Dubai freelance visa for Indians
Designers, developers, consultants, writers and other professionals from India can live and work in Dubai on a freelance permit, with UAE residence linked to it. We help you choose the right permit, prepare your documents in India, and plan your tax position in both countries.
The main routes
| Free zone freelance permit | A permit in your own name from a free zone, with a residence visa — for example Dubai Development Authority's GoFreelance (media, technology, education and design), RAKEZ, or Ajman Free Zone (which states that its freelancer licence covers 40 categories) |
| MOHRE freelance work permit | A permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) for individuals working independently without an employer; you need your own residence, such as the Green Visa or another self-sponsored status |
| Green Visa (self-employment) | Five-year residence for freelancers with a MOHRE permit, a bachelor's degree or specialised diploma, freelance income of at least AED 360,000 a year over the previous two years, and proof of stable income or financial solvency (Dubai accepts proof of solvency as an alternative to the income test) |
| Company licence | A UAE company is usually the better route if you will trade under a brand name or hire staff |
Documents to prepare in India
- Passport: valid for at least six months.
- Degree certificates, where the permit or visa needs them: attested in India (typically first by the state education department, then by the Ministry of External Affairs), then by the UAE Embassy or Consulate in India, and finally by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. India is a member of the Apostille Convention, but the UAE is not, so an apostille alone is not enough.
- Portfolio or CV showing your field of work, and photographs.
- If you already live in the UAE on another visa, a no-objection letter from your current sponsor.
Tax in the UAE
- A freelancer working in their own name is taxed as a natural person. UAE Corporate Tax applies only when business turnover exceeds AED 1 million in a calendar year (Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2023). Wages and personal investment income are not counted.
- If turnover goes above AED 1 million, Corporate Tax registration is due by 31 March of the following year.
- VAT registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies in 12 months.
Tax in India
- Residential status: under the Income-tax Act, 2025 (from 1 April 2026), you are generally non-resident for a tax year (April to March) if you stay in India for fewer than 182 days — but shorter thresholds can apply, such as 60 days in the year you leave (unless you leave for employment) or 120 days if your Indian income exceeds ₹15 lakh. A non-resident is taxed in India on income that arises or is received in India.
- Deemed residence: an Indian citizen with Indian income above ₹15 lakh who is not liable to tax in any other country can be deemed resident (not ordinarily resident) even without spending any days in India. Because the UAE does not tax individuals' income, review this test every year.
- Year of the move: income earned before you leave, Indian investments, property and bank accounts all need planning. The India–UAE tax treaty can help where both countries claim tax; treaty relief normally needs a UAE Tax Residency Certificate and the prescribed declaration.
- Indian clients: payments to you as a non-resident may attract Indian tax deduction at source, which the treaty may reduce. Selling online services to consumers in India can also bring Indian GST obligations.
How we help
- Choosing the right permit for your field, income and plans to hire
- Document checklist and attestation coordination from India
- Permit application, entry permit, medical and Emirates ID
- UAE bank account and VAT or Corporate Tax registration where needed
- Indian residential status and tax planning for the year of your move
Permits and visas are always decided by the authorities.
Sources: u.ae — Work permits and Preparing to work (updated September 2026); ICP — UAE Green Residency; Dubai Development Authority — Freelancer licence and GoFreelance; RAKEZ — freelancing in the UAE; Ajman Free Zone — business licence types; HCCH Apostille Convention status table; Ministry of External Affairs — attestation and apostille; Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2023 and FTA Decision No. 3 of 2024; Federal Tax Authority — VAT registration; Income-tax Act, 2025 (section 6, residence), in force from 1 April 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a single 'freelance visa' in Dubai?
Not as one visa. You first get a freelance permit or licence — usually from a free zone — and the UAE residence visa can then be applied for on the strength of that permit. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) also issues freelance work permits, and the Green Visa offers five-year residence for freelancers who qualify.
Do I need to attest my degree in India?
If the permit or visa asks for your qualification, yes. The usual chain is attestation in India (for degrees, typically first by the state education department, then by the Ministry of External Affairs), then the UAE Embassy or Consulate in India, and then the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The UAE does not accept an apostille in place of this.
Will I pay tax in the UAE as a freelancer?
There is no UAE personal income tax on salary. A freelancer's business income is subject to UAE Corporate Tax only if turnover exceeds AED 1 million in a calendar year, and VAT registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies.
Will India still tax my income after I move?
It depends on your residential status under the Income-tax Act, 2025. You are generally non-resident for a tax year (April to March) if you stay in India for fewer than 182 days, but shorter thresholds can apply — for example in the year you leave, or 120 days if your Indian income exceeds ₹15 lakh. A non-resident is taxed in India on income that arises or is received in India. Indian citizens with Indian income above ₹15 lakh who are not liable to tax in any other country can be deemed resident. Plan the year of your move carefully.
Can I bill Indian clients from Dubai?
Generally yes, provided your permit covers the work. Your Indian clients may need to deduct tax under Indian law on payments to a non-resident, and the India–UAE tax treaty may reduce it if you hold a UAE Tax Residency Certificate. We review the tax points in your contracts before you start.