Home / Visa Services / Freelance Visa DMCC
Work legally in Dubai as an independent professional — no employer, no company setup. The DMCC freelancer permit gives you a UAE residence visa, an Emirates ID and the right to invoice clients under your own name in media, tech, education and consulting.
A DMCC freelance permit lets you operate as a one-person business without forming a company or leasing an office. You get a freelancer licence tied to a single professional activity, and on top of it a 2-year UAE residence visa that you sponsor yourself.
It is the cleanest, lowest-overhead way for consultants, creatives and specialists to live in Dubai and bill UAE and international clients legally — without the cost of a full free-zone company or a corporate sponsor.
| Consideration | DMCC Freelance Permit | Full Free-Zone Company |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Solo professionals | Teams, trading, multiple activities |
| Office required | No | Flexi-desk or office |
| Activities | One professional activity | Multiple activities possible |
| Relative cost | Lower | Higher |
| Hire staff | Limited | Yes, within quota |
Not sure which fits? We’ll assess your activity, client base and budget and recommend the cheaper compliant option — free.
DMCC runs its freelance permit through FreelanceUAE. These are DMCC’s own published packages. The visa is only included from the Plus package up, which is the detail most comparison sites leave out.
| FreelanceUAE package | Price (AED) | What is included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 4,020 | 1-year freelance licence only (no residence visa) | Freelancers who already hold UAE residency |
| Plus | 9,136 | 1-year licence, residence visa and establishment card | Most new freelancers moving to Dubai |
| Premium | 14,136 | 2-year licence with visa and establishment card | Freelancers planning to stay longer-term |
Also budget for: the medical fitness test, Emirates ID and health insurance, which the visa requires. DMCC asks for your passport, CV and academic certificates. Eligible fields include media, education, technology, design and other creative and professional services. If you need staff, several activities or a trading licence, a DMCC service licence company is the better route. Compare costs on DMCC company setup cost.
Professionals in approved fields — media, technology, education, consulting and design among them. You apply as an individual under a single professional activity. We confirm your specific profession qualifies before you commit.
No. The freelance permit is self-sponsored, so you do not need an employer or a local partner, and no physical office or flexi-desk lease is required to hold the permit and visa.
The residence visa is typically valid for two years and is renewable as long as your freelance licence stays active. Your Emirates ID follows the same validity.
Yes, subject to meeting the minimum salary/income and housing criteria set by UAE immigration. We advise on whether your situation qualifies and handle dependent applications.
Yes. A freelance permit lets you invoice UAE and overseas clients legally under your licensed activity. We can also guide you on opening a business bank account to receive payments.
This service is part of our full DMCC business setup offering. You may also need DMCC visa services, cost & packages, licence renewal or bank account opening. Our team works from inside DMCC in Platinum Tower, JLT.
