On this page 6 sections
A 30-day tourist visa from GDRFA Dubai is AED 200 plus 5% VAT. A work or family entry visa is also AED 200 plus 5% VAT, and AED 520 more if the person is already inside the country. 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 government figures checked 3 October 2026; fees change, so the date matters.
| Visa | Fee | VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Single-entry tourist visa, 30 days | AED 200 | plus 5% |
| Single-entry tourist visa, 60 days | AED 300 | plus 5% |
| Entry visa for GCC-country residents | AED 252.50 (service 52.50 + application 100 + issuance 100) | no VAT line on the card |
Sources: GDRFA Dubai, single-entry tourist visa and entry visa for GCC residents, checked 3 October 2026. If the visitor is already inside the UAE, the tourist visa card adds AED 10 + AED 10 + AED 500.
Residence entry permit: the number that surprises people
| Situation | Fee |
|---|---|
| Sponsored person is inside the UAE | AED 730 |
| Sponsored person is outside the UAE | AED 210 |
Both rows are the work or family entry visa fee of AED 200 plus 5% VAT (AED 210). If the person is already inside the UAE, GDRFA adds Knowledge Dirham AED 10, Innovation Dirham AED 10 and a fee inside the country of AED 500. Sources: GDRFA Dubai, work entry visa and GDRFA Dubai, entry visa for residence without work (family), checked 3 October 2026.
The gap is AED 520 for the same permit, decided purely by where the applicant is standing when it is issued: AED 730 from inside the country against AED 210 from outside. 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 3 October 2026. Every GDRFA Golden Residence card checked (investors, entrepreneurs, specialized scientists, top students and graduates, talents) carries the same AED 1,100 + 10 + 10 + 500 stack, plus AED 20 delivery.
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 (200 + 5% VAT) | 210 |
| Residence permit components (200 + 10 + 10 + 500 + 20) | 740 |
| Government fees, total | AED 950 |
The same case applying from inside the UAE: AED 730 + 740 = AED 1,470. 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 | AED 270 standard (Dubai Health) |
| Emirates ID issuance | AED 100 per year of residence plus AED 100 smart application fee (ICP) |
| 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 | overstay: AED 50 per day after the grace period ends (ICP); late Emirates ID renewal: AED 20 per day from one month after expiry, capped at AED 1,000 (u.ae) |
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 200 for 30 days and AED 300 for 60 days, plus 5% VAT (GDRFA Dubai, checked 3 October 2026). If the visitor is already inside the UAE, the card adds AED 10 + AED 10 + AED 500.
How much is a residence entry permit?
A work or family entry visa is AED 200 plus 5% VAT (AED 210) if the sponsored person is outside the UAE. From inside the UAE GDRFA adds AED 10 + AED 10 + AED 500, so it is AED 730.
Why is it cheaper to apply from outside the country?
From inside the country GDRFA adds Knowledge Dirham AED 10, Innovation Dirham AED 10 and a fee inside the country of AED 500. The difference is AED 520 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, AED 500 and AED 20 delivery. The other GDRFA Golden Residence cards checked carry the same fees.
Do these fees include the medical test and Emirates ID?
No. Neither is included. The standard Dubai Health medical test is AED 270, and ICP charges AED 100 per year of residence plus AED 100 smart application fee for the Emirates ID.
What is the total for a private-sector residence visa?
On government fees alone, AED 950 applying from outside the UAE and AED 1,470 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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