MOHRE Work Permit Status Check UAE 2026: Online Guide

To do a MOHRE work permit status check in the UAE, use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation's online enquiry services. Pick the enquiry that matches your document, enter the details it asks for and read the result. This guide covers the steps, the offer and contract check, common causes of delay and the difference between a work permit and a residence visa.

How do you check your MOHRE work permit status online?

1. Open the MOHRE Inquiry Service.
2. Choose the enquiry you need, for example Application Status.
3. Enter the details the screen asks for. The fields depend on the enquiry.
4. Complete the verification and submit.
5. Read the result. If nothing is found, check the reference number with your employer or the typing centre that filed the application.

MOHRE's transactions enquiry also lets customers follow transactions they have submitted to the ministry. Do not treat different screens as the same stage of approval.

Which MOHRE enquiry should you choose?

These labels come from MOHRE's inquiry pages and can change. Use the live portal, not an unofficial checker that asks for your passport details.

How do you verify a UAE job offer or employment contract?

Check an offer before you pay anyone, resign or travel. MOHRE's offer enquiry lets you choose a service (job offer, work permit with or without a job offer, or work permit renewal) and view an existing contract. To view a contract it asks for:

• Transaction number
• Passport number
• Nationality
• Date of birth
• The captcha shown on screen

Compare the employer, job title and terms with the documents you received. If they do not match, contact MOHRE before you take any further step. A company's trade licence is not proof of an approved work permit; to check a licence, see our Dubai trade licence check guide.

Is a work permit the same as a residence visa?

No. MOHRE issues work permits. Residence visas and Emirates ID come from immigration authorities: GDRFA for Dubai, and ICP for other emirates. An approved work permit does not prove that residence or an Emirates ID has been issued. Once your residence process starts, see our Emirates ID status check guide.

The UAE Government states that working in the UAE without a valid MOHRE work permit is illegal, and that employers may not hire anyone without one.

Why is a work permit delayed or refused?

A pending status is not a refusal. The UAE Government lists these conditions for a permit:

• The worker is at least 18, with exceptions for juvenile and student permits.
• The job matches the company's activity.
• The company's trade licence is valid and free of violations.
• Regulated professions have their own licence.

MOHRE may refuse, not renew or cancel a permit if the establishment gives incorrect documents, is fictitious or does not carry out its registered activity, or does not comply with the Wages Protection System or other labour-market systems. If the status does not change, ask the employer's authorised representative for the transaction reference and any request for documents. Do not file repeat applications.

Do free zone employees use MOHRE?

Not always. Some free zones run their own employment and permit processes. If you work for a free-zone company, confirm which authority issued your work authorisation. A MOHRE enquiry with no record does not by itself prove you lack authorisation.

What if your application is not found?

• Check the digits of the reference number and the enquiry type you selected.
• Ask the employer whether the transaction was actually submitted.
• Contact MOHRE through its website, smart app or call centre. MOHRE lists 600590000 as its call centre number.
• Do not type passport details into third-party status sites.

Check your pay terms too: see our UAE labour contract basics guide.

Official sources

• MOHRE Inquiry Service
• MOHRE Offer Inquiry
• MOHRE Transactions Inquiry Service
• UAE Government portal: Work permits

Related guides: UAE gratuity calculator.