The United Arab Emirates is home to around 10 million people of which only a fraction are actual UAE citizens. The majority of people living and working in the UAE are immigrants and ex-pats, who came to UAE through employment visas and as of recently through freelance visas.
Hundreds of thousands of people visit the UAE every year and those who come to the UAE in search of work, primarily do it through employment visas. However, in recognition of the changing market, the UAE has launched freelance visas over the last few years.
These freelance visas are already bearing fruit as thousands of freelancers from social media influencers and content creators to web developers and graphic designers are flocking to the UAE every year. Not to mention the many consultants, teachers, interpreters, hair stylists, and even yoga instructors.
In this guide, we will tell you all about these freelance visas, their types, costs, the documentation needed, and most importantly, how you can get them.
What is a Freelance Visa in UAE?
The freelance visa allows individuals to work for themselves in the UAE. With a freelance visa, they can reside and work in the UAE, either for themselves or other clients both inside and outside the UAE. There are several types of freelance visas and they were introduced over the last few years in gradual steps.
Types of Freelance Visas in UAE
There are two main categories of freelance visas in UAE and then some niche categories. Here is a brief overview of them all, along with the eligibility criteria.
Freelance Permit
The freelance permit is for those individuals who are already residents of the UAE, either through family, spouse, or employer and they want to do something on their own. To get this visa you need to apply for it at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).
To get this visa you need to submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your sponsor or employer. Generally, the skill/education requirements are a Bachelor’s degree or a Diploma and once you get it, you will need to renew it every year.
Green Visa
This is the primary type of freelance visa for most non-residents looking to do freelance work in the UAE. It is typically issued for 5 years and the purpose of this visa is to attract talent from around the globe to UAE. This visa is further divided into three types investor partner, high-level skilled, and self-employed.
Holders of this visa can also sponsor their families and bring them along to UAE and the eligibility criteria for this visa are slightly strict and require the following.
- You need to have at least a Bachelor’s Degree or a Diploma.
- You need to show an annual income of at least AED 360,000 for the last two years.
- You need to provide an NOC along with other documents, the details of which are shared below.
The Dubai Talent Pass
The Dubai Talent Pass is a three-year visa launched by The Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (Dafza) and General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) to attract people in varying fields like arts, technology, designers, marketing, etc.
GoFreelance
GoFreelance is a visa offered by the TECOM group to attract freelancers to Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Design District, and Dubai Knowledge Park. The recipients of this visa fall into the same categories as the Dubai Talent Pass.
In addition to these, there are other types of niche visas for educationists, IT professionals, finance professionals, and media personnel.
Costs of a Freelance Visa in UAE
The costs of these visas vary depending on the type of visa you are getting but here is a brief overview of the main ones.
- Green Visa: There is no set fee for the Green Visa and it can vary depending on your processing fee, medical insurance, ID card fee, etc. The total cost can be anywhere around a few thousand AED.
- Work Permit: The work permit costs around AED 7,500 and needs to be renewed every year.
- Dubai Talent Pass: The Dubai Talent Pass costs AED 9,500 plus the visa fee and the pass needs to be renewed every year.
- GoFreelance: The GoFreelance costs AED 7,500 on its own and needs to be renewed every year. Additional costs include an Establishment card at AED 2,000, medical insurance, and visa fees that may vary.
*All these costs are subject to change and may differ when you apply for your visa.
Documents needed for a Freelance Visa in UAE
You need to have the following documents to apply for a Freelance Visa and depending on the type of visa you are applying for, the documentation can vary.
- Copy of a Valid Passport
- A Passport size Photo
- Qualification documents (Degree, Transcripts, Resume, etc.)
- Bank Statement
- Proof of Address
- Copy of a visa (in some cases like a freelance permit)
- NOC from your sponsor (In some cases)
- Freelance permit from MOHRE (In some cases)
Steps to getting the Green Freelance Visa
The steps to getting a Green Visa are as follows.
- First, you need to go to the General Directory of Residency and Foreign Affairs Dubai (GDRFAD) website.
- Next, click on Services and click on Residency Visas.
- Now on the new page, you will click on Issuance of Green Residency.
- Next, you need to select from the three types of visas you want to apply for.
- Now you need to click on Start Service and begin the application process.
- You will need to register first to create an account and then fill in the application.
- Just follow the instructions provided on the website and continue.
- Once you have filled out the application and submitted the required documents you will need to pay the necessary fees.
- Once that is done just submit the application and wait for the verification process and response from the GDRFAD.
To submit all the necessary documents, the applicant is given 30 days once the application process is started. The processing time for the application itself is around 2 to 3 months, but in can vary depending on the case.
