Dubai residency visa information

What visa should I get?

Depending on why you’re coming to Dubai, there are a number of visa options available – and you’ll find details of the main types on this page. 

If you’re visiting the city looking for business opportunities, and won’t be working in the UAE, then a visit visa is all you need. Nationals of many countries can receive a visa on arrival, while those requiring a pre-arranged visa can easily apply online.

Learn more about visit visas >

Once you’ve decided to establish yourself in Dubai, you will need to apply for a residency visa. For workers employed by a Dubai-based company this will be handled by your employer – but if you’re setting up your own business, working as a freelancer, or want to retire in Dubai, you can arrange your own residency visa, which is usually valid for five or 10 years. 

The main residency visas include:

• Golden Visa: for investors, entrepreneurs and talented professionals
• Green Visa: for skilled individuals, freelancers or the self-employed
• Virtual work visa: one-year visa for remote-work employees
• Retirement visa: for those aged 55+ wanting to retire in Dubai
• Blue Visa: a newly launched visa for those involved in environmental work

See below for more details on each.

Visa types and eligibility criteria