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A freelance visa in Dubai is really two things: a freelance permit and a residence visa tied to it. The common route is a free zone permit such as GoFreelance, at AED 7,500 a year plus a visa from AED 4,600. Dubai agencies quote about AED 11,000 to AED 16,000 for a permit with a two-year visa. High earners can use the five-year green visa instead.
Three routes, side by side
| Route | Who issues it | Sponsor of your visa | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free zone freelance permit (GoFreelance, DDA) | TECOM Group and the Dubai Development Authority | The free zone | Media, tech, design and education freelancers |
| MOHRE freelance permit | Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation | Yourself, on a self-sponsored residence | People already on their own residence |
| Green visa for freelancers | GDRFA in Dubai, ICP elsewhere | Yourself, for 5 years | Freelancers who meet the degree and income rules |
There's also a fourth option many people overlook. If all your income comes from one employer abroad, you may not need a freelance permit at all. The remote work visa for Dubai needs no local licence at all.
Route 1: a free zone freelance permit
GoFreelance covers four Dubai zones: Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Design District and Dubai Knowledge Park. The licence includes a hot desk, 24/7 access, Wi-Fi, meeting rooms and community events. DDA issues the underlying Freelancer (Sole Professional) Licence.
| Official line | Fee |
|---|---|
| GoFreelance licence | AED 7,500 a year |
| Visa, 1 year | AED 4,600 |
| Visa, 2 years | AED 5,042 |
| Establishment card | AED 2,000 |
| DDA licence government add-ons | AED 10 Knowledge, AED 10 Innovation |
Sources: GoFreelance price list and DDA freelancer licence page, checked . GoFreelance says visa and card fees can change and the visa needs valid medical insurance.
The catch: your activity must be on the zone's list. The four zones are built around media, technology, design and education, so check the activity list before you pay anything.
Route 2: the MOHRE freelance permit
u.ae lists a freelance work permit among MOHRE's 13 permit types. It's for people who work for themselves with no employer sponsor, including foreign nationals on self-sponsored residence. It's the permit the green visa asks for.
Media report a two-year fee for it, but MOHRE's own page could not be read when we checked, so we don't quote a number. Confirm the fee on MOHRE's app or website before you budget.
Route 3: the green visa for freelancers
The green visa is the only self-sponsored freelance residence in Dubai. GDRFA lists three conditions:
- a MOHRE freelance or self-employment permit
- a bachelor's degree, specialised diploma or equivalent
- self-employment income of at least AED 360,000 over the two preceding years, or proof of financial solvency
ICP words the income rule as annual income over the previous two years, so read it as a yearly figure to be safe. The visa runs five years, can sponsor your spouse and children, and gives a 180-day grace period after it ends. Full detail on green visa UAE.
What Dubai agencies charge
Dubai setup firms publish about AED 11,000 to AED 16,000 for a free zone freelance permit with a two-year visa (published prices of 4 sources, including the GoFreelance list itself, checked ). Medical, Emirates ID and insurance are often extra. The line-by-line breakdown is on our freelance visa cost page.
Documents you'll be asked for
- Passport copy, plus your current UAE visa page if you have one
- Photo
- NOC, where the licensing rules require one for your case
- Self-declaration form, if you already hold a UAE visa
- Health insurance for the visa stage
- For the green visa: degree and income proof
The full lists by route are on freelance visa requirements.
How long it takes
DDA states about 2 working days for the licence. The standard medical test result takes 24 hours. GDRFA lists 48 hours for the residence permit and for the green visa. ICP lists 5 days for a new Emirates ID card. Allow extra days for appointments between steps.
Why freelance files get stuck
- The activity isn't on the zone's list.
- An existing employer visa whose cancellation wasn't planned into the timeline.
- Green visa income proof doesn't reach the AED 360,000 line, or the degree is a short course rather than a specialised diploma.
- No health insurance at the visa stage.
- Applying from inside the UAE without the fee inside the country budgeted.
Tips
- Want to bring your family? Check first how the zone handles dependants. See sponsor family on a freelance visa.
- Keep invoices and bank statements from day one. They become your green visa evidence later.
- Living in Abu Dhabi? Read freelance visa in Abu Dhabi before you pick a Dubai zone.
How it works with us
Tell us on WhatsApp or through the form on this page what work you do, who your clients are and which visa you hold now. A visa adviser matches that to a free zone permit, the MOHRE and green visa route, or a remote work visa, and explains why. You get one total price before paying. The team prepares the permit file, books the medical and Emirates ID steps, and follows the residence until it's stamped. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service; the free zone, MOHRE and GDRFA or ICP make the decisions.
If a permit or visa is refused, government and zone fees are not refunded by the authorities. Before you pay, the adviser tells you in writing which part of our total, if any, would come back.
Official sources
- u.ae work permits: MOHRE freelance permit definition.
- GoFreelance: licence, visa and card prices, zones.
- DDA freelancer licence: licence fee, documents, timing.
- GDRFA green visa for freelancers: conditions and fees.
- ICP green residency: income wording, family.
Checked . Zone prices change, so check the GoFreelance list on the day you apply.
