Digital nomad visa to the UAE

Eligibility and requirements

The remote work visa is for foreigners who work for a company outside the UAE, run their own foreign business or serve foreign clients.

Income requirements

You need at least $3,500 a month from abroad, proven by bank statements for the last 6 months and a salary certificate; employees need a contract with a foreign employer valid for at least a year.

Validity

The visa is issued for 1 year and can be renewed while the conditions are met.

Taxes and cost of living

Visa holders pay 0% local income tax.

Estimated monthly expenses in the UAE:

• A family of four - about $3,200 excluding rent.
• A single person - about $1,000 excluding rent.
• Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre - about $1,600 a month.

Who issues it and how to apply

You can apply from abroad and need not be in the UAE during processing. After approval you have 60 days to enter.

Documents

• Passport valid at least 6 months and a colour photo.
• Contract with a foreign employer valid for a year or more, or documents of your own foreign company.
• Salary certificate and 6 months of bank statements showing $3,500 a month.
• Health insurance covering the UAE for the whole stay; standard travel insurance is not enough.
• On request, a police clearance certificate.

Steps after approval

1. Entry on the permit within 60 days.
2. Medical test at a government centre.
3. Biometrics and Emirates ID.
4. Local bank account and housing.

Holders can sponsor a spouse and children, and children can attend local schools. Working for UAE companies on this visa is not allowed.

Taxes and residence

There is no personal income tax in the UAE and individuals file no returns. A tax residence certificate proves to your former country that you live in the UAE: it is issued after 183 days in 12 months, or after 90 days with a residence visa and a permanent home. More on the UAE taxes page.

If you need long-term status

The remote work visa does not lead to permanent status. For the long term there is the 10-year golden visa, for example through property from AED 2 million, about $544,600. More about life in Dubai on the Dubai page.

Cost by item

• in Dubai - a migration service fee package of about $290, plus a medical check and the residence ID;
• in Abu Dhabi and other emirates - government fees of about 350 dirhams, about $100;
• health insurance with UAE coverage for the whole term;
• housing - about $1,600 a month for a one-bedroom apartment in the centre.

If you also need a company or an account: company registration in the UAE with our support costs from $8,400, and a personal account with a UAE bank from $5,000. Our manager will calculate the cost of support for the visa itself in the chat.

Common reasons for refusal

• the contract with a foreign employer is shorter than a year;
• bank statements show months with less than $3,500 coming in;
• the insurance does not cover the UAE or is shorter than the visa;
• income comes from UAE companies and clients.

Comparison with other programmes

The UAE costs more to live in but wins on zero income tax, banking and flights, while Malaysia and Mauritius have lower income thresholds.

What we do

We check income and documents, choose the emirate, file the application, arrange insurance and support the medical test, Emirates ID and bank account. We quote the fee after a free consultation and fix it in writing. Dollar amounts at the dirham peg of 3.6725 per dollar, rounded up.

Benefits of the UAE digital nomad visa

FAQ