The short answer
A UAE freelance visa involves two separate costs: the freelance permit or licence, and the residency visa. Together they typically land between AED 7,500 and AED 20,000 in the first year depending on the issuing free zone and the visa length. Our own fixed-price packages run from AED 5,500 for a permit alone to AED 11,800 for a complete self-sponsored residency and licence bundle, with the professional fee and predictable government charges already included.
Freelance visa pricing in the UAE is confusing for one structural reason: the thing people call “a freelance visa” is really two products bought together. There is the permit or licence, which makes you a legal business and lets you invoice clients. And there is the residency visa, which lets you live in the country, open a bank account, and sponsor your family. You can buy the first without the second. You cannot legally freelance on the second without the first.
Once you separate those two, the quotes you have been collecting start to make sense, and the gaps in them become obvious.
The permit side of the bill
The permit is issued by a free-zone authority. Different authorities charge different amounts for what is functionally the same document, which is why identical-sounding quotes can differ by several thousand dirhams. Sharjah Media City and the Northern Emirates zones sit at the affordable end. The Dubai media and tech clusters run by TECOM sit at the premium end, and buy you a Dubai address on your licence.
What sits inside the permit line:
- The licence or permit fee itself, renewed annually.
- Registration of your business name and your chosen activities.
- A registered address or flexi-desk, which most free zones require even when no physical office is involved.
- The establishment card, if you intend to sponsor any visas under the licence. This is what connects your licence to the immigration system.
The residency side of the bill
The residency visa is processed through immigration and is priced largely by duration. A two-year visa costs more than a one-year visa up front and less per year over its life, which is why most people who plan to stay choose the longer option.
| Line item | What it is | How often you pay it |
|---|---|---|
| Entry permit | Your authorisation to enter the UAE on the new visa, or to begin a status change from inside the country. | Once per visa cycle |
| Status change | Converting your current tourist or visit status without leaving the country. | Only if you are already in the UAE |
| Medical fitness test | A blood test and chest X-ray at an approved centre. Required for every applicant. | Once per visa cycle, per person |
| Emirates ID | Your national identity card, priced by visa duration. | Once per visa cycle, per person |
| Visa stamping | The residency permit itself, issued electronically. | Once per visa cycle, per person |
| Health insurance | Legally mandatory for residents. Not usually inside a setup package. | Annually, per person |
Health insurance deserves a flag of its own. It is a legal requirement for UAE residents, it is rarely bundled into a visa package by anyone, and it is the single most common reason a client budget comes up short at the end. Ask any provider, including us, whether it is in the number they have given you.
Where our own pricing sits
We quote fixed prices that cover our professional service fee plus the government and free-zone charges we can predict at the time of quoting. Nothing is added afterwards without your agreement; if an authority changes a fee mid-process, we tell you before we proceed rather than after.
| Package | Price | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Freelance Permit Only | AED 5,500 | You already hold UAE residency and just need to be able to invoice legally. |
| 1 Year Visa Package | AED 7,900 | You have work arranged and need residency, not a licence. |
| 2 Years Residency Visa | AED 8,900 | You are staying. Two years of residency, family sponsorship eligibility, no annual renewal. |
| Freelance Visa With Permit | AED 11,800 | The complete self-sponsored setup: residency and licence in one application. |
Instalment plans are available through Tabby and Tamara, so the cost does not have to arrive as a single payment. Every final quote is confirmed in writing before any processing begins.
The costs that arrive later
Setup is the visible number. Running the licence is the one that shapes your second year, and it is worth budgeting for from the start.
- Licence renewal, annually, regardless of your visa length.
- Residency renewal, at the end of your one- or two-year cycle, with a fresh medical and Emirates ID each time.
- Health insurance, annually, for you and anyone you sponsor.
- Any activity you add to your licence later, which is charged per amendment.
- Dependant visas, which carry their own entry permit, medical, and Emirates ID costs per person.
A realistic budget
If you are already a UAE resident and only need the right to invoice, budget from AED 5,500 and you are close to done. If you are arriving from abroad and need the full self-sponsored setup, budget AED 11,800 for the package plus health insurance, and treat anything below roughly AED 7,500 from any provider as a quote worth reading twice.
Prices across the market move when free zones revise their fee schedules, so treat every figure here, including ours, as accurate at the date this guide was last reviewed and confirm the current number in writing before you commit.
Questions people ask about this
How much does a freelance visa cost in Dubai?
Across the market a Dubai freelance permit paired with a residency visa typically costs between AED 7,500 and AED 20,000 in the first year, depending on which free zone issues the permit and whether you take a one-year or two-year visa. Our fixed-price packages run from AED 5,500 for a permit alone to AED 11,800 for the complete self-sponsored residency and licence bundle.
Is health insurance included in a freelance visa package?
Almost never, including in ours. Health insurance is a separate legal requirement for every UAE resident and is renewed annually per person. Always confirm whether a quoted package includes it before comparing prices.
Can I pay for a UAE freelance visa in instalments?
Yes. We offer instalment plans through Tabby and Tamara, so the setup cost can be spread rather than paid in a single amount.
Why is a two-year residency visa cheaper than two one-year visas?
Because you pay the entry permit, medical fitness test, Emirates ID, and stamping fees once instead of twice. The two-year option costs more up front and less per year over its life, which is why it suits anyone planning to stay.
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Start your applicationEasy Freelance Visa is operated by Trivup Documents Clearing Services, a private visa-assistance consultancy. We are not a government agency. Rules and fees are set by the relevant UAE authorities and change from time to time. This guide reflects our case work as at 9 August 2026; confirm current requirements with a consultant before acting on it.