Freelancer Visa in the UAE in 2025

For many independent professionals, the UAE is a practical jurisdiction in which to formalise their status: clear residency rules, a developed business environment and a predictable personal tax framework. A freelancer visa allows you to reside in the UAE and provide services as an individual, without immediately establishing a full company structure.

With a valid freelance permit and residency visa you can:

• reside in the UAE with an Emirates ID;
• work with several clients, in the UAE and abroad, within the scope of your licence;
• open and use local bank accounts for international payments;
• plan your tax position in a more structured way.

A freelancer visa is typically relevant for:

• marketing, media and creative specialists;
• IT and technology professionals;
• consultants, coaches and other providers of knowledge-based services.

It is generally less suitable where you intend to hire employees, trade in physical goods or bring in partners and investors. In such cases, a company structure in a free zone or on the mainland is usually more appropriate.

Although specific procedures vary between free zones, the main stages are similar:

In practice, most delays arise not from the formal steps themselves, but from incomplete, outdated or inconsistent documentation.

Eagle Eye assists freelancers and consultants by:

• assessing whether a freelance structure is appropriate in their case;
• selecting realistic options in the chosen emirate;
• reviewing documentation before submission;
• providing support throughout the permit and visa stages.

To help you prepare, we have compiled a concise guide summarising the core documents that are most frequently requested from applicants. It covers:

• personal and identification documents;
• professional documents and portfolio;
• financial and background documents.

Leave your name and e-mail address in the form on this page, and we will send you the PDF guide "7 Essential Documents for a Freelancer Visa in the UAE".