Search for a UAE visa price and you’ll get a different number on every site. That’s not you doing something wrong — published quotes genuinely vary by a factor of ten depending on what’s bundled in and who’s quoting. Here’s what actually goes into the number, and realistic ranges for each visa type.
Read this first
Why every quote looks different
A visa cost is never one fee — it’s a bundle, and different sites quote different parts of it. The components that make up almost every residence visa:
- Entry permit / visa issuance fee — the government charge itself
- Medical fitness test — roughly AED 350–750
- Emirates ID — roughly AED 370–400 for a 2-year card, more for longer terms (see our Emirates ID guide for the full fee table)
- Mandatory health insurance — basic plans from roughly AED 600–1,200/year; required before any residence visa can be issued
- ICP Smart Services fee — a new AED 100 charge added in 2026, on top of the above
A quote that only shows the entry permit fee looks a fraction of one that includes insurance and Emirates ID — same visa, wildly different headline number. Always ask what’s included before comparing two quotes.
Employment visa: usually not your cost at all
Under UAE labour law, your employer is legally required to cover your employment visa costs — work permit, medical test, Emirates ID and health insurance. If a job offer asks you to pay for your own employment visa, or deducts it from your salary, that’s a red flag worth raising with MOHRE before you accept. See Jobs & Careers for other contract red flags.
For budgeting purposes — if you’re the employer, or comparing a self-sponsored route — a standard 2-year employment visa all-in typically runs roughly AED 2,000–5,000, depending on company category and whether insurance is basic or upgraded.
Residence visa by duration
| Visa | Indicative all-in cost (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2-year residence visa | 3,500 – 7,000 | Without insurance often quoted near the bottom of this range; with insurance, nearer the top |
| 3-year residence visa | 3,700 – 7,700 | Where offered — not every route has a 3-year option |
| Green Visa (5-year) | 3,000 – 5,000 | Government fee only — medical test, Emirates ID and insurance add on top |
| Golden Visa (10-year) | 5,900 – 7,700 | Government fee range across sources; property and business-owner routes carry additional thresholds |
| Family / dependent visa | 2,200 – 5,500 per person | Each dependant needs their own health insurance on top |
| Renewal (any type) | 3,000 – 7,000 | Similar to initial issuance; inside-country renewal vs new entry permit can shift this |
These ranges are synthesised from multiple current sources, which genuinely disagree with each other — treat them as a planning range, not a quote. The gap between the low and high end is almost always insurance tier and whether Emirates ID is bundled in.
What changed in 2026
- ICP Smart Services fee (AED 100) added across residence visa applications and renewals
- Property investor visa threshold scrapped for sole owners — as of spring 2026, the AED 750,000 minimum property value for the 2-year investor visa was removed for sole owners; joint owners still need at least AED 400,000 each. See our property investor visa guide for the joint-ownership rule in detail.
- Overstay fines unified at a flat AED 50/day across all seven emirates as of February 2026. See Visit Visa Rules 2026.
The cheapest route in, if you have no UAE ties yet
If you’re not being sponsored by an employer or family member, the Virtual Working Programme (remote work visa) is currently the lowest-cost self-sponsored entry point — its government fee was cut in March 2026, bringing the reported all-in first-year cost to roughly AED 1,535–2,725 including the medical test, Emirates ID and insurance. It requires proof of remote income rather than a local job or sponsor.
Common questions
Why do quotes for the same visa vary so much?
Mainly what’s bundled: some quotes are the government fee alone, others include medical test, Emirates ID, insurance and agent service charges. A quote that looks cheap may simply be missing pieces you’ll pay for separately later.
Does my employer really have to pay for my visa?
Yes, for a standard employment visa. UAE labour law places this cost on the employer. If you’re asked to pay or it’s deducted from your salary, that’s reportable to MOHRE.
Is a longer visa cheaper per year?
Often, yes. A 10-year Golden Visa costs more upfront than a 2-year visa, but spread over its full term the cost per year of residency is frequently lower. Worth comparing if you qualify for a longer-duration route.
Where do I get the exact current fee?
ICP (federal) or GDRFA (Dubai) publish the current government fee schedule directly. Agency and typing-centre quotes add their own service charges on top of that base figure — ask for the government fee and the service charge as separate line items.
Published 29 August 2026. Visa fees are reported inconsistently across sources and change periodically — the ranges above are a planning tool, not a quote. Confirm the exact current fee for your specific case at icp.gov.ae or gdrfad.gov.ae before applying or comparing offers.
Related Guides
- Visas & Residency — which visa route actually fits your situation
- The 180-Day Rule — how long you can stay outside the UAE before a visa is cancelled
- Property Investor Visas — the ownership-share rule, updated for the 2026 threshold change
- Your First 30 Days — where the visa sits in the arrival sequence