10 types of UAE residence visas in 2026: Who can apply, eligibility and key requirements explained

Dubai: Whether you are moving to the UAE for work, planning to bring your family, investing in a business or property, or looking to retire here, there is a residence visa category designed for different circumstances.

The UAE currently offers several types of residence visas, ranging from standard employment and family visas to long-term options such as the Golden, Green and Blue visas. Each category has its own eligibility criteria, required documents and validity period.

Here's what you need to know.

Regardless of which visa you apply for, there are certain general requirements that you will need to fulfil:

1. Validity of residence visa

The validity of a residence visa can be anywhere from one year to 10 years, depending on the type of visa you are eligible for.

2. Medical fitness test

For those who are 18 and above, a medical fitness test also needs to be taken, for the visa to be issued.

3. Required documents

The standard documents required for all visa applications are:

Additionally, you may also need to provide other documents depending on the category you are applying under. These can include a divorce or death certificate (for divorced women and widows), proof of housing (if you’re applying for a family visa) or a university issued certificate (for students).

Each visa category has a specific list of required documents, and it is important to review all the documents you’ll need to provide before you start your application process.

Here are all the different categories of visas that are offered to expats in the UAE:

1. Employment visa

If you have come to the UAE based on a job offer, the work visa or employment is arranged for by your employer, as per the UAE’s labour law. Employers are not allowed to pass on the costs of employment, including the visa and work permit fees, to the employer.

The standard work visa is valid for two years and is renewable subject to terms and conditions set by the visa-issuing authorities.

All you need to do is provide your passport-sized photograph and a passport copy. Just make sure that your passport is valid for six months, as that is a requirement for the visa to be issued.

2. Family visa

Those who are working in the UAE can also sponsor their immediate family members – spouse, children and parents – on their visa, as long as they fulfil the requirements for minimum salary and housing.

This is called the family visa and the cost of the visa, as well as the related health insurance, has to be paid for by the sponsor.

The duration of the visa issued for your family would be the same as your visa duration.

3. Investor visa

If you are a businessperson, an investor or property owner in the UAE, you can apply for the partner or investor visa, which can be valid for two or three years, depending on the sub-category under which you are eligible.

You can apply for this visa directly through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), or through a free zone, if your company is set up in one.

The eligibility requirements vary depending on the legal structure of the business and the emirate in which it is registered. Applicants are generally required to provide proof of ownership or investment in the company, along with the standard residence visa documents.

4. Green Visa

The Green Visa is a long-term residency visa, granted through self-sponsorship, which means that you can live and work in the UAE without needing a sponsor.

It is valid for five years and is renewable for the same term, as long as you meet the criteria for eligibility.

The visa option is available to freelancers, self-employed workers and skilled professionals, as well as specific categories of investors.

For a detailed guide on eligibility criteria and the process to apply for a Green Visa, click here.

5. Golden Visa

The Golden visa is a long-term residence visa – usually issued for a period of 10 years – which enables foreign talents to live, work or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits.

Doctors, investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes are among those eligible for the Golden visa.

The UAE’s Golden Visa also provides other benefits to visa holders, apart from the long-term residency advantage. For example, Golden Visa holders do not have their visa automatically annulled if they stay out of the UAE for more than six months straight. Similarly, if you are travelling outside the UAE and lose your passport, you can still return to the UAE without getting your passport reissued, if you are a Golden Visa holder.

Since 2021, Dubai alone has issued over 370,000 residencies to Golden visa holders and their families, from different categories.

Also read: UAE Golden Visa for content creators: Who can apply, eligibility rules and how to get it

6. Retirement visa

For residents aged 55 years and above, the UAE also offers a five-year retirement visa, as long as the residents meet certain investment or earning criteria to be eligible.

For a retiree to be eligible for the retirement visa, they need to prove work history for 15 years or longer (in or outside the UAE).

Additionally, they must fulfil one of the following two conditions:

To apply for a visa from Dubai, the annual fixed income must not be less than AED 240,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies, whether the income source is inside or outside the country, according to the UAE’s official government website – u.ae.

7. Blue Visa

The Blue Visa is a 10-year residence visa specifically for experts in environmental protection and sustainability.

First announced in 2024, as part of the UAE’s Year of Sustainability initiatives, it is designed to attract and retain global experts, researchers, and innovators who make exceptional contributions to environmental protection and sustainability.

The 10-year, self-sponsored residency aims to position the UAE as a leading hub for green technology and climate resilience while supporting long-term environmental and economic diversification.

It is available to environmental experts, researchers, scientists, innovators and members of international organisations who have demonstrated significant efforts in environmental conservation and climate action. For a detailed guide on who is eligible, what the application process is and the visa fees, click here.

8. Student visa

A student visa is a residence permit that allows students to live and study in Dubai for the duration of their course. The visa is valid for one year and must be renewed annually until the student completes the programme.

The student visa process in Dubai is managed by the admitting university or licensed educational institution, and requirements vary, based on whether you are an international student arriving in the country for the first time, a UAE resident moving to a new institution, or a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) national.

For a detailed guide, click here.

9. Freelance visa

The freelance visa is designed for self-employed professionals working across sectors such as media, education, technology, design and consulting.

You can apply for a freelance visa either through the economic department in your emirate, or a free zone authority operating in the UAE. The visa is issued for two to five years, and the eligibility criteria vary, depending on your category of work.

10. Remote work visa

If you are living in the UAE, but your employer is based in another country and offers you remote work options, you can apply for the remote work or virtual work visa, which is valid for one year.

Applicants generally need to provide:

Applications can be submitted through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or, for Dubai, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).