Obtaining a Freelance Permit and a Freelance Residence Visa in Dubai, UAE, in various free zones. Service offer

A residence visa enables its holder:

*Please see the section “Fees” below for a description of conditions for charging an additional success fee.

The UAE does not have such a concept as a residence permit. The country’s migration rules require the issuance of residence visas, which in practice are similar to a residence permit.

Until recently, the main ways to obtain a residence visa were:

• based on owning a UAE onshore company (investor visa);
• by making an employment contract with a UAE onshore company (work visa);
• by investing in UAE real estate (including a “golden” visa).

But now it has become possible to obtain a permit and then a residence visa for freelancers who want to officially work and reside in the UAE:

• processing time – about 2 - 4 weeks;
• in addition to a passport, an applicant will need to have the appropriate qualifications, a health insurance policy, etc.;
• a freelance visa is issued for 1 or 2 years and can be renewed upon expiry;
• a freelance visa enables its holder to get a sponsored residence visa for family members, which will require proof of having rented or own UAE residential property and proof of income;
• a holder can live in any emirate;
• a holder can open and do business through a personal UAE bank account.

The following professions in the fields of technology, education, design and media are eligible for a freelance permit:

etc.

A holder of a residence visa can sponsor his/her family members applying for residence visas (dependent visa):

• spouse;
• children:
  • sons under the age of 18;
  • sons aged from 18 to 25;
  • unmarried daughters.

Normally, it is a man who acts as sponsor. A woman’s ability to sponsor visas for family members is limited: there may be requirements for the profession or higher salary requirements than for men.

The sponsor must prove the availability of accommodation by providing a tenancy agreement or a title deed, a utility bill, as well as proof of adequate income.

Sponsored residence visas will require health insurance policies for all family members.

Getting a residence visa for a family member takes 5 - 7 working days, on average.

After obtaining a freelance permit, one can apply for a visa. The process includes several steps:

1. Opening an Establishment Card (migration file) – 3 - 5 days.

2. Submitting documents for a residence visa and obtaining an Entry Permit (permission to enter the country) – 5 - 7 days.

To obtain a residence visa, an applicant must enter the UAE with an Entry Permit. Once the Entry Permit is received (it is sent by email), one can plan a trip to the UAE. An Entry Permit is valid for 60 days.

If at the time of issuing of Entry Permit the applicant is already in the UAE, then in order to complete the issuance of a residence visa without leaving and re-entering the country, it is necessary to change the status of the visa. The service of changing the status of a visa is provided upon request and is subject to additional charges.

3. Visiting the UAE to obtain a residence visa – in most cases, a visa can be obtained within 5 working days.

The applicant needs:

• to undergo a medical examination (blood test and chest X-ray);
• to submit biometrics (retina and fingerprints scan).

After receiving a passport with a residence visa inserted into it, one can leave the country.

4. Obtaining a resident’s ID card – Emirates ID.

The card is issued a few days after the issuance of a visa. Personal presence is not required to collect it. It can be handed over later.

The applicant will need the following for their visa application:

• international passport;
• 3.5 x 4.5 photos in colour against a white background;
• Entry Permit stamped upon arrival in the UAE;
• CV.

In the event of termination of the basis on which the visa was issued, a residence visa must be cancelled.

A freelancer is required to annually renew their freelance permit by paying the relevant fee.

At the same time, freelancers registered in UAE free zones are exempt from capital gains tax, property tax and other taxes, with the exception of VAT and corporate tax.

Corporate tax

The UAE introduced federal corporate tax on 1 June 2023.

A freelancer (an individual holding a freelance permit) is required to register for corporate tax, file tax returns and pay corporate tax if the revenue from their UAE business in a calendar year exceeds AED 1 000 000.

The standard corporate tax rate is 0% for taxable income up to AED 375 000 (~ USD 100 000) and is 9% for taxable income above AED 375 000.

A freelancer with revenue between AED 1 000 000 and AED 3 000 000 can take advantage of Small Business Relief.

Free zones can also provide certain tax benefits of their own.

VAT

The UAE introduced value added tax (VAT) on 1 January 2018.

VAT as a general consumption tax applies to all transactions with goods and services unless such transaction is exempted or taxed at 0% rate.

The standard VAT rate in the UAE is 5%.

There is no obligation to register for VAT and file VAT returns unless the sales turnover within the country exceeds the registration threshold, which is AED 375 000 (~ USD 100 000) in the UAE.

[1] The fees are valid as of April 2025. Invoices will include 5% VAT on the services rendered.