First week
Time
1–3 weeks end to end
Cost
AED 1,500–4,000 (often employer-paid)
Difficulty
Hard
What to bring
Passport (6+ months validity)
Entry permit or status change (your sponsor arranges it)
Passport photos (white background)
Medical fitness test + biometrics appointments
Not needed: Attested documents for the visa itself (degrees matter for some job titles, not the stamp)
Your options
Your employer's PRO
The default route. They do it for you
Employer-paid
Companies process visas through their PRO (public relations officer). Your job is showing up to the medical and biometrics on time with your passport.
Amer centre (self-sponsored)
For freelancers and partner visas
AED 1,500–4,000
GDRFA-approved one-stop shops that type and file everything. Walk in, take a ticket, pay by card. Faster and friendlier than you'd expect.
Free-zone packages (e.g. virtual-work visa)
Remote workers and company-of-one setups
AED 5,000–15,000/yr
Free zones bundle a licence + visa quota. The remote-work visa is cheaper but needs proof of ~USD 3,500/month income.
Prices checked June 2026
Do it
- 1
Enter on the right permit
Your sponsor issues an entry permit, or you do a "status change" in-country. Don't start work on a tourist stamp.
- 2
Do the medical fitness test
Blood test and chest X-ray at an approved centre (Healthcare City is quick). VIP tiers cost AED 100 more and halve the wait.
- 3
Biometrics for the Emirates ID
Fingerprints and photo at an ICP centre or some Amer locations. Bring the application receipt and your passport.
- 4
Visa stamped, ID delivered
The residence visa attaches to your passport file electronically; the Emirates ID card arrives by courier about a week after biometrics.
Words you'll hear
Emirates ID
The resident ID card everything hangs off. Bank, lease, SIM, hospital desk. Guard it like a passport.
Amer centreAH-mer
Government-approved service centres that file your visa paperwork for a fee. Fast, English-speaking, take card.
PRO
Public relations officer. The person at your company whose actual job is chasing visas and stamps. Befriend them.
Common questions
Can I do it without leaving the UAE?
Yes — a "status change" converts a visit visa in-country, no flight needed. Your PRO or Amer centre files it as part of the process.
How long does the whole thing take?
With an employer driving, typically 1–3 weeks from medical to Emirates ID in hand. Self-sponsored routes add the permit step first.
What happens if I leave the UAE for a long stretch?
A residence visa lapses after six months continuously outside the country (golden visas excepted). Diarise it if you split your year.
Read more
Residence visa and Emirates ID, explained
Full guide · 4 min read
Full checklist tracking and task completion live in the Settli app for Dubai.