Planning to live and work in UAE? Here's everything you need to know about the 4 main visa options

As global mobility continues to rise, the United Arab Emirates, particularly Dubai , has positioned itself as a hub for professionals, entrepreneurs, and remote workers. With 88% of its population made up of expats, the UAE offers a range of visa options tailored to different work profiles. Whether you're employed by a local company, working remotely for a foreign firm, freelancing, or investing, understanding the UAE’s four main work-related visa pathways, Standard, Remote Work, Green, and Golden, is essential for anyone considering relocating to the country.

Standard Work Visa: Employer-sponsored route for on-site employment
The standard work visa is the most common pathway for foreign nationals working in the UAE across private, government, and free zone sectors. It’s an employer-sponsored visa, usually issued for two to three years, and is renewable.

Who It’s for:

• Employees in private companies, government entities, or free zones
  
• Domestic workers like housekeepers, drivers, and caregivers, who fall under recognized categories
  
  

Application process:

Job Offer: The applicant must first secure a written job offer from a UAE-based employer.

Entry Permit: Before arriving, the worker must obtain an entry permit.

Medical Check & Emirates ID: After entry, the applicant undergoes a medical check and applies for an Emirates ID.

Work Visa Issuance: The employer applies for the residency visa, linked to the employment contract and approved by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

Key requirements:

• The employer must have:
  
  
  • A valid business license
    
  • No regulatory violations
    
    
• The employee must:
  
  
  • Be over 18
    
  • Hold at least a high school diploma
    
  • Work in a role aligned with the company’s business activity
    

There’s no maximum age for applicants. However, if the worker is over 65, the employer pays an additional AED 5,000 (USD 1,360) every two years.

Remote Work Visa: Live in the UAE, work for a company abroad
The UAE’s Remote Work Visa, also known as the Virtual Work Program in Dubai, allows foreign professionals to reside in the UAE while working for a non-UAE-based employer. This is ideal for digital nomads or remote professionals looking for a base in the Gulf region.

Core features:

• Validity: 1 year, renewable
  
• Sponsorship: No local employer or sponsor required
  
• Issued by: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
  
• Entry Window: Must enter the UAE within 60 days of visa issuance
• Ability to sponsor family members, including spouse and children
  

Eligibility criteria:

• Proof of remote employment with a company outside the UAE
  
• Minimum monthly income of AED12,856 ($3,500) per month, or the equivalent in other currencies
  
• Supporting documentation (employment contract, salary slips, bank statements)
  

The Dubai Virtual Work Program also allows remote workers to bring their families with them.

Green Visa: Five-year residency for skilled talent and freelancers
Introduced to attract global talent and support flexible employment models, the Green Visa separates the work permit from the residency permit. It provides a 5-year residence, without the need for an employer sponsor, and grants extended grace periods of up to 6 months post-expiry to stay in the UAE.

Who can apply:

• Freelancers/Self-employed professionals
  
• Skilled employees
  
• Investors/partners
  
  

Green Visa for freelancers/self-employed:

• Freelance permit from MoHRE
  
• A Bachelor’s degree or specialized diploma
  
• Proof of income from self-employment over the past two years: Minimum AED 360,000 (USD 97,200)
  
• Sufficient financial means for staying in the UAE
  
  

Green Visa for skilled employees:

• A valid job contract
  
• The role must be classified under occupational levels 1, 2, or 3 by MoHRE
  
• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification
  
• Minimum annual salary of AED 180,000 (USD 48,600)
  
  

Additional benefits:

• Sponsor family members, including spouse, children, and first-degree relatives
  
• Male children can be sponsored until age 25; no age limit for unmarried daughters
  
• Children of determination (with disabilities) receive residency regardless of age
  
  

Golden Visa: Long-term residency for investors and exceptional achievers
The Golden Visa is a prestigious long-term residence permit valid for 5 or 10 years, designed to retain investors, top professionals, and exceptional talent. It comes with multiple privileges that go beyond typical work visas.

Key benefits:

• No sponsor required
  
• Multiple-entry visa for 6 months to complete residency procedures
  
• Stay outside the UAE for more than six months without invalidating the visa
  
• Sponsor spouses and children, regardless of age
  
• Sponsor an unlimited number of domestic workers
  
• In case of the primary visa holder’s death, family members can stay until their own permits expire
  
  

Eligibility categories (12 official + 5 new in 2025):

• Investors
  
• Entrepreneurs
  
• Specialised talents (e.g., doctors, researchers, creatives)
  
• Outstanding students
  
• Humanitarian pioneers
  
• Frontline heroes
  
• Nurses
  
• Educators
  
• Content creators
  
• E-sports professionals
  
• Luxury yacht owners
  
  

Each category has specific application procedures and approval criteria, and applicants must meet the exacting standards laid out by UAE authorities.