By Dubai Tax Resident Editorial Team · Last reviewed: October 2026
A Dubai residence visa lets you live in the UAE for two, five or ten years, depending on the route. The main options are an employment visa, an investor or partner visa through your own company, a Golden Visa, a Green Visa, a freelance permit, a remote work visa, a property investor visa and a retirement visa. The right choice depends on how you earn your income, how much you want to invest and how long you plan to stay.
Key facts
- Validity: 2 years (standard), 5 years (Green, retirement), 10 years (Golden)
- Common steps: entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID biometrics, visa issuance
- Health insurance: required for all Dubai residents
- Six-month rule: most visas lapse after more than six months outside the UAE; the Golden Visa does not
- Family: most visa holders can sponsor spouse and children if they meet income or housing requirements
Overview of residence visa routes
| Visa | Validity | Main requirement | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | 2 years | Job with a UAE employer | Employer |
| Investor / partner | 2 years | Ownership of a UAE company | Own company |
| Golden Visa | 10 years | AED 2m property, AED 30,000 salary or other qualifying route | Self |
| Green Visa | 5 years | Skilled employee (AED 15,000 salary), freelancer or investor | Self |
| Freelance permit | 1 to 3 years | Free zone or government freelance licence | Free zone or authority |
| Remote work | 1 year | Employment with a company outside the UAE and minimum income | Self |
| Property investor | 2 years | Dubai property of at least AED 750,000 | Self |
| Retirement | 5 years | Age 55+, with qualifying income, savings or property | Self |
Employment visa
The most common route. Your employer applies for your work permit with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and sponsors your residence visa. If you leave the job, the visa is cancelled and you have a grace period to find a new sponsor or leave.
Investor or partner visa
Entrepreneurs can obtain residency through their own free zone or mainland company. The number of visas depends on your licence package and office. This route is popular with consultants and online business owners. See our business setup guide.
Golden Visa
A self-sponsored 10-year visa for property investors with at least AED 2 million, skilled professionals earning AED 30,000 a month, investors, entrepreneurs and exceptional talents. It does not lapse during long periods abroad. See our Golden Visa guide.
Green Visa and freelance permits
The five-year Green Visa is self-sponsored and aimed at skilled employees earning at least AED 15,000 a month with a bachelor’s degree, freelancers and self-employed people with a freelance permit, and investors and partners in UAE businesses. Freelance permits are also available directly through several free zones.
Remote work visa
For people employed by a company outside the UAE or running their own business abroad who want to live in Dubai. You must show employment or ownership abroad and meet a minimum income requirement. It is renewable but offers fewer long-term benefits than a company or Golden Visa.
Property investor visa
In Dubai, owners of property worth at least AED 750,000 can apply for a renewable two-year residence visa, subject to conditions set by the Dubai Land Department. Property worth AED 2 million or more qualifies for the Golden Visa instead. See our guide to buying property in Dubai.
Retirement visa
Residents and foreigners aged 55 or over can apply for a five-year retirement visa in Dubai if they meet one of the financial criteria, typically a monthly income of around AED 20,000, savings of about AED 1 million or property worth about AED 1 million. Check the current criteria with GDRFA Dubai.
Which visa should you choose?
- You have a UAE job offer: employment visa, and later possibly a Golden Visa if your salary qualifies.
- You run your own business: investor visa through a free zone company.
- You buy property worth AED 2m or more: Golden Visa.
- You are a freelancer: Green Visa or free zone freelance permit.
- You work remotely for a foreign employer: remote work visa, or your own company for more flexibility.
- You are 55 or over with savings or income: retirement visa.
Residence visa and tax residency
A residence visa alone does not make you a UAE tax resident. Under Cabinet Decision No. 85 of 2022, you also need 183 days in the UAE in 12 months, or 90 days combined with your visa and a permanent home or business in the UAE, or your centre of life in the UAE. The visa you choose affects how easily you can meet these tests and prove them with a Tax Residency Certificate from the Federal Tax Authority.
Not sure which visa fits?
We compare the routes for your income, assets and family and recommend the one that supports your tax residency best.
Frequently asked questions
You can get a Dubai residence visa through employment, your own company, a Golden or Green Visa, a freelance permit, a remote work visa, property ownership or, from age 55, a retirement visa.
Standard employment and investor visas are valid for two years, Green and retirement visas for five years, and the Golden Visa for ten years. All are renewable if you still meet the conditions.
Yes. Property worth at least AED 750,000 can qualify for a two-year property investor visa in Dubai, and property worth AED 2 million or more can qualify for a 10-year Golden Visa.
Yes. The remote work visa allows people employed by companies outside the UAE to live in Dubai, provided they meet the income and employment requirements.
Most residence visas are cancelled if you stay outside the UAE for more than six consecutive months. Golden Visa holders are exempt from this rule.
Yes. Most residence visa holders can sponsor their spouse and children if they meet the minimum salary or salary-plus-housing requirement. Golden Visa holders have broader sponsorship rights.
Yes. People aged 55 or over can apply for a five-year retirement visa if they meet financial criteria such as a monthly income of around AED 20,000, savings of about AED 1 million or property worth about AED 1 million.
Not on its own. You also need to meet the UAE tax residency tests, such as 183 days in the UAE, or 90 days with a visa and a permanent home or business in the UAE.
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Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not immigration or tax advice. Visa criteria change; confirm current requirements with ICP or GDRFA Dubai.