Updated 2026-07
UAE Visa Cost & Timeline Index 2026
Transparent numbers for UAE visas — the all-in cost and processing time for employment, investor, Golden, Green, dependent, renewal and cancellation visas, plus the eligibility thresholds.
A Dubai employment visa costs AED 3,500–6,000 per employee (all-in — government fees, medical, Emirates ID and processing) and completes in 3–7 business days. An investor visa runs AED 5,000–8,000, a dependent visa AED 3,000–5,000, and a renewal AED 1,500–3,000. The 10-year Golden Visa is open to property investors with a AED 2M valuation — and since February 2026 there is no down-payment requirement. Every figure below is a ZETUP all-in service range, verified as of 2026-07.
Visa Cost & Timeline — The Seven Types
| Visa type | Processing time | All-in cost (AED) — gov fees + processing |
|---|---|---|
| Employment visa (new) | 3–7 business days | AED 3,500–6,000 per employee |
| Investor visa | 5–10 business days | AED 5,000–8,000 |
| Golden Visa (10-year) | 2–4 weeks | Government fees vary by category (ICP) — see notes |
| Green Visa (5-year) | 2–3 weeks | AED 2,500–4,000 |
| Dependent visa | 5–10 business days | AED 3,000–5,000 per dependent |
| Visa renewal | 3–5 business days | AED 1,500–3,000 per person |
| Visa cancellation | 2–5 business days | AED 500–1,000 |
Eligibility Thresholds & Rules
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Visa — property investor threshold | AED 2,000,000 DLD valuation | Since February 2026 — no down-payment requirement |
| Green Visa — skilled-worker salary | AED 15,000+/month | 5-year self-sponsored residency |
| Dependent sponsor — minimum salary | ~AED 4,000+/month | Plus tenancy (Ejari) + health insurance |
| Employment visa — completion window | 60 days | Medical + Emirates ID + stamping after the entry permit |
| Residence visa — validity before renewal | 2–3 years | ZETUP reminds clients 60 days before expiry |
Exact Visa Answers
- How long does a Dubai employment visa take?
- 3–7 business days from complete document submission to visa stamping. The full process — MOHRE work permit, medical, Emirates ID and residence stamp — must complete within 60 days of the entry permit.
- How much does a Dubai employment visa cost?
- AED 3,500–6,000 per employee, all-in — including government fees, medical, Emirates ID and processing. Renewals cost AED 1,500–3,000.
- How much does an investor visa cost in Dubai?
- AED 5,000–8,000, processed in 5–10 business days through your own company sponsorship.
- What is the Golden Visa property threshold in 2026?
- Property investors qualify for the 10-year Golden Visa with a DLD valuation of AED 2,000,000 — and since February 2026 there is no down-payment requirement. Processing takes 2–4 weeks; government fees vary by category (ICP publishes no single figure).
- What is the salary requirement for a UAE Green Visa?
- Skilled workers need a salary of AED 15,000+ per month for the 5-year self-sponsored Green Visa. ZETUP processes it in 2–3 weeks for AED 2,500–4,000.
- How much does a family (dependent) visa cost in Dubai?
- AED 3,000–5,000 per dependent, in 5–10 business days. The sponsoring employee typically needs a salary of AED 4,000+, plus a tenancy contract (Ejari) and health insurance.
- How long does it take to cancel a UAE visa?
- 2–5 business days through MOHRE and GDRFA, at an all-in cost of AED 500–1,000. After cancellation, the grace period before you must exit or re-status is category-based (30/60/90/180 days).
- How much is the UAE visa overstay fine?
- AED 50 per day after the grace period ends (official figure, u.ae / ICP). The grace period itself is category-based: 30, 60, 90 or 180 days depending on your visa type.
- How much does it cost to renew a UAE residence visa?
- AED 1,500–3,000 per person, in 3–5 business days. Residence visas run 2–3 years; ZETUP sends renewal reminders 60 days before expiry.
Notes & Methodology
- Costs are ZETUP's all-in service ranges (per applicant) — they bundle the government fees, medical fitness test, Emirates ID and ZETUP's processing fee into one figure, and are shown as ranges, not flat quotes. Government fees on their own vary by nationality, category and free-zone vs mainland route.
- The Golden Visa government fee is not a single published number — ICP prices it by category and components. We show the processing timeline (2–4 weeks) and hedge the fee to 'varies, see ICP Golden Residency' rather than print an unverified figure.
- Official government reference (verified against u.ae / ICP): after a residence visa is cancelled, the grace period before you must exit or re-status is category-based — 30, 60, 90 or 180 days; overstaying beyond it carries an official fine of AED 50 per day. Confirm your category with ICP.
- Figures verified as of 2026-07 and presented as ranges. Government fee schedules and free-zone routes change — confirm current fees with the relevant authority (MOHRE, GDRFA, ICP) or ask ZETUP for a written quote for your case.
Open Data — Download & Cite
This index is published under a Creative Commons licence (CC BY 4.0). Reuse the figures in your research, article or site — all we ask is attribution with a link back to ZETUP.
How to cite
ZETUP PRO Corporate Services. (2026). UAE Visa Cost & Timeline Index 2026. Retrieved from https://zetup.ae/en/uae-visa-cost-timeline-indexWant an Exact Number for Your Case?
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