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 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 case is quoted individually and itemised, with government fees passed through at cost — figures below verified as of 2026-07.
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) | 2–4 weeks |
| 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 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?
- 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?
- 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, 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 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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