Quick Answer
An entry permit is the short-term electronic authorisation that lets a person legally enter the UAE to begin a residency process. It is issued before the residency visa is stamped and is usually valid for 60 days from issue.
Almost every UAE residency journey starts with an entry permit. Whether you are joining a company on an employment visa, being sponsored as a dependent, or setting up as an investor, GDRFA or ICP first issues an entry permit that authorises you to enter the country (or, if you are already inside on a visit visa, to change status without leaving).
The entry permit is a digital document with a defined validity — commonly 60 days from issue and a permitted stay window once you enter. During that window you complete the in-country steps: medical-fitness test, biometrics, Emirates ID application, and finally the residency-visa stamp. If you do not complete those steps before the permit expires, it is cancelled and the process restarts.
Government fees for an entry permit typically run AED 500–1,200 depending on the visa category and whether normal or express processing is used. ZETUP PRO applies for entry permits, tracks their validity, and schedules the follow-on medical and biometric steps so the permit is never wasted.
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