On this page 6 sections
A 30-day tourist visa is AED 252 plus 5% VAT. A residence entry permit is AED 1,035 if the person is already inside the country and AED 365 if they are outside it. The residence permit itself is AED 200 plus four small statutory add-ons.
Those are the government’s own figures, not a consultant’s estimate. What no fee table can give you is the total, because the total depends on which permit, whose sponsorship, and where the applicant is standing when it is issued. This page gives the components so you can add up your own case. All figures checked 6 August 2026; fees change, so the date matters.
| Visa | Fee | VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Single-entry tourist visa, 30 days | AED 252 | plus 5% |
| Single-entry tourist visa, 60 days | AED 352 | plus 5% |
| Entry visa for GCC-country residents | AED 250 | plus 5% |
Sources: GDRFA Dubai, single-entry tourist visa and entry visa for GCC residents, checked 6 August 2026.
Residence entry permit: the number that surprises people
| Situation | Fee |
|---|---|
| Sponsored person is inside the UAE | AED 1,035 |
| Sponsored person is outside the UAE | AED 365 |
Source: GDRFA Dubai, individual residence entry permit requirements, checked 6 August 2026.
The gap is AED 670 for the same permit, decided purely by where the applicant is standing when it is issued. Applying from inside the country costs almost three times as much. That single row is the most actionable fact on this page, and it is the one most cost articles omit.
Residence permit, private sector: the components
| Component | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residence permit fee | AED 200 |
| Knowledge Dirham | AED 10 |
| Innovation Dirham | AED 10 |
| Fee inside the country | AED 500 |
| Delivery | AED 20 |
| Sum of the listed components | AED 740 |
| Escalation | the issuance fee increases by AED 100 annually where the residency runs over two years |
Source: GDRFA Dubai, issuing residence permits for the private sector, checked 6 August 2026.
The AED 740 is the arithmetic sum of the components GDRFA lists on that service card. It is not a quoted package price, and it does not include the entry permit above, the medical test, or the Emirates ID.
Golden Residence, for scale
| Component | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residence permit fee (Specialized Scientists category) | AED 1,100 |
| Knowledge Dirham | AED 10 |
| Innovation Dirham | AED 10 |
| Fee within the country | AED 500 |
Source: GDRFA Dubai, Golden Residence Permit (Specialized Scientists), checked 6 August 2026. Other Golden Residence categories have their own service cards and their own fees.
A worked example, government fees only
Private-sector residence for one person, applying from outside the UAE:
| Line | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residence entry permit, applicant outside the country | 365 |
| Residence permit components (200 + 10 + 10 + 500 + 20) | 740 |
| Government fees, total | AED 1,105 |
The same case applying from inside the UAE: AED 1,035 + 740 = AED 1,775. Neither figure includes the medical test, the Emirates ID, or any agent charge. Both are the government’s own published components, added up, with every line sourced above.
What is not in any of these tables
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Medical fitness test | no government figure sourced here |
| Emirates ID issuance | ICP does not publish card fees on its service pages |
| Typing centre or agent charges | commercial, not government; varies |
| Employer or free zone service fees | commercial. Meydan Free Zone publishes AED 2,250 for medical test and Emirates ID assistance and AED 3,500 for an employment visa – a free zone service price, not a government fee |
| Fines for overstay or late renewal | no official source found, so no figure is given here |
Meydan figures: Meydan Free Zone cost breakdown, checked 6 August 2026. For the specific routes, see employment visa cost and family visa sponsorship.
Who handles this
From the Emirae directory, measured 6 August 2026.
| Measure | Count |
|---|---|
| Active consultants in the directory | 69 |
| Cover visa and residency | 38 |
| Cover PRO services | 28 |
| Declare Emirates ID and residency processing specifically | 3 |
| Work in Arabic as well as English | 19 |
| Cover Dubai | 69 |
Visa and residency is the service this sits under.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a UAE tourist visa?
AED 252 for 30 days and AED 352 for 60 days, plus 5% VAT (GDRFA Dubai, checked 6 August 2026).
How much is a residence entry permit?
AED 1,035 if the sponsored person is inside the UAE, AED 365 if they are outside it.
Why is it cheaper to apply from outside the country?
The two fees are set separately by GDRFA. The difference is AED 670 for the same permit.
What does the residence permit itself cost?
AED 200, plus Knowledge Dirham AED 10, Innovation Dirham AED 10, a fee inside the country of AED 500 and AED 20 delivery.
Does the fee change for longer residencies?
The issuance fee increases by AED 100 annually where the residency is over two years.
How much is a Golden Residence?
For the Specialized Scientists category, AED 1,100 plus AED 10, AED 10 and AED 500. Other categories have their own fees.
Do these fees include the medical test and Emirates ID?
No. Neither is included, and ICP does not publish Emirates ID card fees on its service pages.
What is the total for a private-sector residence visa?
On government fees alone, AED 1,105 applying from outside the UAE and AED 1,775 from inside. Medical test, Emirates ID and any agent charge are on top.
Want the full cost for your specific case rather than a component list? Describe your case and compare offers from consultants.
Official references used for context in this article.
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