The scope of opportunities for freelancers has
greatly expanded. Because this freelancing can be considered as a more
accessible benefit, more flexibility and a source of quality skills. There are
a lot of people moving to Dubai when they realize Dubai’s high flexibility, and
that they can start their own businesses easier than other countries. Since
2019, freelancers in the Emirate have been legalized. Media professionals,
designers, artists, musicians, sport coaches, and tutors can now obtain a
permit and provide services legally anywhere in the UAE. These freelancers can
get a free visa in Dubai and live in the UAE forever. Dubai is one of the
world’s hubs of business, the best place to start your free business and below
we will examine how you can
get a freelance visa in Dubai.
What is a freelance visa In the UAE?
In November 2020, the UAE announced that not only UAE nationals,
but UAE citizens, residents and non-residents could also apply for a free
license in the UAE. Freelancers could live and work legally in the country and
even bring their families or independents with them.
A freelance visa in the UAE is a type of residence visa that
allows you to live in the country. A freelance visa is a personal visa in the
UAE, meaning there is no company or sponsor behind you.
A work permit for a freelancer is a visa issued on the basis of
a free license and there’s differences between freelance visa and work visa so
we suggest you read about Dubai work visas and permits on
our site. A few licensing authorities- mainly free zones granted such a
work permit in the UAE. Any UAE with a free zone can issue a freelance license
and a visa.
Your freelance visa acts perfectly like a residency visa. A pink
stamp will be struck on your passport and valid for 2 or 3 years.
For residents, freelance
permit
If you are a Resident of Dubai on a family or spouse visa, you
will need a freelance permit to start your work. Full-time professionals can
also be freelancers with the freelance permit in Dubai.
For non-residents, freelancer
visa
If you’re not resident in the UAE, you have to apply for a
freelancer visa that is a residency permit which allows the person to live and
work in the Emirate as a freelancer. You also have to apply for a residence
visa.
Freelance license in the UAE
A free license in Dubai and the UAE is a license issued to a
free person who can work legally anywhere in the country. If you are a
freelancer, you may not need a residence visa, if your visa is under your
spouse or a company, but you will need a free permit.
In other words, a freelance visa is optional. But a freelance
permit is for those who want to practice publicly and pay a fee for it.
How to get a freelance visa in Dubai?
There are some steps to get a freelance visa in Dubai we
mentioned below:
Getting the freelance permit
As you may know you can get UAE residency by
buying property in Dubai, but you must obtain your
freelancer permit from one of the free zones in the UAE, which will help you
get your residency visa as well.
You will need the following documents for Getting the freelance
permit in the UAE:
- Resume or CV
- Recent photo
- Passport and visa copy (Valid for at
least 8 months)
- Bank reference letter
- NOC from your UAE sponsor
- Proof of academic qualification
certificate (For those applying in education sector)
- Portfolio or sample for your work (For
those applying in media sector)
Do their application form and attach your passport and visa.
Then wait for 5 to 7 days to get their answer by email. In addition, you need
to visit the business center in Dubai knowledge park, Dubai media city or Dubai
Internet city to show your original passport, sign the documents and complete
the payment for your freelance permit.
Getting the establishment card
After receiving permission, you will be given access to TECOM’s
business service platform called AXS from where you can benefit from the
services of government and many companies. In it, you can apply for your
establishment card at an extra charge.
To request for the card, you need your freelancer permit and a
UAE mobile number.
Getting the employment visa in
Dubai
When you receive your establishment card you could apply for an
employment visa in Dubai. So you have to have your original passport, a
passport photo, valid medical insurance and visa, along with the card.
Getting residence visa in
Dubai
After submitting a free visa application, you will be allowed to
enter the country for one week, valid for 60 days. After arriving in Dubai, you
must complete the rest of the procedure, such as a medical examination. Once
your residency visa has been stamped, you have taken all steps to start a
freelance life in Dubai.
How much does it cost to get a freelance visa in Dubai?
Different visas can be obtained in Dubai, each with different
fees for obtaining and renewing the visa. If you have travelled to Dubai and
want to stay longer than your visa restriction in Dubai. There are 4 types of
fees for getting a freelance visa or renewing it. We will check the cost of
each one below:
UAE Freelance permit cost
It costs about 7500 dirham to be issued and renewed. It needs to
be renewed annually.
UAE Establishment card cost
It costs 2000 dirham to be issued and renewed. It needs to be
renewed annually.
UAE Employment visa cost
There are 2 types of this visa. The three-year valid visa costs
2750 dirham and the five-year valid visa costs 5000 dirham. They have to be
renewed every 3 and 5 year.
UAE Residence visa cost
If you are applying from outside of the UAE and it is valid for
3 year, the cost will be 3330 dirham for normal visa and 3900 dirham for
express visa. If you are applying within the UAE and then it is valid for 3
years, the cost will be 4960 dirham for normal visa and 6340 for express visa.
Therefore, the total cost of renewing your freelance visa is
11525 dirham every year.
Who can be a freelancer in Dubai and UAE?
The explicit answer to that question is, anyone. If you want to
be independent and work for yourself, you have a very good chance in Dubai.
Don’t be confused and don’t think you can’t or don’t know how to find your
favorite job in Dubai. With the help of a large list of approved professions in
the Emirate, almost anyone can find a suitable position to freelance work in
Dubai for themselves. A degree is not required in most cases and previous
experience is not compulsory.
You can freelance in Dubai in only certain parts, the activities
mentioned below, are permissible for freelancers in Dubai.
Employed in the media
You could choose to do up to 3 activities. Dubai Media City will
issue this work permit. Below are some of these activities.
- Actor
- Aerial Shoot Photographer
- Animator
- Artist
- Audio/ sound Engineer
- Brand Consultant
- Cameraman
- Choreographer
- Composer
- Content provider
Employed in education
You could only choose to do 1 position. Dubai Knowledge Park
will issue this permit. Below are the activities you can choose.
- Education adviser
- eLearning adviser
- Executive coaching
- Researcher
- Trainer
Employed in tech
You could only choose to do one position. Dubai Internet City
will issue this permit. Below are the activities you can choose.
- Web, mobile, software development and
architecture freelancer
- It and telecommunication network
freelancer
- Data science and analytics freelancer
- Customer service freelancer
Employed in design
You could only choose one position to do. Dubai design district
will issue permit. Below are some activities you can choose.
- Apparel designer
- Concept designer
- Costume designer
- Fashion designer
- Fashion stylist
- Image consultant
- Hair stylist
- Interior designer
- Jewelry designer
- Makeup artist
Advantages of being a freelancer in Dubai
For a lot of people, it’s an unattainable dream to be your own
boss and set up your own business. With changes made to the UAE’s workplace,
getting a freelance visa has become more accessible. It tempts people to move
on to their dreams. According to reports, Dubai is a hub for freelance workers
in the UAE, with about 65% of the region’s freelancers in the city. And don’t
worry about the major cost of living in Dubai,
because we reviewed all the items for you and you are knowingly entering the UAE and not surprising your fee.
Many freelancers work in the field of websites and software
development, architecture, health and fitness, social media and graphic design.
Of the freelance workers working in Dubai, about 62% are men and 38% are women.
Interestingly, most of them range in age from 21 to 30.
Undoubtedly, or even thinking about becoming a freelancer in the
UAE has many advantages, some of which we mention below:
- Self time management
- Ability to control workload
- Doing what you like
- Having longer holiday
- Being your own boss
- Ability to travel and live in any place
- Getting UAE residence visa
- Sponsoring family
Living in one of the safest countries in the world can be
attractive to anyone. Emirates is one of the great places to start your own
business. According to statistics, more than 60% of UAE migrants would like to
have a free visa if possible. And with these advantages it’s easy to recognize
why a majority of professionals in the UAE are considering getting a freelance
visa in Dubai.
What can a freelancer legally do in Dubai?
Based on your profession, when you are a freelance worker in
Dubai and have been granted a freelance permit, you are permitted to:
- Provide services to individuals
- Provide services to businesses
- Raise invoices and receive payments
- Work with government agencies
Requirements to become a freelancer in Dubai
As mentioned above, there is no strict requirement for the
background of professions. You just need to prepare some documents and apply
for a visa.
The document you have to prepare, are:
- Passport copy
- Visa and Emirates ID copy (If you are a
UAE resident)
- No objection letter from a current
sponsor (if you are a UAE resident)
- Recent photo
- CV
- Portfolio of works (if applicable)
A freelance visa is a type of residency visa that allows you to
live in the country. You will need a work permit or a freelance license
alongside a freelance visa to start a freelance and legal career in the UAE.
Where to get UAE freelance permit and visa?
Emirates has many authorities that issue this permit and visa.
You have several options: freelance visa in Dubai or another Emirate.
Regardless of where your permit and visa are issued, you have the same
requirements to get started across the UAE.
The difference between the licenses issued is between the
business activities they provide for the freelancers and the fees that are
paid.
Who issues a freelance visa in Dubai?
The following authorities issue freelance permits then you can
get freelance visa:
DWC/Dubai south free zone
(currently on hold)
Dubai south will be the best option for those who are looking
for a cheap freelance visa in Dubai.
GoFreelance under Dubai
development authority
Gofreelance suggests the biggest range of freelancing
activities. There are four groups in these freelancing activities: design,
education, media and technology. Every group has a several activities that you
can absolutely find a good match for your work permit in the UAE.
Protect yourself from illegal freelancer visa solutions
You may have seen a lot of online advertising from companies,
about getting a freelance visa or opportunities to make money without leaving
your country. These companies offer easy freelance visa packages on platforms
that people are eager to get a freelance visa in, such as websites and social
networks. By seeing these opportunities offline and online, try to be aware and
not make decisions early. To avoid mistakes, pay attention to the following
warnings:
- It is not legal that these companies
promise you permanent residency and a job offer in return for a hefty fee.
- Avoid lying or writing misinformation
on the forms you fill out to get a visa and don’t be influenced by visa
operators.
- It is not legal for companies to
promise you to make money quickly and easily in exchange for buying and
selling their working visa.
- It is not legal for freelance online
platforms to ask you for access to your personal emails and social
accounts.
In addition to being cautious, you can be more confident with
the following suggestions and take advantage of the suggested opportunities to
get a freelance visa in Dubai.
- The important thing about working with
freelance platforms is to research and make sure that the work you are
offered is worthwhile. You can search the company’s name on the National
Economic Register website and get their details.
- Any contractual agreement between
freelancers and the company requires detailed information, business
details and conditions that satisfy both parties.
- When you work as a freelancer, business
contracts can be a gimmick. Read all the sections of the full-featured
agreements and make sure of all the details, especially the payment
sections.
- When you find out you’re in touch with
a fraudster, hang up the call and introduce them to the State Audit
Institution immediately.
Conclusion
Does the freelance lifestyle suite a perfect fit for you? You
would need a freelance visa. As you were with us, in this text we reviewed everything
about the Dubai Freelance Visa.
By obtaining a freelance visa in Dubai, you have the opportunity to work within
the limits of your work capacity and legally serve your customers.
