Visa & Compliance for Salon Staff
Complete MOHRE & DHA Guide
Hiring salon staff in Dubai requires a MOHRE work permit, entry permit, medical fitness test, Emirates ID, and residence visa — total processing time 2–4 weeks, cost AED 5,000–8,000 per employee. GCC Salon Jobs manages the entire process end-to-end. Under Ministerial Decree 1267/2022, the employee bears zero recruitment cost — all fees are paid by the employer.
Last updated: April 2026
Book Free ConsultationWhat Are the 6 Steps to Visa-Process Salon Staff?
Apply for MOHRE Work Permit
Submit application through MOHRE portal with employee documents, job offer, and salary details. Fee: AED 300–500. Processing: 2–5 business days.
Obtain Entry Permit
Once work permit is approved, apply for entry permit (employment visa) through GDRFA. Cost: AED 1,100–1,200. Processing: 1–2 business days.
Employee Arrives and Completes Medical Test
Employee enters UAE on entry permit and completes medical fitness test at an approved centre. Cost: AED 300–350. Same-day results for standard processing.
Apply for Emirates ID
Submit biometrics and application at an ICP typing centre. Cost: AED 370–570 (2-year validity). Card issued within 5–7 business days.
Stamp Residence Visa
Submit passport for residence visa stamping through GDRFA. Cost: AED 500–700. Processing: 3–5 business days. Validity: 2 years.
Obtain DHA Health Card
Apply for DHA health card with medical test results, Emirates ID, and trade licence. Cost: AED 300–500. Processing: 5–7 business days.
Total Cost: AED 5,000–8,000 per employee (varies by nationality and processing speed)
Total Timeline: 2–4 weeks (concurrent processing reduces time vs sequential)
What Documents Do I Need?
Employer Documents
- ✓Valid trade licence (beauty/salon activity listed)
- ✓MOHRE establishment card
- ✓Immigration card (GDRFA)
- ✓Tenancy contract (Ejari registered)
- ✓Bank guarantee letter or insurance
- ✓Company stamp and authorised signatory
- ✓WPS (Wage Protection System) registration
Employee Documents
- ✓Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- ✓Passport-size photos (white background, 4.3x5.5cm)
- ✓Educational certificates (attested if from outside UAE)
- ✓Experience certificates / portfolio
- ✓Medical fitness certificate (from approved centre)
- ✓Good conduct certificate (for some nationalities)
- ✓Existing Emirates ID (for UAE transfers)
What UAE Labour Law Rules Apply to Salon Staff?
Maximum Working Hours
8 hours/day, 48 hours/week. Reduced to 6 hours/day during Ramadan. Overtime: 125% of hourly rate (normal) or 150% (10pm–4am).
Salary Payment
Must be paid through WPS (Wage Protection System) within 10 days of due date. Cash payments are illegal. Delay beyond 60 days triggers automatic MOHRE notification.
Annual Leave
30 calendar days per year after 1 year of service. 2 days per month for the first 6–12 months. Plus 10 public holidays. Leave salary paid in advance.
End of Service Gratuity
21 days basic salary per year for first 5 years, 30 days per year after that. Calculated on last basic salary. Maximum: 2 years total salary.
Probation Period
Maximum 6 months. Either party can terminate with 14 days written notice during probation. No gratuity owed during probation.
Health Insurance
Mandatory in Dubai (DHA Law 11/2013). Employer must provide minimum Essential Benefits Plan. Cost: AED 500–700/year for basic coverage.
FAQ
Q.How long does the full visa process take for salon staff?▾
Total timeline: 2–4 weeks from application to employee starting work. Breakdown: MOHRE work permit approval (2–5 business days), entry permit (1–2 days after work permit), employee arrival and medical test (1–2 days), Emirates ID application (same day as medical), residence visa stamping (3–5 business days), DHA health card (5–7 business days). Processing through GCC Salon Jobs is faster because we batch applications and have established MOHRE and typing centre relationships.
Q.Who pays the recruitment and visa costs?▾
Under UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law 33/2021) and Ministerial Decree 1267/2022, the employer bears all recruitment costs. The employee pays zero — no agency fees, no visa fees, no flight costs. This includes: MOHRE fees, medical test, Emirates ID, residence visa, health insurance, and flight ticket. Deducting these costs from the employee salary is illegal and carries fines of AED 5,000–50,000 per violation.
Q.Do salon staff need a DHA health card?▾
Yes. Any professional performing beauty services in Dubai requires a DHA (Dubai Health Authority) health card. This is separate from the MOHRE medical fitness test. The DHA health card requires: passport copy, Emirates ID, 2 photos, DHA medical test (blood test + chest X-ray), and the relevant salon trade licence. Cost: AED 300–500. Validity: 1 year, renewable. Processing: 5–7 business days. Without this card, your salon risks a DHA fine of AED 10,000–50,000.
Q.What documents do I need to sponsor a salon employee?▾
Employer documents: valid trade licence with beauty/salon activity, establishment card (MOHRE), immigration card, tenancy contract (Ejari), bank guarantee letter. Employee documents: valid passport (6+ months validity), passport-size photos (white background), educational certificates (attested if required), experience certificates, medical fitness certificate. GCC Salon Jobs prepares the complete document package as part of our visa processing service.
Q.Can I transfer an employee from another salon to mine?▾
Yes, internal UAE transfers are faster and cheaper than overseas hiring. Requirements: employee has completed 6 months with current employer (or employer agrees to early release), no labour ban, valid Emirates ID. Process: cancel old work permit, issue new work permit under your company, update residence visa. Timeline: 5–10 business days. Cost: AED 2,000–3,500 (no flight, no new medical if Emirates ID is valid).
Q.What are the penalties for non-compliance?▾
MOHRE fines: AED 5,000–50,000 per illegal worker, AED 1,000/month per worker without valid work permit. DHA fines: AED 10,000–50,000 for operating without health cards. Municipality fines: AED 5,000–20,000 for hygiene/safety violations. Repeat offenders risk trade licence suspension. Labour ban prevents the employer from hiring new staff for 1 year. GCC Salon Jobs provides quarterly compliance audits to prevent these issues.
Visa Processing Is Complex. Let Us Handle It
GCC Salon Jobs manages the entire visa process — from MOHRE application to DHA health card. One point of contact, zero compliance risk.
WhatsApp Us NowOfficial References
- MOHRE — Work permit applications and labour law regulations
- GDRFA Dubai — Entry permits and residence visa processing
- DHA — Health cards and medical fitness requirements
- ICP — Emirates ID application and biometrics