Virtual Work Residence Visa

Launched by Dubai in 2021 and now available federally, this is a full residence visa rather than a long tourist permit. It comes with an Emirates ID, which unlocks a local bank account, a phone contract, a driving licence and school enrolment. You need a valid employment contract or company ownership outside the UAE and USD 3,500 a month of income. Renewal is annual and unlimited in principle, and time spent here counts toward a tax-residency certificate.

Broadly open, but consulates assess each application case by case.

• USD 3,500 monthly incomeRequiredProof of at least USD 3,500 per month, evidenced by payslips and three months of bank statements.Source
• Employment contract or company ownership outside the UAERequiredEmployees need a contract valid for at least one year; company owners need proof of ownership for at least one year, both with an entity outside the UAE.
• Work performed remotelyRequiredThe visa covers work done remotely for entities outside the UAE, not work for local employers.
• Health insurance with UAE coverageRequiredHealth insurance valid in the UAE is mandatory for the visa and for residency generally.
• Passport valid for at least six monthsRequiredSix months of remaining validity at application.
• Medical test required in-countryInfoResidency requires a medical fitness test, including a chest X-ray and blood test screening for HIV and tuberculosis. A positive HIV result results in refusal and deportation.
• Residency alone is not tax residencyInfoHolding the visa does not by itself make you a UAE tax resident. A Tax Residency Certificate generally requires 183 days of physical presence in a twelve-month period.

• Passport with six months validity
• Employment contract valid for one year, or proof of company ownership
• Payslips for the last three months
• Bank statements for the last three months
• Health insurance certificate with UAE coverage
• Passport photograph

1. Apply online

   ~2 days

   Submit through the Dubai virtual working programme portal or the federal ICP channel.

   1

2. Entry permit issued

   ~10 days

   Approval produces an entry permit allowing you to enter and complete residency formalities.

   2

3. Medical test and Emirates ID

   ~10 days

   Complete the medical fitness test and biometrics in the UAE, then receive the residence visa and Emirates ID.

   3

Renewable annually while the income and employment conditions continue to be met.

• The Emirates ID is the real prize: it unlocks banking, a driving licence and phone contracts
• Dependants can be sponsored, which makes this workable for families
• Keep evidence of your days in the country if you intend to claim tax residency later
• The medical test screens for HIV and tuberculosis, and a positive result means refusal
• Rent is usually payable a year in advance, so budget the first-year cash requirement carefully

• UAE Government Portal - Virtual Work Residence VisaGovernment of the United Arab Emirates2026-07-27