Dubai Remote Work Visa: Income, Documents & How to Apply

The UAE remote work visa, also called the virtual working programme, lets you live in the UAE for one year while continuing to work for an employer or company outside the country. It is aimed at people whose income comes from abroad, and it gives you a residence permit and Emirates ID without a UAE employer sponsor. It is issued through the immigration authorities, ICP at federal level and GDRFA Dubai in Dubai.

Who qualifies for the remote work visa?

• Employees who work for a company outside the UAE and can prove employment.
• Business owners and self-employed professionals with a company abroad.
• People who meet the minimum income, commonly cited as USD 3,500 per month.
• Applicants with valid health insurance for the UAE.

The income figure is commonly cited and can change, so we confirm the current requirement against your payslips before you apply. A contract showing at least one year of validity and a letter from your employer are the usual proof of employment.

How much does the visa cost and how long does it take?

Government fees, the medical test, Emirates ID and typing-centre charges apply, and they change from time to time, so we give you a written breakdown instead of a fixed figure. Processing time depends on how complete the file is and the authority's workload, and we confirm the current expectation in writing for your case.

Remote work visa or Green Visa: which one fits?

Many remote workers start with the one-year visa, then move to a Green Visa, a freelance permit or a company of their own once their plans become long-term.

Can my family join me?

A spouse and children can usually be sponsored as dependants when your income and accommodation meet the family rules. The UAE-wide commonly cited family threshold is AED 4,000 per month, or AED 3,000 with accommodation, and your remote income can be used as supporting evidence. We check each dependant's documents at the start.

How does DXB.IST help with the remote work visa?

We start with a free consultation to confirm that your employment, contract and income fit the visa. We prepare the document checklist, certificate attestations and translations, book the appointments through government-approved typing centres and guide you through the medical test and Emirates ID. Our network helps with housing, coworking space and bank accounts, and our travel desk arranges airport transfers and a hotel for your first nights. We stay available for renewal or a switch to a longer residence. We are not a government body and cannot guarantee approval.