How to Renew Your UAE Work Visa in 2026 — Steps, Documents, Costs, and Timelines

Most employees in the UAE never really handle their own visa renewal — the company PRO does the running around. That’s fine, right up until your passport has been sitting in HR for three weeks and nobody can tell you what’s happening. Knowing how the process actually works means you can ask the right questions instead of just waiting and worrying.

Here’s the whole thing, start to finish, as it stands in 2026.

When does it need to happen?

Employment visas usually run two years; some free-zone visas run three. Your company should kick off the renewal at least 30 days before expiry. If the visa lapses before the paperwork is done, you typically get a grace period — around 30 days — to stay without fines while it’s sorted.

After the grace period, overstay fines start at AED 50 a day. Don’t let it drift that far. If your expiry is six weeks out and HR hasn’t mentioned renewal, that’s your cue to ask.

Step 1 — Medical fitness test

Before anything else, you pass a medical at a government-approved centre. Standard requirement for every employment visa.

• Includes a blood test and a chest X-ray
• Screens for infectious diseases — TB, HIV, Hepatitis B and C
• Costs roughly AED 250 to 550 depending on the emirate and how fast you want results
• Results usually ready in one to two working days
• Your PRO either takes you or hands you a referral to go yourself

Step 2 — Emirates ID

Your Emirates ID and residence visa renew together. If your biometrics need updating, you’ll register fingerprints and a photo at an ICP-approved centre.

• Bring your passport
• Your employer or PRO normally files the application and pays the fee
• Emirates ID renewal runs around AED 100 for a two-year card

Step 3 — Visa stamping

Once the medical clears and the Emirates ID application is in, immigration processes the residence visa. These days it’s mostly an electronic visa linked to your file rather than a physical stamp in the passport.

• Processing usually takes 5 to 10 working days
• Some free zones move faster, in the 3 to 5 day range
• You can travel within the UAE normally during this time

If you need to fly internationally mid-process, your PRO can usually pull the file back temporarily — but it adds time, so flag it early rather than the night before your flight.

Documents to have ready

Hand these over at the start and you avoid the back-and-forth that drags renewals out:

• Original passport, valid at least 6 months beyond the new visa
• Two recent passport photos, white background
• Copy of your current Emirates ID
• Copy of your current residence visa
• Employment contract or salary certificate, if asked

What it costs

If the company is covering it — which, by law, it generally should for the work visa itself — you pay nothing. On certain free-zone packages where the employee carries their own costs, the rough totals are:

• Medical: AED 250 to 550
• Emirates ID: AED 100
• Visa fee: AED 400 to 700 depending on emirate and type
• Typing centre service charge: AED 100 to 200
• All in: roughly AED 850 to 1,400

When the company drags its feet

It happens more than it should. If your renewal is stalling with no explanation, take these steps in order — each one builds a paper trail:

• Ask HR or the PRO for a written update on where the renewal stands. Get it in writing, not just verbally.
• Check your own status on the ICP smart services portal using your passport or file number, so you’re not relying solely on what HR tells you.
• If the company is genuinely stalling and the visa has already expired, file a complaint with MOHRE. Visa obligations are taken seriously, and a complaint usually moves things fast.

Once it’s renewed, check three things

When your passport and new visa come back, verify before you relax:

• Your name matches your passport spelling exactly
• The expiry is two years out from the new issue date — not carried over from the old one
• Your employer’s name matches your current company

Spot anything wrong and go straight back to the PRO. Corrections after the fact need a separate process and cost you more time. For the bigger picture on your rights at work, our UAE Labour Law guide is worth a read, and if you’re renewing because you’re moving on, run the numbers first with our Gratuity Calculator.