Questions & Answers
The legal way of claiming passport from the employer
What to do if the employer does not give a passport? Who can help and what to do?
Thank you in.advance.
Dear Questioner,
Thank you for getting in touch with me on this issue.
Pursuant to your query, the laws in the UAE do not entitle the employer to keep the employee’s passport for whatsoever reason.
Passports shall not be submitted to anyone unless upon the order of Public Prosecution or Court only.
According to the legal department of (MOHRE) Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation, no employer should retain an employee’s passport.
Punishment: UAE employers who hold passports can be jailed and fined up to 20,000.
If an employer (company) refuses to return your passport, you can register a case against them at their local labour office and file a police case against them at the nearest police station or through official site/app of Local Police.
If you need any further assistance or information, please feel free to contact me over email or by Whatsapp.
Regards.
