Hiring in a DMCC company means sponsoring a DMCC employment visa through the DMCC member portal. It is a 12-step chain from offer letter to residence visa, and one wrong document can send it back. Our JLT-based PRO team runs the whole process so your new hire can start work legally and quickly.
Before you can sponsor an employee
Three routes, depending on where the employee is
Outside the UAE
An entry permit lets the employee fly in, then medical, Emirates ID and visa stamping follow.
Inside the UAE, no amendment
For applicants already in the country, for example on a visit visa or with a cancelled visa.
Inside the UAE, with amendment
Adds an Immigration status change step so the applicant moves onto the new permit without leaving.
Documents required
| Stage | Documents |
|---|
| Entry permit (outside UAE) | Passport valid 6+ months, recent photo, signed system-generated offer letter, and an education certificate attested by the UAE embassy if the job title requires one |
| Entry permit (inside UAE) | As above, plus the current visa or cancellation document; the education certificate must be MOFA-attested and legally translated into Arabic |
| Visa stamping (all routes) | Medical test results, valid health insurance, stamped Emirates ID registration form |
The DMCC employment visa process
- Portal applicationWe file the new employee residence permit request under Employment Services.
- DMCC review and entry permitDMCC approves and Immigration issues the entry permit.
- Arrival or status changeThe employee arrives, or changes status inside the UAE.
- E-signed contractThe employment contract is signed electronically.
- Medical and Emirates IDDMCC types both forms; the employee completes the medical and biometrics.
- Residence visa issuedImmigration issues the visa and DMCC uploads the company employment certificate.
DMCC's published processing time is 20 working days or less.
Two deadlines to watch. The entry permit is valid for 60 days, cannot be renewed, and the visa must be stamped within that window to avoid overstay fines. Draft portal requests are cancelled automatically after 60 days, and requests waiting for your action after 90 days.
Investor and partner visas
Shareholders can hold their own visa through the company. Under DMCC's guidelines, the investor title is for a sole shareholder and the partner title for companies with several shareholders, each with a share certificate showing at least AED 50,000 of share capital. Senior owners may later move to a 10-year Golden Visa.
Moving an employee from another Dubai free zone instead? See DMCC visa transfer. Bringing their family? See DMCC family visa.
DMCC employment visa — FAQs
How long does a DMCC employment visa take?
DMCC's published processing time for a new employee residence visa is 20 working days or less, once all documents are complete.
What documents does a DMCC employment visa need?
A passport valid for more than 6 months, a recent photo, a signed system-generated offer letter and, where the job title requires it, an attested education certificate. At the stamping stage: medical results, health insurance and a stamped Emirates ID form.
How long is a DMCC entry permit valid?
60 days. It cannot be renewed, and the visa must be stamped within that period to avoid overstay fines.
Can I hire someone who is already in the UAE?
Yes. DMCC has inside-country routes, with or without a status change, for applicants on a visit visa or with a cancelled visa.
Who can get a DMCC investor visa?
Under DMCC's guidelines, the investor title is for a sole shareholder and the partner title for companies with multiple shareholders, with a share certificate showing at least AED 50,000 of share capital.
How we keep this page accurate. Fees and process steps are checked against DMCC’s official
Schedule of Charges and the
DMCC Knowledge Bank guidelines, and against the DMCC member-portal filings our JLT team handles every week.
Last verified: October 2026. Government fees change, so we confirm the live figure before you pay.
