Dubai Visa Types 2026: Tourist, Golden, Green, Virtual Work, Retirement and Blue Visas Explained

As of 2026, the newest addition to Dubai's residency system, the 10-year Blue Visa for environmental contributors, carries no published government fee at all, unlike every other Dubai visa category, which lists an exact cost down to the dirham.

A Dubai visa is the government's authorisation to enter, work or reside in the emirate, and every route sits within the UAE's federal immigration framework rather than a separate Dubai-only system. Beyond short tourist entry, GDRFA Dubai and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) between them administer five distinct long-term residency categories, each with its own eligibility test, fee schedule and validity period ranging from one to ten years.

Applications for these routes run through two different authorities depending on what is being requested. GDRFA Dubai issues and renews the actual residence permit for anyone living in the emirate, while ICP sets the federal eligibility rules and Emirates ID registration behind it. Knowing which authority applies, and which eligible group within each visa category you fall into, determines both the paperwork and the price.

This guide works through tourist and visit visas first, then each of the five main residency routes in turn: the Golden Visa for investors, entrepreneurs, talented individuals and humanitarian contributors; the Green Visa for skilled professionals and the self-employed; the Virtual Work Visa for remote employees; the Retirement Visa; and the Blue Visa. For each one, it covers what the visa is, who qualifies, the exact requirements and fees for every eligible group, and closes with the medical test, renewal, cancellation and overstay rules that apply once a visa is issued.

Dubai visa types at a glance

Workers employed directly by a Dubai-based company do not need to arrange their own visa: their employer sponsors a standard employment residence permit as part of onboarding. Everyone else, including investors, freelancers, remote employees and retirees, arranges their own route from the table below.

 Source: GDRFA Dubai and Invest in Dubai (as of August 2026)

Dubai visa validity by category, from 30-day tourist entry to 10-year Golden and Blue Residency

Tourist and visit visas

A tourist or visit visa is the entry route for anyone not planning to live or work in Dubai. Nationality determines which of the options below applies, and none of them lead automatically to residency.

Visa-free entry and visa on arrival

Passport holders from a large number of countries can enter without arranging anything in advance, either visa-free or via a visa issued at the airport, typically for 30 or 90 days depending on nationality. GDRFA Dubai charges AED253 for visa-on-arrival issued to Indian passport holders who hold a valid US visa or green card, or a UK or EU residence visa, with 48-hour processing. The eligible-country list for visa-free and visa-on-arrival entry changes periodically, so confirm against the current list, or with a UAE embassy, before travelling rather than relying on an outdated list.

30-day and 60-day tourist visas

Travellers who need to arrange a visa before departure can apply for a single-entry or multiple-entry tourist visa through an accredited tourism establishment, valid 30 or 60 days.

Source: GDRFA Dubai service pages (as of August 2026)

Eligibility for both routes requires a passport valid for at least 6 months, an onward or return ticket, and health insurance valid in the UAE. GDRFA processes applications in around 48 hours. Note that GDRFA's own FAQ page lists different, older fee figures for these same visas; the itemised service-page figures above reflect the current maintained schedule, but it is worth checking the live GDRFA service page before paying, since government fee pages can change without every page on the site being updated at the same time.

5-year multiple-entry tourist visa

Frequent visitors can apply for a 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa, which allows stays of up to 90 days per visit (extendable once to 180 days) without needing a UAE sponsor.

Eligibility requires a passport valid for at least 6 months, a minimum bank balance of US$4,000 held over the preceding 6 months, valid health insurance and a round-trip ticket.

The total government fee is AED3,713.5, made up of an AED100 application fee, AED500 issuance fee, AED3,000 refundable guarantee, AED21 warranty service fee, AED20 guarantee collection and return fee, AED10 Knowledge Dirham, AED10 Innovation Dirham and AED52.5 service fee. The AED3,000 component is a refundable guarantee, not a sunk cost, so budget for it separately from the roughly AED713.5 that is genuinely non-refundable.

Golden Visa: investors, entrepreneurs, talented individuals and humanitarian contributors

The Golden Visa is a 10-year, renewable residence permit that does not require a UAE sponsor or employer. It covers four distinct eligible groups, each with its own eligibility test, but GDRFA Dubai charges the same government fee across all four, so eligibility, not cost, is what actually separates one applicant's route from another's.

All four groups share the same core terms: 10-year validity, renewable if the qualifying condition is maintained, no requirement to find a sponsor, and exemption from the standard rule that voids a residence permit if the holder spends 180 consecutive days outside the UAE. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee approval; GDRFA and the relevant nominating authority make the final decision.

Investors

Golden Visa investors qualify through one of four distinct routes, each requiring a minimum of AED2,000,000:

1. Company partner or public investment: a minimum AED2,000,000 share of a UAE company's assets, evidenced by an accredited auditor's financial report, a valid trade licence naming the applicant as a partner, and a company bank statement.
2. Real estate investor: property in Dubai worth at least AED2,000,000 in total, certified through a Dubai Land Department status statement. Jointly-owned property must meet the AED2,000,000 threshold on the applicant's individual share, and a lien is placed on the property for the duration of the residency.
3. Financial deposit investor: a minimum AED2,000,000 deposit in a UAE bank, or in local Sukuks or investment bonds, frozen for at least 2 years and held for the full 10-year residency term.
4. Tax contribution investor: a Federal Tax Authority letter confirming a minimum AED250,000 annual tax contribution as a company partner.

Entrepreneurs

Golden Visa entrepreneurs qualify through one of four routes tied to a "pioneering," innovation-focused business:

1. A project registered with the Ministry of Economy or the relevant local authority, generating at least AED1,000,000 in annual income.
2. A project developed through an accredited business incubator or the Ministry of Economy, generating at least AED2,000,000 in domestic income.
3. Having previously sold a pioneering project for a minimum of AED7,000,000.
4. Nomination by the Dubai Future Foundation, which is the mandatory route for entrepreneurs applying through Dubai specifically.

Talented individuals

GDRFA Dubai groups talented-individual applicants into four pathways, each requiring nomination or recognition from a specific body:

1. Culture and arts, across three recognition tiers: global pioneers with international awards or honorary posts; regionally or locally prominent figures recognised by a relevant entity; and distinguished practitioners with at least 5 years of experience, recently published work, media recognition and active membership in an international arts body.
2. Innovators and inventors, nominated by the Ministry of Economy or the relevant local authority.
3. Athletes, nominated by the Ministry of Sports or the Dubai Sports Council.
4. Digital technology talents, nominated by the Emirates Council for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transactions.

Humanitarian contributors

Applicants under the humanitarian-contribution category need to meet at least one of the following, plus approval from the Ministry of Community Empowerment and proof they can support themselves and their family without government assistance:

• Active membership or specialised employment at an international or regional organisation for 5 years or more.
• Active membership or specialised employment at a public-benefit association for 5 years or more.
• An appreciation award from a local, regional or international humanitarian institution.
• Donations to humanitarian work worth at least AED2,000,000.
• Holding a university degree.

GDRFA states a faster 48-hour processing time for this category, against roughly 5 days for the other three Golden Visa groups.

Golden Visa fees

Every Golden Visa category, regardless of eligible group, is charged the same government fee: AED1,100 for the residence permit, AED10 Knowledge Dirham, AED10 Innovation Dirham, AED500 in-country fee and AED20 delivery, for a base total of AED1,640. An extra AED100 is added for each year the residency validity exceeds 2 years.

GDRFA's individual category pages do not itemise family-sponsorship fees or age limits for dependants; ICP's federal overview confirms Golden Visa holders may sponsor their immediate family, but readers who need exact figures should check the specific family-sponsorship service before applying.

Green Visa: skilled professionals and the self-employed

The Green Visa is a 5-year, renewable residence permit that, like the Golden Visa, requires no employer sponsor. It covers two eligible groups: freelancers and the self-employed, and skilled professionals in salaried employment. GDRFA Dubai charges the same government fee for both groups; what differs is the income test and the underlying work permit each applicant needs first.

Freelancers and the self-employed

To qualify as a freelancer or self-employed applicant, an applicant needs a bachelor's degree, specialised diploma or equivalent, and self-employment income of at least AED360,000 a year over the preceding 2 years. A freelance or self-employment work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) is required before applying for the residence permit itself.

Skilled professionals

To qualify as a skilled professional, an applicant needs an active MOHRE work permit under skill level 1, 2 or 3, a bachelor's degree or equivalent, and a minimum monthly salary of AED15,000. Unlike the standard employment visa, this route ties residency to the applicant rather than requiring continuous employer sponsorship, provided an active employment contract with a governmental, semi-governmental or free-zone entity is maintained.

Green Visa fees

Both Green Visa groups go through the same two-stage fee structure. The entry-visa stage costs AED200 plus 5% VAT, with an additional AED10 Knowledge Dirham, AED10 Innovation Dirham and AED500 in-country fee if the applicant is already inside the UAE. The residence-permit stage then adds AED200 permit fee, AED10 Knowledge Dirham, AED10 Innovation Dirham, AED500 in-country fee and AED20 delivery, for a subtotal of AED740. An extra AED100 is added per year once residency validity exceeds 2 years. Both stages take around 48 hours to process, and ICP's federal overview confirms family sponsorship is available under both routes.

Virtual Work Visa

The Virtual Work Visa lets someone employed by a company outside the UAE live in Dubai for a year at a time while continuing to work remotely; holders cannot work for a UAE-based employer under this permit.

Eligibility requires proof of remote employment with an entity outside the UAE and a minimum monthly income of US$3,500, evidenced by a salary certificate, along with a passport, health insurance and a medical fitness test result.

Applying happens in two stages. The entry visa, valid 60 days while the residence permit is processed, costs AED200 plus 5% VAT, with an extra AED10 Knowledge Dirham, AED10 Innovation Dirham and AED500 in-country fee if the applicant is already in the UAE. The residence permit itself costs AED740: AED200 permit fee, AED10 Knowledge Dirham, AED10 Innovation Dirham, AED500 in-country fee and AED20 delivery, with the same AED100-per-year increase after 2 years that applies across most other categories. The visa is valid for 1 year and renewable, and GDRFA's own service page confirms a holder can sponsor their family for the same period.

Retirement Visa

The Retirement Visa gives retirees a 5-year, renewable residence permit without needing a sponsor or host inside the UAE.

Baseline eligibility requires at least 15 years of work history (inside or outside the UAE) and a minimum age of 55. On top of that, GDRFA Dubai's service page sets out two ways to qualify:

• Property and deposit: UAE real estate worth at least AED1,000,000 (evaluated by the relevant local authority, or a mortgaged property with at least AED1,000,000 in equity paid off), together with a deposit of at least AED1,000,000 transferred to a UAE financial institution within 60 days of the residency being issued, unless that amount is instead invested inside the country.
• Annual income: a fixed annual income of at least AED240,000, from inside or outside the UAE, evidenced by 6 months of bank statements.

GDRFA's list of required documents separates real-estate owners, deposit holders and income earners into three distinct applicant profiles, which suggests property and deposit may in practice be usable as independent routes rather than strictly combined; the published terms and conditions describe them jointly, so it is worth confirming the current interpretation directly with GDRFA before applying.

The government fee is AED740: AED200 permit fee, AED10 Knowledge Dirham, AED10 Innovation Dirham, AED500 in-country fee and AED20 delivery, with the usual AED100-per-year increase once validity exceeds 2 years. GDRFA's page does not mention family sponsorship for this category, since the permit is explicitly issued "without a sponsor or host."

Blue Visa

The Blue Visa is a 10-year, renewable, sponsor-free residence visa for individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to environmental protection and sustainability, inside or outside the UAE. It is a federal programme administered through ICP rather than a GDRFA Dubai service.

Eligible groups include members of international environmental organisations or companies, association and NGO members, winners of global environmental awards, distinguished environmental activists and researchers, environmental business investors and entrepreneurs, and innovators in clean energy and sustainability. Applicants can apply directly through ICP or be nominated by a competent authority; existing Golden Visa holders who meet the criteria may also convert to a Blue Visa. Required documents include a passport valid for at least 6 months, a recent photograph, valid health insurance for the duration of the stay, and a medical fitness certificate.

Spouses, children and parents receive a matching 10-year permit, with a linked 6-month multiple-entry visa, renewable, and family members may remain for the full residency term even after the primary holder's death.

Neither ICP nor u.ae publish a government fee for the Blue Visa. That is a genuine gap in the public information, not an oversight in this guide, so budget conservatively and confirm the current fee directly with ICP before applying.

What else adds to the total visa cost

The government fee quoted for each visa above is rarely the full amount an applicant pays. Depending on the route, additional costs can include a status-change fee if switching from a visit visa while inside the UAE, the medical fitness test, the Emirates ID fee, health insurance, service or Amer-centre charges, and document attestation or translation.

What actually makes up the cost of a Dubai residence visa: entry permit, status change, medical fitness, Emirates ID, health insurance, service fees and attestation

Medical fitness test

Most residence visa applications, including renewals, require a medical fitness test to screen for communicable diseases before the permit is issued. In Dubai, the test is carried out at a Dubai Health Authority (DHA)-approved medical fitness centre, including DHA's "Smart Salem" centres, and is bookable through UAE PASS.

The test itself is two parts: a blood test and a chest X-ray, primarily screening for conditions such as tuberculosis and Hepatitis B. Standard processing returns results within 24 hours; DHA's Smart Salem centres offer results in around 30 minutes using AI-assisted X-ray reading and rapid blood draws.

DHA's published fee schedule for Dubai is:

Source: Dubai Health Authority medical fitness centre service catalogue (as of August 2026)

Note that the federal Emirates Health Services (EHS) schedule, which applies to the other emirates, quotes different figures by worker category; the DHA figures above are the ones that apply specifically to Dubai.

Renewing, cancelling and overstaying a Dubai visa

Renewal

Residence permits can be renewed through GDRFA's digital services, a Customer Happiness Centre or an Amer service centre, with processing typically taking around 48 hours. Applicants over 18 need an approved medical fitness test as part of renewal. Private-sector renewal costs AED200 plus AED10 Knowledge Dirham, AED10 Innovation Dirham, AED500 in-country fee and AED20 delivery, with the same AED100-per-year addition once validity exceeds 2 years that applies across most categories in this guide.

Cancellation

Cancelling a residence permit is initiated by the sponsor, whether an employer or an individual, through GDRFA's digital channels or an Amer centre, and costs AED100 plus AED10 Knowledge Dirham and AED10 Innovation Dirham. Processing takes around 48 hours.

Grace period

GDRFA Dubai's own cancellation and renewal service pages state a flat 60-day grace period to remain in the country after a residence permit expires or is cancelled. The federal government portal, u.ae, describes a tiered system instead, ranging from 30 days for standard employment visas up to 6 months for Golden and Green Residency holders and a small number of other categories. These two official sources do not fully agree with each other, so treat 30 days as a safe default for a standard employment-linked visa, 60 days as the figure GDRFA Dubai states for its own cancellation and renewal services, and confirm the exact figure for your specific visa category directly with GDRFA before relying on it.

Overstay fines

The UAE Government states that visit, tourist and residence visa overstay fees have been standardised at AED50 per day, a rate that applies once the grace period has passed. This is worth confirming directly with GDRFA for your specific situation, since GDRFA Dubai's own FAQ page separately lists a higher AED100-per-day figure plus an AED200 out-pass fee, and the two GDRFA-linked sources do not currently agree.

Once you are settled in Dubai, put your long-term money to work

Getting your visa is only one part of the financial setup that comes with moving to Dubai. Before investing, keep enough cash aside for near-term costs such as rent deposits, insurance, visa renewals, relocation expenses and an emergency fund.

For money you do not expect to need in the short term, General Investing powered by StashAway offers globally diversified ETF portfolios designed for long-term investing. The portfolios have delivered up to 10.2% annualised returns, with different risk levels available depending on how much market volatility you are comfortable taking.

StashAway manages the asset allocation, monitoring, rebalancing and re-optimisation for you through its ERAA® investment framework, so you do not have to select and manage individual ETFs yourself. There is no minimum balance, no lock-in period, and you can invest through one-time transfers or regular contributions.

Management fees range from 0.8% to 0.2% p.a. depending on the amount invested, while the underlying ETFs carry their own expense ratios.

Frequently asked questions

Here are the questions applicants ask most often about Dubai visa types.

Which Dubai visa should I apply for?

It depends on why you are coming and how long you plan to stay. Short visits use a tourist or visit visa. Working for a Dubai employer is usually sponsored by that employer. Investors, entrepreneurs, talented individuals and humanitarian contributors use the Golden Visa. Skilled professionals and the self-employed use the Green Visa. Remote employees of an overseas company use the Virtual Work Visa. Retirees aged 55+ use the Retirement Visa, and individuals recognised for environmental contribution use the Blue Visa.

How much does a Golden Visa cost in Dubai?

The government fee is the same across all four eligible groups: AED1,640 in total (AED1,100 permit fee, AED10 Knowledge Dirham, AED10 Innovation Dirham, AED500 in-country fee and AED20 delivery), plus AED100 for each year the validity exceeds 2 years. The real cost variable is meeting the eligibility test for your specific group, not the government fee itself.

What is the minimum investment for a Golden Visa?

AED2,000,000 is the threshold across all four investor sub-routes: company partnership, real estate, financial deposit, or the AED250,000-a-year tax contribution route.

What salary do I need for a Green Visa?

Skilled professionals need a minimum monthly salary of AED15,000, along with a bachelor's degree and MOHRE skill level 1 to 3 classification. Freelancers and the self-employed instead need at least AED360,000 in self-employment income over the prior 2 years, with no monthly salary requirement.

Does the Virtual Work Visa let me work for a UAE company?

No. It is specifically for people employed by a company outside the UAE, with a minimum income of US$3,500 a month. Working for a UAE-based employer under this permit is not permitted.

What are the income and asset requirements for a Retirement Visa?

Applicants need to be 55 or older with at least 15 years of work history, plus either AED1,000,000 in UAE property and a further AED1,000,000 deposit, or a fixed annual income of at least AED240,000.

How much does a Blue Visa cost?

Neither ICP nor u.ae publish a fee for the Blue Visa as of August 2026. Confirm the current cost directly with ICP before applying.

How much is the UAE overstay fine?

The UAE Government states a standardised AED50 per day once the applicable grace period has passed, though GDRFA Dubai's own FAQ page separately lists a higher figure, so confirm the current rate for your situation with GDRFA directly.