The Dubai government has initiated efforts to make it easier and cheaper for freelancers to work and live in the UAE. GoFreelance visa is an initiative by the TECOM group that allows freelancers to work in tech, education, media and design sectors as independent contractors with a Freelance permit.
The freelancer permit is ideal for professionals who are on a dependent visa as they only need to get a freelancer license. This permit identifies you as a sole practitioner and enables you to conduct business in your name rather than a brand name.
A UAE freelance visa is a residence visa that lets you live in the UAE and work independently as a self-employed professional, tied to a freelance permit rather than to an employer. It's built for professionals in eligible sectors such as media, technology, education, design, marketing, and consulting.
Anyone in a permitted activity can apply, including those already on a dependent visa, who may only need the freelance permit rather than a new residence visa. The permit lets you operate in your own name as a sole practitioner. We can advise the right route for your profession.
The typical requirements include:
• A CV or resume and a recent photograph
• A passport copy valid for at least six to eight months
• A bank reference letter
• A No Objection Certificate from your current sponsor, if you hold an existing UAE visa
• Valid health insurance
Some free zones also ask for a portfolio or proof of qualifications in your field. Once approved, the residence visa steps follow: entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID, and stamping. We provide a precise checklist for your chosen free zone.
The freelance permit itself is your work authorisation, so it comes first. You obtain a freelance permit from a free zone, or a self-employment permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), and the residence visa is then issued against it.
If you already hold a UAE residence visa through family sponsorship, a Golden Visa, or a Green Visa, a MOHRE freelance permit alone can authorise you to work legally without a new visa. We can advise which combination fits your situation.
Yes. To work legally as a freelancer in the UAE, you need a freelance permit or licence from a free zone or MOHRE. Working independently without one is not permitted.
The permit is what lets you invoice clients in your own name and operate as a recognised sole practitioner. It also underpins your residence visa and, later, family sponsorship. We can set up the permit and visa together.
A freelance permit and visa are usually processed within about 10 to 12 working days, and up to two to four weeks end to end once the medical test and Emirates ID steps are included.
The permit itself is approved quickly; the residence visa stages add most of the time. Matching your activity correctly to the free zone's permitted list is the single best way to avoid delays. We handle the paperwork to keep it moving.
Yes. Once you hold a freelance residence visa, you can sponsor your spouse and children, subject to the standard conditions: a minimum monthly income (typically from around AED 4,000, varying by free zone), a registered Ejari tenancy contract, and valid health insurance for each dependent.
Each dependent needs their own entry permit, medical test, and Emirates ID, with separate fees. We can handle your dependents' visas alongside your own.
A freelance residence visa is typically valid for 1, 2, or 3 years, depending on the free zone and package you choose, while the freelance permit is usually renewed annually.
Established freelancers earning at least AED 360,000 a year can instead opt for the 5-year Green Visa, a self-sponsored route that removes the shorter renewal cycle. We can advise which duration suits your plans.
Yes, and it's the core advantage of the freelance visa. You can work with multiple clients at once, both in the UAE and internationally, invoicing each in your own name without needing separate sponsorship or approvals.
The one condition is that the work falls within the activity your permit covers. If your work spans more than one field, we can check whether your permit covers it or needs adjusting.
Yes. The freelance permit and residence visa are renewable, as long as the permit stays active and you remain compliant with UAE regulations. The permit renews annually and the residence visa per its term.
Renewing before expiry avoids overstay fines, and a consistent renewal record strengthens your UAE immigration history for future applications like family sponsorship or a long-term visa. We can manage your renewals so nothing lapses.
