Do you need a freelance visa? We show you how to get it in Dubai

Freelance Visa & permit Dubai: cost, qualification 2023- Guider & is it Legal in UAE?

In the UAE, freelance visa is available to professionals from all over the world who want to live and work in the country. This is one of the many local government initiatives to attract global talent and strengthen its economy. In this way, you will be able to be your boss and have a good standard of living in one of the best labor markets.

Yes it is legal, As an individual once acquires the Freelance Permit approval and also avails themself a Freelance or own visa, he or she is entitled to live and work in the UAE and find work or project for themselves and earn a lot of money, As the recent trend picked up that growing interest from a large crowd from Russia, Ukraine, and other European countries are willing to take up this visa and finding plenty of opportunities in their own field or domain.

1. What is a freelance Visa UAE?

Citizens of various countries can apply for a freelance visa in any of the free zones in the UAE. In this case, unlike other visas, you do not need a sponsor or a contract from a local company. Moreover, foreigners can obtain a freelance license or permit and work without problems in the country.

In each free zone, some authorities are in charge of issuing this type of visa. Thus, you need to obtain a self-employment permit to then obtain your own or a Freelance visa in UAE. In short, a Freelance Visa is a residence that legally permits you to work and live in Dubai, UAE along with your family by sponsoring them.

This visa is a type of residence permit that will also allow you to live, work, and sponsor your family members.

Likewise, this visa is valid for between 1 and 5 years and can be applied for by citizens, residents, and non-residents of the UAE.

1.1 What can you do if you get a freelance visa Dubai?

The UAE freelance visa allows you to engage in various professional fields depending on the permission you obtain. In addition, with the visa you can do the following:

• –Work anywhere in the UAE.
• -Offer your professional services to companies or individuals.
• -Work in one of the government agencies of the country.
• -Have earnings higher than what you would obtain in a company.
• -Work as an independent contractor.

2. What are Free Zones in the United Arab Emirates?

Free Zones (FZs) in the UAE are special zones that offer tax concessions and tariff benefits to companies and individuals. In addition, in the free zones, you can obtain both a permit and a freelance visa through the appropriate services. The permits for the self-employed in the said zones cover trade, investments, services, and more.

2.1 What are the free zones in the UAE?

In the country, there are a large number of free zones that offer Freelance Visa UAE for foreigners. Some of these areas are the following:

• -Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.
• -Dubai Development Authority (DDA).
• -Sharjah Media City.
• -Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone.
• -Fujairah Creative City.
• -Quwain Free Trade Zone UAQ.
• -Ajman Free Zone.
• -SHAMS Free Zone.
• In the same way, the Dubai Development Authority together with the TECOM Group launched the GoFreelance initiative, which includes the following areas:
• -Knowledge Park.
• -Internet City.
• -Media City.
• -Design District.

2.2 The freelance license in Dubai

Citizens who wish to work independently anywhere in the UAE must obtain a self-employed license. This is an essential requirement to be able to obtain a freelance visa and practice certain activities in a free zone. However, the requirements to obtain this visa depend on whether or not you are a resident of the UAE.

2.2.1 If you are a resident of the UAE

The freelance permit is necessary if you have a residence with the visa of your spouse or your parents. In the same way, you can request the said permit if you have served in a company full-time and want to become self-employed. Additionally, to be able to work as a freelancer if you have served in a company, you will need a no objection certificate (NOC).

Similarly, you need the said certificate to work on a part-time freelance visa Dubai. Also, workers with resident status in the country do not need to cancel their residence permit to obtain the permit for self-employment.

2.2.2 If you are not a resident of the UAE

All foreigners can apply for a freelance work permit and a freelance visa. Also, through the freelance employment visa, a person can apply to obtain a residence permit in the country. Thus, you will be able to work and live legally in the UAE, taking advantage of this type of work.

3. Who is eligible for a freelance visa Dubai?

As we have mentioned, anyone is eligible to obtain a freelance visa as long as they meet the requirements. To apply for this visa, you will need to have at least a bachelor’s degree or a diploma in a specialty. Additionally, you will need to provide proof that you have received at least AED 360,000 in the 2 years before applying.

4. Freelance visa UAE cost and requirements

Local and foreign citizens who wish to obtain a freelance visa Dubai or in another emirate must submit certain documents. Although the list of documents is not very extensive, the following must be included:

• -Passport valid for at least 6 months.
• -Freelance permit.
• -Establishment card.
• -Recent photo.
• -Funds proof.
• -Bank statements.
• -Medical examination report.
• -Your resume.
• -Telephone number in the UAE.
• -Health insurance.
• -Work experience folder.
• –Letter of no objection or NOC (if necessary).

4.1 How to get a freelance visa in UAE?

Obtaining a freelance visa is a very simple process, although if you do not have the advice of the best professionals, it can take a long time. In addition, the process is systematic, that is, you must comply with certain processes before moving forward with the application. In this way, you must follow the steps that we will indicate below:

4.1.1 Gather documentation

The first thing you need to do is gather all the necessary documents to begin processing. In addition, you must ensure that each document meets the guidelines set by the authorities so that they do not reject your application. In this way, by having everything in order, you will be able to speed up the process to minimize the reception time.

4.1.2 Apply for the freelance work permit

To continue with the process to obtain a freelance visa, you must request the corresponding work permit. In this case, you need to go to the GoFreelance initiative website and fill in the application form. Then you will receive a confirmation in your email and an OTP on the phone number you have provided.

Similarly, you may need to go to Knowledge Park, Media City, or Internet City in Dubai with your original passport and other documents. In this way, you will be able to obtain the permit in between 5 and 7 business days. In addition, you will need to pay the document request fees, which you will receive by email.

4.1.3 Request the establishment card

The next step to getting your UAE freelance visa is to apply for your establishment card. To do this, you must enter the website of the General Directorate of Residence and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA). In addition, the process can be completed entirely online, paying the corresponding fees.

4.1.4 Apply for the freelance visa

The process ends with the direct application for the freelance visa UAE with the requested documents. In addition, with our assistance, you can carry out this procedure optimally in about 5-7 days. Also, after obtaining the permit to enter the country, you can apply for a long-stay visa on the GDRFA website.

Hence, to go through the process smoothly, make sure you have the correct documents and cover the cost of the visa. By getting your approval, you will be able to work independently and live the peaceful life that the UAE has to offer. Additionally, you will be able to sponsor both your spouse and other family members to obtain a residence visa.

4.2 Freelance visa Dubai cost

The cost of this visa depends on the validity of the permit, whether you apply for it inside or outside Dubai, and the urgency of the process. In addition, the self-employment permit, the establishment card, and the self employment visa have individual costs. Next, we will show you what the costs of each document are, depending on the case:

• -The freelance permit costs AED 7,000, is valid for 1 year, and must be renewed annually.
• -The facility card costs AED 2000, is valid for 1 year and must be renewed annually.
• -For the 3-year residence visa for which you apply from the UAE, the normal process will cost AED 4960 and the express will cost AED 6340.
• -For the 3-year residence visa for which you apply from outside the UAE, the normal process will cost AED 3,330 and the express will cost AED 3,390.
• -The self-employed visa for 1 year is AED 2750 and for 3 years is around AED 5000.
• -The freelance visa Dubai cost ranges from AED 10,000 to AED 25,000.
• -The Talent Pass license, which must be renewed every year, is AED 9,500.
• Similarly, the cost of such a visa may vary depending on where in the UAE you apply for it as follows:
• -Twofour54 in Abu Dhabi, from AED 2,500 onwards.
• -D- Tech FTZ in Dubai, from AED 7,500 onwards.
• -Ajman Free Zone, from AED 11000 onwards.
• -Umm Al Quwain Free Zone, from AED 13,000 onwards.
• -Fujairah Free Zone, from AED 14000 onwards.
• -Khaimah Free Zone, from AED 15000 onwards.
• -Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC) FTZ, from AED 20,000 onwards.

In addition to these fees, you should also consider the cost of health insurance. However, the cost of the visa includes the medical examination, visa stamping, and Emirates ID.

5. Benefits of a freelance visa

Possessing a freelance visa Dubai or anywhere in the UAE can guarantee you various benefits. Some of them are described below:

• -You can be your boss.
• -You will be able to get a UAE residence permit.
• -The process is simple.
• -You can sponsor your family.
• -Unlike other visas, you do not need a local sponsor.
• -It has multiple options for professional activities.
• -Accounting is not a concern.
• -You can get more profit than in a company.
• -You can take longer vacations.
• -This type of job allows you to travel and live anywhere in the UAE.
• -You do not need an office space.
• -You can set your own pace of work.

Thus, the benefits are not few and, as time goes by, you will be able to see that there are many others.

6. Frequently asked questions

6.1 Do you need a visa to travel to Dubai?

Indeed, foreign citizens must apply for a visa before they can travel to Dubai or one of the other Emirates.

6.2 How long does it take to process the freelance visa?

To apply for a freelance visa UAE from outside the country, you first need an entry permit. In this case, if all the documents are correct, the entry permit can take between 2 and 7 business days. You will then be able to apply for the visa, which you may receive between 10 and 30 days from the date of application.

6.3 What is the UAE Settlement Card?

This card includes all your business information and is valid for 1 year from the date of issue. Also, it is known as a company establishment card (CEC) or company immigration card (CIC). To obtain it, you must go to the authorities of the free zone of your choice or on the GDRFA website.

6.4 How long is the freelance visa Dubai valid for?

Self-employment visas can be valid for between 1 and 5 years, depending on the type of visa you choose.

6.5 How long is the self-employment permit valid in Dubai?

This freelance permit is valid for 1 year but you can renew it annually.

6.6 What is the cheapest freelance visa UAE?

The cheapest freelance visa in the country costs around AED 7,500 and is offered by TECOM. However, consider the other fees that may be included in the application for this visa.

6.7 Is it possible to open a bank account with this visa?

When you get your self-employment permit and visa you will be able to open a bank account at any institution in the UAE. In addition, in some free zones, you will have the possibility of opening a corporate account.

6.8 Do I have to pay taxes for a freelance visa Dubai?

In the UAE, you do not have to pay VAT if you earn less than AED 375,000 per year even with one of these visas. Otherwise, if your earnings exceed that figure, you will have to pay a 5% tax.

6.9 What is the freelance visa UAE cost?

The entire process to obtain a freelance visa can cost between AED 10,000 and AED 25,000.

With a UAE work visa, you can also work for one of the companies that offer their positions on thetalentpoint.com. If you want to apply for one of those offers, you can upload your CV or send it to [email protected].