United Arab Emirates

Visas and relocation: United Arab Emirates

Work residence, Green and Golden Residence, study, family, remote work and visits.

Official portal

UAE Government · ICP

Standard work visa

For ordinary employment the employer acts as sponsor. It starts the work permit and residence process; standard work residence is usually issued for two years and renewed if the conditions are met.

Who it is for

An offer from a licensed employer
A work permit under the applicable MOHRE or free-zone rules
Medical fitness and a security check

5 documents 4 steps

Documents and application steps

Green Residence

A five-year renewable residence without a local sponsor for skilled workers, freelancers, self-employed people, investors and partners.

Who it is for

Skilled worker: skill level 1–3, a bachelor's degree and a salary from AED 15,000 per month
Freelancer: a MOHRE permit and income from AED 360,000 over the previous two years, or proof of financial standing
Investor or partner: evidenced participation and the required licences

5 documents 4 steps

Documents and application steps

Virtual work residence

A one-year self-sponsored residence for remote work for an organisation outside the UAE. As of 2 August 2026 the official minimum salary is USD 3,500 per month or the equivalent.

Who it is for

Remote work for an organisation outside the UAE
A salary certificate from USD 3,500 per month
Health insurance and a fitness test

5 documents 4 steps

Documents and application steps

Study

A student is sponsored by an accredited university or college, or by a resident parent. Outstanding students can separately check their eligibility for Golden Residence.

Who it is for

Admission to an accredited institution
Sponsorship by the institution or by a qualifying parent
Medical fitness, insurance and the general residence conditions

5 documents 4 steps

Documents and application steps

Family residence

A resident may sponsor a spouse, unmarried daughters, sons under 25 and the dependants provided for. The official sponsor threshold is AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation.

Who it is for

The sponsor's valid residence
Income from AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation
An evidenced relationship; a medical examination for family members aged 18 and over

5 documents 4 steps

Documents and application steps

For your citizenship

What citizens of Russia and Kazakhstan need

The baseline document list is the same for everyone, but the visa regime, legalisation and translations depend on your citizenship. Below are the differences, checked against official sources.

Russia

checked 13.08.2026

No visa needed: 90 days in any 180

Under the bilateral visa-exemption agreement a Russian citizen enters with no prior formalities and may stay in the UAE for up to 90 days in total within any 180-day period. The window rolls: it is not a calendar half-year but the preceding 180 days at any moment.

UAE government portal

Prepare at home in advance

Police clearance certificate from the Russian Interior Ministry
Ordered through Gosuslugi or the Interior Ministry; issuance takes up to 30 days. Filing abroad usually requires an apostille and a sworn translation.
Russian Interior Ministry · criminal record certificate
Document attestation per UAE requirements
Diplomas, certificates and official statements are accepted after attestation in the manner the UAE prescribes. The chain of certification differs by document type and emirate — check it before ordering translations.
UAE government portal
Medical test and Emirates ID for residence
Residence for anyone aged 18 and over requires a medical fitness test, a security check and an Emirates ID. None of this applies to a short visa-free visit.
UAE government portal

Visa-free entry gives no right to work. Employment requires a permit and residence, arranged by the employer or the relevant programme.

Kazakhstan

checked 13.08.2026

No visa needed, up to 30 days

Under the Kazakhstan–UAE agreement in force since 10 March 2018, a Kazakhstani citizen enters without a visa and may stay for no more than 30 days from the date of entry. The passport must be valid for at least six months.

Ädilet legal information system

Prepare at home in advance

Police clearance certificate from Kazakhstan
Issued through eGov.kz or a public service centre. Filing abroad usually requires an apostille and a translation by a sworn translator of the destination country.
eGov.kz · criminal record information
Document attestation per UAE requirements
Diplomas, certificates and official statements are accepted after attestation in the manner the UAE prescribes. The chain of certification differs by document type and emirate — check it before ordering translations.
UAE government portal
Medical test and Emirates ID for residence
Residence for anyone aged 18 and over requires a medical fitness test, a security check and an Emirates ID. None of this applies to a short visa-free visit.
UAE government portal

The agreement expressly does not permit employment in the UAE on visa-free entry — working requires a separate permit and residence.

Mark what you are missing

Save the list to your account: mark each item as ready, missing or expired, and you will see how many documents are still to collect.

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