Questions & Answers
Is the employee responsible for the expenses of changing his visa status from tourist to employment?
My friend is currently in the UAE on a visit visa and has received a job offer from a company.
However, the employer is asking him to pay for the visa status change from a visit/tourist visa to an employment visa since he is inside the country.
According to UAE labor law, who is responsible for covering these charges—the employee or the employer?
Dear Questioner,
Thank you for your inquiry.
In accordance with UAE labor law, the employer is responsible for covering the costs associated with changing your visa status from a visit visa to an employment visa.
It is not lawful for the employer to require you to pay for these expenses. I recommend that you discuss this matter with the employer and remind them of their legal obligation.
If the employer continues to insist on you covering these costs, you may need to escalate the matter with MOHRE for further clarification.
Feel free to reach out if you need further assistance or have any additional questions.
Greetings,
Mohammed Salah
Legal Consultant
Greetings,
As per UAE Labour Law and MOHRE regulations, the employer is responsible for all employment visa costs, including the status change from a visit visa.
Asking the employee to pay these fees is not legally allowed.
Best Regards
It is typically the employer's obligation to handle and pay for the expenses related to the employee's work permit and visa.
This is a standard practice in the UAE and is reinforced by MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization) regulations.
Hello!
According to UAE labor law, the employer is generally responsible for covering the costs associated with changing a visit/tourist visa to an employment visa.
The employer should bear the costs of the work permit, residency visa, and other related fees.
If the employer insists on the employee paying, it might not be in compliance with the labor law unless specifically agreed between the parties in advance.
Badr Legal Consultants
According to Article 6 of UAE labor law No 33 of 2021, the employer should cover these charges.
