United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates visa salary thresholds
The UAE does not set a uniform salary floor for work permits but requires a minimum for Golden Visa categories and for dependant sponsorship. Free zones publish their own employee-sponsorship floors.
Last checked 1 June 2026. Every figure is mapped to a primary government source and re-verified over time; recorded changes appear in the changelog.
What salary do you need for a skilled-work visa in United Arab Emirates?
The main skilled-work salary floor in United Arab Emirates is AED 360,000 / year (Golden Visa — skilled employee minimum), effective 3 October 2022. Occupation-specific going rates may bind higher.
Verified against UAE Government Portal — Golden Visa on 1 June 2026.
Threshold table
| Route | Amount | ~USD | In force since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Golden Visa — skilled employee minimum Minimum annual gross salary (AED 30,000/month) for skilled employees applying for the Golden Visa on the basis of a Level 1 or Level 2 ISCO occupation. | AED 360,000 / year | $98,000 | 2022-10-03 | UAE Government Portal — Golden Visa |
Golden Visa — investor (public investment) Minimum investment threshold for the Golden Visa on the basis of public fund deposits or real-estate investment worth at least AED 2 million. | AED 2,000,000 / year | $544,000 | 2022-10-03 | UAE Government Portal — Golden Visa |
Green Visa — freelancer minimum Freelancers applying for the Green Visa need evidence of annual earnings of at least AED 360,000 over the previous two years (or financial solvency during stay). | AED 360,000 / year | $98,000 | 2022-10-03 | UAE Government Portal — Green Visa |
Dependant sponsorship — resident employee Indicative minimum annual salary (AED 4,000/month, or AED 3,000 + accommodation) for a resident sponsoring a spouse or children, per ICP / GDRFA. | AED 48,000 / year | $13,000 | 2023-01-01 | UAE Government Portal — Family visa |
How often this changes
Federal Decree-Law 29/2021 restructured the UAE visa system in 2022. Thresholds have been stable since then (verified June 2026) but free-zone employers may set higher internal minimums.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary to qualify for a work visa in United Arab Emirates?
The UAE does not set a uniform salary floor for work permits but requires a minimum for Golden Visa categories and for dependant sponsorship. Free zones publish their own employee-sponsorship floors.
How often do United Arab Emirates salary thresholds change?
Federal Decree-Law 29/2021 restructured the UAE visa system in 2022. Thresholds have been stable since then (verified June 2026) but free-zone employers may set higher internal minimums.
Does meeting the headline threshold guarantee approval?
No. Headline floors are one of several criteria. Most jurisdictions also apply an occupation-specific going rate, character and health checks, and — for sponsored routes — employer/sponsor compliance. Failing any one of these can lead to refusal even where salary is above the threshold.
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Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.