Money answers · UAE
How much does a Dubai residence visa cost in 2026?
For a standard 2-year employment visa, the all-in cost — entry permit, status change, medical test, Emirates ID and stamping — typically lands around AED 3,000–7,000, and the employer must pay it by law. Family visas run roughly AED 2,000–4,000 per dependant, paid by the sponsor. Golden and freelance visas cost more.
Who pays what
UAE Labour Law puts recruitment and visa costs for employees on the employer — an employer deducting visa costs from your salary is a red flag worth checking with MOHRE. What you will pay for: your dependants' visas, renewals for family, and optional extras like VIP medical fast-tracking.
Costs vary by emirate, inside vs outside country application, medical tier and insurance level — treat any single 'exact' number online with suspicion and confirm on the official portals before paying.
The visas people actually compare
Employment visa: employer-paid, tied to the job. Green visa (5 years, self-sponsored for skilled workers/freelancers): several thousand dirhams all-in. Golden visa (10 years): roughly AED 10,000+ in fees depending on category, plus qualifying requirements. Check eligibility before budgeting — the fee is the easy part.
Common questions
Can my employer deduct visa costs from my salary?
No — under UAE Labour Law, recruitment and work-visa costs are the employer's responsibility. Deductions for them from salary or end-of-service pay are a MOHRE complaint waiting to happen.
How much does a Golden Visa cost?
Government fees typically total around AED 10,000+ depending on category and emirate — but eligibility (property, salary, talent categories) is the real gate. Check the official criteria before planning around it.
Sources: GDRFA Dubai · ICP — Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship. Figures are published rules or clearly-typical values — confirm specifics with the authority. Education, not financial or legal advice.