If you plan to work in Dubai and are not a UAE or Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) national, you must obtain the correct visa before you can legally live and work there¹.
Types of Visas and Entry Permits
Several types of visas allow entry into the UAE, but only specific ones permit legal employment:
- Visa on Arrival: This short-term entry permit is valid for either 30 or 90 days, depending on your nationality. Eligibility and duration are determined by citizenship².
- Tourist Visa: For individuals who do not qualify for a visa on arrival³.
- Transit Visa: For travelers passing through the UAE who are ineligible for a visa on arrival².
- Patient Visa: Enables individuals and their companions to enter the UAE for medical treatment⁴.
- Retirement Visa: Allows UAE residents to continue living in Dubai after retirement, often through property purchase or business investment⁵.
Work Visa
To work in Dubai, you must obtain a residency visa and a work permit (proof of employment). The process begins with securing a job offer; your employer then applies for the work permit and residency visa on your behalf, acting as your sponsor⁶. Once the permit is secured, you can enter the UAE and remain for two months. During this period, your employer must arrange medical testing, stamp the work residency permit in your passport, and obtain a UAE Resident Identity and Labor Card⁷.
While it is possible to enter Dubai on a visitor visa and seek employment, you cannot legally work until your work visa is approved⁸. Employers are legally obligated to provide health insurance for their employees. As your sponsor, they must provide basic coverage. If you require more comprehensive coverage or are not yet employed, consider obtaining a local, compliant international health insurance plan⁹.
Golden Visa
The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence visa that allows foreign nationals to live, work, and study in the UAE for five or ten years, and is renewable¹⁰. This visa was expanded in 2022 to offer more benefits and easier eligibility requirements. Professionals in medicine, science, engineering, IT, business, law, arts, culture, and sports can apply, as well as investors, entrepreneurs, and outstanding students¹¹ ¹².
Husband or Wife Visa
If your spouse is employed in Dubai, they can sponsor you and any children, enabling you to live in the city and obtain a Dubai work permit¹³. Specific criteria apply:
- A man must earn a minimum monthly salary of AED 4,000 (US$1,089) or AED 3,000 (US$817) plus accommodation¹⁴.
- A woman must earn a minimum monthly salary of AED 10,000 (US$2,723) and or AED 8,000 (US$2,178) plus accommodation to sponsor her family.
Key points to consider:
- Salary Requirement: The minimum salary requirements are generally as stated, but it's always best to confirm with official sources like the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai or the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).15
- Accommodation: The lower salary threshold (AED 3,000 or AED 8,000) is applicable if accommodation is provided by the employer.
- Professions: As of 2019, there are no specific professions that are eligible to sponsor their family members for a UAE Family Visa. Any foreign worker who meets the salary requirements can bring their family members to the UAE.
- Whom Can Be Sponsored: A man can sponsor his wife and children. A woman can sponsor her husband and children.
- Medical Fitness Test: All family members over 18 years have to pass a medical fitness test in registered health centers in the UAE . They will be tested for HIV and Tuberculosis.
- Same-sex marriage is not recognized in Dubai, and being LGBTQ+ is illegal¹⁶. Therefore, this visa option is only applicable to heterosexual couples.
Student Visa
Since 2017, international students have been permitted to work part-time in the UAE on their student visas¹⁷. However, this option is not suitable for individuals planning to move to Dubai for full-time employment.
How to Get a Dubai Visa
You can apply for your visa online. You’ll need to provide a scanned copy of your passport and a clear photograph (UAE visa photo size: 4.3cm x 5.5cm). Proof of residency, a completed application form¹⁸, and the application fee are also required. You may also need to provide a birth certificate or copies of your diplomas. If you’re sponsoring a family member, include a copy of your residence visa and UAE Resident Identity Card with the application.
Processing Time
- Work Visa: The UAE government estimates the entry permit processing time to be between two and seven working days. This permit allows you to enter the country and reside there for two months while your employer completes the remaining application steps within 60 days. Security checks can also add to the processing time⁶.
- Family Visa: The entry permit for a family visa can be obtained in as little as two days, with the remaining processes taking up to two weeks¹³.
Visa Costs
For work visas sponsored by your employer, costs vary based on the company’s workforce size and turnover. Fortunately, your employer covers the work visa expenses⁶. Family permit costs depend on whether you’re sponsoring a spouse or both a spouse and children¹³.
Dubai Work Visa Medical Requirements
The medical examination for a Dubai work visa includes a blood test and X-ray to detect HIV, hepatitis A, B, and C, tuberculosis, leprosy, syphilis, and pregnancy. While HIV, leprosy, and tuberculosis tests are mandatory, others may only apply to specific occupations. Hepatitis tests are required for those working as babysitters, preschool employees, domestic assistants, hairdressers, or in health clubs and restaurants. Syphilis tests are conducted on babysitters, preschool employees, domestic assistants, and those working in health clubs and food outlets. Pregnancy tests are required for babysitters, domestic helpers, and drivers⁶.
- Edarabia. “Dubai Residency Visa for Wife/Husband.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.edarabia.com/dubai-residency-visa-wife-husband-guide/
- Emirates. “UAE Visa Information.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.emirates.com/english/before-you-fly/visa-passport-information/uae-visa-information/
- Emirates. “UAE Visa Information.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.emirates.com/english/before-you-fly/visa-passport-information/uae-visa-information/
- Emirates. “UAE Visa Information.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.emirates.com/english/before-you-fly/visa-passport-information/uae-visa-information/
- Edarabia. “Dubai Residency Visa for Wife/Husband.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.edarabia.com/dubai-residency-visa-wife-husband-guide/
- Emirates. “UAE Visa Information.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.emirates.com/english/before-you-fly/visa-passport-information/uae-visa-information/
- Emirates. “UAE Visa Information.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.emirates.com/english/before-you-fly/visa-passport-information/uae-visa-information/
- Emirates. “UAE Visa Information.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.emirates.com/english/before-you-fly/visa-passport-information/uae-visa-information/
- Edarabia. “Dubai Residency Visa for Wife/Husband.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.edarabia.com/dubai-residency-visa-wife-husband-guide/
- Visit Dubai. “UAE Golden Visa.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.visitdubai.com/en/invest-in-dubai/uae-golden-visa
- The National News. “UAE Golden Visa: All You Need to Know About the Long-Term Residency.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2022/04/18/uae-golden-visa-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-long-term-residency/
- Bayut. “UAE Golden Visa: Eligibility, Benefits and How to Apply.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.bayut.com/mybayut/uae-golden-visa-guide/
- Edarabia. “Dubai Residency Visa for Wife/Husband.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.edarabia.com/dubai-residency-visa-wife-husband-guide/
- Edarabia. “Dubai Residency Visa for Wife/Husband.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.edarabia.com/dubai-residency-visa-wife-husband-guide/
- Edarabia. “Dubai Residency Visa for Wife/Husband.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.edarabia.com/dubai-residency-visa-wife-husband-guide/
- Equaldex. “LGBT Equality Index – United Arab Emirates.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.equaldex.com/region/united-arab-emirates
- Study International. “How to Apply for a UAE Student Visa.” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://www.studyinternational.com/news/how-to-apply-for-a-uae-student-visa/
- Emirates. “Visa Application Form (English).” Accessed December 16, 2025. https://cdn.ek.aero/downloads/ek/pdfs/Visa/visa-form-english.pdf
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