Visa fee scams take money from thousands of job seekers every year. The story is almost always the same. You get an attractive offer. Then you are asked to pay something before you can travel. This guide explains the law, the common patterns, and how to report a scam through official channels only.
What the law says
Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 is the UAE’s private-sector labour law. Article 6(4) says:
“The employer is prohibited from charging the worker for the fees and costs of recruitment and employment or collecting them from him, whether directly or indirectly.”
(English text published on u.ae, which notes it is not an official translation.)
The UAE government portal u.ae also says:
“Job seekers are not required to pay money to any recruitment agency as the onus to pay such fees lies with the employers.”
And: “If the hiring company or the agency asks you for money to process the visa or medical test, it is not a genuine company.”
So the rule is simple. You should not pay for a UAE job or work visa. Scammers know this. That is why they hide the fee behind many different names.
Common scam patterns
1. The visa fee
You get an offer. Then: “Pay AED 2,000 for your work visa. The company will refund it with your first salary.”
The refund never comes. Often there is no job and no company. Sometimes there is a real company whose name has been stolen.
2. The medical test fee
“Your visa is approved. Pay for your medical test at our partner clinic before travel.”
The money goes to the scammer, not a clinic. u.ae names this pattern directly: a company or agency that asks you for money to process the medical test “is not a genuine company.”
3. The training or certification fee
“All selected candidates must complete a paid safety course (AED 1,200) before joining.”
Some real jobs need training. But a real employer arranges and pays for it, or tells you about a recognised course you can check independently. A fee paid to the “recruiter” is a scam sign.
4. Ticket, accommodation or “file” deposit
Other names for the same thing: air ticket deposit, accommodation advance, file charge, document verification fee, attestation fee paid to the recruiter, “refundable security deposit”. All of them are money from you to someone who should not be charging you.
5. Fake company emails and documents
Scammers send:
- An offer letter with a real company’s logo and a copied signature
- Emails from Gmail or a look-alike domain (for example an extra letter or a hyphen)
- A fake “visa copy” or “MoHRE approval”
u.ae advises that offer emails should come from the organisation’s own domain. In 2023, The National reported warnings from Al Futtaim, Etihad Airways, Kings’ Education and Burjeel Holdings about fake offers using their names. Etihad said: “We will never request an application fee at any stage of our recruitment process.”
6. Fake visa and residency offers on social media
Dubai Police warned in July 2026 about “fraudulent ads and messages offering jobs, residency, or visit visas in exchange for money”. Gulf News reported that these scams “are usually spread through social media and messaging apps” and use unlicensed company names or impersonate official entities.
7. Part-time “task” jobs and money transfers
“Earn AED 500 a day from your phone.” You do simple tasks, then you are asked to deposit money to “unlock” earnings. Or you are asked to receive money in your bank account and send it to someone else for a commission.
Dubai Police warned in October 2026 that fake part-time job offers aim to steal banking information or recruit people into illegal financial transactions, as reported by Gulf News. Receiving and forwarding money for strangers can put you in legal trouble yourself. If asked, stop all contact.
8. Fake domestic worker recruitment ads
This one targets employers in the UAE, not job seekers. Online ads offer maids or nannies for a deposit. In September 2026, Gulf News reported MoHRE’s warning to check licensed recruitment offices on its website before paying.
Quick test before you pay anything
| Question | If yes |
|---|---|
| Are they asking me for money? | Stop. |
| Did I have a real interview? | If no, stop. |
| Can I find the MoHRE job offer by its transaction number? | If no, stop and ask the employer. |
| Is the email from the company’s own domain? | If no, stop. |
| Are they rushing me? | Stop and check. |
Full checks are in how to spot a fake job offer in the UAE and how to check a recruitment agency licence.
How to report a job scam
Use official channels only. Do not pay any “recovery agent” who promises to get your money back. That is often a second scam.
If you are in Dubai
| Channel | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Dubai Police app | Reporting and following up on cases |
| Dubai Police eCrime platform | Online fraud and cybercrime. Open it from the official Dubai Police website or app. |
Dubai Police have repeatedly told the public to report fraud through the eCrime platform or the Dubai Police app, as reported by Gulf News.
To report an unlicensed recruiter or agency
| Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| MoHRE website and app | mohre.gov.ae, for complaints and reports of unlicensed or misleading recruitment ads |
MoHRE is the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the federal labour ministry. The u.ae portal says you can refer to the ministry “to check for licensed companies or raise a complaint”.
In other emirates
Report to the police force of that emirate through its official website, app or police station.
If you are outside the UAE
- Report to the police in your country.
- If a local agent was involved, report them to your government’s emigration or overseas employment authority.
- Gulf News notes that people outside the UAE can contact the UAE embassy or consulate in their home country for help verifying an offer.
Warning: Do not report through phone numbers or links in the scam message itself. Find official contact details yourself on the government website.
If you already paid
- Stop paying. Scammers often ask for a second or third fee.
- Call your bank or money transfer service right away. Ask if the payment can be stopped or flagged.
- Save evidence: screenshots of chats, emails with full headers, phone numbers, account numbers, receipts and the fake offer letter.
- Report it through the channels above.
- Change passwords if you shared any login, and never share OTPs again.
- Warn others in your WhatsApp groups, without sharing your own private details.
Stay safe while job hunting
- Apply through employers’ official websites and licensed agencies. Start with our list of Dubai recruitment agencies.
- Read how recruitment agencies in Dubai work so you know what is normal.
- Check every offer with our job offer checklist.
For the latest warnings, see our scam alerts section.
