Visa in Dubai

Going to Dubai? In some cases, you’ll need a visa. On this page, we’ll tell you what visas are available in Dubai and which one you need.

Do you need a visa if you’re going to Dubai for a short period? No, you don’t need a visa if you’re going to Dubai for less than 90 days and you’re not planning to do something like working in Dubai. When you go to Dubai, you’ll get a stamp in your passport that allows you to stay in Dubai for 90 days.

So how long can you stay in Dubai without a visa? 90 days.

Keep in mind that:

• You need a valid passport to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
• Your passport must state a gender (so no X).
• Your passport must show your full date of birth.

To stay in Dubai for longer than a few weeks, you need a residence visa. For shorter stays, a tourist visa or no visa (less than 90 days) is sufficient. Dutch passport holders, for example, can stay in the UAE (and thus Dubai) for up to 90 days without a visa as tourists.

In Dubai, the term sponsor is often used. A sponsor is someone from Dubai who helps you get your visa. This could be your partner or your employer, for example.

Types of visas in Dubai

Are you planning to emigrate to Dubai or stay in Dubai for a longer period? Then you do need a visa. For long-term stays, there are several options:

1. Work visa
2. Investor or entrepreneur visa
3. Golden visa
4. Family visa
5. Retirement visa
6. Remote work visa

1. Work visa

This is the most common for expats. It’s arranged by your employer in Dubai, who also serves as your sponsor. With a work visa, you can legally work and live in Dubai for as long as your employment lasts.

• Duration of work visa: as long as the employment contract lasts.
• Purpose: ability to work in Dubai

2. Investor or entrepreneur visa

Are you starting a business in Dubai? If you start your own business in Dubai or invest in real estate by, for example, buying a house in Dubai, you may be eligible for a visa based on that investment.

Whether you can get a visa for this depends on the amount of your investment. Depending on the size of the investment amount, such a visa is usually valid for 3 to 10 years.

Real estate investors, for example, get a 3-year visa for an investment from about AED 750,000, and for higher amounts (e.g., AED 2 million) even 5 years or longer.

• Duration of investor visa: 3 to 10 years with possibility of extension.
• Purpose: attracting investors and businesses to Dubai

3. Golden Visa

What is the Golden Visa in Dubai? The Golden Visa is a special long-term visa of 5 or 10 years intended for major investors, scientists, highly educated professionals, and individuals with exceptional talents. How long can you stay in Dubai with the Golden Visa? The Golden Visa offers up to 10 years of residency rights in Dubai without needing a local sponsor (employer).

• Duration of golden visa: 5 to 10 years with possibility of extension
• Purpose: attracting interesting and/or wealthy individuals to Dubai
• The privilege of not needing a sponsor
• The possibility to stay outside the UAE for longer than the usual period of six months without the residence visa expiring
• The ability to sponsor family members such as spouses and children, regardless of their age (family visa).

4. Family visa

If you have a residence visa yourself, you can usually bring over your immediate family (partner and children) under a so-called family visa. You then act as their sponsor. However, income requirements apply, and you must be able to provide marriage and birth certificates as proof of the family relationship. Additionally, while men can bring their family over, women must still arrange a visa in Dubai for the family.

• Duration of family visa: 5 years without having to work in Dubai
• Purpose: to relocate your family to Dubai

5. Retirement Visa

Dubai also offers a special retirement visa for retirees aged 55 and older. This allows you to stay in the UAE for 5 years, provided you meet certain financial requirements (such as a minimum income or savings and/or property ownership). This visa is designed to make it attractive for retirees to move to Dubai.

• Duration of retirement visa: 5 years with possibility of extension
• Purpose: attracting wealthy retirees
• You must have worked for at least 15 years within or outside Dubai
• You must be 55 years or older at the time of retirement

AND

• Own property worth at least AED 1 million, OR
• Have assets of at least AED 1 million, OR
• Have a monthly income of AED 20,000 (AED 15,000 per month for Dubai).

6. Remote Work Visa

A relatively new option is the “virtual work visa” for digital nomads and remote workers. This one-year visa allows you to live in Dubai while continuing to work remotely for a foreign employer, provided you can demonstrate a minimum monthly income (around €3,500 per month) and have valid health insurance.

• Duration of remote work visa: 1 year with possibility of extension
• Purpose: attracting interesting individuals and companies to Dubai
• Income: minimum income of € 3,500

Conditions and Application Process for Dubai Visa

If you want to obtain a visa in Dubai, you need to go through several steps.

• First, you often need a local sponsor. Usually, this is your employer or your own company, but it can also be a family member with a visa, or the investment that entitles you to a visa.
• With the help of this sponsor, you apply for an entry permit to enter Dubai, or you change your tourist status to a residence visa without leaving the country.
• Once in Dubai, you undergo a medical examination (blood test and chest X-ray) – this is mandatory for all new residents in Dubai.
• If this is in order, you apply for an Emirates ID, the identity card that every resident must have.
• Finally, your passport is stamped with the visa or you receive a residence sticker/permit.

The processing time varies: sometimes everything is arranged in a week, but it can also take several weeks depending on the type of visa and how quickly all documents are in order. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months, as this is a strict requirement for all visas.

Practical Visa Tips

• Start your visa procedure well in advance.
• Ensure you have all necessary documents. Often, you need a legalized birth certificate or marriage certificate for family visas, and employers frequently ask for diplomas that are apostilled or legalized.
• Make sure you have your visa arranged before you start working upon arrival – working on a tourist visa is illegal.
• Finally: never exceed the validity period of your visa. If you don’t renew your residence permit on time or switch to a new visa, you risk fines and may encounter legal problems. So plan your visa renewal well in advance or – if you’re leaving – ensure timely deregistration to prevent overstaying.