Does my employer need my passport for any processes, and can they retain it?

This is a question we get asked a lot and the simple answer is no.

In the UAE, all visa processes are now done using online portals, and the visas are issued electronically, this means that at no point during a new visa application, a visa renewal, amendment/update, or visa cancellation will your employer or their PRO need to retain your physical passport. You may need to present your physical passport for scanning or at a government department – such as a medical center or EID biometrics center – but you should never have the passport out of your possession.

Withholding employee passports is a punishable offense in the UAE and is prohibited under Circular No.267 of 2002 by the Ministry of Interior (MoI). The punishment for an employer holding an employee's passport in the UAE is an AED 20,000 fine per passport withheld and up to a 3-year jail sentence. 

Passports may only be held by judicial authorities per provisions of the law such as courts, police, or the employee's relevant home embassy. 

If you are asked to handover your passport for any reason by your employer, you should understand this is not mandatory and you can and should refuse. This is applicable to all types of employment in the UAE -  public, private, domestic and government. For more information on visa and PRO services, contact Sovereign PPG via the contact form below and we would be delighted to assist. 

Issue Date: 23/04/2025