About these figures: Costs and timelines on this page are indicative planning figures compiled from public free zone fee information. They have not been individually verified for this page, may be out of date, and must be confirmed with the free zone before you pay. How we source prices · How we compile data.
UAE Visa Cost Calculator — All UAE Visa Types and Fees Guide 2026
UAE visa costs depend on the visa type, sponsoring entity (company, free zone, or government), emirate of application, and number of dependents. This guide provides a complete breakdown of UAE visa costs for 2026.
In this guide:
UAE Investor / Shareholder Residence Visa
- Eligibility: company shareholder in a UAE mainland or free zone company; must have an active trade licence
- Duration: 2 years (standard) or 3 years (for some free zones); renewable
- Cost breakdown:
- GDRFA visa fees (Dubai): AED 1,100-1,800 (varies by processing speed)
- Status change (if inside UAE on tourist/visit visa): AED 600
- Medical fitness test: AED 320 (standard) or AED 700+ (fast-track/private clinic)
- Emirates ID: AED 370 for 2-year card; AED 570 for 3-year card
- Health insurance (Dubai: mandatory): AED 1,200-3,000/year for basic cover
- Total investor visa cost: AED 3,500-6,000 for first-time application inside UAE
UAE Employee Work Permit and Residence Visa
- Eligibility: sponsored by a UAE employer with a valid UAE trade licence; employee has a signed employment contract
- Duration: 2 years standard; renewable while employment continues
- Cost breakdown:
- MOHRE work permit: AED 550 (for most workers)
- GDRFA entry permit: AED 750-1,500
- Status change (if applicable): AED 600
- Medical fitness test: AED 320
- Emirates ID: AED 370 (2-year)
- Health insurance: AED 1,500-5,000/year (employer must provide)
- Total employee visa: AED 4,000-7,000 (employer pays, can be passed to employee in some agreements)
UAE Dependent Spouse/Family Residence Visa
- Eligibility: sponsored by UAE resident spouse or parent with valid residence visa; sponsor must meet minimum salary threshold (AED 3,000-4,000/month depending on emirate)
- Duration: same as sponsor’s visa duration
- Cost: AED 2,000-4,000 per dependent (visa + medical + Emirates ID)
- Children under 18: sponsorable by either parent
- Parents: sponsor parents with salary above AED 20,000/month; specific documentation
UAE Golden Visa
- Duration: 10 years; renewable; no sponsor required
- Eligibility routes: property investor (AED 2M+ property value); entrepreneur (AED 500k+ investment in UAE startup); skilled professional (doctor, engineer, etc. with salary above AED 30,000); outstanding student; humanitarian pioneer
- Cost: AED 5,000-10,000 for Golden Visa application fees + medical + Emirates ID + insurance
- Processing: 2-4 weeks typically
UAE UAE Tourist/Visit Visa
- 30-day single entry: free for GCC nationals and many nationalities on arrival; AED 100-300 for countries requiring a pre-arranged visa
- 60-day single entry: AED 200-500 depending on nationality
- 90-day multiple entry: AED 500-1,000 for 1 year
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