Tasheel Centers
MOHRE's licensed service centres for work permit applications, labour contracts, and WPS registrations across the UAE outside Dubai.
On this page
Launched
2008
Operator
MOHRE-licensed operators
Cost
Government fee plus service fee
Languages
Arabic, English, Urdu, Hindi
Overview
Tasheel Centers are MOHRE-licensed service centres operating across the UAE that handle the paperwork side of work permit applications, employment contract typing, Wage Protection System (WPS) registration, employee transfer, and labour file maintenance for employers. The network sits inside MOHRE's broader 'Tasheel' (meaning 'simplification') programme launched in 2010 to push routine labour-side transactions out of MOHRE counters and into customer-facing service centres run by approved private operators. Most employers use Tasheel as the front desk for any MOHRE-side action, while employees who need a labour-card replacement or contract attestation also visit Tasheel.
The network is mapped to the federal MOHRE backend, which means a Tasheel in Sharjah and a Tasheel in Fujairah can file the same set of MOHRE transactions; only Dubai's Amer brand operates the GDRFA side of the same workflow for Dubai-licensed companies. Tasheel processes work permit applications (the document that authorises a foreign national to be hired before they enter the UAE), labour-contract registration (the post-arrival contract signed by both employer and employee and uploaded to MOHRE), WPS registration for new establishments, monthly WPS file submission for smaller employers who do not run their own payroll, and employer-side actions like permit cancellation and transfer.
Three operational points matter. First, Tasheel charges its own typing and service fee on top of the underlying MOHRE government fee, typically AED 50-200 per transaction depending on complexity; the MOHRE fee schedule itself is separate and published on mohre.gov.ae. Second, for many transactions the worker also needs to be present for biometrics or signature; Tasheel coordinates this, but the worker's presence is not optional. Third, MOHRE has digitised most of the underlying flow, so a sophisticated employer with a strong HR team can file directly through the MOHRE Employer Portal and skip Tasheel entirely; Tasheel persists because most SMEs prefer outsourcing the paperwork. Confirm specific transaction fees on mohre.gov.ae before assuming any Tasheel quote.
For UAE mainland employers Tasheel is the human-counter front desk to MOHRE: work permit applications, labour contracts, WPS file submissions, complaint processing. The 2026 pattern: PROs route most employer-side work through Tasheel for AED 150-300 in service fees per application; workers interact with MOHRE directly via the smart app for personal matters (labour card, contract check, complaints). Pair Tasheel with UAE Pass (sign-on) and ICP (residence visa link). For Dubai-specific residence flows the equivalent counter network is Amer. Country context at our UAE country guide.
What changed and matters operationally in 2026: Tasheel service fees vary by centre and case complexity (AED 150-300 typical for routine work permit, AED 300-500 for complex contract amendments or labour complaints); the digital labour card era means physical card collection is no longer the gate, but Tasheel remains useful for document checking, biometric capture for new arrivals, and human-mediated submissions for complex cases. The stricter WPS escalation from 1 June 2026 has made Tasheel important for monthly WPS file reconciliation for SMEs without in-house finance teams.
Services offered
Work Permit Application
Issue an entry work permit for a foreign hire while they are still outside the UAE. Tasheel types the application, attaches required documents, and pushes it to MOHRE for approval. Application/renewal/transfer for mainland employers; AED 250-5,000 government fee depending on MOHRE category plus AED 150-300 Tasheel service.
Labour Contract Registration
Type and register the bilingual MOHRE-standard employment contract after the worker arrives. The contract is digitally signed by both parties through SMS OTP and uploaded to MOHRE. Offer letter and contract filing on MOHRE; worker e-signs via UAE Pass.
Permit Renewal
Renew the work permit at the two-year (or contract-length) mark, with all dependent documents (passport copy, Emirates ID, medical fitness, insurance) attached.
Worker Transfer
File a transfer between two MOHRE establishments. Requires the old employer's NOC or a qualifying exception (six-month rule, contract-end transfer, free transfer for category-1 workers).
WPS Registration and File Submission
Register an establishment in WPS and submit the monthly salary file. Smaller employers without their own payroll software typically run this through Tasheel.
Cancellation and Final Settlement Paperwork
Cancel a work permit at end of employment, including the final settlement paperwork that the worker signs as part of MOHRE-recognised closure.
How to access Tasheel
- 1
Choose a MOHRE-licensed Tasheel
Confirm the centre is on MOHRE's official list (mohre.gov.ae > Tasheel Centres). Unlicensed 'typing centres' may file through someone else's licence, which voids the worker's protection if anything goes wrong.
- 2
Walk in with documents or book online
Most Tasheel centres accept walk-ins and online bookings through their own websites. Bring the establishment card, the worker's passport copy and photo, the Emirates ID (for renewal), and any prior MOHRE references.
- 3
Sign the typed application
The agent types the form in the MOHRE-standard layout. The employer signs digitally through SMS OTP linked to their MOHRE establishment file. The worker signs separately when they are present (or remotely through MOHRE app on subsequent steps).
- 4
Pay MOHRE fee plus Tasheel service charge
Pay the MOHRE government fee (varies by transaction and skill level) plus the Tasheel typing/service charge (typically AED 50-200). The receipt itemises both lines for VAT and reimbursement purposes.
- 5
Track approval on MOHRE app
After submission, track the transaction status on the MOHRE app or mohre.gov.ae using the application reference. Most approvals come back within 24-72 hours. Once approved, the worker enters the UAE or the contract is registered.
Troubleshooting
The errors residents hit most often on Tasheel, and the fix that works.
Ask for itemised: MOHRE government fee, Tasheel service fee, 5% VAT, biometric capture (if any), delivery. Service fees vary so two-centre comparison is worth doing.
Certificates need UAE MOFA stamp even if attested in home country. Run the full attestation chain first.
Tasheel's role ends at submission. Track via MOHRE smart app. If stuck more than 7 working days, call 600 590 000 with the reference.
Common causes: salary column format wrong, employee Emirates ID number mismatch, bank IBAN format error. Tasheel agent can pre-check before submission.
Common cause is glare or photo issues. Tasheel agent retries; persistent failure routes to ICP centre.
Tasheel processes documents; mediation happens at MOHRE. Call 600 590 000 with the case reference.
Free-zone employers do not file through MOHRE. The zone's own portal is the only channel.
Frequently asked questions
Tasheel is the MOHRE-side service centre for work permits, labour contracts and WPS. Amer is the GDRFA-side service centre for residence visas, entry permits and Emirates ID typing in Dubai. A Dubai work visa starts at Tasheel for the work permit and continues at Amer for the residence stamping. In the other emirates, the federal ICP runs the residence-side flow and Tasheel handles MOHRE.
The employer pays for any work-related transaction; this is a MOHRE rule. Workers should never be asked to fund their own work permit application or labour contract typing fee. If asked, the worker can file a complaint with MOHRE through the MOHRE app or 800-60.
Typically 24-72 hours for approval, plus the time to complete the offer-letter and visa quota checks beforehand. Complex cases (banned worker, restricted nationality, suspended establishment) can take weeks.
Yes. Open mohre.gov.ae or the MOHRE app, log in with UAE Pass or with the establishment credentials, and look up the transaction by reference. Workers can also check by passport number through MOHRE's public lookup.
Employers no longer have to visit in person for most transactions because the typing happens online and approvals route through the MOHRE Employer Portal. Workers sometimes need to be present for biometrics or contract signature, especially for first-time hires.
Yes for sophisticated employers. The MOHRE Employer Portal allows direct submission of work permits, contracts, WPS files, and cancellations. Most SMEs still use Tasheel because the centre handles the paperwork and follow-up; large corporates and free-zone administrators typically file directly.
Dependants' visas are GDRFA-side (residence visa), not MOHRE-side (work permit). Tasheel does not handle them. In Dubai, dependants go through Amer; outside Dubai through the federal ICP.
Errors are corrected by filing a contract modification through Tasheel or directly on MOHRE. The original mistake is captured in the audit log, so insist that the corrected version is the one signed by both parties. Significant errors that prejudice the worker can be raised as a labour complaint.
Tasheel centres are MOHRE-authorised service centres for mainland labour matters (work permits, contracts, WPS, complaints) and operate across the UAE including Dubai. Amer centres are GDRFA Dubai-authorised service centres for Dubai-issued visas, Emirates ID, family files, and immigration matters. A Dubai mainland resident might use Tasheel for the work permit step and Amer for the residence visa and Emirates ID step in the same week. For Abu Dhabi residents, ICP is the residence authority (no Amer equivalent; some local typing centres play a similar role) and Tasheel handles mainland labour. Free-zone employees use neither - they go through their zone's labour and visa portals (DMCC, JAFZA, DIFC, IFZA, RAKEZ, ADGM, etc.).
Service fees vary by centre and case. Routine work permit applications: AED 150-300. Complex contract amendments: AED 300-500. Labour complaint processing: AED 200-400. WPS file submission: AED 100-200 per file. On top of the service fee, the MOHRE government fee (AED 250 Category A, AED 500 Category B, AED 5,000 Category C) applies, plus 5% VAT on the service fee. Some Tasheel centres bundle additional services (medical fitness AED 250-700, biometric capture, document attestation pre-checks) into a single quote; itemised breakdown is the only reliable way to compare across centres. Asking 'what is the total cost including everything?' is the right opening question.
Guides from the blog
Walkthroughs that use Tasheel
Step-by-step guides for the most common transactions on this portal.
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Stuck on a Tasheel transaction?
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