UAE (Dubai) digital nomad visa for your nationality
Key facts at a glance
Minimum income
€3,220/month
US$3,500/month for employees (lowered in January 2026 from the original US$5,000 launch figure); US$5,000/month for business owners. Proven with payslips and six months of bank statements.
Savings required
None set
No savings alternative is published; the monthly income test is the only financial route.
Maximum stay
Up to 1 year
Renewable
Processing time
About 2–4 weeks.
Application fee
US$287 application fee
plus UAE medical insurance, processing fees and Emirates ID (all-in costs reported around US$600 — confirm when applying).
Degree required
No
Income does the filtering
Full requirements
- Program
- Virtual Working Programme
- Minimum income
- €3,220 per month (US$3,500/month for employees (lowered in January 2026 from the original US$5,000 launch figure); US$5,000/month for business owners. Proven with payslips and six months of bank statements.)
- Savings
- No fixed requirement — No savings alternative is published; the monthly income test is the only financial route.
- Duration & renewal
- Up to 1 year. 1 year, renewable annually.
- Processing time
- About 2–4 weeks.
- Fees
- US$287 application fee, plus UAE medical insurance, processing fees and Emirates ID (all-in costs reported around US$600 — confirm when applying).
- Family
- You can sponsor your spouse and children on the visa, subject to the applicable salary thresholds and standard UAE family-sponsorship rules.
- Apply from abroad
- Yes — Apply online before traveling: via visitdubai.com and the GDRFA for Dubai, or through the ICA portal for Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates.
- Apply in country
- Yes — In-country applications are accepted — you do not need to be abroad to file. After entry-permit approval, complete your medical test and finalize the residence visa within the required window.
- Degree / experience
- Not required — No degree requirement; income, insurance and a valid passport are the gates.
- Remote work history
- Not officially specified — No fixed minimum is published beyond the income test; employees need a one-year employment contract and six months of bank statements (moved up from 3 months in January 2026), owners need one year of company ownership.
- Health insurance
- Required — must be valid for the full stay
Tax notes
The headline feature: 0% personal income tax in the UAE. Note the 9% federal corporate tax exists but does not hit salaried remote workers — it applies to businesses above the threshold. Your home-country tax obligations may still apply depending on your residency position; confirm with an advisor.
Tax rules are simplified here and change often. Confirm your position with a qualified tax advisor before making decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Sources & verification
- Official source: Visit Dubai — Virtual Working Programme (official application page) ↗
- Last verified: October 8, 2026
- Something changed? Report an error and we will review it against the official source.
Not legal advice. Visa rules change frequently and consulates interpret them differently. Always verify current requirements with the official consulate or immigration authority before applying.
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