UAE Visa Fees 2026: Complete Government Fee Tables

UAE visa fees are one of the most searched, and most misunderstood, costs in UAE immigration planning. Government fee tables look deceptively simple, but the total you actually pay includes Emirates ID, medical test, typing centre charges, and sometimes attestation costs that can push the real total 40-80% above the headline figure. This guide maps every major fee category for 2026, breaks down each component, and shows you how to build a realistic budget before you apply.

TL;DR: Golden Visa costs AED 4,000-5,500 per applicant in government fees (plus ~AED 600-900 for Emirates ID and medical). Green Visa and Retirement Visa run AED 2,500-4,000. Employment visas cost AED 1,000-2,500 with employers often covering part of the total. Tourist visas range from AED 100-1,000 depending on duration and entry type. Always add Emirates ID, medical test, and typing centre fees to any estimate.

What are UAE visa government fees in 2026?

UAE visa government fees in 2026 are the ICP and GDRFA charges for tourist, employment, Green, Golden, retirement, and family permits. Headline ranges start at AED 100 for a 30-day tourist visa and reach AED 4,000-5,500 for a 10-year Golden Visa main applicant. Always add Emirates ID and medical before you lock a budget.

Visa Category	Validity	Government Fee Range (AED)
Tourist, 30-day single entry	30 days	100-200
Tourist, 60-day single entry	60 days	200-350
Tourist, 90-day single entry	90 days	350-500
Tourist, 5-year multiple entry	5 years	1,000
Transit visa	48-96 hours	50-100
Employment visa (2-year residency)	2 years	1,000-2,500
Family/dependent visa	1-2 years	1,000-2,000
Property investor visa (2-year)	2 years	1,500-2,500
Retirement visa (5-year)	5 years	2,500-4,000
Green Visa (5-year)	5 years	2,500-4,000
Golden Visa (10-year)	10 years	4,000-5,500
Remote work / Digital nomad visa	1 year	1,000-1,500
Student visa	Study duration	500-1,200
Mission / business visa	30-90 days	300-700

Figures are approximate mid-2026 government fee ranges. Fees vary by emirate (GDRFA Dubai vs ICP), entry route (new entry vs status change), and quota category for employment visas. Verify current schedules at icp.gov.ae before applying.

Invest Gulf budgeting note for relocation planners: treat the table as a floor, not a quote. Families who model only the Golden Visa stamp often understate Emirates ID, medical, and typing by AED 600-1,200 per person within the first 30 days.

How much do UAE tourist and visit visas cost?

UAE tourist visa fees in this market typically range from AED 100-200 for a 30-day single entry up to AED 1,000 for a 5-year multiple-entry permit. Airlines and agencies often add surcharges on top of ICP rates. Invest Gulf planning treats a 90-day visa plus one extension as about 180 days before residency is required.

Single-entry tourist visas

Duration	Approximate Government Fee (AED)
30-day single entry	100-200
60-day single entry	200-350
90-day single entry	350-500

1. Confirm nationality eligibility on ICP or airline channels.
2. Budget the government band plus agency markup.
3. Plan one extension if you need closer to 180 days total.

Multiple-entry tourist visas

Duration	Approximate Government Fee (AED)
1-year multiple entry	500-700
5-year multiple entry	1,000

The 5-year multiple-entry visa is popular with frequent business travellers and property investors who visit regularly but do not yet hold residency. Each permitted stay is capped at 90 consecutive days.

Transit visas

Duration	Approximate Government Fee (AED)
48-hour transit	50
96-hour transit	100

Many nationalities receive free 48-hour or 96-hour transit access through Dubai airport without a formal visa depending on passport. Check ICP or Emirates/flydubai transit policy for your nationality.

What fees make up a UAE residency visa bill?

A UAE residency visa bill in this market typically includes entry permit or status change (AED 500-600 when applicable), residency stamping (AED 500-1,200), Emirates ID (AED 270-370), medical fitness (AED 300-500), plus knowledge and innovation dirham surcharges. Invest Gulf checklists show status-change routes often cut AED 500-600 versus a fresh entry permit.

Checklist for a complete residency total:

• Entry permit or status-change fee
• Residence stamping
• Emirates ID card years
• Medical fitness clinic fee
• Typing centre service charge (AED 50-200)

How much does a UAE Golden Visa cost in 2026?

A UAE Golden Visa for a main applicant typically costs AED 4,000-5,500 in government fees for the 10-year track. That band covers entry or status change, stamping near AED 1,000-1,200, Emirates ID around AED 370 for 10 years, and medical near AED 300-500. Dependents add roughly AED 1,000-3,000 each.

For a complete application walkthrough and document checklist, see Golden Visa Application Step by Step.

Stage	Component	Approximate Fee (AED)
1	Entry permit (or status change)	500-600
2	ICP/GDRFA service fee	100-150
3	Knowledge dirham	10 per transaction
4	Innovation dirham	10 per transaction
5	Medical fitness test (clinic)	300-500
6	Residency stamping	1,000-1,200
7	Emirates ID (10-year card)	370
8	Emirates ID service fee	30-50
Total, main applicant		~4,000-5,500

Insider tip: Ask your PRO to itemise Emirates ID years and medical clinic separately on the invoice. Invest Gulf clients who accepted a single “all-in Golden” line often discovered AED 800-1,500 of clinic and ID charges billed later, after the 10-year stamp was already approved.

Dependent fees (spouse, children) run approximately AED 1,000-3,000 each depending on age and dependent category. The Golden Visa does not include the 4% DLD transfer fee paid at property purchase; that is a separate one-off registration cost. Optional PRO fees of AED 2,000-8,000 sit outside the government total.

Golden Visa government fees for a main applicant in mid-2026 typically land between AED 4,000 and AED 5,500 when you add entry or status change, residency stamping near AED 1,000-1,200, a 10-year Emirates ID near AED 370, medical fitness near AED 300-500, and the small knowledge and innovation dirham surcharges on each ICP transaction. Dependents are billed separately at roughly AED 1,000-3,000 each, so a couple with two school-age children can see family government totals near AED 8,000-14,000 before any PRO package. Property buyers should also keep the 4% DLD transfer fee outside this visa line; it is a purchase cost, not an immigration stamp. Build a 30-day cash buffer of at least AED 1,000 per person for typing centres, reprints, and clinic retests if biometrics fail the first pass.

What are Green Visa government fees in 2026?

Green Visa government fees in this market typically range from AED 2,500-4,000 for a 5-year residency, depending on emirate channel and subcategory. Freelancer, self-employed, and skilled-worker tracks share similar stamp bands but differ on documents. Invest Gulf budgets still add AED 270-370 for Emirates ID and AED 300-500 for medical.

Green Visa item	Approximate AED
Government residency band	2,500-4,000
Emirates ID	270-370
Medical fitness	300-500
Typing centre	50-200

Green Visa dependent sponsorship is available but more limited than the Golden Visa. Verify current GDRFA or ICP rules on spouse and child inclusion before budgeting dependents for a 5-year plan.

1. Confirm subcategory (freelancer, self-employed, skilled).
2. Add ID and medical per person.
3. Recheck dependent rules the week you file.

What does a UAE employment visa cost in 2026?

A UAE employment visa in this market typically costs AED 1,000-2,500 in government fees for a 2-year work residency, before Emirates ID and medical. MOHRE work permit fees of AED 250-750 vary by company quota category A through D. Invest Gulf notes many employers cover part or all of these charges under labour rules.

Component	Approximate AED
MOHRE work permit	250-750
Entry permit	500-600
Residence stamping	500-800
Emirates ID	~270
Medical test	300-500

1. Confirm which line items HR covers in writing.
2. Ask for the company Emiratisation category, because it shifts MOHRE fees.
3. Keep AED 500-800 personal float for ID and clinic if not sponsored.

How much are UAE family and dependent visa fees?

UAE family and dependent visa fees in this market typically range from AED 500-1,500 per child and AED 1,000-2,000 for a spouse. Parent dependents often cost AED 1,500-2,500. Invest Gulf also budgets medical (AED 300-500) and Emirates ID (AED 270) per person within 30 days.

Visa type	Approximate Government Fee (AED)
Spouse dependent	1,000-2,000
Child dependent (per child)	500-1,500
Parent dependent	1,500-2,500

Golden Visa holders face no salary threshold for family sponsorship under current published rules, but still pay per-person medical and ID fees within 14 to 30 days of filing.

1. List every dependent needing medical.
2. Confirm salary rules if the sponsor is on employment residency.
3. Keep AED 570-870 float per person for ID and clinic.

What are UAE property investor visa fees?

UAE property investor visa fees in this market typically fall between AED 1,500 and AED 2,500 for a 2-year residency, separate from DLD transfer costs. Invest Gulf still adds Emirates ID near AED 270-370 and medical near AED 300-500. Confirm GDRFA criteria for foreign buyers before any deposit.

Cost line	Approximate AED
Investor residency government band	1,500-2,500
Emirates ID + medical	570-870
Typing / PRO (optional)	50-8,000

• Title deed or SPA evidence as required
• Medical and biometrics after approval
• Separate Golden Visa track if you qualify at AED 2M property

What do retirement and remote work visas cost?

Retirement and remote work visas in this market typically cost AED 2,500-4,000 and AED 1,000-1,500 respectively in mid-2026 planning totals. Invest Gulf treats the Remote Work fee near AED 611 as incomplete until insurance of AED 500-2,000 is added. Neither track upgrades to Golden residency automatically.

Remote Work Visa (1-year)

Component	Approximate Fee (AED)
Application processing fee	611
Health insurance (mandatory)	500-2,000
Estimated total	~1,000-1,500

The Remote Work Visa requires proof of employment with a non-UAE company and a minimum monthly income threshold. It is renewable for another 12 months in many cases but does not automatically lead to permanent residency.

1. Budget insurance before you submit.
2. Track the 12-month renewal window.
3. Do not assume a Golden upgrade path.

How much does Emirates ID cost in 2026?

Emirates ID fees in this market typically cost AED 270 for shorter residencies and about AED 370 for a 10-year Golden Visa card, plus AED 30-50 in service fees. Invest Gulf budgets the ID as a separate ICP line from residency stamping, even inside “all-in” PRO quotes.

Card term	Approximate AED
Standard residency years	270
10-year Golden Visa card	370
Service fee	30-50

1. Match card years to visa validity.
2. Collect biometrics only at approved centres.
3. Keep the payment receipt for renewals 2 years later.

What is the UAE visa medical test fee?

The UAE visa medical fitness test in this market typically costs AED 300-500 per person at approved clinics, covering blood work near AED 100-150 and chest X-ray near AED 100-150. Invest Gulf allows 1-3 working days for ICP upload and budgets a second AED 300-500 if a retest is required.

Test component	Approximate fee (AED)
Blood test	100-150
Chest X-ray	100-150
Clinic processing fee	50-200
Total	~300-500

Results are uploaded directly to the ICP system; you do not receive a paper certificate to carry to your typing centre appointment.

1. Book only approved clinics.
2. Allow 1-3 working days before typing.
3. Keep the clinic receipt for retests.

What are typing centre and PRO service charges?

Typing centre charges in this market typically add AED 50-200 per UAE visa transaction, while full PRO packages often run AED 2,000-8,000 for residency files. Invest Gulf treats both as non-government costs. Families filing four dependents can see typing alone reach AED 200-800.

Service	Approximate AED
Typing centre per transaction	50-200
PRO / consultant residency package	2,000-8,000
Translation / attestation bundle	200-1,500

• Ask whether Emirates ID and medical are included
• Require a written fee schedule before payment
• Keep WhatsApp approvals with timestamps

Should you budget for a PRO or immigration consultant?

A PRO or immigration consultant in this market is optional for simple employment files but useful for Golden or multi-dependent cases where one reject can waste AED 1,000-2,000. Invest Gulf sees packages of AED 2,000-8,000 buy queue management, not approval. DIY via ICP still works with complete documents.

Scenario	PRO useful?
Employer-sponsored single applicant	Often no
Golden Visa + 3 dependents	Often yes
Status change with prior overstay risk	Yes, specialist

Red flag: any agent who refuses to separate government fees from their margin in writing.

What is the all-in cost by UAE visa type?

All-in UAE visa cost in this market means government fees plus Emirates ID, medical, typing, and any PRO, typically 40-80% above the headline stamp. Invest Gulf models a Golden main applicant near AED 5,000-7,000 all-in. Employment files can stay near AED 1,500-3,500 when HR pays MOHRE lines.

Visa type	Gov. band (AED)	Realistic all-in (AED)
Tourist 30-day	100-200	150-400
Employment 2-year	1,000-2,500	1,500-3,500
Green 5-year	2,500-4,000	3,200-5,500
Golden 10-year	4,000-5,500	5,000-7,000+

Case study planning with Invest Gulf: model the main applicant first, then multiply medical and ID by household size before you compare Dubai Marina rent savings against visa cash needs for the first 60 days.

1. Freeze government bands from ICP/GDRFA.
2. Multiply ID + medical by headcount.
3. Add 15-25% contingency for typing and attestation.

Do Dubai and Abu Dhabi charge the same visa fees?

Dubai and Abu Dhabi visa fees in this market are largely aligned through ICP, but GDRFA Dubai still adds small service differences of roughly AED 10-150 per transaction. Invest Gulf budgets the same AED bands nationwide, then confirms exact totals in-app. Knowledge and innovation dirham charges apply on most filings within 30 days.

Channel	Where used	Budget tip
GDRFA Dubai	Dubai residency files	Confirm in GDRFA app
ICP	Abu Dhabi and other emirates	Confirm on icp.gov.ae

1. Use one channel per application file.
2. Budget AED 10-150 variance for service lines.
3. Re-quote fees the week you pay, not the month you research.

Does the Golden Visa fee include the Emirates ID?

No. The AED 4,000-5,500 government fee range quoted for the Golden Visa does not always include the Emirates ID, which is a separate ICP transaction. Some PRO packages bundle everything; always ask what is included before paying.

Are visa fees refundable if my application is rejected?

Entry permit fees and most residency application fees are non-refundable once the application has been submitted and processing has begun. Medical test fees paid to clinics are similarly non-refundable. If rejection is due to a documentation error rather than eligibility failure, you can reapply, but you pay fees again from the entry permit stage.

Can I pay UAE visa fees online?

ICP Smart Services allows online payment for most applications via credit or debit card. GDRFA Dubai has its own smart app which also accepts online payments. Typing centres additionally accept cash and card at their physical counters. For employer-sponsored employment visas, payment is made through the employer’s MOHRE account.

Are there discounts for applying multiple visas at once?

Batch corporate applications processed through an employer’s MOHRE and ICP accounts may attract slightly reduced per-unit service fees, particularly for high-volume employers. There is no standard public discount scheme for individual applicants applying for multiple family members simultaneously; each application is processed and billed separately.

How should you budget visa fees for common applicant scenarios?

Visa fee budgeting for common UAE scenarios in this market typically starts with the government band, then adds AED 570-870 per person for Emirates ID and medical. Invest Gulf tells a single Golden applicant to hold AED 6,000-8,000 liquid. A family of four on employment dependents often needs AED 6,000-12,000 before PRO fees.

Scenario	Cash to hold (AED)	Notes
Solo employment	1,500-3,500	Confirm HR coverage
Couple Green Visa	6,000-10,000	Two medicals + IDs
Golden + 2 children	10,000-18,000	Dependents separate

1. List every person who needs medical and ID.
2. Separate DLD 4% property costs from visa cash.
3. Verify icp.gov.ae or GDRFA the week you pay.

All-in budgeting for UAE visas in 2026 works best when you treat government fee tables as the floor and then layer Emirates ID, medical fitness, typing centres, and optional PRO support as separate lines. For a main Golden Visa applicant, that usually means AED 4,000-5,500 in government charges plus roughly AED 600-900 for ID and clinic work, with dependents adding AED 1,000-3,000 each before any consultant package of AED 2,000-8,000. Employment visas look cheaper at AED 1,000-2,500 government-side, yet families still underestimate four medical appointments and four Emirates ID cards within the first month. Tourist stays remain the lightest line at AED 100-1,000 depending on duration, but frequent visitors who bounce on 90-day caps often spend more annually than a single Green Visa filing. Keep a written checklist, confirm channels (GDRFA Dubai versus ICP), and leave a 15-25% contingency above your spreadsheet total for reprints and attestation.

Related reading: Emirates ID Application.

Related reading: Golden Visa vs Dubai Residence Visa · UAE Green Visa (2026) · UAE Employment Visa Process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a UAE Golden Visa cost in 2026? +

Government fees for the 10-year Golden Visa total approximately AED 4,000-5,500 for the main applicant. This covers the entry permit (~AED 500-600), residence stamping (~AED 1,000-1,200), Emirates ID (AED 270-370 depending on years), medical fitness test (~AED 300-500), and service/knowledge fees. Dependent fees are charged separately at roughly AED 1,000-3,000 each. Optional PRO or consultant fees of AED 2,000-8,000 are not included in the government total.

What is the UAE Green Visa fee for 2026? +

Green Visa government fees in 2026 range from approximately AED 2,500-4,000 for a 5-year residency. The total depends on your emirate of application (Dubai GDRFA vs Abu Dhabi ICP), the specific Green Visa sub-category (freelancer, self-employed, or skilled worker), and whether the entry permit or status change route applies. Add AED 270-370 for Emirates ID and AED 300-500 for the medical fitness test.

How much does a UAE tourist visa cost? +

Standard UAE tourist visa fees in 2026: 30-day single-entry approximately AED 100-200; 60-day single-entry approximately AED 200-350; 90-day single-entry approximately AED 350-500; 5-year multiple-entry approximately AED 1,000. Prices vary by issuing channel, airlines, online platforms, and travel agencies may add service surcharges on top of government rates.

What is the UAE employment visa fee in 2026? +

UAE employment visa government fees total approximately AED 1,000-2,500 for a 2-year work residency. Components include the work permit issued by MOHRE (~AED 250-750 depending on company quota category), entry permit (~AED 500-600), and residence stamping (~AED 500-800). Emirates ID (~AED 270) and medical test (~AED 300-500) are paid separately. Many employers cover all or part of these fees as required by UAE labour law.

Are UAE visa fees the same in Dubai and Abu Dhabi? +

Government fee schedules are largely aligned between emirates but can differ slightly. Dubai processes through GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs), while Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other emirates process through ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security). Service fees, knowledge fees, and innovation dirham charges may create small variations. Always confirm fees at icp.gov.ae or the GDRFA Dubai smart app before applying.

What hidden costs should I budget for beyond government visa fees? +

Key additional costs beyond official government fees: Emirates ID (AED 270-370, often overlooked in fee estimates); medical fitness test (AED 300-500); typing centre service charge (AED 50-200 per transaction); PRO or immigration consultant (AED 2,000-8,000 for residency); translation and document attestation (AED 200-1,500 depending on documents); health insurance (AED 700-5,000+ depending on plan and emirate requirements). Total all-in cost can be 40-80% higher than the listed government fee alone.

How often are UAE visa fees updated? +

UAE immigration fee schedules are set by ICP and GDRFA and are revised periodically without fixed annual cycles. Major fee revisions have occurred in 2019 (Golden Visa launch), 2021 (employment visa reform), and 2022 (expanded Golden and Green Visa categories). The 'knowledge dirham' and 'innovation dirham' service surcharges are added on top of base fees for most transactions. Verify current rates at icp.gov.ae or through a licensed immigration consultant before budgeting.