Employee residence visa renewal: the employer's checklist
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Renewing an employee's residence visa is a chain of steps, and the chain breaks at whichever link nobody checked. Work through them in this order and start at least 30 days before expiry.
30 days or more before expiry
- Passport: at least six months of validity left. If not, renew the passport first — a visa cannot be renewed onto a nearly-expired passport.
- Health insurance: active for the coming visa term. Insurance is mandatory for visa holders and must be in place before the visa is issued.
- Labour contract / work permit: renewed through MOHRE for the new term.
The renewal itself
- Medical fitness test at an approved centre (for applicants aged 18 and over); results are sent electronically.
- Submit the visa renewal through GDRFA (Dubai) or ICP, usually by the company PRO or a typing centre.
- Emirates ID application and, if requested, biometrics at an ICP centre.
After it is issued
Record the new expiry date in your tracker straight away, so the next renewal is already scheduled.
Collect the new Emirates ID and keep copies of the visa and card on file.
Costs the employer carries
The employer is responsible for the costs of the work permit and residence visa, including the medical test, Emirates ID and health insurance.
- UAE Government portal — residence visas
- MOHRE — Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation
- GDRFA Dubai
- ICP — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security
UAE fees and fines change. This guide is general information checked on the date above, not legal advice — confirm current figures with the authority before acting on them.