The short version
- A Dubai residency visa is a UAE residence visa. The main ways to get one are a job, remote work, freelancing, retirement, study or investment.
- With a UAE job, your employer applies for a standard work visa, valid for two years.
- Without one, there is a virtual work visa from USD 3,500 a month, a green visa for freelancers, a retirement visa from age 55 and a golden visa from AED 2 million.
- Dubai's office, GDRFA Dubai, sets some figures of its own. Its retirement visa asks for more income than the federal rule.
How do you get a Dubai residency visa?
Through one of the UAE's residence routes: a job, remote work, freelancing, retirement, study or investment. You apply through the federal authority (ICP) or, in Dubai, through GDRFA Dubai.
These are the main routes, from the official UAE pages we read on 12 October 2026:
| Route | Who it is for | Main rule | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work visa | Staff of a UAE employer | The employer applies | 2 years |
| Green visa, skilled | Skilled staff with a degree | AED 15,000 a month | 5 years |
| Virtual work visa | Staff of a company abroad | USD 3,500 a month | 1 year |
| Green visa, freelance | Freelancers with a MOHRE permit | AED 360,000 a year | 5 years |
| Retirement visa | 55 or over, 15 years of work | AED 180,000 a year | 5 years |
| Golden visa | Property or investment | AED 2 million | 5 or 10 years |
| Student visa | Students at a UAE university | University or parent | Length of course |
Each route has its own papers and fees. The sections below explain them one at a time.
Can you get UAE residency through a job?
Yes. Your employer applies for a standard work visa, which is valid for two years and can be renewed. It covers staff in both the government and private sectors.
Skilled staff have a second option: the green visa, which needs no employer to sponsor it. ICP lists these rules for skilled workers:
- A job. A valid work contract in the UAE.
- A skill level. Level 1, 2 or 3 in the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) system.
- A degree. At least a bachelor's degree.
- A salary. At least AED 15,000 a month.
The green visa lasts five years and can be renewed.
Can remote workers live in the UAE?
Yes, with the virtual work visa. It lets you live in the UAE while you work for a company outside it, if you earn at least USD 3,500 a month.
The UAE's portal asks for health insurance, a medical fitness test, proof of your work outside the UAE and a salary certificate. The visa lasts one year, and GDRFA Dubai says it can be renewed. ICP says your passport must be valid for at least 6 months, and you do not need to be in the UAE when the visa is issued.
| Office | Fees listed | Time listed |
|---|---|---|
| ICP | AED 100 to apply, AED 100 to issue, AED 100 for smart services | 2 days |
| GDRFA Dubai | AED 200 permit, AED 10 and AED 10 extra charges, AED 500 if inside the UAE, AED 20 delivery | 48 hours |
Compare it with other countries on the UAE digital nomad visa page.
Is there a UAE visa for freelancers?
Yes, the green visa for freelancers and the self-employed. It lasts five years and can be renewed. GDRFA Dubai says it needs no guarantor, employer or work contract.
ICP lists three things you need:
- A MOHRE permit. A freelance permit or a self-employment permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. This comes first.
- An education. A bachelor's degree, a specialised diploma or the same level.
- Income. Freelance income of at least AED 360,000 a year over the previous two years.
This route is for freelancers who already have two years of income at that level. Fees and papers are on the UAE freelance visa page.
Can you retire in the UAE?
Yes, from age 55, if you worked for at least 15 years, inside or outside the UAE, and have the income or assets the UAE asks for. The visa lasts five years and can be renewed on the same terms.
| Way to qualify | Federal rule | Dubai rule |
|---|---|---|
| Income | AED 180,000 a year | AED 240,000 a year |
| Assets | Property of AED 1 million plus savings of AED 1 million | The same, with the savings moved into a UAE financial institution within 60 days |
GDRFA Dubai lists this as a residence without permission to work. Its fees start at AED 200 for the permit, plus AED 10 and AED 10 in extra charges. See the full rules on the UAE retirement visa page.
How does the UAE golden visa work?
It is a long-term residence visa, valid for 5 or 10 years, that lets you live, work or study in the UAE with no sponsor. For investors, the UAE government portal lists at least AED 2 million in capital or property, or a stake in a company that pays at least AED 250,000 a year in taxes.
The Dubai Land Department runs the property route in Dubai:
- Property. Worth AED 2 million, fully owned by you, in one or more properties.
- Length. A 10-year residence permit that can be renewed.
- Family. Your husband or wife, children and parents can be sponsored.
- Cost and time. AED 9,884.75 in total, and 7 to 10 business days. You must be inside the UAE to apply.
The golden visa is not only for investors. The UAE's portal also lists entrepreneurs, people with exceptional talent, outstanding students, and humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes. Compare the investment routes on the UAE golden visa page.
Can you study in the UAE?
Yes. A student residence visa is sponsored by your accredited university or college, or by a parent who lives in the UAE. You hand in a certificate from the university that states how long your course runs.
Family members of foreign students can stay in the UAE too, as long as they can afford suitable housing. Papers and work rules are on the UAE student visa page.
What happens if you leave the UAE for months?
An ordinary residence visa needs you back within six months to stay valid. The golden visa page on the UAE government portal names this as the usual rule, and lists the right to stay away longer as one of the golden visa's benefits.
So the route you pick shapes your year. One simple setup, if you plan to split time between countries, is to check each route's stay rules before you apply. Tax is its own question and is not covered here.