You can use a MOHRE enquiry to verify what the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has on file for a work permit, labour contract, salary, employment status, or company establishment card. The basic check is free, but it only helps when you choose the right enquiry type and enter the right identifier. This guide walks you through the exact steps, identifiers, official alternatives, and fixes for mismatches before they become costly.

Key Takeaways

• A MOHRE enquiry is the free official way to check work permits, labour contracts, salary records, labour cards, and company establishment cards.
• Use MOHRE for labour records. Use GDRFA for residency visas and ICP for identity and entry-permit matters.
• The right identifier matters: passport number, Emirates ID, unified number, work permit number, or transaction number.
• A “no data” result often means a delayed update, wrong identifier, or employer-side processing issue — not necessarily a legal problem.
• Online results are useful records, not attested documents. Banks, embassies, or government bodies may require a certified copy from Tasheel.
• If your contract shows the wrong salary, wrong employer, or cancelled status, act quickly to prevent absconding reports or work permit blocks.

What Is a MOHRE Enquiry and When Do You Need One?

A MOHRE enquiry is an official online check of records held by the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. MOHRE is the federal authority that oversees labour relations, work permits, labour contracts, and the Wage Protection System for most private-sector employees in the UAE.

You need a MOHRE enquiry when you want to confirm something that has already been registered with the government. The most common triggers include:

• Verifying a job offer before you sign anything.
• Checking whether your labour contract was renewed or changed correctly.
• Confirming that a work permit is active, cancelled, expired, or still under process.
• Reviewing the salary amount registered with MOHRE before a bank or embassy asks for it.
• Tracking a labour complaint or settlement status.
• Checking your own employment record before leaving the UAE or changing employers.

Employers can also use the same system to check company compliance, employee quotas, and establishment card status.

It is important to separate MOHRE from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, usually called GDRFA, and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, usually called ICP. MOHRE handles labour records. GDRFA handles residency visas and entry permits. ICP handles identity, Emirates ID, and passport-related services.

A MOHRE enquiry will not show a residency visa expiry date in the same way a passport stamp or GDRFA record does. A GDRFA enquiry will not show the salary registered on a labour contract. Using the right system saves time and prevents false alarms.

The official free portal is inquiry.mohre.gov.ae. Some third-party websites offer MOHRE enquiry services, but the basic check is free. Avoid sites that charge for information you can see yourself in minutes.

What Can You Check Through a MOHRE Enquiry?

A MOHRE enquiry covers several categories of labour data. The result depends on the enquiry type you select and the identifier you enter.

• Labour contract details: job title, employer name, contract start date, contract end date, contract type, and the salary registered with MOHRE.
• Work permit status: active, cancelled, expired, or under process. The result may also show the work permit number and issuance date.
• Labour card status: validity, expiry date, and the linked Emirates ID number.
• Employment status: whether you are registered as an active employee, terminated, or reported absconding.
• Company establishment card: the number of approved visas, quota utilisation, and card validity for employers. An establishment card is the MOHRE registration that links your company to its approved employee quotas.
• Complaint status: the progress of a labour complaint filed by an employee or employer.
• Salary or wage details: the salary on record with MOHRE, which is used for Wage Protection System, or WPS, compliance.

The exact fields vary by enquiry type. A labour contract enquiry may show salary and contract dates. A work permit enquiry may show occupation and permit status. A complaint enquiry may show case progress rather than personal contract data.

How to Use the Official MOHRE Enquiry Portal Step by Step

The following steps apply to the free online MOHRE enquiry service. You can also use the MOHRE mobile app under “Services” and then “Enquiry”.

1. Go to inquiry.mohre.gov.ae.
2. Select the enquiry type. Common options include work permit, labour contract, establishment card, and complaint status.
3. Enter the required identifier. This may be a passport number, Emirates ID, unified number, work permit number, or transaction number, depending on the enquiry type.
4. Provide your nationality and date of birth where required. MOHRE usually expects the date format DD-MM-YYYY.
5. Complete the captcha and click “Search”.
6. View the result on screen. Use “Print” or “Save” to keep a personal record.
7. If the enquiry requires a transaction number, ask your employer, check a Tasheel receipt, or look at previous MOHRE correspondence.

An online printout is useful for verification, but it is not an official attestation. If you need a certified document, you must visit a Tasheel centre or request the correct official issuance through MOHRE channels.

Some users find the portal returns nothing because they selected “labour card enquiry” but entered a passport number. In that case, the system may expect an Emirates ID. Matching the right identifier to the right enquiry type is the most important step.

How to Check Your MOHRE Labour Contract and Work Permit Online

The two most common checks are the labour contract enquiry and the work permit enquiry. They look similar but return different information.

Labour contract enquiry

Choose “Labour Contract Enquiry” from the MOHRE enquiry menu. Enter your unified number or passport number and nationality. The result shows your contract type, employer name, contract start and end dates, and the salary registered with MOHRE.

Compare this result with the physical contract you signed. Check three things carefully:

• Is the salary exactly the same?
• Is the job title the same?
• Is the contract type the same?

If you agreed to a limited contract but MOHRE shows an unlimited contract, that is a problem. If the employer name is different from the company you interviewed with, stop and ask for an explanation.

Work permit enquiry

Choose “Work Permit Enquiry” from the same menu. Enter your passport number or work permit number. The result usually shows the permit number, status, occupation, and employer name.

If the permit is marked “cancelled” or “expired” but you are still working, contact your employer immediately. It may be an administrative delay, or it may be that the employer has already started the cancellation process without informing you.

Red flags to take seriously:

• The salary shown is lower than the amount in your signed offer letter.
• The employer name is not the company that issued your offer.
• The contract type was changed without your consent.
• The work permit status is cancelled or expired while you are still employed.

In most cases, a correction requires the employer to submit a request through Tasheel or MOHRE. You cannot usually fix a registered salary or contract type on your own through the online portal.

MOHRE Enquiry by Passport Number, Emirates ID, or Unified Number: When to Use Each

Different enquiry types ask for different identifiers. Using the wrong one is one of the main reasons people see “no data” and assume the record is missing.

Identifier	Best used for	What to know
Passport number	Labour contract and work permit enquiries	Use the passport number as shown in the machine-readable zone. Do not enter the passport expiry date.
Emirates ID	Labour card enquiry and current employment status	Enter the 15-digit ID number without spaces or hyphens.
Unified number	Cross-government checks and contract enquiries	This is a unique personal number used by MOHRE, GDRFA, and ICP. Find it on the visa stamp or Emirates ID application.
Work permit number	Tracking a recent permit or renewal	Found on MOHRE correspondence, Tasheel receipts, or employer records.
Transaction number	Complaint status and specific application follow-up	Provided by your employer or shown on a Tasheel receipt.

If a MOHRE enquiry returns multiple records, confirm the correct result by checking the date of birth and nationality fields. Common names may produce more than one match, especially when the system is queried with a passport number only.

A unified number is often the most reliable identifier because it stays linked to the person across different government systems. If you have a visa stamp, the unified number is usually printed on it. You can also see it in the Emirates ID application or in some GDRFA records.

Why Your MOHRE Enquiry Shows No Data or Incorrect Information

A MOHRE enquiry result that shows no data or outdated information can feel alarming. Often it is a technical issue rather than a legal one.

Common reasons include:

• System lag: visa issuance, contract renewal, or cancellation may take one to three working days to reflect in MOHRE systems after the underlying process is completed.
• Wrong identifier: using a passport number when the system expects a unified number, or entering the passport expiry date instead of the passport number.
• Name or date of birth mismatch: the name registered with MOHRE may differ slightly from your passport due to transliteration. Enter the name exactly as it appears on the visa.
• Employer not registered: if your employer has not registered the labour contract or work permit, no record will appear. Ask HR for proof of submission.
• Previous sponsor not cleared: if your last visa was not properly cancelled, the new employment record may not appear. This must be verified with GDRFA and MOHRE.
• Free zone or system variation: some free zone employees may have their labour records maintained differently, although most use MOHRE or a linked free zone authority.

How to fix it:

1. Double-check every input field, especially nationality and date format.
2. Try a different identifier, such as the unified number instead of the passport number.
3. Wait 48 hours if the process was submitted recently.
4. Contact the MOHRE call centre on 68027666 for a manual check.
5. Visit a Tasheel centre if the issue is urgent or you need a formal correction.

If the result shows information that is factually wrong, do not ignore it. A salary mismatch can affect a bank loan application. A wrong termination record can block a new work permit.

MOHRE Enquiry for Employers: Verifying Employee Records and Compliance

Employers use the same MOHRE enquiry system to manage compliance and avoid penalties. The most useful checks are the establishment card, employee work permits, and WPS salary records.

• Establishment card: shows the company’s approved visa quotas, profession categories, and card expiry. It is a core compliance record for mainland companies. A mainland jurisdiction is the onshore UAE business licence issued by an economic department, as opposed to a free zone authority.
• Employee labour card and work permit: verify that a new hire does not have an active contract with another employer. This reduces the risk of hiring someone with an absconding record.
• Salary and WPS records: confirm that wage disbursements are visible to MOHRE. Late or partial salary payments can lead to fines.
• Contract and permit expiry: track renewal dates. Late work permit renewal can trigger daily fines. In practice, this has often been AED 100 per day for some categories, but the exact amount depends on the current fee schedule.
• Complaint status: check whether a case has been filed against the company. Early action can resolve disputes before they escalate into formal labour complaints.

For businesses that are growing, the MOHRE establishment card is directly tied to how many employees you can sponsor. If your quota is full, you cannot process new work permits until you adjust your records or licence category. This is one reason why investors review MOHRE records during a company setup or expansion.

If you run a mainland business, your MOHRE standing matters alongside your trade licence. For a detailed look at ownership options, see Dubai Mainland License Without Local Sponsor 2026: Full Guide. If you are still comparing jurisdictions, Mainland Business Setup Dubai and Freezone Business Setup Dubai can help you understand where your employee quotas and MOHRE obligations will sit. For local-level setup support, Business Setup Services in Al Qusais, Dubai: Your Local Guide explains how a registered service provider can align your licence, establishment card, and workforce records.

Costs, Timelines, and Official Alternatives to the Online MOHRE Enquiry

A standard MOHRE enquiry is free and returns results instantly for most enquiry types. You do not need to pay anyone to check a labour contract, work permit, or labour card online.

Channel	Typical cost	Speed	Best for
Official portal inquiry.mohre.gov.ae	Free	Instant	Routine contract, permit, card, and complaint status checks
MOHRE mobile app	Free	Instant	On-the-go checks from a phone
MOHRE call centre 68027666	Standard call charges	Immediate, but depends on advisor	Clarifying portal errors or confirming a record manually
Tasheel service centre	Service fee, often AED 10–50 depending on the service	Same day to a few working days	Attested certificates, manual corrections, and formal requests
MOHRE WhatsApp business line	Free	Response time varies	Quick status questions when a call is not convenient

The online result is a useful record but not an attested document. If a bank, embassy, court, or government authority asks for an official labour contract certificate, you will need a printed document from a Tasheel centre or another approved MOHRE channel.

Corrections to MOHRE records, such as salary amendments or contract changes, generally take two to five working days. The timeline depends on employer submission, document accuracy, and whether the case requires further review. Small typing errors can be faster. Cases involving contract type changes or sponsor disputes can take longer.

For urgent verification, the MOHRE call centre can provide real-time status updates, but call centre agents cannot issue official documents. Use the online portal for speed, Tasheel for attestation, and the call centre when you need a human to confirm what a screen result means. The UAE government portal also lists the official channels for labour-related services if you want to cross-check the current entry points.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Doing a MOHRE Enquiry

Most MOHRE enquiry problems are caused by simple input errors