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A freelance visa Dubai residents talk about is not a separate visa type. It is a UAE residence visa that a free zone freelance permit sponsors, so you live in Dubai and work for your own clients. The best documented route is TECOM's GoFreelance: the AED 7,520 package, an AED 2,000 establishment card and an AED 5,042 two-year visa, or AED 14,562 in the first year. Expo City lists a package with the visa at AED 9,000.
How does the Dubai freelance visa work?
Two things sit underneath the visa:
- A freelance permit. In Dubai the main one is the DDA Sole Professional Licence, sold as GoFreelance. It licenses you as an individual.
- An establishment card. This registers your permit with immigration so it can sponsor a visa. TECOM says you need it before the visa application.
Only then does the residence visa come, with a medical test and an Emirates ID. If the permit lapses, the sponsor behind your visa lapses too, so renewals matter.
Who issues a freelance permit in Dubai?
| Issuer | Sector | Status of published terms |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Internet City (GoFreelance) | Tech | Package, visa and card fees published |
| Dubai Media City (GoFreelance) | Media | Same TECOM fees |
| Dubai Knowledge Park (GoFreelance) | Education and training | Same TECOM fees, one visa per freelancer on a hot desk |
| Dubai Design District (GoFreelance) | Design | Same TECOM fees |
| Expo City Dubai | Sector rules not stated on the fee list | Permit and package prices on an April fee list |
| Dubai South | Freelancer licence named on its setup page | Terms not readable |
| Dubai CommerCity | Freelance licence listed in its FAQ | Price not published |
Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Science Park also mention a freelance permit in their FAQs. The DDA licence categories have no freelancer segment for them, and GoFreelance covers only the four zones above.
How much does a Dubai freelance visa cost?
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| GoFreelance package: permit, hot desk, Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, 1 year | AED 7,520 |
| Establishment card | AED 2,000 |
| Employment visa, 1 year | AED 4,600 |
| Employment visa, 2 years | AED 5,042 |
| First year with a 1 year visa | AED 14,120 |
| First year with a 2 year visa | AED 14,562 |
Source: Dubai Internet City GoFreelance page, checked . TECOM says visa fees are subject to change and package fees are non-refundable.
Not in these lines: the medical test, health insurance, and a change of status if you are already in the UAE (ICP lists status adjustment at AED 500). Setup agencies publish GoFreelance totals with the visa at about AED 11,000 to AED 16,000 (published prices of 2 agencies, checked ). Their figures include the permit and visa; check which extras each one counts.
How much is a 2 year freelance visa in Dubai?
People search for a two-year price because the visa can run for two years. The permit does not. GoFreelance and the zone licences renew every year, so plan your budget like this:
- Year one: AED 7,520 package, AED 2,000 card, AED 5,042 two-year visa.
- Year two: the package again at AED 7,520, with no new visa fee if you took the two-year visa. Ask about the card renewal too. The ICP charges AED 100 a year plus a AED 1,000 system subscription and service fees, and the zone may add its own charge.
Expo City Dubai freelance package
Expo City's fee list shows three freelance prices:
- Freelance permit alone: AED 7,000 a year
- Expo Freelance, one year, with permit, company card and visa: AED 9,000
- Expo Freelance for two years: AED 16,000
It is also the one Expo City product that needs no lease. The list is dated April and warns that prices can change, so confirm the figure before you pay. More on the Expo City Dubai page.
What are the Dubai freelance visa requirements?
These Dubai freelancer visa requirements are for GoFreelance. Expo City and the other zones set their own lists, so check with the zone you pick.
- An activity that fits a freelancer segment: tech at Dubai Internet City, media at Dubai Media City, education at Dubai Knowledge Park, design at Dubai Design District
- A passport valid for at least six months, and a photo
- Your current UAE visa page and Emirates ID if you live here
- Payment of the package before the establishment card and visa steps
- A medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics in the UAE
Limits to know: GoFreelance holders work under their own name, cannot trade under a brand and cannot sponsor employees.
How do you get a Dubai freelance visa?
- Pick the zone that matches your profession.
- Apply for the freelance permit. DDA estimates 2 working days for delivery.
- Pay the GoFreelance package.
- Apply for the establishment card.
- Apply for the entry permit or status change, then do the medical and biometrics.
- Receive the residence visa and Emirates ID.
- Open a bank account in your own name for client payments.
Can you get a freelance visa outside Dubai?
If your profession does not fit the Dubai segments, look for a freelance work permit elsewhere in the UAE. twofour54 in Abu Dhabi lists a freelance licence at AED 4,500 a year with fees waived for two years. Ajman Free Zone's Sole Professional Licence comes with one residence visa and family sponsorship. Our freelance license UAE guide compares them all.
Ask for a freelance quote
Tell us your profession, your nationality and whether you are in the UAE now, using the form on this page. We are an independent directory, not TECOM, DDA or a government office. A licensed setup partner or the zone gets your request and sends you the costs.
Sources
- Dubai Internet City GoFreelance: package, establishment card and visa fees
- GoFreelance on the Dubai Industrial City site: the four zones, brand and staff limits
- DDA freelancer licence registration: permit fee and 2 working days
- DDA licence categories decision (PDF): freelancer segments by zone
- Dubai Knowledge Park FAQ: one visa per freelancer on a hot desk
- Expo City fee list (PDF): Expo Freelance prices
- Expo City free zone services: no lease for the freelance permit
- Dubai South business setup: freelancer licence named
- Dubai CommerCity FAQ: freelance licence listed
- ICP residence permit service: status adjustment fee
- ICP establishment card service: card renewal fee
- u.ae family residence visa: family sponsorship salary
- Rizmona freelance visa page and Avyanco freelance visa article: agency totals
