Work Permit Pre-Approval Request Process in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates is the world-class hub of endless employment opportunities. Building your business and pursuing your career here unlock new angles to achievements and goals. But before taking a step forward towards work, you must get your hands on a work permit. If you like to prepare beforehand, go for the Work Permit Pre-Approval Request. This leads to compliance and  regulations with the UAE labor law. This procedure must be followed by both employees and employers for the effective employment procedure. 

Work Permit Pre-Approval : What is it?

Before planning to work in the United Arab Emirates, finding the relevant, suitable and legitimate job is a challenge. To simplify and screen the process,  the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) brought the initial assessment and evaluation process. This verifies the relevance of the expats qualification to the job requirements. Along with this, it examines if the job offer made is free from any fraud or treasury. The regulations and compliance with nationals applied, must be aligned with the job.  

Who Needs Work Permit Pre-Approval?

Both the hiring team and workers require the work permit pre-approval in various and distinguished circumstances such as;

1.Switching To New Job:  the employer needs to demand this request whenever any expat applying for new employment. This confirms whether the job offer made is legitimate or not. Pre-Approval.

2. Change Of workplace: If an expat wants to switch employment in the United Arab Emirates,  the new employer must begin the Work Permit Pre-Approval process.

3. Work permit expiry; If the expatriate's current work permit has expired, the new employer must file for Work Permit Pre-Approval.

4. Renewal: Employers that intend to renew or make alterations to their current work permits may need to apply for Work Permit Pre-Approval.

5-International worker: Those foreign employees who are striving to work within the premises of the country, must get this pre-approval in order to secure employment in uae.

Work Permit Pre-Approval : The Request Procedure

To initiate the process of applying for work permit pre-approval, one must follow the below mentioned breakdown of mandatory steps.

Employer's Responsibilities:

1- Compile Documents: The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) prescribed some documents which may include your passport copy, educational certificates, employment contract etc. these documents are required to submit to the employer. 

2- Online Application:  after receiving your documents, the respective employer will submit your application by using the electronic medium, the MoHRE's online portal, Tas'heel.  

3- Fees Submission: For any sort of charges applied during the process, the employer will be responsible for it. 

Analyzing and Authorization:

• The evaluation of all the paperwork you submitted and reviewing your application will be done by MoHRE. It will then determine your eligibility as well as your alignment with the standards as per the UAE labor law.   

• The examination might occur to check if there is availability of local citizens who could get the position before allowing an expat for the work position.

The Confirmation For Approval:

• MoHRE sends the notification to confirm the employee about their request by its online portal Tas’heel.

• Also, they may send the photocopy of the employee’s document beforehand via online medium. 

Opting For Pre-Approval:

• The process for getting your employment visa can be initiated by the employer. That too, only when the request is pre-approved. However, some more documents can be demanded for this phase. 

• Your company will probably finish the last step of the work visa application procedure after you are in the UAE, provided the pre-approval is still valid. Medical exams and registering an Emirates ID may be necessary for this. 

The Processing Time Of Work Permit Pre-Approval

Regretfully, the UAE does not have a set processing period for petitions for work permit pre-approval. Timelines are not made public by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). Pre-approval, however, is usually handled more quickly than a complete work permit application.

A number of Factors can affect processing time, such as:

Completeness of Application: To prevent delays, make sure your company accurately provides all required documentation.

MoHRE Workload: Processing timeframes may be impacted by the workload of the Ministry.

Particular Job Category: Some occupations may demand further qualifications or checks, which may lengthen the period.

Public Holidays: In the UAE, processing times may be a little bit longer on certain days. 

Case Study: Understanding 'Pre-Approval of Work Permit' in the UAE

Scenario: John, an expatriate, finds himself in a situation where his employer has informed him that he is allowed to stay in the UAE for two months under the status of 'Pre-Approval of Work Permit.' His employer has provided him with a Work Permit number to support this claim, indicating the same two-month timeframe. However, John is concerned about his legal status, as his previous Visit Visa has expired, and there's no active visa associated with his name online. Despite reminding his employer regularly about the urgency of the situation, there has been a delay in processing the necessary documents (EID). John worries about potential consequences if he encounters law enforcement while in this state of 'Pre-Approval.'

Answer: In the United Arab Emirates, the phrase "Pre-Approval of Work Permit" denotes the submission of your work permit application to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE). During this phase, the Ministry looks through its database to see if a UAE national can fill the particular position for which you are being employed. Your business can go on with the work permit application for the ultimate approval step as soon as this check is satisfactorily finished. You may monitor the status of your application by visiting the MoHRE website and entering the application number. 

The John’s concerns can be compiled as;

• Legal Status: The finalization of employment and residency status of john is yet to be declared. The “Pre-Approval”situation indicates that the necessary paperwork is it in the processing. In these circumstances, if John persists his stay, it will be against the law.  

• Visit Visa Expiry: the expiry of visit visa shall not be an issue because work permit pre-approval of John is in the progress.  

• Abide by Law: In the event John encounters law enforcement, he should give any relevant documentation, such as the Work Permit number and any word from his employer regarding the status. This should help declare that he will soon get the official permissions that are required and ensure that his visit in the country is not against the law. 

• Get The Update From The Employer: As the work permit became significant for John, it is suggested to him that he asks about it from his employer. Mentioning the urgency of processing the necessary documents (EID) and the official work permit. If the delay persists for more than two months, it will be complicated for John even if he has pre-approval. 

In essence, John's 'Pre-Approval of Work Permit' is an authentic stage in the UAE's employment process. However, he should keep in check that the necessary paperwork is completed within the estimated time frame to avoid any legal or immigration problems. Apart from this, you can track your application live by the online platform of MoHRE platform. Get the latest update about the progression of documents. 

Advantages of Work Permit Pre-Approval 

Taking the prior permission for work ensures smooth process employment and saves a lot of unnecessary problems for the employees. However, we have lined few of the benefits below;

For Employees:

• Regulatory Compliance: Work Permit Pre-Approval ensures that all job offers meet the UAE's labor law requirements, protecting the rights and interests of both employers and employees.

• Streamlined Process: It streamlines the work permit application process, making it more efficient and ensuring that only valid job offers are processed.

• Clarity: With the pre-approval request, you will be prevented from fraudulent jobs and promote transparency.

• Legal security : It ensures legal protection for foreign workers, resulting that the employment terms that comply with labor law.

For Employers:

• Welcomes Best Talent: For eligible applicants, particularly those from overseas, having pre-approval might be a big benefit. It shows effectiveness and lowers a possible barrier for the application.

• Streamlined recruiting Process: The business may save time and money by recruiting more people when the work permit is pre-approved.

• Lower Risk: By confirming that the applicant satisfies the fundamental conditions for a work permit, pre-approval helps lower the possibility of future delays or denials.

Conclusion:

The Work Permit Pre-Approval Request is a crucial approach in the UAE's employment process that works for the interest and welfare of both employer and employee. This further aligns the objectives of a working individual with the UAE labor law, stabilizing the importance of UAE in career and development. This way, people across the globe can conveniently come seeking employment and pursuing their field of interest. Being an employee or business owner, this approval process saves from any legal chaos that you might face and keeps the work seamless. Undoubtedly, it fastens the process of hiring and helps eliminate the doubts and uncertainty. 

Read more UAE visa policies