Employment Visa Dubai: Complete Document Attestation Requirements (2026)

MOHRE Document Requirements for Work Permits

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) processes all UAE work permits. The primary document requirement is an attested degree certificate — without it, your employer cannot apply for a work permit. MOHRE verifies the attestation chain digitally and rejects applications with incomplete or improperly attested documents. The employer initiates the work permit application, but the employee is responsible for providing properly attested documents.

Which Certificates Need Attestation?

The attestation requirements vary by role and profession.

• -Degree certificate — MANDATORY for all skilled worker categories. Must be fully attested through home country, embassy, and MOFA
• -Experience certificates — Required for senior positions, regulated professions, and roles where experience validates qualifications
• -Professional licenses — Doctors (DHA), engineers, teachers, lawyers, accountants need attested professional certificates plus MOE equivalency
• -Police clearance certificate — Required by some employers and for certain visa categories, particularly in education and healthcare
• -Good conduct certificate — Some free zone authorities require this for specific industries

Timeline Planning for Employment Visa

The biggest mistake new employees make is underestimating attestation timelines. Your employer can start the entry permit process immediately, but the work permit requires attested documents. If your degree is not attested when you arrive in the UAE, you may need to rely on a 60-day grace period to complete attestation. Best practice: start attestation at least 4-6 weeks before your planned move to Dubai. If you are already in the UAE on a visit visa, start immediately — visit visa validity is limited.

Regulated Professions: Additional Requirements

Certain professions in the UAE require additional steps beyond basic attestation. Healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists) need DHA licensing which requires attested degrees plus certificate equivalency from MOE. Engineers need their degrees evaluated by the relevant authority. Teachers in Dubai require attested credentials plus KHDA approval. Lawyers need attested law degrees plus Dubai Courts registration. Accountants and auditors need attested qualifications plus professional body recognition.