Updated 2026-07
UAE Visa Cost & Timeline Index 2026
Transparent numbers for UAE visas — the processing time for employment, investor, Golden, Green, dependent, renewal and cancellation visas, plus eligibility thresholds and verified government figures.
A Dubai employment visa completes in 3–7 business days, an investor visa in 5–10 days, and a renewal in 3–5 days. Government fees vary by MOHRE company category (work permit AED 250–3,450, official per u.ae) and route. The Golden Visa is open to Dubai property investors with AED 2M in property; a mortgaged property is accepted with a bank no-objection letter (DLD). Every case is quoted individually and itemised, with government fees passed through at cost — figures below verified as of 2026-07; the Golden Visa rules were re-checked against DLD and GDRFA Dubai on 2026-10-25.
Visa Timelines — The Seven Types
| Visa type | Processing time |
|---|---|
| Employment visa (new) | 3–7 business days |
| Investor visa | 5–10 business days |
| Golden Visa (10-year) | 7–10 business days (DLD property route) |
| Green Visa (5-year) | 2–3 weeks |
| Dependent visa | 5–10 business days |
| Visa renewal | 3–5 business days |
| Visa cancellation | 2–5 business days |
Eligibility Thresholds & Rules
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Visa — property investor threshold | AED 2,000,000 in one or more properties | Mortgage accepted with a bank no-objection letter (DLD, GDRFA Dubai) |
| 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?
- Government fees vary by MOHRE company category — the work permit alone is AED 250–3,450 (official, u.ae) — plus medical, Emirates ID and stamping. ZETUP quotes each case individually, itemised in writing, with government fees passed through at cost.
- How much does an investor visa cost in Dubai?
- Processed in 5–10 business days through your own company sponsorship. Government fees vary by route and category; ZETUP quotes each case individually with government fees itemised at cost.
- What is the Golden Visa property threshold in 2026?
- In Dubai, property investors qualify with one or more properties worth AED 2,000,000 or more. A mortgaged property is accepted with a bank no-objection letter stating the amount paid and the balance (DLD), and GDRFA Dubai places a lien on the property. DLD's property-investor service takes 7–10 business days and lists AED 9,884.75 in government fees for the 10-year permit.
- 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, quoted individually with government fees itemised at cost.
- How much does a family (dependent) visa cost in Dubai?
- Processed in 5–10 business days per dependent. The sponsoring employee typically needs a salary of AED 4,000+, plus a tenancy contract (Ejari) and health insurance. Costs are quoted individually with government fees itemised at cost.
- How long does it take to cancel a UAE visa?
- 2–5 business days through MOHRE and GDRFA. After cancellation, the grace period before you must exit or re-status is category-based (30/60/90/180 days, official u.ae/ICP).
- 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?
- Renewals process in 3–5 business days. Residence visas run 2–3 years; ZETUP sends renewal reminders 60 days before expiry and quotes each renewal individually with government fees itemised at cost.
Notes & Methodology
- ZETUP does not publish flat visa prices — every case is quoted individually, itemised in writing, with government fees passed through at cost. Government fees vary by nationality, MOHRE company category (work permit AED 250–3,450) and free-zone vs mainland route; see our Government Fees reference for the verified figures.
- The Golden Visa government fee depends on the category. For the property route, the Dubai Land Department publishes AED 9,884.75 for the investor's 10-year permit (medical, Emirates ID, residency, DLD and administrative fees) and a 7–10 business-day service time; other categories are priced on the GDRFA Dubai and ICP service pages.
- 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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