In most cases, the UAE government no longer requires a NOC to work.
- Family visa: MOHRE’s work permit for dependants sponsored by family does not list a sponsor’s NOC. The employer applies, and you keep your family visa.
- Changing jobs: since the 2021 labour law, most private-sector workers need no NOC from their old employer.
- Part-time second job: you do need a letter from your current employer.
Many employers still ask for a husband’s or father’s NOC for their own files, so the samples below are ready to use.
Checked on 30 October 2026 against MOHRE service cards and Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Sources are at the end.
When do you need a NOC to work in the UAE?
| Situation | NOC required by the government? | What actually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Wife (or husband) on a spouse’s family visa takes a job | No, not on MOHRE’s service card | The employer applies for the work permit for dependants sponsored by family members. Some employers still ask for a sponsor letter. |
| Son or daughter (18+) on a parent’s visa takes a job | No, same service | Same as above |
| Changing jobs (mainland private sector) | No in most cases | Finish your notice period and cancel the old permit and visa properly |
| Second job, part-time | Yes | MOHRE’s part-time permit lists a no-objection letter from your current employer |
| Visa application for travel (Schengen, Portugal and others) | Asked for by many consulates | This is a different letter. See our NOC for visa templates. |
| Free zone jobs | Depends on the free zone | Some free zones and companies ask for a sponsor letter as their own rule |
Working on your husband’s visa: how the work permit works
You keep your family residence visa. Your employer applies to MOHRE for a work permit for dependants sponsored by family members:
- The employer issues a MOHRE job offer. You and the employer both sign it.
- The employer’s authorised signatory applies on the MOHRE website or app, or at a service centre.
- Documents are attached: your photo, passport copy (6+ months valid), signed job offer, academic certificates for your skill level, and a professional licence if your job needs one.
- The employer pays AED 50 for the application and AED 250 for issuance. A service centre may add up to AED 72.
- MOHRE issues the permit, usually within 2 working days. It is valid for 2 years.
Conditions:
- You are 18 or older.
- You hold a valid residence permit through your relative.
- You have no other active work permit.
- The job matches the company’s licensed activity.
Full-time, part-time, temporary, flexible, remote and job-sharing contracts are all allowed. Men sponsored by their wives can use the same route.
Sample NOC letter from husband to wife for a job
Use this if your employer asks for one. Print it on plain paper, sign it, and attach copies of your husband’s passport, Emirates ID and residence visa.
[Date] To: [Company name] Human Resources Department [Emirate], United Arab Emirates Subject: No Objection Certificate I, [husband's full name], holder of [nationality] passport no. [number] and Emirates ID no. [number], am the sponsor of my wife, [wife's full name], passport no. [number], Emirates ID no. [number], who holds a UAE residence visa under my sponsorship. I have no objection to my wife working with [company name] as [job title]. I understand that she will keep her residence visa under my sponsorship and that the company will apply for her MOHRE work permit. [Signature] [Husband's full name] Mobile: [number] | Email: [email] Attached: copy of my passport, Emirates ID and residence visa.
Sample NOC letter from a father (or mother) for a son or daughter
[Date] To: [Company name], Human Resources Department Subject: No Objection Certificate I, [parent's full name], Emirates ID no. [number], am the sponsor of my [son/daughter], [full name], Emirates ID no. [number], who is [age] years old and holds a UAE residence visa under my sponsorship. I have no objection to [him/her] working with [company name] as [job title], while keeping [his/her] residence visa under my sponsorship. [Signature] [Parent's full name] | Mobile: [number]
Sample NOC from your employer for a part-time second job
[Company letterhead] [Date] To: Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation / [New employer's name] Subject: No Objection Letter: Part-Time Work This is to confirm that [employee's full name], passport no. [number], is employed by [company name] as [job title] since [date], under MOHRE work permit no. [number]. We have no objection to [him/her] working part-time with [new employer's name] as [job title], outside [his/her] working hours with us. [Authorised signatory name, title, signature] [Company stamp]
Do I need a NOC to change jobs in the UAE?
No, in most cases. Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 largely removed the old NOC and labour-ban system. To move to a new employer:
- End your contract by finishing it, by mutual agreement, or by resigning with the notice period in your contract.
- Make sure your old work permit and residence visa are cancelled properly.
- Your new employer applies for a transfer work permit. MOHRE doesn’t list a letter from the old employer for it.
Watch out: leaving during probation without written notice, absconding, or breaking your contract can still lead to a work-permit ban. During probation, your new employer may have to pay recruitment costs to your old employer unless you agree otherwise.
What if your sponsor or employer refuses?
- Family sponsor refuses: MOHRE doesn’t require their NOC for the dependant work permit, so ask the employer to apply without it. If the employer insists, there is no MOHRE complaint route against a family member.
- Employer refuses something your contract allows: you can file a free labour complaint with MOHRE on its website or app, or call 600590000.
Questions people ask
Can a wife work in the UAE on her husband’s visa?
Yes. The employer applies to MOHRE for a work permit for dependants sponsored by family members, and she keeps her family residence visa. The permit costs the employer AED 300 and lasts 2 years.
Is the husband’s NOC mandatory for a wife to work in the UAE?
Not under MOHRE’s current service card. It isn’t listed as a required document. Some employers and free zones still ask for one for their own records.
Does a NOC letter need to be attested?
Usually not for an employer’s own file. If someone asks for an attested or notarised NOC, ask them which authority, because requirements differ.
Can I work part-time in the UAE while employed full-time?
Yes, with a MOHRE part-time work permit. It needs a no-objection letter from your current employer.
Related guides
Sources
- MOHRE: Issuance of a New Work Permit for Dependents Sponsored by Family Members: mohre.gov.ae
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations, and Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022
- Khaleej Times (21 May 2026): UAE job change rules and work permit bans
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches rules from government sources. He is not a lawyer, and Sifqa does not provide legal or typing services. The templates are examples: adapt them to your case. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 30 October 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.