Dubai: Reside in a different country, but wish you could live and work by the beach in Dubai? Visitors are welcome to do so, with the UAE’s one-year Virtual Work Visa.What is the Virtual Work Visa?If you’re a true digital nomad – someone who just requires an internet connection to do your job on your laptop or other device – then the Virtual Work Visa may be perfect for you.The programme was introduced in 2020 as part of the UAE Virtual Working Programme and has since expanded across all emirates. In Dubai, applications are processed by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs - Dubai (GDRFA). In all other emirates, applications are handled by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).How is this visa different from other visas?The Virtual Work Visa category allows remote professionals to live in the UAE while continuing to work for an employer or operate a business that is based outside the country. It is a self-sponsored visa, valid for one year, and is non-renewable, however, you can create an application for a new Virtual Work Visa once your previous visa has expired.Musa Dayani, a Dubai-based public relations officer, explained how the Virtual Work Visa differs from a Green Visa for freelancers. The key differentiator is that you are involved with remote work. He said: “This visa is for people who live in foreign countries, but are willing to stay and work temporarily in the UAE.”Moreover, unlike the Green Visa for freelancers, the Virtual Work Visa does not give you the right to work for companies based in Dubai or the UAE – your work must be for a non-UAE company.The program is specifically designed for remote employees, freelancers, and entrepreneurs, who want to experience Dubai’s global hub, or experience life in the other emirates, without needing to change jobs or set up a local business, according to Visit Dubai, the city’s official tourism website.Benefits of the Virtual Work VisaAccording to Invest in Dubai, the city’s official digital platform for businesses, here are the benefits you can expect from the Virtual Work Visa:One-year work visa, allowing residency in the UAE.No need for a UAE sponsor.Access to utilities and services: This includes banking and telecommunications services, the ability to rent accommodation, and acquire an Emirates ID.Unrestricted travel to and from the UAE: You can travel abroad within the visa period, as long as you are not away from the country for more than six consecutive months. Remaining away for longer than six months may cause your visa to be cancelled, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).Ability to sponsor family members, including spouse and children.Access to schooling for dependents. Eligibility requirementsIn order to apply for the Virtual Work Visa, you will need to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria outlined by authorities. These include the following:People of any nationality, who are 18 years or older, can apply.You must work for an employer or business outside the UAE, with a contract of at least one year.You must prove you are able to do your work remotely, via an employment contract or letter from your employer.You must earn a minimum salary of $3,500 per month (Dh12,856).Required documentsHere are the required documents for this type of visa, according to GDRFA website:Passport with minimum six-month validity. Over a year’s validity is preferred, according to Dayani, so that you can avoid having to renew it while you’re in the UAE.Passport photograph.Proof of remote employment outside the UAE, with a minimum one-year contract.Salary certificate showing you earn a minimum of $3,500 per month (Dh12,856).Result of your medical fitness test.Emirates ID application receipt.Health insurance valid for one year (this can also be travel insurance).If you also plan to sponsor family members, you may be required to provide additional documents for those applications, according to the GDRFA.How to apply for a Virtual Work VisaThe process of applying for a Virtual Work Visa is fairly straightforward. Applications may be submitted via the GDRFA portal or authorised Amer Service Centres (if you are targeting Dubai as your city of residence), or via ICP Smart Services (for all other emirates).From the GDRFA portal:Follow these steps to apply for the Virtual Work Visa via the GDRFA portal, and start your life in Dubai. Visit GDRFA’s website – gdrfad.gov.ae – and navigate to ‘Services’.Select ‘Residency Services’ and click on ‘Issuance of Virtual Work Residence Permit’.Complete the application form, and include your personal details, including passport information, nationality, date of birth, and other particulars.Attach the required documents mentioned above.Pay the fees.Once you click ‘Submit’, the GDRFA will review and process your visa. The processing time is between two to five working days.From the ICP portal:Here are the steps to apply from the ICP Smart Services portal, for all other emirates:Visit ICP’s website – icp.gov.ae – and select ‘Services’. Navigate to ‘Interactive Services’ and select ‘Issuance of Visa Virtual Work Residence (Virtual Work Employee)’.Complete the application form and fill in your personal details, including your passport information, date of birth, nationality, and other particulars.Upload the required documents mentioned above.Pay the fee.Upon submission, the ICP takes two days to process your file and get back to you with the next steps.Once you arrive in the UAE, you can complete the medical fitness test and Emirates ID application procedures, which are part of standard visa application processes.Other considerationsAccording to the authorities’ Invest in Dubai platform, if you qualify for visa-on-arrival in the UAE, you can immediately begin your visa application online via the ICP or GDRFA website, and later complete the visa formalities once you’re in the country. See the full list of eligible countries for visa-on-arrival.If your nationality is not on the list, you can still begin your visa application from abroad by following the application steps above. Once your Virtual Work Visa is approved, the ICP or GDRDA will issue an entry permit to you. The entry permit is important, as you will not be able to complete crucial components of the visa application process – namely the medical fitness test, the Emirates ID application and related biometrics capture – if you are not in the UAE.The entry permit holder has 60 days from the date of entry to complete the residency requirements, according to the ICP.CostHere are the associated costs for the issuance of the visa, according to the GDRFA:Residence permit fee: Dh200Knowledge Dirham: Dh10Innovation Dirham: Dh10Fee inside the country: Dh500Delivery: Dh20
