This article describes a major
change that happened in January 2011, where the UAE Cabinet officially
reduced the validity of the private sector labour card (and consequently the
residency visa) from three years to two years.
This change was a significant
move at the time, aimed at unifying the visa validity period across different
categories and increasing labour market flexibility.
The information is now largely
confirmed and standardized under the current legal framework.
Here is the updated status
based on the current UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) and the
Unified Visa System (as of 2025):
๐
Private Sector Standard Work
Permits Now Uniformly Valid for Two Years
#UAELabourLaw #VisaValidity
#TwoYearStandard
The decision made by the UAE
Cabinet in 2011 to reduce the validity of private sector labour cards and
residency visas from three years to two years is now the standard
practice across the majority of the UAE mainland and many Free Zones.
This standardization ensures
alignment between the work permit issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and
Emiratisation (MoHRE) and the residency visa issued by the Federal Authority
for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or the General
Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA-D).
Key Provisions Under the
Current Law (2025)
|
Element |
Old Rule (Pre-2011) |
Current Standard
(2025) |
|
Standard Work Permit/Labour
Card Validity |
3 years (for many
professions) |
2 years |
|
Standard Employment
Residency Visa Validity |
3 years |
2 years |
|
Standard Employment Contract
Type |
Unlimited or Fixed-Term (Max
4 years) |
Fixed-Term
(Maximum 3 years initially) |
|
New Visa Categories |
Not applicable |
Green Visa
(Self-sponsored, 5 years) and Golden Visa (Long-term, 10 years) are
now available. |
Impact and Rationale (Then and
Now)
- Flexibility (The Cabinet's Aim):
As noted by former MoL and ICP officials, the two-year term enhanced
flexibility. It allows both employers and employees to re-evaluate the
relationship more frequently without incurring heavy costs for contract
cancellation, aligning with the current law's focus on labour mobility
and simplified termination procedures (with notice).
- Cost Savings (The Cabinet's Aim):
The move was designed to save companies money by preventing them from
paying three years of fees when a high percentage of employees cancelled
their cards early. While the specific figures from 2009 are outdated, the
principle of minimizing financial loss on premature contract termination
remains a core benefit of the two-year cycle.
- Unification:
The move successfully unified the duration across most categories,
including domestic helpers and general private sector employees,
streamlining administrative processes for both MoHRE and ICP.
Notable Exceptions to the
Two-Year Standard:
- Golden Visa Holders:
Can receive a 10-year residency visa and a corresponding 2-year work
permit (renewable).
- Green Visa Holders:
Can sponsor themselves for a 5-year residency visa for skilled employees
or freelancers.
- Government Sector:
Some federal and local government contracts and visas may still be issued
for a 3-year term.
- Elderly Employees:
Work permits for employees over the age of 60 are typically renewed
annually.
The current standard of a two-year
validity for the standard work permit and residency visa is fully
established in the UAE.
Would you like an overview of
the new Green Visa or Golden Visa categories, which offer longer residency
periods than the standard two years?
