Minimum income
$3,500/month
$42,000/year
Stay
12 → 24
months, renewable
Application fee
$420
plus $310 per dependent
Tax
0.0%
UAE zero personal income tax
Path to staying
- Visa12 months
- Renewup to 24 months
- Leads to residency
- Leads to citizenship
Overview
- Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Visa name
- Dubai Virtual Working Programme
- Local name
- برنامج العمل الافتراضي في دبي
- Program type
- Formal dn visa
- Status
- Active
- Initial duration
- 12 months
- Max duration
- 24 months
- Income requirement
- $3,500/month ($42,000/year)
- Application fee
- $420
- Tax status
- Exempt
Requirements
- Health insurance required
- Criminal record check not required
- Proof of accommodation not required
- Proof of employment or clients required
- University degree not required
What you can do
- Work for local companies
- Freelancers eligible
- Employees eligible
- Work permit included no
- Bring dependents
- Multiple entry
- Open a local bank account
Family and dependents
- Dependents allowed
- Yes
- Dependent fee
- $310
Tax
- Tax status
- Exempt
- Tax rate
- 0.0%
- Tax regime
- UAE zero personal income tax
- Foreign income taxed
- No
How to apply
- Application method
- online
- Processing time
- 5–7 days
- Can apply in-country
- Yes
- Multiple entry
- Yes
- Can open bank account
- Yes
- Renewable
- Yes
Notes
Employees need $3,500/month minimum; business owners need $5,000/month + 1 year proof of company operation. Must provide 6 months of bank statements (increased from 3 months in Jan 2026). Holders can open bank accounts, sign leases, get UAE driving license, and sponsor dependents. 0% personal income tax. Visa fee reduced to AED 1,535 including Emirates ID in 2026 update. Spouse and children under 18 can be sponsored.
Also in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates also offers these long-term residency programs