UAE Releases Full List of 13 Work Permits Available to Foreign Nationals
- The UAE government officially published a comprehensive breakdown of all work permit categories available to foreign nationals
- The list covers 13 distinct permit types, ranging from freelance and part-time permits to golden visa holder and juvenile work permits
- Foreign nationals are advised to identify the correct permit category before starting any application process
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The United Arab Emirates has released an official and complete list of all work permit categories that foreign nationals can apply for, covering a wide range of employment situations and worker profiles.

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The government's publication identifies 13 separate permit types, each tailored to a specific circumstance, whether a worker is being recruited from outside the country, transferring between employers within the UAE, or operating independently as a freelancer.
Full List of UAE Work Permits for Foreign Nationals
The 13 categories the UAE has made available are as follows:
- 1. Work permit to recruit a worker from outside the UAE
- 2. Work permit to transfer a non-UAE worker from one establishment to another
- 3. Work permit for a resident on a family sponsorship
- 4. Temporary work permit
- 5. Mission work permit
- 6. Part-time work permit
- 7. Juvenile work permit
- 8. Student training and employment permit
- 9. UAE/GCC national work permit
- 10. Golden visa holder work permit
- 11. National trainee work permit
- 12. Freelance work permit
- 13. Private teacher work permit
What each permit category covers
The scope of the list reflects the diverse working arrangements the UAE recognises and accommodates. Several categories address the practical side of hiring, such as bringing workers in from abroad or facilitating smooth transitions between employers within the country. Others are designed with specific groups in mind, including students in training programmes, residents already living in the UAE under family sponsorship, and young workers who fall below the standard employment age.
The freelance permit is a notable inclusion, signalling that the UAE formally recognises independent professionals who work outside conventional employment structures. The golden visa holder work permit, meanwhile, serves those who have already obtained long-term residency through the country's investor and talent schemes.
Rounding out the list, the private teacher permit applies to individuals who offer tutoring or instruction outside of formal school or institutional settings, a category that has grown considerably with the rise of home tutoring and online learning.
Foreign nationals who are considering working in the UAE are encouraged to carefully review the full list and determine which category applies to their individual situation before beginning any formal application.
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Source: YEN.com.gh

