Work Permit Replacement

A work permit replacement is possible if the establishment need a new work permit while they have another approved one that is not used. Instead of submitting a new application for obtaining a work permit they can use the approved one with due fees have been paid along with the application for replacement. The UAE Ministry of Labour will issue the new permit.

The following conditions should be fulfilled to obtain the permit.

1. The business license shall be valid.
2. The bank guarantee and fees of the work permit to be replaced shall be paid.
3. Replacement shall be made within the permit’s original validity or renewal period amounting to 60 days.
4. Replacement shall be made a maximum of two times.
5. The original entry permit issued from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs shall be cancelled.
6. No change shall be made in the profession or gender. Nationality may be changed provided that the establishment shall pay any extra charges arising due to transferring the establishment from a category to another for any other reason.
7. The worker's passport shall be valid for a period of 6 months.
8. The worker's age shall not be below 18 years and shall not exceed 60 years.

Documents required

1. Application for replacement of a work permit 
2. A copy of the specimen signature card if authorized signatories do not have e-signature cards 
3. A copy of the new worker's passport 
4. Colored photograph of the worker 
5. In case of an application for a doctor, pharmacist, nurse or any other technicians involved in medical professions, a letter of approval from the Ministry of Health or medical authorities shall be attached. 
6. In case of an application for private school teachers, a letter of approval from the Ministry of Education shall be attached. 
7. In case of an application for sports trainers, copies of training certificates approved by the General Authority of Youth and Sports shall be attached. 
8. A copy of the academic certificate attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
9. The original entry permit issued from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs shall have the cancellation seal on it.

Procedure to complete

1. Applications for replacing work permits shall be printed at printing offices or establishments participating in the Ministry's e-forms program.
2. Documents required for processing the application shall be scanned through Tas’heel Program, and the application shall be electronically transferred to the Ministry in order to be verified and to check the fulfillment of required conditions and documents.
3. Fulfillment of the conditions shall be verified and checked as follows:

• In case of fulfilling the conditions and documents, the transaction shall be executed and the approval shall be electronically transferred to the Ministry's website: www.mol.gov.ae). In addition, the application shall be referred to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs for completing procedures.
• In case of any missing documents, the application shall be rejected and the customer shall submit a new application.

Where to apply

The applications can be made at typing centres, service centers of "Tas’heel", or through establishments participating in the Labour Ministry's e-forms program.