Updated: Nov 2026 | Dubai Livin Property Research
Short answer: Getting a residence visa in Dubai follows the same four steps on almost every route:
- Entry permit (or an in-country status change)
- Medical fitness test
- Emirates ID biometrics
- Residence visa issued (electronic, with no passport sticker)
What changes from route to route is who sponsors you: an employer, a family member, your property, or you yourself (Golden Visa, Green Visa, remote work). In Dubai, residence permits are issued by GDRFA Dubai, and Emirates IDs by ICP. If you’re employed, your work permit comes from MOHRE. Most routes take 2–4 weeks from the entry permit to the finished visa. Government fees start at around AED 1,000–1,500 for a two-year visa issued from outside the UAE, before insurance and typing fees.
This guide covers the process step by step, then the documents, timeline and costs for each main route. For detailed eligibility on each visa category, see Dubai Visa Types 2026. If you’re planning the whole move, start with Moving to Dubai.
What Is a UAE Residence Visa?
A UAE residence visa (officially a residence permit) lets a foreign national live in the UAE legally for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 10 years, depending on the route, and renew it. It isn’t citizenship. It’s tied to a sponsor, which can be an employer, a family member, a property or yourself, and it’s proved by your Emirates ID. Since 2022, the UAE no longer puts visa stickers in passports.
Who does what: GDRFA, ICP, MOHRE, DHA and DLD
| Authority | Role in your Dubai residence visa |
|---|---|
| GDRFA Dubai | Issues entry permits, status changes and residence permits for Dubai residents (gdrfad.gov.ae) |
| ICP | Issues the Emirates ID; handles Golden and Green residence policy and visas for other emirates (icp.gov.ae) |
| MOHRE | Issues work permits for private-sector mainland employees and freelance permits (mohre.gov.ae) |
| Dubai Health (DHA) | Runs the medical fitness test (Smart Salem and DHA centres) |
| DLD | Handles property investor visas (Taskeen) and the real estate Golden Visa (dubailand.gov.ae) |
| u.ae | The UAE government’s official portal; summarises the rules for every route (u.ae) |
How to Get a Residence Visa in Dubai: The 4-Step Process
Step 1: Entry permit or status change
Your sponsor applies for an entry permit through GDRFA (online, in the GDRFA app or at an Amer centre). It’s usually valid for 60 days after you enter, which gives you time to finish the next steps.
- Outside the UAE: the GDRFA entry permit fee is AED 200 + 5% VAT.
- Already in the UAE (on a visit visa, or after cancelling a previous visa): GDRFA adds an “inside the country” fee of AED 500 plus AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 Innovation Dirham, which covers the status change.
- Employees: the employer first gets MOHRE approval for the work permit.
Step 2: Medical fitness test
Everyone aged 18 or over must pass a medical fitness test (a blood test and chest X-ray) at a Dubai Health or Smart Salem centre.
| Service | Fee (Dubai) | Result time |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | AED 270 | about 24 working hours |
| Premium/Smart Salem | AED 700 | 6 hours / about 30 min at Smart Salem |
| VIP | AED 1,020 | about 2 working hours |
Fees as listed on Dubai Health’s medical fitness price list. Confirm when you book, because prices can be revised. Typing fees are extra.
Step 3: Emirates ID biometrics
You apply for the Emirates ID at the same time as the residence permit, usually as one combined application. If ICP asks, you visit a centre to give fingerprints and a photo.
- ICP fee: AED 100 per year of residence + AED 100 smart-service fee. That’s AED 300 for a 2-year visa and AED 1,100 for a 10-year one.
- The card is delivered by courier, normally within one to two weeks.
Step 4: Residence permit issued
Once the medical result and biometrics are in, GDRFA issues the electronic residence permit. From that point your Emirates ID is your proof of residence.
- GDRFA residence permit fee (private sector): AED 200 + AED 10 Knowledge + AED 10 Innovation + AED 20 delivery, plus AED 500 if you apply from inside the UAE (if you haven’t already paid it at the status-change stage). GDRFA adds AED 100 for each year beyond two.
- Health insurance is mandatory in Dubai. Employers must provide it for employees; sponsors must buy it for dependants.
Typical timeline: entry permit 2–5 working days, medical 1–2 days, permit and Emirates ID 5–10 working days. In total, 2–4 weeks from application to Emirates ID for most routes.
Documents Needed for a Dubai Residence Visa (All Routes)
Residence Visa Routes Compared (2026)
| Route | Who sponsors | Validity | Key requirement | Indicative official cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Employer | 2 years | Job offer plus MOHRE work permit | Employer pays the main fees |
| Family | Resident family member | Tied to the sponsor | Salary AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 + housing | Entry permit, medical, EID and permit fees, about AED 1,000+ |
| Property investor (Taskeen) | Self (property) | 2 years | Title deed for completed property | AED 10,212.50 (DLD) |
| Golden Visa (property) | Self | 10 years | Property worth AED 2M+ | AED 9,884.75 (DLD) |
| Green Visa | Self | 5 years | Skilled worker, freelancer or investor criteria | GDRFA/ICP component fees |
| Freelance | Self (MOHRE permit) or free zone | 2 years | Freelance permit | Permit plus visa fees (varies) |
| Remote work | Self | 1 year | USD 3,500/month income from abroad | AED 200 + VAT, plus EID, medical and insurance |
*Government fees as published by GDRFA, ICP or DLD, checked Nov 2026. They exclude insurance, typing centres and service fees. Full detail on each visa type is in Dubai Visa Types 2026.
How to Get a Residence Visa in Dubai Through Employment
This is the most common route. Your employer sponsors you and pays the work permit and visa costs (UAE labour law bars employers from passing recruitment and visa fees on to employees).
Process: 1. Signed offer letter 2. MOHRE work permit approval 3. GDRFA entry permit 4. Status change if you’re already in the UAE 5. Medical test 6. Emirates ID biometrics 7. MOHRE labour contract signed 8. Residence permit issued
Documents: passport, photo, attested degree (needed for skilled job levels), signed offer letter or contract.
Timeline: typically 2–4 weeks.
Cost to you: normally zero, apart from personal extras. Free-zone employees follow the same steps, with the free-zone authority replacing MOHRE.
How to Get a Family Residence Visa in Dubai
Residents can sponsor their spouse, children (sons up to 25, unmarried daughters, children with disabilities) and, under extra conditions, their parents.
Sponsor requirement: a minimum salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation (GDRFA and u.ae).
Documents: – Passport copies and photos – Sponsor’s employment contract or salary certificate – Attested marriage certificate and birth certificates – Father’s no-objection letter if the mother is the sponsor – Health insurance – Typically a tenancy contract (Ejari) or title deed, as proof of housing
Costs: the same component fees as above (entry permit AED 200 + VAT, medical for those aged 18+, Emirates ID, permit fees), plus insurance. Dependants’ visas are linked to the sponsor’s visa; u.ae says dependants get a 6-month grace period if the sponsor’s visa is cancelled.
How to Get a Residence Visa in Dubai by Buying Property
Two-year property investor visa (DLD Taskeen)
DLD’s Investor Residence service now says that sole owners can apply regardless of property value. Joint owners each need a share worth at least AED 400,000.
- Documents: passport, electronic title deed, photo, Emirates ID and current visa (if you have them), and a Dubai Good Conduct Certificate addressed to DLD.
- Fee: AED 10,212.50 for the 2-year investor visa. Family members cost extra, for example AED 7,382.25 for a spouse and AED 6,482.25 for a child under 18 (DLD).
- Off plan property and mortgage conditions vary; confirm with DLD before you rely on them.
10-year Golden Visa through property
DLD’s Golden Visa – Investor service requires property with a purchase value of AED 2 million or more. It can be mortgaged if a bank letter shows AED 2M has been paid.
- Fees: AED 9,884.75 in total. That’s medical AED 700, 10-year Emirates ID AED 1,153, residence confirmation AED 2,856.75, DLD fee AED 4,020 and admin AED 1,155.
- Family: AED 5,774.50 each, plus a family file fee of AED 318.75.
- Service time: 7–10 business days. The applicant must be in the UAE.
- For the full route, see UAE Golden Visa through property and how to buy property in Dubai as a foreigner.
Golden Visa (Non-Property Routes)
The Golden Visa (5 or 10 years, self-sponsored, with family sponsorship and no 6-month absence limit) also covers investors in businesses or funds, entrepreneurs, exceptional talents, scientists, top students and some high-earning professionals. Each has its own criteria, set by ICP or GDRFA. We compare them in Dubai Visa Types 2026.
Process: 1. Get nominated or apply through ICP or GDRFA (or through DLD for property) 2. Entry permit 3. Medical test 4. 10-year Emirates ID 5. Residence permit
How to Get a Green Visa in Dubai (Skilled Workers & Freelancers)
The ICP Green Residence is a 5-year, self-sponsored visa.
- Skilled workers: a valid UAE employment contract, MOHRE skill level 1–3, a bachelor’s degree and a salary of AED 15,000+ a month.
- Freelancers and the self-employed: a MOHRE freelance or self-employment permit, a bachelor’s degree or specialised diploma, and AED 360,000+ a year in freelance income over the previous two years, or proof of financial solvency.
- Investors and partners: proof of investment, plus licences and approvals.
Costs: ICP doesn’t publish a single total. You pay the permit fee (AED 100 per year of residence + application and smart-service fees), plus Emirates ID, medical and insurance.
How to Get a Freelance Residence Visa in Dubai
If you don’t meet the Green Visa income threshold, there are two other options:
- A MOHRE freelance permit plus a standard 2-year visa. MOHRE also runs the government freelance permit scheme.
- A free-zone freelance permit (for example from GoFreelance/Dubai Media City, DMCC or Dubai South). The free zone sponsors your visa.
Process: permit or licence, then entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and residence permit. Costs depend on the permit provider, so check the free zone’s or MOHRE’s current fee schedule.
How to Get a Remote Work Visa in Dubai
GDRFA’s Virtual Work visa lets you live in Dubai while working for an employer outside the UAE.
- Validity: 1 year, renewable. You can sponsor your family for the same period.
- Requirements: passport (6+ months), photo, proof of remote employment abroad, income of USD 3,500+ a month, and valid health insurance.
- Fee: AED 200 + 5% VAT. If you apply from inside the UAE, add AED 10 Knowledge, AED 10 Innovation and AED 500.
- Processing: about 48 hours for the entry stage, then the medical, Emirates ID and residence steps.
Renewing or Cancelling Your Residence Visa
- Renewal: for most routes, start up to about 30 days before expiry. You need a new medical test (where it applies), a renewed Emirates ID and up-to-date insurance. The Emirates ID late-renewal fine is AED 20 per day, capped at AED 1,000 (ICP/u.ae).
- Cancellation: your employer or sponsor cancels the visa; the GDRFA fee is around AED 120. You then have a grace period: 30 to 180 days depending on the visa type, under the 2022 rules. Green and Golden holders and dependants get 6 months.
- Time abroad: standard residence visas generally lapse after more than 6 months outside the UAE. Golden Visa holders are exempt.
After Your Visa: Your First 30 Days as a Resident
With your Emirates ID, you can:
- open a bank account (best bank accounts for expats)
- sign a lease and register Ejari in your own name (Ejari registration)
- set up DEWA (transfer DEWA)
- convert or apply for a driving licence
- sponsor your family
For the rental side, see Renting in Dubai.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to get residence visa in Dubai?
Get a sponsor: an employer, a family member, your property, or yourself through the Golden, Green or remote-work routes. The sponsor applies to GDRFA for an entry permit, or for a status change if you’re already in the UAE. You then pass a medical fitness test (age 18+), give biometrics for your Emirates ID (ICP), and receive an electronic residence permit. Most routes take 2–4 weeks.
How long does a Dubai residence visa take?
Usually 2–4 weeks: about 2–5 working days for the entry permit, 1–2 days for the medical, and 5–10 working days for the permit and Emirates ID. DLD lists 7–10 business days for the property Golden Visa, and GDRFA lists about 48 hours for the virtual work entry stage.
How much does a Dubai residence visa cost?
The core GDRFA, ICP and DHA fees for a 2-year visa are an entry permit of AED 200 + VAT, a medical test from AED 270, an Emirates ID of AED 300, and a residence permit of about AED 240. Add AED 500+ if you apply from inside the UAE. The DLD property investor visa is AED 10,212.50, and the property Golden Visa is AED 9,884.75. Insurance and typing fees are extra.
Can I get a residence visa in Dubai without a job?
Yes. The options are a property investor visa, a Golden Visa, a Green Visa (as a freelancer or investor), a freelance permit, a remote work visa (USD 3,500+ a month from abroad), the retirement visa for people aged 55+, a student visa, or sponsorship by a resident family member.
Does buying property give residency in Dubai?
Yes. DLD’s 2-year investor visa is open to sole owners of property regardless of its value, and to joint owners whose share is worth AED 400,000+. Property bought for AED 2M or more qualifies for the 10-year Golden Visa. You need a title deed and, for the 2-year visa, a Dubai good conduct certificate.
Do I need Ejari to get a residence visa in Dubai?
Not for every route, but you often need proof of a Dubai address. Family sponsorship and some renewals ask for a registered tenancy contract (Ejari) or a title deed, so register your lease early. See Ejari registration.
Next Steps
- Plan the move: Moving to Dubai · Working in Dubai · How to find a job in Dubai before you move
- Compare every visa: Dubai Visa Types 2026
- Residency through property: UAE Golden Visa through property · How to buy property in Dubai as a foreigner
- Set up your home: Renting in Dubai · Ejari registration · Transfer DEWA
- Budget: The real cost of living in Dubai · What is a good salary in Dubai?
Official sources: GDRFA Dubai (residence permit, family entry permit and virtual work service cards) · ICP (Green Residence, Emirates ID) · u.ae (family sponsorship, virtual work visa) · MOHRE · DLD Investor Residence and Golden Visa – Investor · Dubai Health medical fitness fees. Fees checked Nov 2026 and subject to change. This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice.