By Dubai Tax Resident Editorial Team · Last reviewed: October 2026
To move to Dubai, you need a residence visa, an Emirates ID, a registered home and, for the tax benefits to work, a clean exit from your home country’s tax system. The usual order is: choose your visa route, secure housing, complete the medical test and biometrics, open a bank account, arrange health insurance and schools, and deregister at home. With preparation, most people complete the move in two to three months.
Key facts
- Residence: requires a residence visa and Emirates ID
- Main visa routes: employment, own company, Golden Visa, Green Visa, freelance or remote work
- Housing: tenancy must be registered in Ejari
- Health insurance: mandatory for all Dubai residents
- Typical timeline: two to three months
- Tax: UAE residency does not end home-country tax automatically
Step 1: Choose your visa route
Your visa determines how you can live and work in Dubai. The most common options for people from Europe are:
| Route | Best for | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Employment visa | People with a job offer from a UAE employer | 2 years |
| Investor or partner visa | Entrepreneurs with their own UAE company | 2 years |
| Golden Visa | Property investors (AED 2m), high earners, investors | 10 years |
| Green Visa | Skilled employees, freelancers, smaller investors | 5 years |
| Remote work visa | Employees of companies outside the UAE | 1 year |
Read more in our Golden Visa guide and our business setup guide.
Step 2: Plan your exit from your home country
Before you move, map out how your home country decides tax residency. The UK uses the Statutory Residence Test, Germany looks at whether you keep a home available, Finland can keep citizens resident for three years and Sweden for five. Several countries also charge an exit tax on shareholdings. Plan your departure date, what happens to your home and how you will deregister.
Step 3: Find housing
Most newcomers rent first. Rents are quoted per year, and you will usually pay a security deposit, an agency fee and the Ejari registration. A registered tenancy is needed for your Emirates ID address, utilities and later for a Tax Residency Certificate. Our cost of living guide shows typical rents by area.
Step 4: Complete your residency
- Enter the UAE on an entry permit or visit visa.
- Complete the medical fitness test.
- Give biometrics for your Emirates ID.
- Receive your residence visa, now issued electronically, and your Emirates ID card.
- Sponsor your spouse and children if they are moving with you.
Step 5: Set up banking, insurance and utilities
- Bank account: open a personal account once you have your Emirates ID. Bring proof of address and income.
- Health insurance: mandatory. Employers cover employees; investors and the self-employed buy their own.
- Utilities: register with DEWA for electricity and water, and choose an internet provider.
- Mobile phone: local SIM cards are tied to your Emirates ID.
Step 6: Schools, driving and daily life
- Schools: apply as early as possible. Check ratings and fees with the KHDA.
- Driving licence: holders of licences from many European countries can exchange them for a UAE licence without a test.
- Shipping: plan shipping of household goods, cars and pets well in advance; pets need vaccinations and import permits.
Step 7: Build your UAE tax residency
Under Cabinet Decision No. 85 of 2022, you are a UAE tax resident if your centre of life is in the UAE, if you spend 183 days there in 12 months, or if you spend 90 days there with a residence visa and a permanent home or business in the UAE. Once you qualify, you can apply to the Federal Tax Authority for a Tax Residency Certificate to support your position with your former country.
Moving checklist
| Timing | Tasks |
|---|---|
| 3 to 6 months before | Choose visa route, review home-country tax rules and exit tax, research areas and schools |
| 1 to 3 months before | Set up company or accept job, find housing, arrange health insurance and shipping |
| Moving month | Medical test, Emirates ID, tenancy and Ejari, utilities, deregister at home |
| First 3 months | Bank account, driving licence, school start, keep records of days spent abroad |
| After 6 to 12 months | Apply for a Tax Residency Certificate if useful, review remaining home-country ties |
For a tailored relocation framework, see our Move to Dubai service page.
Want a personal relocation plan?
We structure your visa, company, housing and tax residency in the right order, so your move to Dubai works from day one.
Frequently asked questions
Choose a visa route such as employment, your own company or a Golden Visa, find housing, complete the medical test and Emirates ID, open a bank account and arrange health insurance. Plan your exit from your home country’s tax system in parallel.
Yes. You can obtain residency through your own company, a Golden Visa based on property or investment, a Green Visa as a freelancer, or a remote work visa if you are employed by a company abroad.
Budget for visa and Emirates ID fees, a year of rent often paid in a few cheques, a deposit and agency fee, health insurance and setup costs. Many single movers need AED 50,000 to 100,000 available upfront; families more.
With a clear visa route, most people complete the move in two to three months. Company setup, school places or selling property at home can extend the timeline.
Not automatically. Your home country decides when you stop being tax resident, based on its own rules about days, home and ties. Some countries also charge exit tax when you leave.
You need a valid passport, passport photos, the documents for your visa route such as an employment contract or company licence, attested marriage and birth certificates for family sponsorship, and a registered tenancy contract.
Yes. Residence visa holders who meet the income or housing requirements can sponsor their spouse and children. Golden Visa holders have broader sponsorship rights.
Once you meet the UAE tax residency tests, for example 183 days in the UAE or 90 days with a residence visa and a home or business in the UAE, you can apply to the Federal Tax Authority.
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Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not tax, legal or immigration advice. Requirements and fees change; confirm with the relevant authorities or a qualified adviser.