UAE · Guide
UAE residence visa types in 2026: durations, routes and costs
Every UAE residence visa in one table: employment, partner, Golden and Green Visa, freelance and family. Durations, income thresholds and fees for 2026.
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- Globexpat Team
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#Visas#Residency
A UAE residence visa always rests on a basis: an employer, your own company, property, a high income or a sponsoring relative. The basis decides how long the visa lasts, whether you need a sponsor and how much you pay. According to the u.ae portal, sponsored visas are issued for 1, 2 or 3 years, while self-sponsored visas (Golden and Green) run for 5 or 10 years.
For most of our clients the choice comes down to three options: a partner visa through their own free zone company, a Green Visa for a freelancer or a well-paid professional, and a Golden Visa for an investor or a property owner with AED 2,000,000 or more. The other visas (employment, family, student) usually come as an add-on.
Below we put every residence visa type into one table and then look at each group: who it suits, which thresholds apply and what makes up the cost.
All UAE residence visa types: summary table
| Visa | Basis | Duration | Key threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Employment contract with a UAE company | 1-3 years | None, the employer sets the terms |
| Partner (investor) | Shareholding in a UAE company | 1-3 years, depends on the free zone | Visa quota under the licence and office |
| Green Visa: skilled employee | Contract, MOHRE skill level 1-3, bachelor's degree | 5 years | Salary from AED 15,000 a month |
| Green Visa: freelancer | MOHRE freelance or self-employment permit | 5 years | Income from AED 360,000 a year over the previous 2 years, or proof of financial solvency |
| Golden Visa: investor | Capital, deposit or shareholding from AED 2 million, or taxes from AED 250,000 a year | 10 years | AED 2,000,000 |
| Golden Visa: property | UAE property worth AED 2 million or more | 10 years under the ICP guide | AED 2,000,000 |
| Golden Visa: entrepreneur | Business with revenue from AED 1 million, or projects sold for AED 7 million or more | 10 years under the ICP guide | AED 1,000,000 in revenue |
| Golden Visa: skilled professional | MOHRE level 1-2, degree, contract | 10 years | Salary from AED 30,000 a month |
| Golden Visa: graduate | School grade of 95% or more, or university GPA of 3.5 or more | 5-10 years | Grades and university ranking |
| GoFreelance freelance permit (Dubai) | Permit from the TECOM free zones | 1-2 years | AED 7,500 a year package, visa not included |
| Family | Sponsor holding a residence visa | No longer than the sponsor's visa | Sponsor income from AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus housing |
Sources for the figures: the ICP Golden and Green residency guides, the u.ae pages on family visas and general rules, and the GoFreelance website. The u.ae summary table still shows 5 years for property investors, while the current ICP guide says 10 years. Confirm the duration in your emirate before you apply.
Sponsored visas: employment, company, family
Employment visa. Your employer is the sponsor: it obtains the work permit, pays the fees and cancels the visa when you leave. There is no income threshold for the employee. According to u.ae, the visa runs for 1 to 3 years.
Partner (investor) visa. You set up a company, become a shareholder and the company sponsors your visa. This is the most common route for entrepreneurs and remote professionals. The number of visas depends on the licence and office: free zone packages usually include anything from one to several visas. We walk through the steps in the investor visa through a UAE company, and you can compare zones in the UAE free zones section.
Family visa. A resident can sponsor a spouse, unmarried daughters, sons up to 25 and children with special needs. The u.ae portal sets the sponsor's income threshold at AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus housing. A family member's visa cannot last longer than the sponsor's. We cover the details in a separate article on the family visa.
Read more: UAE family visa.
Self-sponsored visas: Golden and Green
Golden and Green Visas do not need an employer or a sponsoring company: you sponsor yourself. That gives two practical advantages.
- The visa is not cancelled if you change jobs or close your company.
- According to u.ae, the 180-day rule on time abroad does not apply to them as strictly as to standard visas. The Golden Visa explicitly allows you to stay outside the UAE for more than six months.
The Golden Visa is issued to investors (AED 2 million in capital, a deposit or a fund), property owners with AED 2 million or more, entrepreneurs, professionals earning AED 30,000 or more, outstanding graduates, scientists and creative talent. The holder can sponsor a spouse, children with no age limit, and parents.
The Green Visa targets the middle tier: professionals with a salary from AED 15,000 and a bachelor's degree, freelancers with a MOHRE permit and annual income from AED 360,000, investors and partners. It runs for 5 years. According to ICP and GDRFA, a 180-day grace period applies after the visa is cancelled or expires.
Read more: UAE Golden Visa requirements and UAE Green Visa.
Freelancing and remote work
Freelancers have two routes. The first is a MOHRE freelance permit, which leads to the Green Visa. The second is the GoFreelance package from the TECOM free zones in Dubai (Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Design District, Dubai Knowledge Park). According to the GoFreelance website, the package costs AED 7,500 a year, a 1-year visa AED 4,600, a 2-year visa AED 5,042 and an Establishment Card AED 2,000.
GDRFA Dubai also issues a Virtual Work visa for employees of foreign companies. Check the income threshold and fees for it as of October 2026 on gdrfad.gov.ae.
What makes up the cost of a visa
The final price of a visa consists of federal ICP fees, free zone or emirate charges, the medical test, insurance and the Emirates ID. The federal part is relatively small; most of the cost comes from free zone packages.
| Cost item | Amount according to ICP |
|---|---|
| Company Establishment Card, first year | AED 100 application, AED 100 per year, AED 100 smart fee, AED 2,000 system subscription |
| Establishment Card renewal | AED 100 application, AED 100 per year, AED 1,000 subscription, AED 100 smart fee |
| Residence permit | AED 100 application, AED 100 for each year, AED 100 smart fee |
| In-country status change | AED 500 |
| Emirates ID for a resident | AED 100 for each year, AED 100 smart fee, AED 150 express |
| Medical test and insurance | As of October 2026, check in your emirate |
Free zone packages with a visa can differ several times over. We keep current reference prices by free zone on the company and visa prices page.
How to choose the right visa for your situation
| Your situation | Suitable visa |
|---|---|
| Self-employed, clients abroad | Partner visa through a free zone company, or GoFreelance |
| Hired in the UAE, salary from AED 15,000 | Employment visa, then Green Visa |
| Salary from AED 30,000 and a senior role | Golden Visa for skilled professionals |
| Buying property worth AED 2 million or more | Golden Visa through property |
| Visa needed for a spouse, children or parents | Family visa sponsored by a resident |
| Long periods spent outside the UAE | Golden Visa (no strict six-month rule) |
We advise on the right basis and prepare the file with you; the application itself is submitted by a licensed agent or by the free zone. An overview of all options is in the UAE visas section.
What changed in 2026
- The core thresholds stayed the same: AED 2 million for the investor and property Golden Visa, a salary of AED 30,000 for the professional Golden Visa, AED 15,000 for the Green Visa, and AED 4,000 (or AED 3,000 plus housing) for a family sponsor. Checked against ICP and u.ae in October 2026.
- The ICP guide lists the Golden Visa for property investors at 10 years, while the u.ae summary table still says 5 years. We recommend following ICP and confirming with the emirate's land department.
- Since late 2025 the ICP catalogue has separate service cards, for example an entry permit for property investors and a permit to stay abroad for more than 6 months. Applications have become more transparent, but the fees for these services are listed separately.
FAQ
Can I hold two UAE residence visas at the same time?
No. A person in the UAE has one valid residence visa and one Emirates ID. To switch to another basis, the current visa is cancelled or the status is changed.
Which visa is fastest for an entrepreneur?
Usually the partner visa through a free zone company. Timelines depend on the free zone and on where you are: inside the country (status change) or outside it (entry permit).
Does a residence visa make me a tax resident?
Not automatically. Tax residency depends on days of presence (183, or 90 under certain conditions), and the certificate is issued by the FTA. Read more in UAE tax residency.
Can I work as an employee on a partner visa?
A partner visa lets you run your own company's business. To work as an employee of another company you need that company's employment visa or a separate MOHRE permit.
What happens to my family's visas if I change my basis?
Dependants' visas are tied to the sponsor's visa. When the sponsor's visa is cancelled, theirs are cancelled too and then reissued under the new visa. According to u.ae, family members get a 6-month grace period.
Sources
- ICP, Golden Residency Guide: icp.gov.ae/en/services/uae-golden-residency
- ICP, Green Residency Guide: icp.gov.ae/en/services/uae-green-residency
- ICP, service cards for Establishment Card, Issuing Residency Permit, Identity Card: icp.gov.ae
- u.ae, General provisions for the residence visa: u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id
- u.ae, Residence visa for families of employees: u.ae
- GDRFA Dubai, Green and Golden residency services: gdrfad.gov.ae
- GoFreelance (TECOM): gofreelance.ae