Green Visa Dubai
Dubai Green visa is a new visa type that offers long-term in the UAE. And this article will give you a brief overview of the benefits and application process of the UAE green visa.
16-May-2023
12 min read
The UAE is calling all Indian ex-pats, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and remote workers worldwide. After seeing the global shift in the workforce, the increase in freelance work, and the desire to be self-employed: the UAE government introduced the Freelance Visa Dubai.
Visa needed: Freelance Visa For Indians.
Visa cost: The total for a freelance visa Dubai cost can be between AED 10,000 and AED 25,000.
Processing time: Up to 10-30 days to process.
Visa validity: 1 to 5 years
Minimum salary needed: AED 360,000.
With the freelance visa Dubai, you can be your own boss by starting your own business. But what exactly is a Dubai freelance visa? If you want to start your freelancing career in Dubai, keep reading the blog to find out how.
In Dubai and across the UAE, several free zones offer Indian citizens freelance permits. For a freelance permit, you do not necessarily need a sponsor or to be hired by any company in the UAE.
It is a work permit for freelancers in UAE. Indians can apply for a freelance license or permit, allowing them to operate full-time as freelancers in Dubai. Several authorities operating in the free zone issue freelance licenses, such as the TECOM Group or twofour54.
Once you have obtained the freelance permit, you can apply for the Dubai freelance visa.
The freelance visa Dubai is a type of UAE residency, meaning that you can live and work with your family members in the UAE for anywhere from 1 to 5 years.
The freelance permits are available for UAE nationals, citizens, residents, and non-residents.
The holder of the freelance visa in Dubai can participate in many business fields for which they have a freelance permit. With a freelance permit in their specified field, they can:
Free Trade Zones, or FTZs, are created in the UAE to offer companies and professionals operating from those areas tax concessions and customs duty benefits.
Freelance permits or licenses can be obtained from these free zones. In addition, several free zones in the UAE offer freelance permits in various industries and work fields and are operated by relevant authorities.
These permits can be obtained from industries ranging from trades, services, investments, media, and others.
Numerous free zones across the UAE offer freelance licenses in Dubai. Some of these free zones are:
The Dubai Development Authority and the TECOM Group have launched the GoFreelance initiative, which includes:
Any Indian citizen wishing to work as a freelancer in Dubai or the UAE must get a freelance license in Dubai. A specific free zone provides freelance permits in a specific field of work.
For example, with GoFreelance, Indian nationals can get a freelance license in Dubai for various design, technology, and media activities and the education sector.
Similarly, different free zones offer a different and vast range of activities to choose from. And these freelance license is used to apply for a freelance visa in Dubai. However, the need to get a freelance visa Dubai for UAE and Non-UAE residents is different:
Though you don't need sponsorship in Dubai or the UAE if you work for someone, you will need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your employer. NOC is also required if you decide to work as a freelance part-time.
Also, UAE or Dubai residents can keep their residency permits to get a freelance one.
Non-UAE Residents MUST get the Freelance License Dubai to apply for the freelance visa.
Similar to the freelance license Dubai the 'Talent Pass' is a permit or license introduced by the Dubai Airport Freezone.
Individuals who wish to pursue a freelance career in the Arts, Culture, Education, Media, Marketing, Consultancy, and Technology field can apply for the talent pass.
The individuals must first obtain their Talent Pass, renewed each year. After getting the Talent Pass, the applicant can apply for a resident visa. Then, they can work in the fields specified by the Talent Pass.
Anyone wishing to be a freelancer in Dubai can apply for a freelance permit and a visa. The main applicant must have a bachelor's degree or specialized diploma. Additionally, they must prove that they have earned an income of at least AED 360,000 (approx. INR 75 lakh) in the last two years.
However, the person's eligibility depends on whether they belong to one of the qualifying professions. For example, to get your Dubai freelance permit, you can be in one of the following industries or work fields:
This list is forever changing, and more professions are being added. So make sure you stay up to date!
Media Activities
Actor, Aerial Shoot Photographer, Animator, Artist, Audio, Brand Consultant, Cameraman, Choreographer, Commentators: Radio, Events, Sports, Television, Composer, Content Provider, Copywriter, Creative Director, Critics: Music, Film, Theatre, Director: Film, Television, Music, Theatre, Editor: Audio/Video, Editor: Publishing, Events Planner, Furniture Designer, Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Journalist, Lighting Specialist, Market Analyst, Marketing Specialist, Media Planner, Music Director, Musician, New Media Specialist, Photographer, Photojournalist, PR Specialist, Presenter V/Radio, Print Media Specialist, Producer, Scriptwriter, Set and Exhibit Designer, Social Media Specialist, Social Media Influencer, Special Effects Producer, Translator, Wardrobe Stylist, Web Developer, Web Designer, Writer.
Education Activities
Education Advisor, eLearning Advisor, Executive Coaching, Researcher, Trainer.
Tech Activities
Architecture Freelancer, Customer Service Freelancer, Data Science and Analytics Freelancer, IT and Telecommunication Networking Freelancer, Web, Mobile, Software Development.
Design Activities
Apparel Designer, Concept Designer, Costume Designer, Fashion Artist, Fashion Designer, Fashion Stylist, Hair Stylist, Interior Designer, Image Consultant, Jewelry Designer, Make-up Artist, Object Designer, Personal Shopper, Textile Designer, Visual Merchandiser, Wedding Planner.
Indian citizens have a lot of options regarding which industry they would like to work in from all the free zones. Once that has been determined, the visa application process is relatively straightforward.
To apply for a freelance visa in Dubai, you do not need an extensive list of documents. However, the documents you will need are:
Worry not! Atlys has covered all your visa needs.
But what else can you do with the Atlys app? Let me tell you:
Though getting a Freelance Visa Dubai is easy, the application process can be lengthy and tedious. Additionally, there are a few steps that you need to take before you can even apply for your Dubai freelance visa. The steps to getting your Dubai Freelance Visa are as follows:
The first step to getting any permits or visas is gathering the documents. The list is not exhaustive but is extremely important.
Though the Dubai government is making the visa application process more accessible, any incorrect document can result in the rejection of your visa application.
However, you must remember that you might require additional documents for each step. Hence, being prepared with the necessary documents can also reduce the time of the entire process.
A Dubai freelance permit is necessary for a freelance visa in conjunction with other required documents. In Dubai, the GoFreelance initiative was launched by the TECOM Group.
Indian citizens must first visit the online GoFreelance application form to fill out the form and start the application process. You will receive an email confirmation and OTP on the phone number provided.
You might have to visit the Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Media City, or Dubai Internet City with your original passports and other documents to get the Dubai freelance permit.
The entire process takes approximately 5-7 working days. Indian nationals will also have to pay the Dubai freelance permit fee. Once the application is approved, you will receive your Dubai freelance permit via email.
You must first get your freelance permit to apply for the establishment card. Once you have received the permit, you must access the AXS website, submit your application with your Dubai freelance permit and phone number, and pay the fees.
The establishment card can be obtained from the GDRFA by submitting an online application.
Once you have gathered all the documents, the last step is to apply for your freelance visa. The visa application for your Dubai freelance visa can be made through the GoFreelance website. Indian citizens will receive their entry permits within 5-7 working days.
Once you have the entry permit, you can apply for your long-term visa. You can apply for your Dubai residency visa on the GDRFAD website. You must submit all the required documents and pay the visa application fees.
After the Dubai residency permit is approved, you can live and work in Dubai. Additionally, you can sponsor your spouse and other family members to Dubai with a residency visa.
The freelance visa Dubai costs vary depending on the urgency, the permit's validity, and if you are applying from Dubai or outside.
Additionally, Indian citizens must pay separate fees for the freelance license or permit, establishment card, and freelancer visa. The Dubai freelance visa costs are as follows:
Additionally, the Dubai freelance visa costs may vary depending on the location of the free zone. Hence if you apply at:
You might also have to pay additional fees throughout the entire visa process, such as paying for your medical insurance. However, the cost for the freelance visa includes the medical test, visa stamping, and Emirates ID.
Regardless of the duration and validity of your visa, you will need to pay the fees mentioned above either for an employment visa to work or a UAE residency visa. The freelance visa fees are also non-refundable.
There are numerous benefits to having a freelance visa in Dubai. Not only can you be your own boss of your business, but you can also:
With all the benefits and the ease of visa application, Dubai Freelance Visa is one of the best options for entrepreneurs and freelancers.
You can now go on and start the application process for the Dubai freelance visa. If you first want to check out Dubai for yourself, you will need a Dubai Tourist Visa, and you can quickly get one on Atlys.
Government sources
The information in this blog was gathered from trusted government websites.
This blog was written with AI assistance for better readability and understanding.
Yes. Indian citizens need to get a valid visa before they can travel to Dubai or any other Emirates in the UAE. You can get your UAE visa in under 30 minutes using Atlys.
You will need an entry permit if you apply for the Dubai Freelance Visa from outside Dubai. The entry permit can take 2-7 working days if all the documents are correct.
After getting the entry permit, you can apply for the Dubai Freelance Visa, which can take up to 10-30 days to process.
An establishment card, also known as the company establishment card (CEC) or company immigration card (CIC), is issued for one year and includes all the necessary information about your business.
Business owners must get an establishment card from relevant authorities in the free zone or online on the GDRFA website.
Depending on the type of visa you choose, the validity of the Dubai freelance visa is between 1 to 5 years. The Dubai freelance permit must be renewed every year.
The TECOM freelance permit is the cheapest freelance visa in Dubai. It costs about AED 7500; however, there might be additional fees that you might need to pay throughout the application process for a freelance visa in Dubai.
As a freelancer, you do not need to pay VAT if you make less than AED 375,000 yearly. However, if it is more than AED 375,000, you must register for VAT and pay 5%.
Yes. You can open a personal bank account once you get your freelance permit and visa. Sometimes, you can also open a corporate account depending on the free zone you have your freelance permit for.
The total for a freelancer visa UAE cost can be between AED 10,000 and AED 25,000.