Key takeaways
- The MOHRE labour card is now a digital document. It is the electronic record of your work permit, issued by MOHRE for a named worker at a named employer. Plastic cards are no longer issued; you view, download and print it in the MOHRE app, in UAE PASS, or through MOHRE’s public enquiry portal.
- Three numbers cause most of the confusion. The labour card number (the work permit number) belongs to one job and changes when you change employer. The person code is your personal MOHRE number and follows you. The unified number (UID) and the Emirates ID number are immigration and identity numbers issued by ICP or GDRFA, not by MOHRE.
- A labour card check costs nothing. MOHRE’s enquiry portal lists “Electronic Work Permit Information”, “Print Electronic Work Permit”, “View Approved Contract” and “Company Information” among more than thirty public services. Since 18 October 2024 the Ministry’s online services for individuals require a UAE PASS login.
- Most permits run two years and must be renewed. For a fast renewal, see our employment visa renewal in Dubai service. Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020 prices the two-year permit at AED 250, AED 1,200 or AED 3,450 by establishment category, and fines the employer AED 200 for each month of late renewal after a 60-day window, capped at AED 2,000 per permit.
- The old “AED 500 a month” fine is history. It was cut in November 2018 and the current cap is AED 2,000. Late-renewal fines are the employer’s cost, and MOHRE’s cancellation service requires them to be paid before a permit can be cancelled.
- The “company labour card” is the MOHRE establishment card. It is different from the immigration establishment card issued by GDRFA or ICP, and MOHRE asks for a copy of the immigration card before it will issue its own. MOHRE’s published fee is AED 406 (Ta’qeem), and the licensee or service agent must be at least 21.
- Your labour card, residence visa and Emirates ID are three separate records from two authorities, with different dates. Keep all three in view, especially at renewal and after cancellation.
A MOHRE labour card (UAE) is the electronic work permit card that the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation issues to a private-sector worker for a specific employer, showing the labour card (work permit) number, the person code, the employer’s establishment details, the job and the expiry date. It is no longer a plastic card. Employees view it in the MOHRE app or UAE PASS and print it from MOHRE’s enquiry portal; employers apply for, renew and cancel it. A company’s own registration at MOHRE, often called the company labour card, is the MOHRE establishment card.
People still say “labour card” every day. Banks, landlords, embassies and new employers ask for it, or for the labour card number. The name outlived the plastic card, and the gap between what people say and what MOHRE’s systems call things is where most wasted time and money comes from.
This guide deals with the MOHRE labour card as a document: what it shows, which number is which, how to run a labour card check, how to print it, how long it lasts, what happens when it expires or is lost, and how it differs from your Emirates ID. The second half covers the company labour card and how it differs from the immigration establishment card.
Everything here was checked on 23 September 2026 against MOHRE’s public enquiry portal and service cards, Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020 on MOHRE fees and fines, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (the Labour Law) as amended, the UAE government portal, and ICP. Where an official page could not be opened or is silent, we say so.
This guide is about the card and the record. If you need to know which kind of permit applies to a hire (recruitment from abroad, transfer, family-sponsored, part-time, Golden visa holder and so on), read our guide to UAE work permit types. For the full cost of hiring on an employment visa, see the employment visa cost breakdown. If a job is ending, the steps are in how to cancel an employment visa. And if you simply want us to deal with MOHRE for you, that is our MOHRE work permit service.
MOHRE labour card at a glance
The short answers on the labour card UAE workers and employers ask about most. Each row is explained further down, with the source.
| Question | Short answer | Where to confirm it |
|---|---|---|
| What is the labour card now? | The electronic work permit card for one worker at one employer. No plastic card is issued | MOHRE app, UAE PASS, MOHRE enquiry portal |
| Who applies for it? | The employer, through its authorised signatory. The worker does not apply | MOHRE work permit service cards |
| How long is it valid? | Two years for most permits (the juvenile and student training permits are shorter) | Cabinet Resolution 21/2020; the expiry date on your own card |
| What does it cost? | AED 50 application plus AED 250, 1,200 or 3,450 for two years, by establishment category. The employer pays | Cabinet Resolution 21/2020, Tables 2 and 3 |
| How do I do a labour card check? | MOHRE app with UAE PASS, the UAE PASS “Labour Card” document, or MOHRE’s enquiry portal | inquiry.mohre.gov.ae |
| Where is my labour card number? | On the e-card, on your MOHRE employment contract and in the MOHRE app | MOHRE app, “View Approved Contract” |
| What if it expires? | Employer has 60 days to renew; then AED 200 a month, capped at AED 2,000 per permit | Cabinet Resolution 21/2020, Article 3; MOHRE Fine Calculator |
| What if I lose it? | Nothing to replace: log in and print it again, at no cost | “Print Electronic Work Permit” on the enquiry portal |
| What is the company labour card? | The MOHRE establishment card. Separate from the GDRFA or ICP establishment (immigration) card | MOHRE “Issuance of Establishment Card”; “Company Information” enquiry |
| Is it the same as my Emirates ID? | No. Emirates ID is ICP’s identity and residence card; the labour card is MOHRE’s permission to work for your employer | ICP; MOHRE |
MOHRE labour card and company labour card: how MIRDXB PRO helps
Most people can view their own labour card in five minutes once UAE PASS is set up, and we will say so when that is all you need. People come to us when the record is wrong, missing, expired or blocked; when an employer needs permits renewed on time across a team; when a new company needs its company labour card and first permits; or when someone abroad needs the MOHRE side handled for them. We are a PRO and visa services firm in Al Barsha 1, Dubai. Employers who want us to take the whole MOHRE side should look at our MOHRE work permit service and, for new companies, our company labour file opening service.
What we do
- Find and read the record. We run the labour card check, locate the labour card number, person code and establishment number, and tell you what MOHRE shows: permit type, employer, expiry, pending payments and fines.
- Renew every MOHRE labour card before the fine starts. We diarise expiry dates, renew the permit and contract at MOHRE, and line the residence renewal up behind it at GDRFA or ICP.
- Fix errors on the card. A wrong job title, a salary that does not match the offer, a misspelt name or an old passport number: we identify which authority’s record is wrong and correct it there.
- Open or repair the company labour card. Immigration establishment card first, then the MOHRE establishment card, e-signature, signatory records and quota, in the order the systems accept.
- Clear fines and blocks. Late-renewal fines, contract registration fines and pending payments are checked with MOHRE’s Fine Calculator and cleared before they stop a renewal, transfer or cancellation.
- Help after a job ends. We confirm the permit is really cancelled, retrieve the old permit details you need for gratuity, ILOE or a new employer, and point you to the right route if the employer is not co-operating.
How it works
- Message us on WhatsApp with your Emirates ID copy (or the company’s trade licence) and tell us what you are trying to do.
- We check the record on MOHRE’s enquiry services and tell you what we find, what needs doing, and whether you can do it yourself at no cost.
- You get a written quote showing government fees separately from our fee.
- We submit and follow up through the MOHRE system or a Tasheel centre, with the employer’s authorised signatory where the law requires it.
- You receive the result: the printed e-labour card, the renewal approval, the establishment card or the cancellation record, with the receipts.
What it costs
Government fees are passed on at cost and shown on the official receipt. Where MOHRE publishes a service as having no fee through its website and app, we will not invoice it as a government fee. Our own fee is quoted in writing before we start and depends on the work involved. Our fees page explains how we price.
Why residents and employers use us
- We publish the sources for every figure we quote, and show the government receipt with the invoice.
- We work across MOHRE, GDRFA in Dubai and ICP for the other emirates, so the labour and immigration sides are handled together.
- We tell you when you do not need us, for example when a no-fee labour card check in the MOHRE app answers the question.
- Our office is in Al Barsha 1, Dubai, open by appointment; whatsApp us any time, 24 hours; office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 (Dubai time). Employers and owners abroad can authorise us to act on the file.
Does the labour card still exist in the UAE?
Yes, as a record and a digital card. No, as a piece of plastic.
From plastic card to Emirates ID to digital record
For many years the Ministry of Labour, as it then was, printed a physical labour card for every private-sector worker. In 2012 the Ministry announced that the Emirates ID would take over the labour card’s role as the worker’s identity document, so that workers would not need to carry several cards (Gulf News, reporting the Ministry).
The permission to work did not go away. It became an electronic work permit held in MOHRE’s systems. Khaleej Times, in its 2024 explainer on the service, stated that the UAE no longer issues physical labour cards and that a digital version can be printed if you want paper. That matches every file we handle.
MOHRE still uses the words “labour card”
An earlier version of this guide said the phrase “labour card” appears nowhere in MOHRE’s services. That was too strong, and we have corrected it. The Ministry’s own channels still use the name: the MOHRE app shows employees a “View Labour card” option with the labour card number, issue date and expiry date (Gulf News, May 2023), UAE PASS lists a MOHRE “Labour Card” document you can add to your digital documents (Gulf News, September 2024), and MOHRE’s service directory has carried a page for replacing a lost or damaged labour card.
What is true is that, in MOHRE’s formal service names, the thing you apply for is a work permit, and the printable document is the electronic work permit. So when you search MOHRE’s enquiry portal, look for “Electronic Work Permit Information” and “Print Electronic Work Permit”, not for “labour card”. In practice the two names mean the same document, and in this guide we use both.
Your labour card is your MOHRE work permit, shown as a digital card with a labour card number. It is issued, renewed and cancelled by your employer, and you can view and print it yourself at any time, at no cost.
What the MOHRE labour card shows
MOHRE does not publish a field-by-field description of the e-card, and the layout has changed over the years. The table lists the details described in reporting on the MOHRE app and that we see on the cards we handle. Read your own card rather than a sample picture.
| Field | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Labour card number / work permit number | The number of this permit, for this job | New employers, banks, courts and complaint forms ask for it. It changes when you change employer |
| Person code | Your personal number in MOHRE’s system | Needed for some enquiry services, including printing the e-card. It stays with you across jobs |
| Name and nationality | As taken from your passport | Must match the passport and Emirates ID exactly. Mismatches cause rejections elsewhere |
| Employer name and establishment number | The company that holds the permit, and its MOHRE file number | Proves who you work for; the establishment number is used for company enquiries |
| Job title (profession) | The occupation registered at MOHRE | Affects skill level and, for some later applications, eligibility. It may differ from your business card |
| Issue and expiry dates | The permit’s validity, usually two years | The expiry drives renewal and late-renewal fines. It is not the same date as your residence |
| Permit or card type | For example a standard, transfer, part-time or family-sponsored permit | Tells you what kind of permission you hold; see our guide to permit types |
| QR code (UAE PASS version) | Lets an official verify the document digitally | UAE PASS offers “QR Verification” for sharing with government officials |
Salary is not always printed on the card itself, but it is on the MOHRE employment contract behind it, which you can open with “View Approved Contract”. The registered basic salary is the figure that matters later for gratuity and other entitlements, so check it against your offer when you first see the contract.
Labour card number, person code, UID and Emirates ID number: which is which
This is the question behind most searches for a labour card number. You hold at least four numbers from two authorities, and forms rarely say which one they want.
| Number | Issued by | Belongs to | Where you find it | Changes when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour card number (work permit number) | MOHRE | One job with one employer | The e-labour card, the MOHRE app, your MOHRE contract | You move to a new employer (a new permit is issued) |
| Person code | MOHRE | You, in MOHRE’s system | The e-labour card and MOHRE contract; ask your HR or PRO if it is not shown | Normally never |
| Transaction number | MOHRE | One application (for example the permit or contract request) | Receipts, the employment contract, the MOHRE app | Every new application |
| Unified number (UID) | ICP / GDRFA | You, in the immigration system | Entry permit, residence record, older visa stickers | Normally never |
| Emirates ID number (784-…) | ICP | You, as a UAE identity | Front of the Emirates ID card | Normally never |
| Residence file number | GDRFA (Dubai) or ICP | This residence permit | Residence record; the first digit shows the emirate (2 = Dubai) | New residence file with a new sponsor |
| Establishment number | MOHRE | Your employer’s MOHRE file | The e-labour card; the employer’s MOHRE establishment card | Only if the company opens a new MOHRE file |
Entering the Emirates ID number or UID where a form asks for the labour card number is the most common error we see on MOHRE and bank forms. The labour card number comes from MOHRE and belongs to your current job; the UID and Emirates ID number come from immigration and belong to you.
MOHRE does not publish a format specification for these numbers, so we do not give digit counts as rules. On the permits we handle, the person code is a long numeric code (commonly 14 digits) and the labour card number is shorter. The only reliable approach is to copy each number exactly from the record it belongs to.
How to find your labour card number
- Look at the MOHRE labour card itself in the MOHRE app or in UAE PASS under Documents. The labour card number is shown with the issue and expiry dates.
- Look at your MOHRE employment contract. The registered contract carries the work permit details; you can open it through “View Approved Contract” on the enquiry portal.
- Ask your employer’s HR or PRO. The employer’s system lists every employee’s permit. You are entitled to your own details.
- Call MOHRE on 600590000 with your Emirates ID ready, if none of the above works.
If you have left a job and cannot reach the employer, the old labour card number is still in the MOHRE system, and the app or call centre can usually retrieve it with your Emirates ID.
How the MOHRE labour card is issued in the hiring sequence
You do not apply for a labour card as a separate step. It is the outcome of the work permit process that the employer runs, and it sits in a fixed order with the immigration steps. This is only a summary: the conditions for each kind of permit are in our guide to UAE work permit types, and the fee lines in the employment visa cost breakdown.
- The company is ready. Valid trade licence, immigration establishment card, MOHRE establishment card, e-signature and available electronic quota. Without these nothing below can start.
- Offer and permit application. The worker signs MOHRE’s official job offer, and the employer’s authorised signatory applies for the work permit (a pre-approval where the worker is abroad).
- Entry permit or change of status at GDRFA in Dubai or ICP elsewhere.
- Medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics.
- Residence permit issued by GDRFA or ICP; the Emirates ID becomes the proof of residence.
- Employment contract registered at MOHRE and the work permit finalised. From this point the worker can see the e-labour card.
Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020 fines an employer AED 100 a month, up to AED 2,000, for failing to give MOHRE the employment contract within 60 days (of the worker’s entry or change of status, as MOHRE’s contract service card states). That is why the contract step should not be left until someone asks for a labour card.
In Dubai much of this now runs through the Work Bundle, launched on 11 March 2024, which cut the documents from 16 to 5, visits from 7 to 2 and the stated time from 30 working days to 5 (Digital Dubai announcement). The labour card that results is the same MOHRE record.
| Fee (Cabinet Resolution 21/2020) | Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work permit application (worker outside the UAE) | AED 50 | AED 50 | AED 50 |
| Issuance of a work permit for two years | AED 250 | AED 1,200 | AED 3,450 * |
| Renewal of a work permit for two years | AED 250 | AED 1,200 | AED 3,450 |
| Transfer and employment from one establishment to another, two years | AED 250 | AED 1,200 | AED 3,450 |
| Contract amendment / transfer request | AED 50 | AED 50 | AED 50 |
* The English text of the resolution on uaelegislation.gov.ae prints AED 3,540 in the issuance table and AED 3,450 in the renewal and transfer tables. MOHRE’s work permit service card and the actual Tasheel breakdowns we have seen use AED 3,450, which is the figure we quote. The screen at the time of payment is final.
These are the employer’s costs for each MOHRE labour card. Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 prohibits an employer from charging the worker recruitment fees and costs, directly or indirectly (Article 6), so a worker should not be paying for their own labour card.
Labour card check: how to view, download and print your MOHRE labour card
There are four official ways to run a labour card check, and all of them cost nothing. None needs an agent or a third-party website; be wary of any site that charges for a labour card check.
| Channel | Login | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOHRE app (iOS and Android) | UAE PASS | Employee dashboard: labour card number, issue and expiry dates, “View Labour card”, contract, complaints | Everyday access and printing |
| UAE PASS digital documents | UAE PASS | A “Labour Card” document from MOHRE with QR verification | Showing proof to officials and banks |
| MOHRE enquiry portal (inquiry.mohre.gov.ae) | None for public enquiries | “Electronic Work Permit Information”, “Print Electronic Work Permit”, “View Approved Contract”, “Application Status” and more | Printing, checking a status, employers checking staff |
| MOHRE call centre 600590000 or a Tasheel centre | Emirates ID for identification | Your labour card number and status read to you; printing at the centre | When you have no UAE PASS or cannot find any number |
MOHRE announced that from 18 October 2024 its online services would be accessible only through a UAE PASS account, covering viewing labour cards, accessing contracts and filing complaints (Gulf News, reporting MOHRE). Public enquiry services on the portal still work by number.
Method 1: the MOHRE app with UAE PASS
- Download the official MOHRE app from the App Store or Google Play. Check that MOHRE is the publisher.
- Log in with UAE PASS. If you do not have UAE PASS, create it first with your Emirates ID (see Method 2).
- Open your profile marked “Employee”. Your labour card number, issue date and expiry date appear on the dashboard.
- Tap “View Labour card” to see the digital card. Use the print or share option to save a PDF or send it to a printer.
No employee profile usually means the permit is not finalised yet or has been cancelled; the enquiry portal will tell you which.
Method 2: the labour card in UAE PASS
- Install UAE PASS and create an account by scanning your Emirates ID, confirming your details, verifying your mobile number and email, and setting a PIN.
- Tap “Add document” and scroll to MOHRE (listed under its full name).
- Select “Labour Card”. Your Emirates ID number fills in automatically. Consent to the request and confirm.
- When the document arrives, open it under “Documents”. It shows the labour card number and employment details, and a “QR Verification” button lets an official check it.
Method 3: MOHRE’s enquiry portal (print electronic work permit)
MOHRE’s public enquiry page at inquiry.mohre.gov.ae lists more than thirty services in one drop-down. For the labour card, three matter most:
- Electronic Work Permit Information: the status and key details of a permit.
- Print Electronic Work Permit: the printable e-labour card. Reporting on the service says it asks for the work permit number, the transaction number, the person code and the date of birth.
- View Approved Contract: the MOHRE-registered employment contract behind the permit.
- Go to mohre.gov.ae and choose the enquiry services, or open inquiry.mohre.gov.ae directly.
- Pick the service from the list and enter the numbers it asks for exactly as they appear on your contract or card.
- Search, check the details on screen, and print or save the result.
The transaction number is printed on your employment contract, not on the app dashboard; if you lack the contract, use “View Approved Contract” first.
Method 4: call centre or Tasheel centre
MOHRE’s call centre on 600590000 can confirm your labour card number and status once you identify yourself with your Emirates ID, a useful labour card check when nothing else works. A Tasheel or other MOHRE business service centre can look the record up and print it. Business centres may charge their commission for a transaction; MOHRE caps that commission at AED 72 per service on its service cards.
What the labour card check result tells you
| You see | It usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Active, with the right employer and future expiry | All in order | Save a PDF; diarise the expiry |
| Expired | Not renewed; late-renewal fines may be accruing to the employer | Ask HR for the renewal plan; see the fines section below |
| Cancelled | The employer (or MOHRE) has cancelled the permit | Check your residence status and grace period; keep the cancellation record |
| No record found | A mistyped number, the wrong number type, or a permit not yet finalised | Re-enter from the contract; check with the employer; call 600590000 |
| A different employer or job title from what you expected | The registered details differ from your offer | Raise it with the employer in writing now, not at the end of the job |
Labour card UAE validity, renewal and the link to your residence
Most work permits are issued for two years. Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020 prices issuance, renewal and transfer “for a period of two years”, and our permit types guide covers the exceptions: the juvenile permit runs one year and the student training permit three months.
Two clocks, not one
Your MOHRE labour card and your residence visa are issued by different authorities on different days. The work permit expiry sits on the MOHRE record; the residence expiry sits with GDRFA or ICP and on your Emirates ID. On a normal hire they are close together, but they drift, particularly after a status change, a transfer or a late renewal on either side.
The practical rule is to track both dates and renew both. A renewed residence with an expired labour card leaves the employer in breach at MOHRE; a renewed labour card with an expired residence leaves the worker overstaying at AED 50 a day once the grace period is used up.
How renewal works
- The employer starts the renewal through the MOHRE system or a business service centre. MOHRE’s contract service card states that work permits may be renewed 60 days before they expire.
- The company must be in good standing. MOHRE may refuse to renew permits for an establishment that is not compliant with the Wage Protection System or other labour-market rules; see WPS explained.
- Fees are paid by the employer at the establishment’s category rate: AED 250, AED 1,200 or AED 3,450 for two years.
- The contract is renewed with the permit and the new expiry shows on the e-labour card.
- The residence is renewed at GDRFA or ICP, with medical fitness and Emirates ID where required; in Dubai the Work Bundle can combine the steps.
For the renewal of the residence side itself, see our residence visa renewal service.
Labour card UAE expiry fines: what the employer pays
This is the part of the labour card story with the most outdated numbers online. The current fines are set by Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020 on the service fees and administrative fines of MOHRE, Article 3.
| Violation | Fine | Cap | Who pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to renew the work permit within 60 days of its expiry | AED 200 per month | AED 2,000 per permit | Employer |
| Failure to give MOHRE the employment contract within 60 days of the worker’s entry | AED 100 per month | AED 2,000 | Employer |
| Failure to provide MOHRE with a work permit within 30 days of the worker’s entry, or to renew one within 7 days of expiry (the short-permit rows, which Gulf News linked to mission permits) | AED 100 per month | AED 2,000 | Employer |
| Employing a worker without a work permit (Labour Law Article 60, as amended 2024) | AED 100,000 to AED 1,000,000 | Court-imposed penalty | Employer |
The old “AED 500 a month, no limit” rule
Many pages still quote a late-renewal fine of AED 500 for every month, with no maximum. That was the rule before November 2018. Gulf News reported on 1 November 2018 that MOHRE had cut it to AED 200 a month with a cap of AED 2,000, and reduced the contract registration fine from AED 500 a month (unlimited) to AED 100 a month (capped at AED 2,000). Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020, which repealed the 2019 fee resolution, kept those figures.
When the employer is not treated as late
Gulf News, explaining the rules in April 2022, reported that an establishment is not considered late in renewing where the worker has been outside the UAE for more than six months or their residence expired while they were abroad. We have not found that exception on a MOHRE page we could open, so treat it as reported and confirm on the Fine Calculator for the specific worker.
Why the employee should care
- The fine is not yours, but it can hold up your file. MOHRE’s cancellation service requires the employer to pay outstanding fines on the permit before it can be cancelled, so an unpaid fine can delay the cancellation you need to move jobs.
- An expired labour card weakens your paperwork for bank loans, tenancy, family visas and golden visa files that ask for a valid labour card.
- You should not be charged. Recruitment and permit costs are the employer’s under Article 6 of the Labour Law. Deductions from wages are limited by Article 25; if money is taken, see our guide on filing a MOHRE complaint.
Labour card check for fines
MOHRE’s enquiry portal includes a Fine Calculator and a Pending Payments service. Employers can see what is accruing on each permit and on the establishment; an employee can check with the numbers from their card and contract. Clearing a fine is done through the employer’s MOHRE account or a business service centre.
Article 6 of Cabinet Resolution 21/2020 lets the Minister allow exemption or instalments under a ministerial decision; there is no automatic waiver. Our fine waiver and amnesty guide explains how immigration amnesties differ.
Lost or damaged MOHRE labour card: what to do now
Because the labour card is now a digital record, losing a printout is not serious. There is nothing to replace: you log in and print it again.
- Open the MOHRE app or UAE PASS and download the labour card again.
- Or use “Print Electronic Work Permit” on MOHRE’s enquiry portal with the numbers from your contract.
- If you lost your wallet, the document that matters is your Emirates ID. Report it and replace it through ICP; see our lost Emirates ID replacement service.
- If you lost your passport, report it to the police and your embassy, and once the new passport is issued have your residence moved to it; see transferring a UAE visa to a new passport. Your employer will then update the passport number on the MOHRE record.
In the plastic-card era, replacement was a paid Ministry service: Gulf News listed AED 500, AED 1,500 or AED 2,500 by establishment category, with a police lost-item certificate. Those figures belong to a card that is no longer issued. MOHRE’s directory kept a page for the old replacement service, but it would not load on 23 September 2026, so we cannot confirm whether any fee remains under that name. We have not seen one charged on a current file.
Websites offering to “re-issue” or “replace” a labour card for a fee are selling you a printout that costs nothing. If a printed copy is damaged, print another. If the details on it are wrong, that is a correction to the MOHRE record, which only the employer (or MOHRE) can make.
MOHRE labour card vs Emirates ID vs residence visa
A working resident holds three separate records. People treat them as one, and that is how dates get missed.
| Item | Labour card (work permit) | Residence visa | Emirates ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issued by | MOHRE (mainland employers); free zone authorities issue their own | GDRFA in Dubai; ICP in the other emirates | ICP, for every emirate |
| What it proves | You may work for this employer in this job | You may live in the UAE | Who you are; since 2022 also your proof of residence |
| Main number | Labour card number; person code | Residence file number; UID | 784-… ID number |
| Format | Digital card (app, UAE PASS, printout) | Electronic record; no passport sticker since 2022 | Physical card plus digital copy in the ICP app |
| Typical validity | Two years | Two years for most employment residences | Matches the residence |
| Who renews | Employer | Sponsor (the employer) | Renewed with the residence |
| Cancelled by | MOHRE cancellation (employer, with the worker’s signature) | GDRFA or ICP cancellation | Ends with the residence |
In April 2022 ICP stopped placing residence stickers in passports and made the Emirates ID the proof of residence. ICP described the new card as carrying personal and professional data, which is why the back of a newer Emirates ID often shows your occupation and employer. That does not make it a labour card: the professional data on the ID comes from the residence file, and MOHRE’s record is still the authority on your permit and contract. For the ID side, see how the Emirates ID and visa are linked, and for the two immigration authorities, ICP vs GDRFA.
Company labour card: the MOHRE establishment card
When a business owner or HR manager asks for the company labour card, they mean the company’s registration at MOHRE: the file that allows it to hire anyone on the mainland. MOHRE’s formal name for the service is Issuance of Establishment Card, and the file carries the company’s establishment number, the same number that appears on each employee’s labour card.
Two establishment cards, two authorities
Almost every mainland company holds two cards with nearly the same name, and mixing them up causes real delays.
| Item | Company labour card (MOHRE establishment card) | Immigration establishment card |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | MOHRE | GDRFA for Dubai companies; ICP in the other emirates |
| Lets the company | Apply for quota, work permits, contracts, renewals and cancellations | Apply for entry permits, residence visas and cancelling residences |
| Comes | Second: MOHRE asks for a copy of the immigration card | First |
| Key number | Establishment number (MOHRE company number) | Immigration establishment number |
| Published fee | AED 406 Ta’qeem; no fee through MOHRE’s website and app apart from government fees; business centre commission up to AED 72 | See our immigration and establishment card guide |
Our separate guide to the immigration card and establishment card covers the GDRFA and ICP card in detail, including its fees, documents and renewal. This section covers only the MOHRE side. If you want us to handle the immigration card, that is our establishment card service.
MOHRE’s conditions for the company labour card
MOHRE’s service card for Issuance of Establishment Card, read on 23 September 2026, starts from one rule: the establishment’s details must first be registered with the Ministry, together with its owners and authorised signatories. The conditions it lists are:
- A valid trade licence.
- Owners, partners, service agents and authorised signatories must obtain a Ministry-issued personal identification number.
- One unified personal identification number is assigned across all establishments of the same licensee or service agent registered with the Ministry.
- A licensee or service agent must be at least 21 years of age. Guardians or trustees may sign for minors until they reach the legal age, and minors may sign with court approval.
- The authorised signatory at MOHRE must also be authorised to sign at ICP.
- Citizens of GCC countries are treated as UAE nationals.
- A recruitment or mediation agency needs the reference number on which its agency guarantee was entered.
An earlier version of this guide gave the minimum age as 18. The service card now says 21, and we have corrected it.
Documents
| Document | Detail that matters |
|---|---|
| Emirates ID copy, or residence visa copy for expatriates | For each owner and authorised signatory |
| Valid trade licence | Showing activity, address, P.O. Box and contact details |
| Partners addendum | Where the partners’ names are not on the licence |
| Immigration establishment card copy | Issued by ICP (or GDRFA), showing owners and authorised signatories |
| Rental contract | Listed on the previous version of the service card; not shown in the extract we read on 23 September 2026. Have a valid Ejari ready, because premises also drive quota |
The e-signature card and the PRO card
The UAE government portal states that an employer must obtain an e-signature card from MOHRE before applying for work permits, and that “the eSignature is a prerequisite for any application submitted by the employer”. In practice this is how the authorised signatory’s approvals are captured, whether the company applies itself or through a business centre.
MOHRE also issues a PRO card, which lets a named person submit the Ministry’s transactions for the establishment. When we reviewed its service card in September 2026, it listed a police clearance certificate and photograph, service provider fees of AED 40, and limits on how many establishments one PRO may represent (a UAE national up to three owners, an expatriate one). That page would not load on 23 September 2026, so confirm the current conditions on the service card before applying.
How to get the company labour card
- Obtain the trade licence and the immigration establishment card from GDRFA or ICP.
- Obtain MOHRE personal identification numbers for the owners and signatories.
- Log in to MOHRE’s system with UAE PASS or a username, or go to a business service centre.
- Submit the establishment card application with the documents above and pay AED 406.
- MOHRE verifies the application electronically and approves it when conditions and documents are met.
- Set up the e-signature, request quota and only then apply for the first work permits.
If you would rather hand the whole sequence to us, our company labour file opening service covers the MOHRE file, and our quota approval service covers the next step. Our guide on company visa quota explains how quota is assessed.
Company labour card check: finding the establishment number and staff list
MOHRE’s public enquiry portal gives employers, and anyone doing due diligence on an employer, several checks at no cost. These are listed on inquiry.mohre.gov.ae as of 23 September 2026:
| Enquiry service | What it answers |
|---|---|
| Company Information | The company’s MOHRE details from its establishment number |
| E Quota Status (by company number or transaction number) | Whether quota is available or an application is pending |
| GDRFA Establishment Link Status | Whether the MOHRE file is correctly linked to the Dubai immigration file |
| Fine Calculator and Pending Payments | Fines and unpaid fees that can block transactions |
| Application Status and Transaction status in immigration | Where a permit or linked immigration step has reached |
| Cancellation Transaction Enquiry | Whether a permit cancellation has gone through |
| Enquiry for Job Offer and Document Verification | Whether a job offer or MOHRE document is genuine |
| Worker Insurance | Worker protection insurance status |
The list of employees and their permit expiry dates sits in the employer’s MOHRE account, not on the public portal. HR teams should export it quarterly and diarise every MOHRE labour card expiry at least 60 days ahead.
A candidate can use “Enquiry for Job Offer” to confirm an offer is registered at MOHRE before resigning or paying anything; a genuine offer costs the candidate nothing.
When the company labour card lapses
An expired or suspended MOHRE establishment card stops the labour side of the company: no new permits, no renewals and often no cancellations until it is renewed and any fines are paid. The immigration card lapsing stops the residence side in the same way. Check both expiry dates; they are different. Our guide to why companies need PRO services sets out the full compliance calendar.
MOHRE labour card after cancellation
When a job ends, the employer cancels the work permit and employment contract at MOHRE, and then the residence at GDRFA or ICP. The steps, the employee’s signature and the fees are in our guide to cancelling an employment visa; if the employer has disappeared, see visa cancellation without a sponsor. What matters here is what happens to the labour card itself.
- The old labour card number is closed. The permit shows as cancelled on the enquiry portal. It cannot be reactivated for a new job.
- Your person code stays. A new employer applies for a new permit, and a new labour card number is issued against the same person code.
- The cancellation is on record. “Cancellation Transaction Enquiry” confirms it went through. Keep a PDF, together with proof the residence was cancelled, before you leave the UAE or start elsewhere.
- Your old labour card is still evidence. Save the last e-card and contract before cancellation. They are useful for gratuity, an ILOE claim, a golden visa or a reference, and a new employer may ask for the old number.
- Two live permits are not possible. A new permit will not issue while an old one is active, which is why a new employer’s application stalls if the old employer has not cancelled.
- Your residence grace period runs from the date the residence is cancelled, not from the labour card cancellation. See the residence visa grace period guide.
Moving between employers after a properly ended contract carries no labour ban under the current rules. A one-year ban on a new work permit can apply in two defined cases: leaving during probation where the employer did not breach the contract, or a work abandonment report found to be true. Our labour ban guide covers when a ban applies and how to check one. For gratuity on leaving, see end of service gratuity; for an unemployment insurance claim, the ILOE claim process.
Who has a MOHRE labour card, and who does not
| You are | Your “labour card” |
|---|---|
| Employed by a mainland private company | A MOHRE work permit and e-labour card, as described in this guide |
| Employed by a free zone company | No MOHRE labour card in most cases. The free zone authority issues its own permit or employee card; see free zone vs mainland |
| On a family visa and working for a mainland company | A MOHRE work permit for family-sponsored residents; your residence stays with the family sponsor |
| A Golden visa holder working for a mainland company | A MOHRE work permit for Golden visa holders; the residence is not tied to the employer |
| A domestic worker | A MOHRE domestic worker permit under the separate domestic workers system; see our maid and domestic worker visa service |
| A UAE or GCC national in the private sector | A MOHRE work permit, exempt from permit fees |
Where labour card UAE problems usually come from
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| New employer says your permit will not process | The old labour card has not been cancelled | Electronic Work Permit Information; Cancellation Transaction Enquiry |
| Labour card check shows “no record” | Wrong number type (UID or Emirates ID entered as labour card number) or permit not finalised | Your MOHRE contract; the MOHRE app |
| Labour card expired but the residence is valid | Employer missed the MOHRE renewal | MOHRE app; Fine Calculator |
| Job title on the card differs from the offer | Registered profession chosen to fit quota or skill level | View Approved Contract |
| No permit can be issued for anyone at the company | Company labour card expired, no quota, WPS block or pending payments | Company Information; E Quota Status; Pending Payments |
| MOHRE approves but immigration will not | MOHRE and immigration files not linked, or signatory not authorised at both | GDRFA Establishment Link Status |
| Old passport number on the labour card | Passport renewed but MOHRE record not updated | Ask the employer to amend the MOHRE record (Person Modify) |
What circulates online that is not true
| What you may read | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| “MOHRE does not use the term labour card at all” | The MOHRE app shows “View Labour card” and UAE PASS lists a MOHRE “Labour Card” document. The formal service is the work permit |
| “You still get a plastic labour card” | Physical cards are no longer issued; the digital card can be printed (Khaleej Times, 2024) |
| “Late renewal costs AED 500 a month with no limit” | AED 200 a month after 60 days, capped at AED 2,000 per permit (Cabinet Resolution 21/2020) |
| “The worker pays the labour card fee” | The employer pays; charging the worker recruitment costs is prohibited (Labour Law, Article 6) |
| “Your Emirates ID number is your labour card number” | Different numbers from different authorities; the labour card number is MOHRE’s |
| “A lost labour card must be replaced for a fee” | Reprint it at no cost from the MOHRE app, UAE PASS or the enquiry portal |
| “The company labour card and the establishment card are the same thing” | There are two establishment cards, MOHRE’s and the immigration one, and MOHRE requires a copy of the immigration card |
| “You need an agent to do a labour card check” | All four official channels have no fee |
| “A licence holder can be 18 to open the MOHRE file” | MOHRE’s service card now states at least 21 |
How to verify every figure in this guide
| Figure or fact | Official source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Permit fees AED 50 + 250 / 1,200 / 3,450, two years | Cabinet Resolution 21/2020, Tables 2 and 3 (uaelegislation.gov.ae) | 23 Sep 2026 |
| Late renewal AED 200 a month, cap AED 2,000; contract AED 100 a month, cap AED 2,000 | Cabinet Resolution 21/2020, Article 3 | 23 Sep 2026 |
| Enquiry services (Print Electronic Work Permit, Company Information, Fine Calculator and others) | inquiry.mohre.gov.ae | 23 Sep 2026 |
| Establishment card: AED 406, age 21, ICP card copy, signatory at both | MOHRE service card, Issuance of Establishment Card | 23 Sep 2026 |
| Fines paid before permit cancellation; business centre cap AED 72 | MOHRE service card, Cancellation of Work Permits and Employment Contracts | 23 Sep 2026 |
| E-signature card required before work permits | u.ae, Recruiting on the mainland | 23 Sep 2026 |
| Emirates ID replaced the residence sticker (2022) | ICP announcement | 23 Sep 2026 |
| Article 60 fines AED 100,000 to 1,000,000 | Decree-Law 9/2024 amending Decree-Law 33/2021 (summarised by law firms; official text on uaelegislation.gov.ae) | 23 Sep 2026 (secondary) |
| No physical cards; app and UAE PASS steps; UAE PASS from 18 Oct 2024 | Khaleej Times and Gulf News, reporting MOHRE (secondary) | 23 Sep 2026 (secondary) |
Worked cases
These cases are built from the situations we see most often. Names and identifying details are left out, and the figures are the published ones.
Case 1: the bank wants a labour card and the employee has never seen one
A sales executive at a Dubai mainland trading company is applying for a car loan. The bank asks for a copy of her labour card. She has an Emirates ID and a residence visa but has never been given a card, and HR is slow to reply.
What decides it: she does not need HR. She sets up UAE PASS with her Emirates ID, adds the MOHRE “Labour Card” document, and also opens the MOHRE app with UAE PASS to download the card as a PDF. The UAE PASS version carries a QR code the bank can verify. Total cost: nothing.
The lesson: a request for a labour card UAE banks make is a request for the e-card or its labour card number, and both are available to the employee directly.
Case 2: the permit expired eight months ago
A small contracting company in Dubai finds, during a residence renewal, that one foreman’s labour card expired eight months earlier. The residence is still valid for four more months. The owner has read online that the fine is AED 500 a month with no limit and expects AED 4,000.
What decides it: under Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020, the first 60 days after expiry carry no fine; after that it is AED 200 a month, capped at AED 2,000 per permit. The Fine Calculator on MOHRE’s enquiry portal shows the actual figure for this worker, which is what gets paid. The renewal fee is charged at the company’s category rate on top. The fine is the company’s cost and cannot be deducted from the foreman’s pay.
The lesson: check the current resolution, not an old article, and put every labour card expiry in the same calendar as the residence expiries.
Case 3: the new employer cannot issue a permit
An IT engineer resigns, serves notice and accepts a job at another mainland company. Three weeks later the new employer says his work permit application is stuck. The old employer says “everything is done”.
What decides it: a labour card check on “Electronic Work Permit Information” shows the old permit is still active; “Cancellation Transaction Enquiry” shows no cancellation. MOHRE will not issue a second live permit to the same person. The old employer had never submitted the MOHRE cancellation, and an unpaid late-renewal fine on the permit had to be paid first.
The lesson: ask for the MOHRE cancellation record, not a verbal assurance. If the old employer will not act, the route is in our guide to visa cancellation without a sponsor.
Case 4: the new company cannot open its company labour card
Two partners set up a mainland consultancy. Their business centre tries to apply for the MOHRE establishment card first so that they can hire quickly. The application is returned.
What decides it: MOHRE’s service card requires a copy of the immigration establishment card among the documents, and requires the MOHRE signatory to be authorised at ICP too. One partner is 20, and the card sets the minimum age for a licensee or service agent at 21. The sequence is immigration card first, then MOHRE personal identification numbers, then the MOHRE establishment card (AED 406), then e-signature and quota. The younger partner stays a partner but not a signatory until the age condition is met.
The lesson: the company labour card is the second card, not the first, and the signatories must match on both systems.
Case 5: the worker who lost everything
A warehouse supervisor’s wallet is stolen with his Emirates ID and an old printed labour card in it. A website offers a “labour card replacement” for a fee.
What decides it: the labour card is a digital record; the printout has no value to anyone and can be reprinted at no cost from the MOHRE app or “Print Electronic Work Permit”. The Emirates ID is the document to report and replace through ICP. Nothing on the MOHRE labour card has changed.
The lesson: replace identity documents, not printouts. Never pay a third-party site for a no-fee MOHRE service.
What we will and will not do
We will
- Tell you when a no-fee labour card check in the MOHRE app or UAE PASS answers your question.
- Show the government fee and our fee separately, with the official receipt.
- Check fines, pending payments, quota and the MOHRE-immigration link before submitting anything.
- Work on both sides, MOHRE and GDRFA or ICP, so renewals and cancellations happen in the right order.
We will not
- Charge a “government fee” for a service MOHRE publishes as having no fee through its website and app.
- Sell you a “replacement labour card” or a paid labour card check.
- Enter a job title, salary or skill level that does not reflect the real job to get a permit through.
- Ask a worker to pay permit costs that the law puts on the employer.
Related guides
- UAE work permit types: all permits explained
- Employment visa cost: full government fee breakdown
- What is MOHRE: the Ministry and its services
- Immigration card and establishment card explained
- How to cancel an employment visa
- Employment contract types under the Labour Law
- Labour ban rules explained
- Amer vs Tasheel: which centre does what
- Government fees list for 2026
- What PRO services cost in Dubai
MOHRE labour card: frequently asked questions
Is the MOHRE labour card still issued in the UAE?
Yes, but only as a digital card. The labour card is your MOHRE work permit shown electronically, with a labour card number, employer details and expiry date. Plastic cards are no longer issued. You can view it in the MOHRE app or UAE PASS and print it from MOHRE’s enquiry portal using “Print Electronic Work Permit”, all at no charge.
How do I do a labour card check online?
Log in to the MOHRE app with UAE PASS and open your Employee profile, or add the MOHRE “Labour Card” document in UAE PASS. Without logging in, MOHRE’s enquiry portal at inquiry.mohre.gov.ae offers “Electronic Work Permit Information” and “Print Electronic Work Permit”, which ask for numbers from your contract. The call centre on 600590000 can also help.
Where do I find my labour card number?
On the digital labour card in the MOHRE app or UAE PASS, and on your MOHRE-registered employment contract, which you can open with “View Approved Contract”. Your employer’s HR or PRO team also has it. The labour card number is not your Emirates ID number or UID; those come from ICP and GDRFA, not MOHRE.
What is the difference between the labour card number and the person code?
The labour card number identifies one work permit for one job, so it changes when you move to a new employer. The person code is your personal identifier in MOHRE’s system and normally stays the same across jobs. Some enquiry services, such as printing the e-card, ask for both, together with the transaction number and your date of birth.
How long is a labour card valid?
Most work permits are issued for two years; Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020 prices issuance and renewal for that period. The juvenile permit runs one year and the student training permit three months. The expiry is shown on your e-card and is usually close to, but not the same as, your residence expiry.
What is the fine if the labour card expires?
The employer has 60 days after expiry to renew. After that, Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020 sets a fine of AED 200 for each month, up to a maximum of AED 2,000 per permit. The fine is the employer’s, not the worker’s. The older AED 500 a month, unlimited fine was reduced in November 2018 and no longer applies.
Who pays for the labour card?
The employer. The permit costs AED 50 to apply plus AED 250, AED 1,200 or AED 3,450 for two years depending on the establishment’s MOHRE category. Article 6 of the Labour Law prohibits employers from charging workers recruitment fees and costs, directly or indirectly, so these should never be deducted from your salary.
I lost my labour card. How do I replace it?
There is nothing to replace. The labour card is a digital record, so you simply download or print it again from the MOHRE app, UAE PASS or “Print Electronic Work Permit” on the enquiry portal. If your Emirates ID or passport was lost as well, those are the documents to report and replace, through ICP and your embassy respectively.
Is the labour card the same as the Emirates ID?
No. The Emirates ID is ICP’s identity card and, since 2022, your proof of residence. The labour card is MOHRE’s permission to work for a specific employer. A newer Emirates ID may show your occupation and employer, but MOHRE’s record remains the authority on your permit, contract and labour card number.
What is a company labour card?
It is the MOHRE establishment card, the company’s file at the Ministry that allows it to request quota and apply for work permits. It carries the establishment number shown on employees’ labour cards. It is separate from the immigration establishment card issued by GDRFA or ICP, which MOHRE requires a copy of before it issues its own card.
How much does the company labour card cost and who can apply?
MOHRE’s service card lists Ta’qeem fees of AED 406, with the service at no cost through MOHRE’s website and app apart from government fees, and business centre commission capped at AED 72. The company needs a valid trade licence and immigration establishment card, and each licensee or service agent must be at least 21 years old.
How do I check a company’s labour card or establishment number?
Use “Company Information” on MOHRE’s enquiry portal with the establishment number, which appears on every employee’s labour card. Employers can also check “E Quota Status”, “Pending Payments”, the “Fine Calculator” and “GDRFA Establishment Link Status” to see whether anything is blocking new permits or renewals.
What happens to my labour card when I resign?
Your employer cancels the work permit and contract at MOHRE, with your signature, and the labour card shows as cancelled. Your person code stays; a new employer applies for a new permit and you receive a new labour card number. Save your last e-card and contract before cancellation, as you may need them for gratuity or an ILOE claim.
Do free zone employees have a MOHRE labour card?
In most cases, no. Free zone companies are licensed by their free zone authority, which issues its own permit or employee card and deals with immigration for its staff. The MOHRE labour card applies to mainland private-sector employers, domestic workers under MOHRE’s separate system, and family-sponsored or Golden visa residents working for mainland companies.
Can MIRDXB PRO renew our employees’ labour cards before they expire?
Yes. We check every permit’s expiry, fines and the company’s MOHRE standing, renew permits and contracts at MOHRE, and line up the residence renewals at GDRFA or ICP. Government fees are passed on at cost with the receipt, and our fee is quoted in writing before we start. Start by sending the establishment number on WhatsApp.
Can you open a company labour card for a new business?
Yes. We handle the sequence the systems accept: immigration establishment card, MOHRE personal identification numbers, the MOHRE establishment card, e-signature and quota, then the first work permits. We check the age and signatory conditions first so the application is not returned. Government fees are at cost; our fee is quoted in writing.
Keeping labour cards, company labour card records and renewals in order across MOHRE, GDRFA and ICP is what our PRO services in Dubai team handles.
This guide was rewritten and re-verified. The earlier version said the phrase “labour card” appears nowhere in MOHRE’s services; the MOHRE app and UAE PASS both use it, so that statement has been corrected. The minimum age for a licensee or service agent on MOHRE’s establishment card service card is 21, not 18 as previously stated. We added the current late-renewal and contract fines from Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020 (AED 200 and AED 100 a month, each capped at AED 2,000), the lost-card position, UAE PASS access, the numbers explained, and the labour card after cancellation. Detail on permit types and hiring costs now sits in our dedicated guides.
- MOHRE enquiry services (Print Electronic Work Permit, Electronic Work Permit Information, Company Information, Fine Calculator and others)
- MOHRE: Issuance of Establishment Card (service card)
- MOHRE: Cancellation of Work Permits and Employment Contracts (service card)
- Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2020 on the service fees and administrative fines of MOHRE
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (Articles 6, 25, 60)
- The Official Portal of the UAE Government: Recruiting on the mainland (e-signature card)
- ICP: Cancellation of the residence sticker (Emirates ID as proof of residence)
- Digital Dubai: UAE Government launches Work Bundle, 11 March 2024
- Khaleej Times (secondary): How to check your labour card details online, 2024
- Gulf News (secondary): Digital labour card in UAE PASS, 2024
- Gulf News (secondary): UAE PASS required for MOHRE services from 18 October 2024
- Gulf News (secondary): How to get your labour card number, 2023
- Gulf News (secondary): Fines for work permit and contract registration delays cut, November 2018
- Gulf News (secondary): Work permit not renewed, AED 200 a month, April 2022
- Gulf News (secondary, historical): Replacing a lost or damaged labour card
- Clyde and Co (secondary): Amendments to Articles 54 and 60 of the Labour Law, 2024
Please note. This guide sets out the fees, fines, services and conditions published by MOHRE, ICP and in UAE legislation, verified 23 September 2026. Some MOHRE service pages could not be opened on that date, and where a figure comes from a news report or an earlier review of a MOHRE page we say so. Rules and fees change, and the authority’s own screen and decision are final. The cases are built from common situations and are illustrative, not records of named clients. This guide is general information, not legal advice; for a dispute with an employer, contact MOHRE or a lawyer.
