🇱🇷→🇦🇪Liberia→United Arab Emirates

Tourism and short visits

• Applied online via ICP portal or through UAE airlines/hotels.
• Valid 60 days from issue; 30-day stay from entry.
• Extendable once for 30 days (fee applies).
• Some nationalities receive visa on arrival free of charge.
• Official URL corrected: the old icp.gov.ae/en/visainformation/ page now 404s; verified working ICP service page substituted (confirmed July 2026).

Extended tourism and visits

• Applied via ICP portal, airlines, or authorized travel agents.
• Valid 60 days from issue; 60-day maximum stay.
• Extendable.
• Official URL corrected: the old icp.gov.ae/en/visainformation/ page now 404s; verified working ICP service page substituted (confirmed July 2026).

Repeated tourism and short visits over 5 years

• Maximum 90 days per visit.
• 5-year validity from date of issue.
• Available to eligible nationalities.
• Applied via ICP portal.
• Official URL corrected: the old icp.gov.ae/en/visainformation/ page now 404s; verified working ICP service page substituted (confirmed July 2026).

Investors and entrepreneurs entering to explore business/investment opportunities without a UAE sponsor or host

• Single-entry visit visa available in 60, 90 or 120-day validity options; no sponsor/host required.
• Applicant must be financially solvent, talented or highly qualified and a professional in their field, and meet prescribed financial guarantees.
• Applied via ICP (federal) or GDRFA-Dubai portals.

Travellers passing through the UAE who wish to leave the airport during a layover

• Issued for either 48 or 96 hours; single entry and non-extendable.
• Sponsored by a UAE-based airline (e.g. Emirates or Etihad) and must be processed and approved before entering the UAE.
• The 48-hour transit visa is free of charge while the 96-hour transit visa carries a nominal fee.

Temporary entry for foreign visitors for leisure/entertainment purposes

One of four new visit-visa categories announced by ICP on 29 September 2025, granted to foreign visitors for temporary stay for leisure purposes. A dedicated ICP service page with exact fee, validity and stay-duration figures was not found as of this check (July 2026); confirm current numbers with ICP/GDRFA before applying.

Multiple-entry visa for maritime tourists arriving via cruise ship or leisure boat, sponsored by a licensed UAE tourism establishment

One of four new visit-visa categories announced by ICP on 29 September 2025; requires a tourism itinerary and sponsorship from a licensed UAE tourism establishment. A dedicated ICP service page with exact fee and duration figures was not found as of this check (July 2026); confirm current numbers with ICP/GDRFA before applying.

Employment in the UAE

• Employer-sponsored.
• Requires job offer from UAE-registered employer.
• MOHRE work permit + ICP residence visa.
• Initial 2-year validity, renewable.
• Fee varies by emirate and employer type.

Working remotely for overseas employer or business while residing in UAE

• 1-year renewable residence visa (initial 60-day entry permit, then stamped for one year in-country) for people who work remotely for an employer or business based outside the UAE, earning min USD 3,500/month (employees) or USD 5,000/month (business owners), per GDRFA's official Virtual Work visa service page.
• Requires proof of remote employment/business, health insurance, and clean criminal record.
• Base government fee AED 200 + 5% VAT (~USD 57); GDRFA states 48-hour processing.
• Also administered federally via ICP and by other emirates under similar terms.
• remotework.ae, the previous official portal cited here, has been discontinued and now redirects to a domain-parking/sale page; GDRFA's own service page substituted as the working official source (confirmed July 2026).

Long-term residence for investors, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals, students

• 10-year renewable residence visa.
• Categories confirmed on the current ICP Golden Visa page: investors, entrepreneurs, specialized talents/researchers, and outstanding students (per Cabinet Resolution 56 of 2018).
• No UAE sponsor required.
• Self-sponsored.
• Official URL corrected: the old icp.gov.ae/en/goldenresidency/ page now 404s; verified working ICP page substituted (confirmed July 2026).

Retirement residence in UAE

• For retirees aged 55+ (or with 15+ years of work experience inside or outside the UAE).
• Eligibility requires meeting at least one of: property ownership of AED 1,000,000+, financial savings of AED 1,000,000+, or a monthly income of roughly AED 15,000-20,000 (threshold varies by emirate, higher for Dubai).
• Renewable 5-year visa; no sponsor required.
• Corrected property threshold from a previously stated AED 2,000,000+ to the officially confirmed AED 1,000,000+ per the u.ae residence-visa-for-the-retired page.
• Official URL corrected: the old icp.gov.ae/en/visainformation/ page now 404s; verified working u.ae page substituted (confirmed July 2026).

Foreigners entering to search for employment without needing a host or sponsor

Single-entry visit visa for one trip, in 60, 90 or 120-day validity options; no sponsor required. Eligibility: hold a bachelor's degree and be classified in MOHRE skill levels 1-3, or be a graduate of a top-500 world university within the last 2 years, plus meet prescribed financial guarantees.

Foreign students enrolled at a UAE-accredited university or college

• Issued for one year at a time, renewable on proof of continued study.
• Sponsored either by a UAE-resident parent or by the accredited university/college.
• Outstanding students may instead qualify for a long-term Golden visa.
• Requires a study-duration certificate from the institution and a medical fitness test.

Residents and citizens sponsoring spouse, children and parents to reside in the UAE

• Expatriate residents may sponsor spouse, unmarried daughters, sons under 25 and children with special needs, subject to a minimum salary of AED 4,000 (or AED 3,000 plus accommodation).
• Green visa holders may sponsor first-degree relatives.
• UAE citizens may sponsor spouse, parents and children (5-year visa).
• Dependent visas are tied to the sponsor's residence permit; sponsored members aged 18+ must pass a medical fitness test.

Foreign patients entering for medical treatment under a licensed UAE hospital's sponsorship, plus an accompanying companion

• Sponsored by a hospital licensed and registered in the UAE; a financial-security deposit is required.
• Available as single or multiple entry for 90 or 180 days (Dubai/GDRFA); single-entry permit requires entry within 60 days of issue and allows a 90-day stay, extendable once with a certified medical report.
• A companion may obtain a matching permit and must enter with the patient.
• ICP covers Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.

Skilled workers, freelancers/self-employed professionals and investors residing without an employer sponsor

• 5-year renewable self-sponsored residence permit; holder needs no in-country sponsor and may sponsor spouse and children.
• Categories: skilled workers (valid contract, bachelor's degree, MOHRE skill levels 1-3, salary AED 15,000+/month); freelancers/self-employed (freelance permit, bachelor's degree or specialised diploma, annual income at least AED 360,000 over the past two years); and investors/partners (proof of investment or partnership and required licences).
• Applied via ICP Smart Services or GDRFA-Dubai.

Individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to environmental protection and sustainability

10-year renewable residence visa with no in-country sponsor required, for supporters of environmental action inside or outside the UAE - members of international organisations and companies, associations and NGOs, global award winners, and distinguished environmental activists and researchers. Launched at the World Governments Summit 2025; applications open to eligible applicants directly with ICP or via nomination by competent UAE authorities.

Entry visa for artificial intelligence specialists, for single or multiple visits, sponsored by a UAE-based technology-focused establishment

• One of four new visit-visa categories announced by ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security) on 29 September 2025.
• Requires a sponsorship/hosting letter from a UAE tech-focused establishment.
• A dedicated ICP service page with exact fee, validity and stay-duration figures was not found as of this check (July 2026); confirm current numbers with ICP/GDRFA before applying.

Entry to attend a festival, exhibition, conference, seminar, or economic, cultural, sports, religious, community, or educational activity in the UAE

One of four new visit-visa categories announced by ICP on 29 September 2025, for delegates/attendees of qualifying events. A dedicated ICP service page with exact fee, validity and stay-duration figures was not found as of this check (July 2026); confirm current numbers with ICP/GDRFA before applying.