Freelance visa in Dubai: permits, costs and how to apply

In the UAE, a “freelance visa” is really two things: a freelance permit that lets you work for yourself, and a residence visa that lets you live here. The usual route is a free zone, which issues the permit and sponsors the visa, while higher earners with a degree can sponsor themselves on the five-year Green Visa. This guide compares the routes, documents, steps and costs as of October 2026, and explains what a freelance permit does and doesn’t let you do.

Key facts

• There’s no single “freelance visa”. You need a freelance permit plus a residence visa, usually sponsored by whoever issues the permit.
• GoFreelance, the Dubai Development Authority’s permit, costs AED 7,500 a year plus AED 20 in government fees. The visa and establishment card are extra.
• Budget roughly AED 10,000 to AED 17,000 for the first year with a one-year visa on most free zone routes, including the medical test, Emirates ID and basic insurance (our estimate from published prices).
• The five-year Green Visa lets you sponsor yourself. You need a freelance permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), a degree or specialised diploma, and AED 360,000 a year in freelance income over the past two years or proof of financial solvency.
• Freelance permits are issued in your own name, and most don’t let you hire staff.
• Each free zone sets its own rules on working for mainland (onshore) UAE companies.

This guide is part of our Moving to Dubai series.

What is a freelance visa in the UAE?

The UAE doesn’t issue a document called a “freelance visa”. The term covers two things:

• A freelance permit or licence, which lets you take on clients and invoice legally. Most are issued by free zone authorities; for the Green Visa, the permit comes from MoHRE.
• A residence visa, which lets you live in the UAE. Usually the permit issuer sponsors it; on the Green Visa, you sponsor yourself. Since April 2022, your Emirates ID, not a passport sticker, has been your proof of residence.

Freelance visa vs employment visa

	Employment visa	Freelance permit and visa
Who sponsors your visa	Your employer	The authority that issues your permit, or you (Green Visa)
Who pays visa and medical costs	Your employer: UAE labour law bars employers from charging these to you	You
Who you can work for	Your employer; other work needs the right permit	Your own clients, within the activities on your permit
Health insurance in Dubai	Your employer must provide it	You buy it, and you need it to get the visa
How you’re paid	Salary, paid leave and end-of-service gratuity	Whatever you invoice; no paid leave or gratuity

If you’d rather be hired than go freelance, our guide to work permits and visas explains how employer sponsorship works.

The main routes to a freelance visa

1. Dubai’s own freelance permits

GoFreelance (Dubai Development Authority, DDA). This permit covers media, tech, education and design roles in Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Knowledge Park and Dubai Design District, from photographers, writers and influencers to software developers, trainers and interior designers. It costs AED 7,500 a year plus AED 20 in government fees (the Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams), and DDA estimates two working days to issue it. GoFreelance lists hot-desk access among its benefits. The permit is issued in your own name, so you can’t trade under a brand. If you already have a job and visa, you can get the permit alone by submitting a declaration form.

Expo Freelance (Expo City Dubai). This permit lists more than 100 professions, and you can propose your own. It’s issued within three working days, needs no office and makes you eligible for a corporate bank account. Packages with a one-year visa are advertised at AED 9,020, “covering everything from entry permit to Emirates ID”. The permit can be renewed annually for up to five years, and the authority may run compliance and financial checks.

FreelanceUAE (DMCC). This is a one-year licence for a single profession, priced at AED 4,020 without a visa. Its visa packages are “temporarily on hold due to upcoming updates from UAE Immigration”. For now, it suits people who already have residence, for example through a spouse.

e-Trader licence (Dubai Economy and Tourism). This home-based mainland licence from Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) covers selling products or services online and through social media. DET has said it comes with visas only when the owner is Emirati, and the activities open to expatriates vary, so check with DET. At best, it suits people who already live in Dubai on someone else’s visa.

2. Free zones in other emirates

Free zones elsewhere in the UAE also issue freelance permits and sponsor the visa, often for less:

• RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah): a Freelancer Permit for media and education professionals, from AED 6,100. You get one activity per permit, and you need a portfolio, work samples or a qualification certificate.
• Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone: advertises freelancing “from AED 9,999 — with visa, Emirates ID, insurance, and workspace included”.
• Ajman Free Zone, Ajman Media City Free Zone and Fujairah Creative City: all cater for freelancers, but we couldn’t find a current freelance price on their websites.
• Creative Media Authority (twofour54), Abu Dhabi: a freelancer licence for media and gaming. Licence and registration fees are waived for the first two years, but visa fees are extra. Its freelancers work “within the zone with registered partner companies only”.

3. The Green Visa (self-sponsored)

The Green Visa is a five-year, renewable residence visa with no employer or free zone as sponsor. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) sets the rules, and Dubai’s residency department (GDRFA) handles Dubai applications. You need:

• a freelance or self-employment permit from MoHRE
• a bachelor’s degree, specialised diploma or equivalent
• freelance income of at least AED 360,000 a year over the previous two years, or proof of financial solvency throughout your stay

Official pages word the income test differently: some present solvency as an alternative to the AED 360,000 figure, others list both, so ask GDRFA or ICP which applies to you. Holders can sponsor a spouse, children (sons under 25 and unmarried daughters) and first-degree relatives. ICP gives Green Visa holders and their families a 180-day grace period after the visa expires or is cancelled.

MoHRE’s freelance work permit is for people working independently, without an employer or employment contract. We couldn’t find its fee published, so check with MoHRE.

4. Employed abroad? The remote work visa

If you work for a company outside the UAE rather than for your own clients, Dubai’s virtual work residence may fit better. You need proof of remote work for an organisation outside the UAE, income of at least US$3,500 a month and health insurance. It lasts one year and is renewable. Browse remote jobs if that’s the kind of role you want.

Who is eligible?

Free zone permits rarely ask for a degree. Instead, you must fit one of the listed professions and show that you work in it:

• Proof of profession: RAKEZ and Expo City Dubai accept a portfolio, work samples or a qualification certificate.
• Other approvals: DDA asks for a no-objection certificate (NOC) from another authority when your activity needs one, and you may need your current sponsor’s consent (see the FAQ).

The Green Visa adds the degree and income tests described above, and GDRFA asks for a passport valid for at least six months.

Documents you’ll need

Requirements vary by authority, so have these ready:

• a passport copy and a passport-style photo
• proof of profession, such as a CV, portfolio, work samples or certificates
• your current UAE visa and Emirates ID, if you have them, plus any NOC or declaration
• a valid health insurance policy, which the visa requires
• a UAE phone number (GoFreelance asks for one)
• for the Green Visa: your MoHRE permit, your degree certificate and proof of income or solvency

Foreign certificates often need to be attested in the country that issued them, so check this early.

How to apply, step by step

Free zone permit

1. Pick the right permit. Match your profession to the authority’s list, and check what the price includes and where you can work.
2. Apply online. GoFreelance uses the axs portal, Expo City Dubai the ECDA portal and RAKEZ its Portal 360. Upload your documents.
3. Pay the permit fee. Use the portal or the authority’s official invoice only. Depending on the authority, the permit takes 2 to 14 working days.
4. Get your establishment card and apply for the visa. On GoFreelance, both go through the same portal.
5. Enter the UAE or change status. If you’re abroad, you get an entry permit and fly in. If you’re already in the UAE, your status is changed (GDRFA charges AED 500 plus small government charges in Dubai).
6. Take the medical test and give your Emirates ID biometrics.
7. Receive your residence visa and Emirates ID.

Switching from an employment visa? Don’t cancel it until your new entry permit has been issued. GDRFA’s change of status needs both a new visa and cancellation of the old residence.

Green Visa

1. Get the MoHRE freelance work permit. GDRFA describes this as step one.
2. Apply for the Green Visa. In Dubai, use GDRFA’s website or app (with UAE Pass), an Amer centre or a Customer Happiness Centre. Elsewhere, use ICP’s smart services or service centres.
3. Complete the medical test, biometrics and health insurance.
4. Receive your visa. GDRFA lists 48 hours to process each application. If you already hold a UAE residence visa, GDRFA says not to cancel it until the Green residence is issued.

How much does a freelance visa cost?

These are the authorities’ own published prices. Fees change often, so confirm with the issuing authority before you pay.

Permit and visa fees by route (as of October 2026)

Route	Permit or licence	Visa and related fees	First year with a one-year visa
GoFreelance (DDA, Dubai)	AED 7,520 (AED 7,500 plus AED 20 government fees)	Establishment card AED 2,000; visa AED 4,600 (one year) or AED 5,042 (two years)	AED 14,120, plus any medical, Emirates ID and insurance costs not covered
Expo Freelance (Dubai)	AED 7,000 for the permit only	Packages cover “everything from entry permit to Emirates ID”; insurance isn’t mentioned	AED 9,020; the package with a two-year visa is AED 16,020
FreelanceUAE (DMCC)	AED 4,020	Visa packages on hold	Not currently available
RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah)	From AED 6,100	Not itemised on the permit page	Ask RAKEZ for a quote
UAQ Free Trade Zone	Sold as a package	Sold as a package	From AED 9,999, including visa, Emirates ID, insurance and workspace
Creative Media Authority (Abu Dhabi)	Licence and registration fees waived for the first two years	Visa AED 3,433.50 (one year) or AED 3,538.50 (two years); Emirates ID AED 189 or AED 315 (normal service, including VAT)	AED 3,622.50, plus health insurance from about AED 1,200 and a AED 315 service charge

GoFreelance fees are non-refundable. Expo City Dubai’s permit fee includes a non-refundable AED 500.

Other costs to budget for (as of October 2026)

Item	Official fee	Notes
Medical fitness test (Dubai)	AED 250 regular (24 working hours) to AED 1,020 VIP (2 working hours)	Dubai Health Authority fee list from 2022, before typing fees; other emirates set their own
Emirates ID	AED 100 per year of residence, plus a AED 100 smart service fee	About AED 300 for a two-year visa or AED 600 for a five-year Green Visa; free zones and typing centres may charge more
Health insurance (Dubai visa)	Dubai’s minimum plan, the Essential Benefits Plan, has an index rate of AED 550 to AED 750 a year, plus VAT	Set by the Dubai Health Authority for 2025 onwards; insurers set the actual price, and wider cover costs more
Change of status (inside the UAE)	AED 500, plus small government charges	Only if you’re already in the UAE on another visa
Green Visa government fees (GDRFA)	Entry permit AED 200 plus VAT. Residence permit AED 200, rising by AED 100 for each year over two years, plus AED 20 government fees and AED 20 delivery	A AED 500 “inside the country” fee applies if you’re already in the UAE. MoHRE’s permit fee is extra

What it adds up to. Our estimate, not an official figure, is AED 10,000 to AED 17,000 for the first year with a one-year visa on most free zone routes. Abu Dhabi’s Creative Media Authority costs less for its first two years but limits where you can work. The permit fee is due every year, and visa, Emirates ID and insurance costs recur at each renewal.

How long does it take?

• The permit: about two working days for GoFreelance, up to three at Expo City Dubai, 7 to 10 for FreelanceUAE and up to 14 at Abu Dhabi’s Creative Media Authority.
• The visa: next come the establishment card, entry permit or change of status, medical test and Emirates ID. Regular medical results in Dubai take 24 working hours.
• Overall: allow a few weeks from application to holding your Emirates ID. It can take longer if documents need attesting or the authority asks for more information.

What you can and can’t do on a freelance permit

Work for clients in the UAE and abroad

You can only work within the activities on your permit; RAKEZ and FreelanceUAE allow just one. The government portal u.ae says free zone businesses can trade freely within their zone and abroad, but generally need a mainland distributor, branch or licence to sell directly to the mainland (onshore) market. For freelancers, the rules differ by zone:

• RAKEZ says a free zone entity can trade on the mainland only through an agent, representative or distributor.
• Ajman Free Zone says its freelancers can use their licence on the mainland.
• The Creative Media Authority limits its freelancers to registered partner companies within the zone.
• GoFreelance says you “may work for a company as an independent contractor from its free zone premises”, without addressing mainland clients directly.

Since October 2025, Dubai has offered a Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit for AED 5,000 per six months. It is aimed at free zone companies with a Dubai Unified Licence, and it isn’t clear that individual freelancers qualify. If most of your clients will be mainland companies, get the free zone’s answer in writing before you pay.

A freelance permit isn’t a substitute for a job. If a company wants you full time as part of its team, it should employ and sponsor you.

Hire staff or use a brand name

Freelance permits are issued in your own name. GoFreelance, RAKEZ, FreelanceUAE and the Creative Media Authority all say you can’t hire or sponsor staff; Ajman Free Zone is an exception, and its FAQ says freelancers there can hire one employee. RAKEZ adds that freelancers are personally liable for their debts. If you want employees, a trading name or limited liability, read our guide to company setup in Dubai.

Sponsor your family

UAE residents can sponsor a spouse and children if they earn at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. Family members aged 18 and over must pass a medical test. In Dubai, GDRFA also asks for an Ejari-registered tenancy contract or proof that you own your home.

Official pages don’t say how freelancers prove the income threshold (GDRFA’s checklist asks for a salary certificate only from government and semi-government employees). Ask your free zone, or the immigration authority that issued your visa, what it accepts.

Open a bank account

For a personal account, banks usually ask for your Emirates ID, residence visa, passport, and a salary certificate or employment letter. The government portal u.ae notes that self-employed people may need a trade licence instead. The Creative Media Authority warns that banks may want proof of at least three months’ upcoming work.

Business accounts depend on your permit. RAKEZ says its freelancers can’t open a corporate account, while Expo City Dubai says its permit holders can. Our guide to opening a bank account in Dubai covers the process.

Pay the right taxes

The UAE doesn’t tax individuals’ income, but freelancing is a business activity. You must register for corporate tax if your business turnover is more than AED 1 million in a calendar year. Corporate tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that. You must also register for VAT if your taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 over 12 months.

Renewing your permit and visa

• Permit: most freelance permits last a year and are renewed annually. Expo City Dubai’s can be renewed for up to five years in total.
• Visa: free zone visas usually last one or two years. GoFreelance links your visa to your permit and establishment card, so all three must stay valid. You’ll need valid health insurance to renew.
• Green Visa: valid for five years and renewable. Check the renewal conditions with ICP or GDRFA well before it expires.
• Fines: late renewals attract fines. Staying in the UAE after your visa and grace period end costs AED 50 a day.

Common mistakes and scams

• Buying a visa from a company you won’t work for. Some agents sell an employment visa from a company with spare quota and tell you to freelance on the side. That isn’t a freelance visa, and u.ae states that “it is illegal for a person to work in the UAE without a valid work permit”.
• Paying to get hired. If you’re offered a job rather than freelance work, u.ae says you don’t have to pay recruitment agencies, and a hiring company or agency that asks for money for a visa or medical test isn’t genuine.
• Paying the wrong people. Pay only through the authority’s own portal or official invoice, and keep your receipts.
• Choosing on price alone. A cheaper permit may not cover your profession, may restrict where you can work, or may mean trips to another emirate for medicals and renewals.
• Trusting old prices. Fees and rules change; DMCC’s freelance visa packages, for example, were on hold in October 2026. Check the authority’s own website when you apply.

Freelance permit or your own company?

A freelance permit is usually the simplest and cheapest way to work for yourself, but it’s built for one person selling their own skills. If you plan to hire, trade under a brand, sell goods or mainly serve mainland clients, compare the mainland, free zone and offshore options in our company setup guide. To test the market first, browse freelance jobs in Dubai.

FAQ

How much does a freelance visa cost in Dubai?

Budget roughly AED 10,000 to AED 17,000 for the first year with a one-year visa (our estimate from published prices, October 2026). Expo City Dubai advertises AED 9,020 and Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone AED 9,999, both including a visa. GoFreelance comes to AED 14,120 before medical, Emirates ID and insurance costs.

Can I get a freelance visa without a degree?

Yes, on most free zone routes. They usually ask for proof of your profession, such as a portfolio or work samples, rather than a degree. The self-sponsored Green Visa does require a bachelor’s degree, specialised diploma or equivalent.

Can I sponsor my family on a freelance visa?

Usually, if you earn at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, and have suitable housing. Ask your free zone or the immigration authority how to prove your income. Green Visa holders can also sponsor first-degree relatives.

Can I work for mainland companies with a free zone freelance permit?

It depends on the free zone. Some allow it, some require an agent or distributor, and some limit you to companies inside the zone. Get the answer in writing before you pay, and compare a mainland licence if mainland clients will be your main market.

Can I live in Dubai with a freelance visa from another emirate?

We found no official rule against it, and Dubai’s tenancy registration system (Ejari) registers tenants with an Emirates ID. But you may need to travel to the issuing emirate for medicals, biometrics and renewals (Ajman Free Zone only accepts medical reports from one centre in Ajman), and some permits restrict where you can work.

Can I get a freelance permit while I’m employed?

Often, yes. GoFreelance lets employees apply with a declaration form. For a RAKEZ permit without its visa, you need your current sponsor’s NOC. Check your employment contract too, as it may limit outside work.

Do freelancers pay tax in the UAE?

There’s no personal income tax. Corporate tax applies once your business turnover exceeds AED 1 million in a calendar year: 0% on the first AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above that. VAT registration is mandatory once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 over 12 months.