Corporate services / residency
The UAE investor visa
01_introduction
A freelance permit lets you work independently under a free zone permit without forming a full company or being employed. Paired with residency, it is the lightest route to working in the UAE as a single professional. The route is straightforward, but the permit and the visa are two separate things, and your activity determines which free zone should issue it.
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01
What is a freelance permit, and how does it differ from a company licence?
What is a freelance permit, and how does it differ from a company licence?
A freelance permit authorises one named individual to offer defined professional services under their own name. It is narrower than a company licence: no corporate structure, no shareholders, and a limited list of permitted activities.
For a single professional it is cheaper and quicker to hold. For anyone who needs to trade, hire, or invoice under a company, it is the wrong instrument.
02
Which free zones issue freelance permits, and which suits which activity?
Which free zones issue freelance permits, and which suits which activity?
Several free zones issue freelance permits, and they differ by the activities they cover, the professions they recognise, and cost. A media professional, a technology consultant and an education specialist are not always best served by the same zone.
We check the permitted-activity list against the actual work before the zone is chosen, not after.
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What does the freelance route cost, and what drives the cost?
What does the freelance route cost, and what drives the cost?
Cost is a function of the permit itself, the residency visa, and the medical and Emirates ID steps that accompany any residency. The permit fee varies by zone and by the number of activities.
Specific figures date quickly, so we confirm them against your chosen zone at the point of application.
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Does a freelance visa give the same residency rights as an employment visa?
Does a freelance visa give the same residency rights as an employment visa?
It provides UAE residency, an Emirates ID, and in most cases the ability to sponsor family, subject to the usual income conditions. It is a self-sponsored route rather than an employer-sponsored one.
For banking, a freelance residency is still a residency, and it widens your options meaningfully. See Non-resident banking for how residency changes a banking application.
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How we approach this
A freelance permit is simple to get and easy to get wrong. The permit and the visa are two separate things, and the activity decides who should issue it.
1. We match the activity to the issuer.
Free zones differ in which professions they recognise. We check the permitted-activity list against the actual work before the zone is chosen.
2. We run the permit and the residency in the right order.
They are two processes, not one. Sequenced properly, the visa is not held up by a permit technicality.
3. We tell you if a company is the better instrument.
If you need to trade goods, hire, or invoice as a company, we will say so. Converting later costs more than starting correctly.
4. We handle the residency end to end.
Entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, stamping, and dependants if family is being sponsored.
Book a consultation
Tell us the profession, the services you offer and whether family will be sponsored. We will identify the zone and confirm the route.
04_faq
Can I sponsor my family on a freelance visa?
In most cases, yes, subject to the standard income and housing conditions that apply to any resident sponsor. We confirm the conditions against your situation before the dependants' applications are prepared.
Can I hold a freelance permit and also be employed?
This depends on the terms of the employment and on the permit conditions. It is not automatically permitted, and we confirm it case by case rather than assume it.
Is a freelance permit enough to open a business bank account?
A freelance permit supports a personal account and, in defined cases, a sole-establishment account. It is narrower than a company for banking purposes. See Open bank account Dubai for what banks require.