Questions & Answers
Questions & Answers
8 available 8 • View allIs it legal for the employer to keep the employee's passport?
70
Q: Is it legal to hold the passport of the employee by a company?
I didn't get my passport back after stamping visa, they gave me just a copy of passport with the visa page.
My PRO told me that all passports should stay with the company and I can receive it back to travel only upon approval of the management.
He explained that this is the company policy and common practice.

Feb 23, 2016
17671
How to retrieve your passport from the employer after stamping visa
12
Q: I got a job in Dubai and my employer asked me to submit the passport for visa stamping.
After stamping the visa on my passport, I asked my employer to give me the passport back but he refused. Kindly guide me, what can I do?
One more thing. They have written in the offer letter that if I resign from the job, I will have to pay all the visa cost. Kindly guide me also regarding this, as I have already signed that offer letter.

Sep 15, 2017
3273
The legal way of claiming passport from the employer
118
Q: Hi Madam,
I am working for a company on a limited contract in Dubai.
I need to go for an emergency vacation, but the company isn't allowing the leave nor giving passport also.
How can I get the passport from the employer?
Please Help me.

Jul 4, 2018
21277
Holding the passport of an employee by the employer


6
Q: I would like to know, as per the Labor Law, can an employer keep the passport of an employee? If not and the employer is still keeping the passport, what to do?
Thank you



Oct 31, 2019
1830
Rejecting employee's resignation and withholding his passport

1
Q: Dear sir/madam,
Immediate resignation was rejected. The job I am doing is not in my signed contract. The amount paid is in my contract but does not match the duties given to me. I was stopped from doing what is in my contract or else to resign & go home.
I have audios of phone calls being threatened by C.E.O.
All this is because they have my passport in their custody, therefore, they promised that I won't go home till I die and I have evidence of this statement.
Need advice, please!


Sep 1, 2022
295
How to recover the passport from a company to process visa cancelation?


1
Q: Hello sir,
I am a Sharjah visa holder. My visa is canceled by labor and the original passport is required for immigration cancelation but the company does not give me my passport.
How can I recover the passport from the company?



Oct 24, 2022
444
Asking an employee to pay for visa costs to get his passport after resignation
1
Q: Hello,
My employer doesn't pay my salary on time. I had personal problems, stress, and migraine. When I had to go to a hospital, I didn't have money for that so I took 2 days off after informing HR and the manager.
The next day I managed to get money from friends and went to the hospital. After that, I took a medical certificate and urgent resignation letter because of mental stress.
They asked me to pay for the visa so I can take my passport. Of course, I don't have money and didn't get 1 month's salary. Now they filed absconding against me.
What should I do?
And I was on a 6 months probation period. This thing happened after 3 months.

Nov 18, 2022
182
My boss took my passport and issued credit cards under my name. What to do?


1
Q: Dear Sir/Madam,
My boss took my passport in the UAE and issued credit cards and a loan under my name without telling me.
I need to travel overseas on a priority basis, but he is not returning my passport.
I need expert advice, please!



Oct 26, 2023
170
Legal blog
4 available 4 • View allCan My Employer Hold My Passport? 10
An interview-format article covering the topic of an employer demanding to hold an employees passport. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of LAWGICAL with LYLAW.
Jan 15, 2020
8506
How to File an Employment Court Case in the UAE 36
An interview-format article covering the topic of filing an employment court case in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.
May 10, 2021
11348
An Overview of the New UAE Labor Law and Recent Amendments of 2024 235
The UAE has adopted a major reform in its legislative system that brought about 40 new laws and amendments to the company law, criminal law, personal status, among others. The amendments aim to develop the legislative structure in various sectors, the labor law being one of these, was the most recent. We try in this article to shed light on the changes introduced with the new labor law and their significance on both, the employer and employee.
Sep 10, 2024
94143
Electronic Litigation: The Future of Justice in the Digital Age 1
The increasing complexity of laws and the growing number of individuals who legitimately want access to justice have put pressure on justice systems around the world. The courts must adopt digital transformation in order to stay up. Millions of lives could be improved by digital justice, but only if the technology is quickly and thoroughly understood.
Sep 24, 2024
165
Laws & Regulations
2 available 2 • View allFederal Law No. (8) of 1980 Concerning the Regulation of Labor Relations 53
The provisions of this Law, known as "UAE Labour Law", govern the relationship between employers and employees and other labour matters in the United Arab Emirates. There are special labour related regulations applicable in some of the free zones in the UAE.
Apr 20, 1980
103848
Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2021 On the Regulation of Labor Relations 34
The provisions of this Decree-Law, known as "New UAE Labor Law", govern labour relations in the private sector of the United Arab Emirates. The New Labor Law repeals the previous UAE Labor Law (Federal Law No. (8) of 1980).
Sep 20, 2021
27440

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How do I know whether I am able to enter Dubai for layover flights? 0
Hi,
I left Dubai halfway through my contract because of a family ailment. I didn't give notice, I had a leave and resigned when I got home. It's been 2 years since.
How do I know whether I am able to enter Dubai for layover flights?
Nov 5, 2017
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How to cancel my visa if my employer does not sign cancellation papers? 405
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have been working as a Civil Engineer in a Dubai-based construction company since 2003 with an unlimited contract.
Due to financial issues, the company has decided not to renew its license and is closing down, but they have the dues that have to be paid to the local sponsor and he is not signing the cancellation papers.
Please advise how I can get my visa canceled.
Nov 6, 2017
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Setting up a Delaware company with overseas subsidiaries 1
My company is based in Cairo, and I need to incorporate a mother company in Delaware, along with subsidiaries in London, Munich, and other international cities.
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What to do if you received a call from a person claiming to be a lawyer 0
I received an unsolicited call on a Saturday night (6.06pm to be precise), on my mobile phone in my place of residence from a lawyer (think he's actually a partner) claiming to represent my ex-wife in a matter pertaining to a divorce agreement that was ratified in Zimbabwe at the end of August.
He threatened that the full force of his law firm will be thrown at me if I did not settle the monetary claim within 48 hours of our telephone discussion. 80% of the monetary amount in question was actually remitted that afternoon, prior to his call, which he didn't bother to inquire about.
There was no formal notification in writing that their services had indeed being retained by my ex-wife. I am not sure if he followed due process & his threats could be construed as coercion in a matter that was all but resolved.
Nov 5, 2017
539
Is it legal to discuss maintenance of a child with the employer of my ex-husband? 1
Hello.
I would like to know if it is legal or illegal to contact my ex-husband's HR dept due to his refusal to pay for child support since the birth of our child (Age 16 now). He lives and works in Dubai.
I have remarried and have other children, moved to Abu Dhabi 1 1/2 yrs back and contacted him at his office. He has failed on every promise until now. I cant afford the high legal fees to file a case.
Please, let me know what are my options. Thanks.
Nov 2, 2017
641
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