Dubai Freelance Visa
Home / Dubai Freelance Visa
Dubai Freelance Visa, UAE
The concept of a full-time work is changing at a fast pace. The creative and skilled individuals would now consider working on their free times rather than in a conventional day/night work environment. Thanks to the internet and digital boom that helped an individual carry out his/ her work irrespective of the location. The greatest benefit of freelancing is the ease of doing work anytime, anywhere. Here freelancer becomes his own boss and enjoys the commanding position to set the time of work. A freelancer like a writer or a musician can even work in a moving train for your information! The success of a freelancer depends on multiple factors like expertise, quality of work, experience, reputation, remarks of the client, etc.
Dubai is a place of great prospects and excellent opportunities for business development; hence more and more people consider securing a freelance visa in Dubai, UAE to live and work there. Being an innovation and technology hub, professionals from diverse fields work in Dubai as a freelancer acquiring residence visa. You must be officially registered as a freelancer in one of the free zones to get a freelance residence permit in Dubai. For that, you need to secure a freelancer license in Dubai first. Availing a freelancer residence permit provides several opportunities in Dubai. By acquiring a Dubai freelance visa, you are legally entitled to live and work in the Emirate. Also, you can bring your family to the country and enjoy all the benefits under the freelance visa.
Rules regarding attaining a UAE citizenship is stringent and in no way an expatriate can attain the citizenship of the UAE. Unlike UAE citizenship, the resident permit/ visa is easily attainable for expatriates. Attaining a resident visa is nearly the same as enjoying the UAE citizen’s privileges. Here are the scenarios in which a foreigner gets the UAE residence visa.
- Residence permit for students – International students may apply for a Residence Permit when they get admission to a University. A student Residence Permit is issued here.
- Residence permit for investors – Foreign investors and entrepreneurs are granted Residence permit.
- Residence permit for employees - When it comes to employment, Residence permit is granted to the employee.
- Residence permit issued for property buyers – Individuals who invest in the real estate of Dubai in the form of house purchase that amounts to greater than AED 1 million.
- Freelancer Residence permit – A freelancer is granted a Residence permit after he/she attains a Freelancer license.
- Family permit – An investor or a freelancer may apply for a Residence permit for the members of the same family.
The term Dubai freelance visa refers to a residence permit in Dubai, which gives you the eligibility to live and work in the Emirates while getting resident permits for your dependents or family members. To get the freelance visa in Dubai, first, you should secure a freelancer license. Several Free zones in Ras-Al-Khaimah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai provide Freelance Licenses. Professionals in media, education and technology domains are allowed to apply for a Dubai Freelance License. A Freelance License lets these professionals offer their valuable help, support and service as consultants in the UAE. Issuance of Freelance license is part of the UAE government’s meticulously planned decision to attract expertise in different sectors of the UAE. Many free zones offer Freelance License and some of them are listed below:
- Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP)
- Dubai Internet City (DIC)
- Twofour54
- Ras Al Khaimah Economic Free Zone Authority (RAKEZ)
As already discussed only the individuals and professionals who belong to the education, technology and media sectors can apply for the Freelance license/Permit.
Education sector – Individuals who offer e-learning consultancy, conduct research, educational consultants, counsellors come under this category.
Technology sector – Many professionals who apply for the freelance license belong to the technology sector. Information technology, all sorts of web- based development, app development, data analytics and many others come under the category of the technology sector.
Media - artists, creative individuals, professionals who excel in the field of music and related streams, directors, writers, PR executives, print media professionals, social media analysts and many other creative professions come under Media.
Many creative professionals, particularly in the media sector, have benefitted from the launch of affordable freelance licenses. The Media and Entertainment free zone, Twofour54 based in Abu Dhabi has helped many young professionals establish themselves in the Production industry. Freelance licenses have helped not just the job-seeking individuals. It has helped the employers too. Here are some of the major benefits connected with hiring freelancing individuals to the workforce.
- Hiring freelancers help the business establishment in business expansion.
- The employers can cut down the cost of hiring full-time employees and the associated expenses. The associated expenses include the visa charges, medical insurance expenses, air tickets cost etc. When all these expenses add up, it becomes considerably huge.
- Hiring freelancers is more flexible compared to full-time employees. The employer needs to hire a freelancer only when there is a requirement.
- The employer can manage the cash flow more easily.
- Helps the employer to meet quick and bulk employee requirements.
- The employer may select from the vast pool of freelancers in order to pick the right candidate.
- The employer can get the desired workforce from all over the world.
The advantages of pursuing a freelance job is very obvious and here are they.
- A physical office is not needed for freelance ventures.
- The freelancers enjoy the flexibility in job timings.
- Freelancers may work irrespective of their location.
- Freelancers can cut the travel-cost by working from home. This helps the freelancers minimize their expenses and thereby increase profits.
- Freelancers have the freedom take up multiple assignments at the same time.
- A freelancer with time and effort can transform the freelancing venture in to a successful business.
- Freelancers can create a brand of their own.
- Being their own boss, freelancers enjoy better work-life balance.
When compared to the company registration formalities, obtaining a Dubai freelance license is rather simple. The freelance license fee connected with the issuance of the Freelance license is affordable too. In order to attain a Dubai freelance license, the license applicant is supposed to register in a relevant free zone jurisdiction. The Free zone must be selected based on the type of activity and jurisdiction. The license is issued by the concerned Free zone authority.
Here is how you should go about for a freelancing career.
- Get the appropriate application form for the purpose and fill it.
- Next is the procurement of documents like a passport(copy), educational certificates, necessary proofs and business plan.
- You are required to change the residence visa to freelance visa in order to acquire a freelance license. In order to accomplish this, the sponsor is supposed to sign a No-Objection certificate.
- Your banking history must be proved satisfactory. You may acquire the supporting certificate from your bank.
- You may have to submit other documents like CV, endorsement letter from your present or former employer etc.
- Select the appropriate free zone for registering your freelance license.
- Produce the filled application and passport copy before the free zone authority.
- The free zone authority will issue a confirmation letter. Return back the confirmation letter signed.
- Now it’s time for payment of fees connected with acquiring a Freelance permit.
- After signing the sponsorship contract, you may acquire the Freelance Permit and Visa.
- Wait for a period of 10 days for the license to be issued.
The validity of the freelance license has been extended to 2 years recently. When the validity ends, the license has to be renewed. The validity was 1 year previously.
The license fee varies with the free zone jurisdiction and the kind of activity. Twofour54 free zone offers the most affordable license fee. Various free zones and the corresponding license fees are listed below in the table.
| Free zone | License fees in AED |
|---|---|
| Fujairah free zone | 14,000 |
| UAQ free zone | 13,000 |
| Ajman free zone | 11,000 |
| D-Tech free zone | 7,500 |
| Twofour54 free zone | 2,500 |
Would you like to get a Dubai freelance visa? Need to register a Freelance license from any of the free zones based in the UAE? Are you a professional working in the technology, media or education field? Are you someone looking for a career-change to freelancing? If yes, get in touch with Kiltons Freelance Permit experts. Our experts will assist you to select the apt Free zone and accomplish all the formalities associated with acquiring a Freelance License in UAE.