Freelance permit in Dubai
A freelance permit in Dubai is a one-person permission to practise a named activity. Free zones issue freelance permits. DET’s e-Trader licence is a different home-based product. Neither document is, by itself, the MOHRE freelance or self-employment permit that ICP names for a Green Visa. THAJ sets up the permit the activity needs and tells you plainly when it does not satisfy the visa. There is no published freelance package price.
Three papers with the word freelance on them
| Document | Who issues it | What it is not |
|---|---|---|
| Free zone freelance permit | The free zone that offers that activity | Not automatically a MOHRE permit, and not a company with staff and a quota |
| DET e-Trader licence | Dubai DET, for home-based online selling | Not a free zone freelance permit. See e-commerce. |
| MOHRE freelance or self-employment permit | Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation | Not issued because a zone printed the word freelance. ICP names this permit for the Green Visa freelance category. |
ICP’s Green Residence freelance test also asks for a bachelor’s degree, specialised diploma or equivalent, and freelance income of at least AED 360,000 in each of the previous two years. Read Green Visa eligibility before you buy a permit in order to “get the visa”. If the income evidence is not there, the permit may still be a valid way to work, and the visa may still be the wrong product.
How a freelance file is scoped
Name the activity
One activity, in the words the zone or DET uses. A freelance permit is not a general-trading company.
Pick the authority that actually issues it
Not every free zone offers every profession. The free zone guide is the map. The zone confirms the activity.
Separate the visa question
If you need a Green Visa, check the MOHRE permit and the AED 360,000 test. If you need a standard residence, the sponsor may be the permit’s own establishment. We will not assume which one the authority wants.
Quote the known charges only
Zone fees are the zone’s current invoice. THAJ’s fee is written down beside them. Nothing is bundled into a “freelance visa package”.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Dubai freelance permit a Green Visa?
No. A Green Visa freelancer needs the MOHRE permit ICP names, plus the qualification and the AED 360,000 income test. A zone permit is a licence. It counts for the visa only if the authority accepts it as that permit.
Can a freelancer sponsor employees?
A freelance permit is for the holder’s own activity. Staff, a quota and a company structure are a different licence. We will not add employees to a permit that does not allow them.
What does a freelance permit cost?
The zone or DET charges its own fee, and THAJ quotes its fee in writing. There is no package price on this page.
Is e-Trader the same as a freelance permit?
No. e-Trader is DET’s home-based licence for selling online. A free zone freelance permit is issued by the zone for a professional activity.
Official sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 5 November 2026. Rules and fees can change; the authority’s current page always prevails.
- Green Residence Guide (page updated 12 September 2026) — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP)
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation — services — MOHRE
- Starting a business in a free zone — The UAE Government portal (u.ae)
- Business licensing — licence types and set-up process — Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)
- Free zones in Dubai — Government of Dubai (dubai.ae)
Name the profession before the zone
Tell us what you sell or advise. We will say which permit exists, and whether a visa can sit on it.