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A freelance visa in Abu Dhabi is not a product on any Abu Dhabi government page we could find. What does work there are two federal routes: the MOHRE freelance permit, and the five-year green visa for freelancers, which ICP issues. ICP's green residence costs AED 100 a year plus AED 100 application and AED 100 smart services. You need a degree and AED 360,000 a year in freelance income.
We'd rather tell you that plainly than invent an Abu Dhabi permit price.
What we checked, and what's missing
We read the ICP, GDRFA, u.ae and MOHRE material that covers freelancers in . We did not find:
- an Abu Dhabi government freelance permit or its fee
- an Abu Dhabi free zone's own freelance price list read on the zone's site
- a verified agency price range for Abu Dhabi freelance packages
- an ICP service page for the virtual work visa
So this page sticks to the federal rules, which apply in Abu Dhabi as in every emirate. If you want a free zone licence in Abu Dhabi, ask the zone for its current price list in writing and compare it with the Dubai figures on freelance visa cost.
Federal route 1: the MOHRE freelance permit
u.ae lists a freelance work permit among MOHRE's 13 permit types. It's meant for people who work for themselves with no employer sponsor, including foreign nationals on self-sponsored residence. MOHRE is federal, so the permit isn't tied to Dubai. We couldn't read MOHRE's own page when we checked, so we don't quote its fee or documents. Use the MOHRE app to confirm both.
Federal route 2: the green visa through ICP
ICP words the freelancer condition this way: annual income from freelance work during the previous two years must not be less than AED 360,000. GDRFA's version of the same rule adds two more conditions: a MOHRE freelance or self-employment permit, and a bachelor's degree, specialised diploma or equivalent. GDRFA also accepts proof of financial solvency in place of the income line. The visa lasts five years, needs no sponsor and lets you sponsor your spouse and children.
ICP fees for the freelancer green visa
| ICP line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Green residence entry visa: application | AED 100 |
| Entry visa issuance | AED 100 |
| Smart services | AED 100 |
| Green residence entry visa fee | AED 100 |
| Residence issuance | AED 100 per year |
| Residence application and smart services | AED 100 and AED 100 |
| Status adjustment, if already inside the UAE | AED 500 |
| Emirates ID | AED 100 per year plus AED 100 smart service fee |
Sources: ICP entry visa, residency issuance and Emirates ID service pages, checked .
The entry visa gives you 60 days to finish the residence steps, and ICP lists UAE health insurance as a condition. We did not find an official Abu Dhabi medical fitness fee, so this table leaves it out. The Dubai prices on other pages don't apply in Abu Dhabi.
Documents to prepare
- Passport valid for at least six months, and a photo
- MOHRE freelance or self-employment permit
- Degree or specialised diploma certificate
- Two years of bank statements and invoices showing the income
- UAE health insurance policy
Processing time
ICP states 2 days for residency issuance and 5 days for a new Emirates ID card. MOHRE work permit services take 2 working days. The medical test and the time to collect income proof are usually what slow a file down.
Already working for a company abroad?
Then a freelance permit may be the wrong tool. GDRFA runs a virtual work visa in Dubai for people employed outside the UAE, with at least USD 3,500 a month in income. Media report an ICP equivalent called Virtual Work, but we found no ICP service page for it. See remote work visa Dubai.
Why these files get refused
- Income evidence below AED 360,000 a year, or not matched by bank statements.
- A certificate that is a short course, not a diploma or degree.
- No MOHRE permit at the time of the green visa application.
- Health insurance missing or not valid in the UAE.
- The 60-day entry window running out before the medical and biometrics.
Tips for Abu Dhabi residents
- Check which authority holds your current visa. If it's a Dubai visa, GDRFA rules apply to it, not ICP's.
- Would an employer-sponsored job suit you better? The Abu Dhabi work visa and Abu Dhabi residence visa pages show the employer-sponsored routes.
- ICP gives 180 days of grace after a green residence expires or is cancelled, so you have time to plan the next step.
- The green visa UAE page covers the other two green categories.
How it works with us
Message us on WhatsApp or use the form on this page with your passport copy, current visa and a short note on your income. A visa adviser checks whether you meet the ICP green visa line or whether another route fits, and says so if nothing official fits yet. You get one total price before paying. The team then files the MOHRE permit, the ICP entry visa and residence, and books the Emirates ID step. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service. MOHRE and ICP decide.
If ICP or MOHRE refuses the application, the government fees aren't refunded. Before you pay, your adviser tells you in writing what part of our total, if any, would come back.
Official sources
- ICP green residency: freelancer income wording, family.
- ICP entry visa services: green residence entry visa fees.
- ICP issuing residency: residence fees, 2 days, insurance.
- ICP Emirates ID: card fees.
- GDRFA green visa for freelancers: permit and degree conditions.
- u.ae work permits: MOHRE freelance permit.
Checked . ICP fees can change, so confirm on ICP smart services before paying.
