you labour card.

Use the UAE Pass App


Alternatively UAE Pass Mobile App is also available to get these details. Download it from google or apple stores. After registration, and then logged in, go to the MOHRE and click on the labour card option and after entering the requires details you will see your digital labour card.

How to Download UAE Labour Card Online

Step 1: Visit the MOHRE official website.
Step 2: Click on the “Services” option from the top menu.
Step 3: From the dropdown menu, select “New Inquiry Services”.
Step 4: Under “Choose a Service”, select “Print Electronic Permit”. If you don’t find it, use the search box.
Step 5: Enter your Work Permit Number, Transaction Number, Person Code, Date of Birth, and complete the captcha.
Step 6: Click “Search” — your UAE Labour Card will be ready to download and print.

UAE Labour Card: Fee, Expiry, and Fines

Labour Card Validity & Expiry
Typically, labour card validity is only for two years for private sector employees and three years for government employees. After that, you have to renew it. To avoid the fines, you have to renew it before expiry or within 50 days after the expiry. After 50 days, MOHRE imposes late renewal fines.

UAE Labour Card Fee
UAE labour card fee depends on the type of your employment contract and the company you work for. However, the fee ranges between AED 50 to AED 3,450 in the United Arab Emirates. Below is the breakdown of the fee structure;
Fees

UAE Labour Card Fines

You will find the UAE government very strict when it comes to the labour card expiry. I hope no employee may face this, as the UAE government imposes a fine of up to AED 500 if you don’t renew your labour card within 50 days after its expiry. That huge amount for a worker, indeed.

To check the complete list of fines according to your category, follow the steps below;

Not applying for a new card within the specified period can lead to a fine of AED 500. To check your fines, you can visit the MoHRE website, click on “services”, and then on “new enquiry service”.

Step 1: Go to the official MOHRE website.
Step 2: In the services section, click on New Inquiry Services.
Step 3: Click on “Choose a Service” and select UAE Fine Calculator from the dropdown.
Step 4: Enter your Labour Card Number and security code.
Step 5: Click “Search” to view the estimated fine on your labour card.

Modification or Renewal of the UAE Labour Card


Every employee must renew their labour card within 50 days after it expires. They can do it by visiting the Tas’heel center. The official government website allows you to view the application status of your labour card renewal.

You need to enter your IN number on the application receipt and you will receive the new card in about 10 days. 

You can also modify your labour card at Tas’heel center by providing the relevant required documents and the reasons for making the change. In some cases, you will need a letter of approval from the relevant government agencies to go through with the modification process.

Benefits of the UAE Labour Card

Following are the main benefits of the UAE labor card for employees:

This card allows employees to access work-related benefits.
Employees can input the card information into their payroll systems, which helps them better manage their health insurance.
This card also makes it much easier to determine accurate work hours, sick day payments, and annual leaves.
This card ensures the employers adhere to all UAE labor laws or employment regulations, including a 48-hour work week with 8 hours of work every day, as well as overtime capped at two hours for most sectors, etc.

Conclusion

The UAE labour card is an essential document that every employee must have to prove compliance with labour laws and ensure their rights are protected at all times.

This card enables workers to access fair wages, health insurance, and other employment benefits. That’s why anyone planning to work in the UAE should clearly understand labour card requirements.

By staying informed, maintaining proper documentation, and following key regulations, both employers and employees can avoid legal issues and remain compliant with UAE labour laws.

Need Help?

Contact HRSG today to handle your UAE labour card process smoothly. From application to fee payments, expert support ensures everything is done correctly and on time.