Anybody relocating to Dubai will find plenty of opportunities to start their own business or work as a freelancer. With the rise of the gig economy, various efforts have been launched to make it simpler and less expensive for freelancers to live and work in Dubai. Several work-related tactics allow residents and visitors to the city to get a freelance visa in Dubai or a permit.
DUBAI FREELANCE VISAS TYPES
According to the most recent government announcements, there are many sorts of freelancing visas in Dubai.
DUBAI FREELANCE VISA AND WORK PERMIT FOR RESIDENTS
Those who are already residents in Dubai require a freelancer working visa due to their parent’s or spouse’s visas. If you work full-time, you can still apply for a permit. But, in such cases, a NOC (No Objection Certificate) from your employer/sponsor is required.
NON-RESIDENT FREELANCE VISA IN DUBAI
To obtain a residence permit if you are not a UAE resident, you must apply for a freelancer visa. This visa permits persons to live and operate as a freelancer in Dubai. You will also need to apply for a resident visa.
THE PASS FOR DUBAI TALENT
The Dubai Talent Pass was launched by the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (Dafza), Dubai Culture, and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). This initiative’s goal was to attract global talent.
This allows freelancers in the fields of technology, marketing, art, media, education, marketing, culture, and consulting to live and work in the emirate.
When applying using the Dubai Talent Pass, freelance visas in Dubai cost AED 9,500. Every year, you can renew your visa. The renewal fees vary according on your field of employment. To apply for the pass, go to the DAFZA website.
FREELANCE AND SELF-EMPLOYMENT GREEN RESIDENCE
Green Residency is a 5-year residence visa for freelancers and self-employed persons. You can apply for this visa without being employed or sponsored by a firm.
To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria.
- Attain self-employment or freelance permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
- Education level: Minimum bachelor’s degree or specialised diploma.
- A minimum annual income of AED 360,000 via self-employment over the past two years, or the applicant has to prove financial solvency through their stay.
THE BENEFITS OF A FREELANCE VISA IN DUBAI
There are several benefits to having a freelance permit and visa in Dubai.
For starters, it allows you to work for numerous firms. If you want to work in any of the aforementioned industries but don’t want a 9-to-5 job, becoming a freelancer in Dubai might be the greatest career option for you.
Second, the affordability of a freelancing visa in Dubai allows you to provide your skills at significantly reduced pricing. The GoFreelance package reduces startup costs and eliminates the need for office space, allowing more freelancers to enter the market.
Lastly, having a freelance visa and permit in Dubai allows you to operate as an independent contractor for companies throughout the UAE while also having access to the free zone’s business district.
Fourth, you can sponsor family members to come and live with you in Dubai using the freelance visa. Check out our guide to family sponsorship in the UAE for more information. But, keep in mind that your freelance visa and visa do not allow you to sponsor staff.
Finally, the official market website has a variety of tasks and projects to help you get started in your freelance career. You may network with companies and customers that are seeking for freelancers with certain skill sets.
HOW TO APPLY IN DUBAI FOR A FREELANCE PERMIT AND VISA
Applying for the GoFreelance permit and freelance visa in Dubai is now a straightforward two-step procedure. A freelancing permission is issued by a free zone in Dubai.
To obtain a freelance visa in Dubai, you must first apply for a freelance permission or licence in order to be registered as a freelancer in the emirate.
1. APPLY FOR THE PERMIT ONLINE
The GoFreelance website is where you may apply for a freelance permit in the UAE. Go Apply, then fill out the application form and submit the relevant documentation.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR A FREELANCE PERMIT IN DUBAI
The following documents are required to apply for a freelance permit in Dubai:
- Resume/CV
- Recent photograph
- Passport and visa copy (valid for at least 8 months)
- Bank reference letter
- NOC from your UAE sponsor (if applicable)
Please keep in mind that if you are applying to work in education, you must provide proof of academic qualifications certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the UAE Diplomatic mission in your home country. Similarly, if you are seeking for a job in the media industry, you must present a portfolio or a sample of your work.
When applying for a permit in the education or technology sectors, you can only select one activity.
SPONSOR/EMPLOYER LETTER OF NO OBJECTION
You will require a No-Objection Certificate from your spouse or parents before applying for the permit if you are on their visa. Similarly, if you work full-time in Dubai and your employer sponsors your visa, you will require a letter of recommendation from your boss. Recall that the NOC is not required to renew your Dubai freelance work visa.
2. CHECK IN ON THE APPLICATION
After submitting your online application, you will be contacted through email when it has been accepted, which might take up to 10-15 days. Following that, you must go to the business center at Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Media City, or Dubai Internet City to sign the forms and pay the costs in person. You will then obtain your freelance permit in Dubai through email.
3. SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR A FREELANCE VISA IN DUBAI
After you have gotten your freelance permit, you will have access to TECOM’s business service portal, AXS, which was created in collaboration with the Dubai Development Authority (DDA) and allows you to access a variety of government and corporate services. You can first apply for the establishment card through this portal, which will incur an extra fee. You can apply for a freelance job visa through the Dubai Development Authority once you have received your establishment card (DDA).
4. FINISH THE RESIDENCE VISA PROCEDURES
You will obtain an entrance permit within five to seven business days after submitting your freelance visa application in Dubai. You will be given an admission permission (valid for 60 days from the date of issue). Following that, you must fulfill various resident visa requirements in Dubai, such as your medical examination. When these steps are completed, your residency visa will be stamped and will be valid for three years from the date of issue.
FREELANCE VISAS IN DUBAI COST
There are separate costs involved when applying for freelance visas in Dubai.
- Freelance permit (valid for 1 year): AED 7,500
- Establishment card (valid for 1 year): AED 2,000
- Employment visa (valid for 3 years): AED 2,750
- Employment visa (valid for 5 years): AED 5,000
If you are applying for a residence visa in Dubai (valid for three years) outside the UAE, the costs are:
- AED 3,330 (Normal)
- AED 3,900 (Express)
For those applying from within the UAE, the costs are:
- AED 4,960 (Normal)
- AED 6,340 (Express)
Please note that the above freelance employment visa costs include medical test charges, visa stamping charges and the Emirates ID fee.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON FREELANCE VISAS IN DUBAI
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT FREELANCE VISAS IN DUBAI. WHO SHOULD I GET IN TOUCH WITH?
If you have any further queries concerning the freelancing permit and visa in Dubai, please contact the respective free zones in Dubai at the following numbers:
- Dubai Media City: +971-4-391-4555
- Dubai Internet City: +971-4-391-1111
- Dubai Knowledge Park: +971-4-390-1111
- Dubai Design District: +971-4-433-3000
ARE THERE ANY PERMITS FOR FREELANCE WORK I CAN CONSIDER?
The UAE government is expected to announce freelance work permits for various skill levels in the third quarter of 2023. This will provide opportunities to a larger audience. You will be able to see if you are qualified for that visa program in a few months.
WHERE CAN I READ MORE ABOUT DUBAI VISAS?
You may look at the many available options by reading our article on Dubai visas.
That concludes the FindandGo tutorial on obtaining a freelance permit and visa in Dubai! But, in addition to technical skills, you must have a natural flair for the independent lifestyle. This involves being able to work alone, being self-motivated, and being relentless in networking and following down invoices.
While applying for a freelance permit and visa in Dubai is cheap, you must have some type of financial support. You may need to spend a few months networking and building a portfolio at first.
Thus, if you’re intrigued, apply for the freelance visa in Dubai today, or check into other residency visas in Dubai, such as the business or investor visa.
You can keep track of the expiry date of your freelance visa in Dubai by checking the UAE visa status online. Check out the new family visa rules in the UAE if you want to sponsor a family member.
