Among all the Emirates it is Dubai that has the largest population and it is for a reason as it is both a tourism and business hub of the region. It is not just people from around the world who want to come to Dubai to work and start their own businesses but the government of the UAE also wants people to come.
In a bid to achieve this goal it has created a variety of different visas and one of the most popular ones happens to be the Freelance Visa Dubai. So today we will tell you everything you need to know about it and most importantly, how you can get it.
What is a Freelance Visa Dubai?
The Dubai freelance visa is issued to individuals who want to work as freelancers, and people who do not want to be tied to a single business or company. This visa allows them to reside in Dubai full-time, work in a field of their choosing, and have clients both in the country and outside.
Dubai Freelance Visa Benefits
There are many benefits of a Dubai Freelance visa and here are some of the main ones.
- Complete Autonomy and Freedom: Unlike a work visa, a freelance visa gives you the freedom and autonomy to pursue any kind of work opportunity you want. You are not bound by an employer who dictates your life and a sponsor if you are working in a freezone.
- Cost Effective: With a normal business visa, you have to deal with the costs of setting up an office, but with a freelance visa you are free to work on your own and even if you do set up an office, you have more flexibility in terms of costs, etc.
- Tax Benefits: With a Dubai freelance visa for any of the freezones you don’t have to worry about any kind of taxes as in most cases VAT etc. does not apply to you.
- Greater Accessibility: With a Freelance Visa Dubai, you have access to one of the best business and professional hubs in the world, allowing greater accessibility to clients, workers, and other professionals who can help you grow as a professional.
- Better Lifestyle: Dubai has one of the best living standards in the world, so with a freelance visa you and your family get to reside in one of the best countries in the world with access to first-class education and healthcare.
Dubai Freelance Visa Requirements and Types
Under the category of Freelance Visa, there are multiple types of visas that are issued by the Dubai government. The requirements for these visas are stated along with every type of visa.
Green Visa
This is the main type of freelance visa that the Dubai and UAE government as a whole has to offer. This visa is generally issued for a 5-year time period with an option to be renewed upon expiry and it allows non-residents to come to Dubai, reside there full-time, and do freelance work.
Its purpose is to attract top talent and big investors to the country to help with economic growth. As such it is divided into three broad categories, which are Self-employed, High-level skilled, and Investor Partner. The requirements for this visa are as follows.
- You must have a Bachelor’s degree or Diploma as a minimum level of qualification.
- In the last two years, you need to have a yearly income of AED 360,000 or more before applying for this visa.
- When applying for the visa, you need to supply an NOC along with other documents listed below.
Freelance Permit
This permit is for individuals who already reside in Dubai because of family, employer, or a sponsor and now they want to branch out and do something on their own. To get this permit the individual needs to submit an application at the website of (MoHRE).
The cost of this visa is AED 7,500 and it will need to be renewed every year. Similar to the Green Visa you need to have a Diploma or a Bachelor’s Degree, but in addition to that you will also need an NOC from your sponsor or employer.
The Dubai Talent Pass
Issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) for the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (Dafza) this visa is for talented individuals in the fields of science, engineering, businesses, and the arts.
This pass is issued for three years, at the cost of AED 9,500, and needs to be renewed yearly after that.
GoFreelance Visa
This visa is offered by the many free zones in Dubai, including the Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Design District, and Dubai Knowledge Park and requirements dictate that the recipient must fall into one of the categories listed on the Dubai Talent Pass.
GoFreelance Visa costs AED 7,500, plus an Establishment card for AED 2,000 and this does not include the additional costs like medical insurance, etc.
How to Get a Freelance Visa in Dubai?
To get the Green Freelance Visa you need to follow these steps.
- You start by visiting the website of the General Directory of Residency and Foreign Affairs Dubai (GDRFAD) website.
- Next, find the services option and select residency visa.
- then, click on the Issuance of Green Residency option and select any of the three types of visas that best suit your needs.
- Finally, click Start Service, register, and fill in your application.
- Once you start the application process you have 30 days to complete it.
- After filling in the application submit all the relevant documents, and pay the fee.
Now all you have to do is wait for GDFRAD to verify your application and they usually reply in 2 to 3 months. However, this time can vary with each application.
What kind of Documents do you need for a Dubai Freelance Visa?
The documents that need to submit for your Freelance Visa Dubai are as follows.
- Copy of a Valid Passport
- A Passport size Photo
- Qualification documents (Degree, Transcripts, Resume, etc.)
- Bank Statement
- Proof of Address
- Copy of a visa
- NOC
But depending on your application you may be asked to provide some other documents as well, while some of these documents may not be required at all.
