UAE Visa Cost Guide

Every UAE residence visa is priced as a stack of separate government fees – entry permit, status change, medical test, Emirates ID and visa issuance – yet most published totals never show which components they include. This guide breaks the cost down component by component and visa type by visa type, so founders, employees and families can budget a relocation with real numbers instead of a single vague figure.

All amounts below are indicative government-channel fees as of mid-2026. Exact fees depend on the emirate, the application channel and typing-centre service charges, so verify current fees with the ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) or GDRFA Dubai before you pay.

UAE visa costs at a glance

The table below summarises indicative all-in ranges per person for the most common residence routes, as of mid-2026.

The main UAE residence visa types

Almost every applicant fits one of six routes, and the route determines both the fee stack and who is allowed to pay it. Employment visas are sponsored by an employer and are covered in detail in our employment visa cost guide. Investor and partner visas attach residence to company ownership – see the investor visa guide. Family visas let a resident sponsor a spouse, children and in some cases parents, explained in the family visa sponsorship guide. The remaining routes are the freelance permit, the 5-year green visa and the 10-year golden visa, which use the same fee components with different eligibility rules.

Component fee matrix: what you actually pay for

Whatever the visa type, the money goes to the same five or six components, and quoting a visa without listing them is how totals get distorted. Indicative component fees as of mid-2026:

Applying from inside vs outside the UAE

Applying from inside the UAE costs more in fees but avoids travel: you pay a status-change fee of indicatively AED 650-700 on top of the standard stack, and in-country issuance runs slightly higher than out-of-country processing. Applying from outside means you enter on the new entry permit and skip the status change entirely. There is also a channel difference: Dubai residence files run through GDRFA Dubai, while the other six emirates use the federal ICP system, and their fee cards and express options differ slightly. Run both scenarios through the visa cost calculator before deciding where to file.

Health insurance by emirate

Insurance is the component most quotes silently exclude, and it is mandatory in the two biggest markets. In Dubai, health cover is required by law for every resident: employers must pay for employees without deducting it from salary, and sponsors pay for their dependents, with basic plans commonly around AED 500-700 per year as of mid-2026. Abu Dhabi has its own mandatory scheme, and the northern emirates are progressively aligning. Budget insurance per person, per year, on top of every figure in this guide.

Renewal vs first issuance

Renewing is cheaper than the first issuance because two components fall away: you no longer need an entry permit or a status change. What repeats at each renewal is the medical test, the Emirates ID for the new period, the issuance fee and the insurance year. As a rule of thumb, a renewal typically lands 30-40 percent below the equivalent first-time application, though late renewal fines can erase that saving quickly.

Documents checklist

Most delays are document problems, not fee problems. Have these ready before you start:

• Passport valid for at least six months, plus a passport-style photo on a white background.
• Sponsor documents: trade licence and establishment card (company routes) or the sponsor’s visa and Emirates ID (family route).
• Signed employment contract or company ownership documents, depending on the route.
• Medical fitness test result from an approved centre (applicants 18 and over).
• Proof of health insurance covering the residence period.
• Attested certificates where required, for example marriage and birth certificates on the family route.

Common mistakes that add cost

The most expensive errors are timing errors. Letting a visa or entry permit lapse triggers daily overstay fines that quickly exceed the original fees. Stacking express options on every component can add over AED 1,000 without changing the outcome for a routine case. Comparing package quotes with different inclusions – one with insurance and status change, one without – makes the cheaper-looking offer dearer in practice, and budgeting a company visa without the separate setup costs understates the real project; see our guide to the cost to set up a company in Dubai. If you would rather not manage the sequence yourself, you can get support with a new residence visa application from a verified provider.

FAQ

How much does a residence visa cost in the UAE?

A standard 2-year UAE residence visa typically costs AED 3,000-7,000 all-in per person as of mid-2026. The total stacks an entry permit (indicatively AED 1,000-1,150), a status change if applying inside the country, a medical test, the Emirates ID and visa issuance, plus mandatory health insurance in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Exact fees depend on the emirate and channel, so verify with the ICP or GDRFA.

How much is a 2-year residence visa in Dubai?

Indicatively AED 3,000-7,000 as of mid-2026, depending on the route and whether you apply from inside or outside the UAE. Dubai applications run through GDRFA rather than the federal ICP system, and Dubai additionally requires health insurance for every resident, which adds roughly AED 500-700 per year for a basic plan.

What is the cheapest UAE residence visa?

Free zone packages are usually the lowest entry point, with employment or investor visas starting from around AED 2,500 as of mid-2026 when bundled with a licence. Compare inclusions carefully: some headline prices exclude the medical test, Emirates ID or insurance, so a dearer quote covering everything can cost less overall.

Can I get a UAE residence visa without a job?

Yes. Common non-employment routes include the investor or partner visa through owning a company, the 10-year golden visa for qualifying investors and talents, the 5-year green visa for freelancers and skilled self-sponsored workers, family sponsorship by a resident relative, and student or retirement visas. Each has its own eligibility rules and fee stack.

How long does UAE visa processing take?

Routine applications commonly complete within a few working days to two or three weeks once documents are in order, depending on the emirate, channel and whether express options are used. The medical test result and Emirates ID biometrics are the usual pacing items. Free zone applications follow the zone authority’s own timeline.

Can I travel while my visa is being processed?

If you are converting to residence from inside the UAE through a status change, you should generally remain in the country until the visa is issued, as leaving mid-process can cancel the application. If you applied from outside, you simply enter on the new entry permit. Confirm your specific case with GDRFA or ICP before booking travel.

What happens when my UAE residence visa expires?

You get a grace period to renew or exit; its length depends on the visa type. After the grace period, overstay fines accrue per day and can block renewals until settled. Renew before expiry where possible – a renewal is cheaper than a new application and avoids fines entirely.

Does a UAE residence visa make me a tax resident?

Not automatically. UAE tax residency is determined by separate criteria, primarily day-count and centre-of-interest tests, not by merely holding a residence visa. A visa is usually a prerequisite for building tax residency, but you should assess your position against the tax residency rules and your home country’s rules, ideally with professional advice.

What happens if I stay outside the UAE for more than 6 months?

Standard residence visas typically lapse if the holder remains outside the UAE for more than six consecutive months, after which re-entry needs a new application or a special permit. Golden visa holders are exempt from this rule, and limited exceptions exist for categories such as students and government-related postings. Verify your case before long trips.

How do I get a copy of my UAE visa?

Residence visas are digital: you can download a copy through the ICP smart services portal or app (most emirates) or the GDRFA Dubai app for Dubai-issued visas, using your passport or Emirates ID details. In day-to-day life the Emirates ID card itself serves as proof of residence status.