Key takeaways
- Entry permits cover short stays such as tourism, visits and job seeking; residence visas let you live in the UAE, and every resident must hold an Emirates ID.
- A standard work visa is valid for two years and renewable; the employer applies for it.
- The Green visa lasts five years with no UAE sponsor, for skilled workers, freelancers and investors.
- ICP lists the Golden and Blue residences as 10 years, both without a UAE sponsor.
- Remote workers earning USD 3,500 a month can get a one-year visa, and retirees aged 55 or over a five-year visa, both self-sponsored.
Entry permits vs residence visas
An entry permit lets you into the UAE for a fixed period. ICP issues it for tourism, a visit or treatment, or to complete a work or family residence. ICP also lists a 60-day job exploration visa and a 90-day business exploration visa, both single entry and with no host needed.
A residence visa lets you live, work or study here. From abroad, you often enter on an entry permit tied to your residence type and finish the residence inside the UAE; GDRFA Dubai's property owner entry visa, for example, allows 60 days from entry. Every resident must also apply for an Emirates ID.
UAE residence visa types compared
| Visa type | Duration | Sponsor | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment (work) | 2 years, renewable | Government or private-sector employer | Employees hired by a UAE employer |
| Family | Follows the sponsor's residence | A resident family member | Spouse, sons under 25, unmarried daughters, children with special needs |
| Student | Not fixed on GDRFA Dubai's page | University or institution, or a resident parent | Students at accredited UAE institutions |
| Green: skilled worker | 5 years, renewable | None; needs a valid UAE employment contract | MOHRE skill levels 1 to 3, a bachelor's degree, AED 15,000 a month |
| Green: freelancer or self-employed | 5 years, renewable | None | MOHRE freelance permit, AED 360,000 a year in income, and proof of stable income or financial solvency |
| Green: investor or partner | Up to 5 years, renewable | None | Paid share of at least AED 1 million (GDRFA Dubai) |
| Golden | 10 years per ICP; u.ae lists 5 or 10 | None | Investors, entrepreneurs, talents, scientists, top students, humanitarian and frontline workers |
| Blue | 10 years, renewable | None; self-apply or nominated | People with an exceptional contribution to environmental protection |
| Remote work (virtual work) | 1 year, renewable | None | Staff of an employer outside the UAE earning USD 3,500 a month |
| Retirement | 5 years, renewable | None | Age 55 or over, 15 years of service, and a savings, property or income test |
| Property owner | Not stated by GDRFA Dubai; 2 years in Abu Dhabi | None | Owners of a completed property with AED 10,000 a month income or solvency |
ICP's Golden page (updated September 2026) lists 10 years for every category, and GDRFA Dubai's investor, entrepreneur and top-student pages also say 10 years; u.ae still says 5 or 10. Follow ICP, the issuing authority, and confirm your category's term.
Visas sponsored by an employer, family or university
Employment. The employer applies for the standard work visa, valid for two years and renewable. Domestic workers have a separate visa. See our employment visa service and labour card guide.
Family. Male and female residents earning AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, can sponsor family. Their residence follows yours, so cancelling your visa means cancelling theirs. Green residents can sponsor their spouse and children, and also first-degree relatives; Golden residents can also sponsor parents. Our family visa service handles the file.
Students. GDRFA Dubai says the university or institution acts as the student's host. u.ae adds that a student can instead stay on a resident parent's sponsorship.
Long-term visas with no sponsor: Green, Golden and Blue
Green visa. Five years, renewable, for skilled workers, freelancers and self-employed people, and investors or partners. ICP says no sponsor is needed in the UAE. Our green visa guide covers the conditions and fees.
Golden visa. For investors, entrepreneurs, frontline workers, scientists and specialists, humanitarian pioneers, outstanding students and exceptional talents. GDRFA Dubai's investor route starts at AED 2 million, for example in property. u.ae says holders can stay outside the UAE longer than the usual six months. See our golden visa service.
Blue visa. A 10-year residence for people who have made an exceptional contribution to protecting the environment. You can apply to ICP or be nominated by a UAE authority. Read our blue visa guide.
Business owners can compare routes in visa options for business owners or our investor visa service; freelancers, read freelance visa vs freelance license.
Remote work, retirement and property owner visas
Remote work. GDRFA Dubai grants a one-year renewable permit to people working remotely for an employer outside the UAE, with a monthly income of at least USD 3,500 and valid health insurance.
Retirement. Five years, renewable, for people aged 55 or over with at least 15 years of service. u.ae lists property worth AED 1 million plus AED 1 million in savings, or annual income of at least AED 180,000 (AED 240,000 for Dubai applications).
Property owner. GDRFA Dubai grants residence without a sponsor to the full owner of a completed, habitable property, with a monthly income of at least AED 10,000 or proof of financial solvency. Paying at least AED 2 million of the property's value opens the Golden route.
How to get a UAE residence visa
- 1. Pick the type. Match it to your reason for living here: a job, family, study, business or retirement.
- 2. Check the sponsor and the test. Salary, income, shareholding, property value or age, as in the table.
- 3. Apply from abroad or in the UAE. From abroad, enter on the matching entry permit; if you're already in the UAE, GDRFA Dubai adds an AED 500 'fee inside the country'.
- 4. Complete the checks. Applicants aged 18 or over take a medical test, and you apply for an Emirates ID.
- 5. Get the residence issued. ICP, or GDRFA Dubai in Dubai, issues it. GDRFA Dubai lists an expected completion time of 48 hours.
We work out which visa fits, prepare and submit the documents and follow the file up; ICP or GDRFA Dubai decides. Start with our corporate PRO services.
Sources
- UAE government portal: Types of visas
- ICP: Issue entry permit
- ICP: UAE Golden residency
- ICP: UAE Green residency
- ICP: UAE Blue residency
- GDRFA Dubai: residence permit for private sector workers
- GDRFA Dubai: residence permit for retired foreigners
Official sources checked on 10 November 2026. This guide explains published rules in plain English and is not legal or tax advice. Rules change; we check the current position for your case before you act.