Moving to Dubai from the Philippines

The standard route: a UAE employer sponsors your residence visa. Nothing can legally start until MOHRE approves a work permit; the residency side (entry permit, visa, Emirates ID) is then handled by GDRFA Dubai and ICP. Since 2024 the “Work Bundle” single-window platform merges most of these into roughly 5 steps over ~5 working days, largely run by the employer/PRO — but the underlying order below is what's happening. Dubai retired the physical passport visa sticker in 2022; residency now lives on your Emirates ID and in GDRFA's digital records.

1. 1

   Signed job offer (Ard Amal), while still abroad

   Your employer sends a legally-formatted job offer (Arabic + English). Signing it is the basis for your later MOHRE labour contract, which must match it. For skilled/regulated roles you’ll need your degree attested first (see the country-specific step above).

   Form: Job Offer Letter (Ard Amal)Authority: MOHRETime: Before any filingCost: Employer-borne
2. 2

   MOHRE work permit / labour approval

   The employer applies to MOHRE (via the Tasheel portal / Work Bundle) for the initial work-permit approval. It is illegal to work in the UAE without it, and nothing downstream can proceed until it’s granted. The standard employment permit is valid 2 years.

   Form: Work Permit application (one of MOHRE’s 13 permit types)Authority: MOHRETime: ~5 working days under the Work BundleCost: AED 250–3,450 by company category — employer pays, cannot be deducted from salary
3. 3

   Employment entry permit (60 days)

   Once the work permit is approved, an employment entry permit is issued so you can enter the UAE to finish residency. It’s valid 60 days. If you’re already inside the UAE on another visa, you do an in-country “status change” instead of flying out.

   Form: Employment Entry Permit — or Status Adjustment (if already in the UAE)Authority: GDRFA Dubai / ICPTime: A few working days; permit valid 60 daysCost: Status change ~AED 500+ (indicative); employer-borne
4. 4

   Enter the UAE (or complete the status change)

   You travel in on the entry permit (starting the 60-day completion window), or complete the status change. Your signed labour contract must be registered with MOHRE within 14 days of arrival — one of the two load-bearing deadlines (the other is the 60-day entry permit).

   Authority: GDRFA DubaiTime: Starts the 60-day window
5. 5

   Medical fitness test (DHA)

   Mandatory for residence applicants 18+. A blood test and, where required, chest X-ray screen for communicable diseases (HIV and tuberculosis are the core screens). A pass produces the Medical Fitness Certificate needed for the visa.

   Form: Examination of Medical Fitness for Residency VisaAuthority: Dubai Health Authority (DHA) centresTime: Same-day to a few days (express options exist)Cost: ~AED 300–750 (indicative)
6. 6

   Emirates ID application + biometrics (ICP)

   Apply for the Emirates ID and give biometrics (fingerprints, photo) at an ICP centre. The Emirates ID is the card your residency effectively lives on, and its validity matches your visa.

   Form: Emirates ID card applicationAuthority: ICP (Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship)Time: 7–10 working days (24–48h urgent “Fawri”)Cost: AED 100 per year of visa validity + typing fee
7. 7

   Residence visa issued (GDRFA Dubai)

   With a passing medical, Emirates ID application and clear security check, GDRFA Dubai issues your employment residence visa and records it electronically — no passport sticker in Dubai since 2022. The standard private-sector visa is valid 2 years and lets you sponsor eligible family.

   Form: Residence visa (electronic e-visa)Authority: GDRFA DubaiTime: Often ~48h after complete documentsCost: Part of the ~AED 3,000–7,000 the employer typically spends
8. 8

   Sign the MOHRE labour contract + labour card

   You and the employer sign the employment contract, registered with MOHRE within 14 days of arrival (it mirrors your job offer). From 1 Jan 2025 new private-sector contracts are limited-term. Registration issues the electronic labour card; many roles also complete a short Tawjeeh induction — after which you’re fully cleared to work.

   Form: MOHRE Employment Contract + electronic Labour CardAuthority: MOHRETime: Within 14 days of arrival

Buy a freehold property, register it with the Dubai Land Department (DLD) for a title deed, then self-sponsor a residence visa on it. Two tiers: a 2-year renewable Investor (Taskeen) visa and the 10-year Golden Visa. A major April/May 2026 change removed the old AED 750,000 minimum for the 2-year visa for a sole owner of a completed home (any value now qualifies; joint owners each need a share ≥ AED 400,000). The 10-year Golden Visa still requires property totalling ≥ AED 2,000,000. The visa chain that follows is the standard UAE one (entry permit → medical → Emirates ID → e-visa), bundled by DLD’s Cube service with GDRFA Dubai.

1. 1

   Buy a qualifying freehold property (+ 4% DLD fee)

   Purchase in a designated freehold area. For the 2-year visa it must be a completed residential unit; for the Golden Visa, ready, off-plan (RERA-approved developer) or mortgaged units can count. Sign the sale contract (Form F on Dubai REST) and pay the DLD transfer fee.

   Form: Unified Sale Contract “Form F” (Dubai REST); Oqood for off-planAuthority: Dubai Land Department (DLD)Time: Same-day to a few daysCost: 4% DLD transfer fee + ~AED 4,000 trustee fee (budget ~4.5–5% of price)
2. 2

   Get the Title Deed from DLD

   DLD issues the electronic Title Deed in your name once the transfer registers — the core document that unlocks the property visa. Off-plan gives you an Oqood certificate first and the full title deed only at handover (so off-plan can’t satisfy the 2-year visa until handover, though it can count toward the Golden Visa).

   Form: e-Certificate of Title (Title Deed)Authority: Dubai Land Department (DLD)Time: At/shortly after transfer (often instant for ready homes)
3. 3

   Apply for the property visa (Taskeen 2-yr or Golden 10-yr)

   Self-sponsored application via DLD’s Cube service, which coordinates with GDRFA Dubai. 2-year Investor (Taskeen): as of 2026 a sole owner qualifies at any value; joint owners each need a ≥ AED 400,000 share. 10-year Golden Visa: property totalling ≥ AED 2,000,000 (multiple/mortgaged units can combine; a bank NOC is needed if mortgaged).

   Form: DLD “Investor Residence (Taskeen)” or “Golden Visa – Investor”Authority: DLD “Cube” + GDRFA DubaiTime: 7–15 working days for the whole chainCost: ~AED 9,900–12,000 bundle (indicative; incl. medical, Emirates ID, residency)
4. 4

   Entry permit or in-country status change

   The system issues an electronic entry permit. If you’re abroad it lets you enter to finish the process; if you’re already in Dubai on a valid visa, an in-country status change is done instead of exiting.

   Form: Entry permit / status-change applicationAuthority: ICP / GDRFA DubaiTime: 1–3 working days
5. 5

   Medical fitness test

   The same mandatory screening as the employment path — blood test (HIV, TB) and chest X-ray at an approved centre (e.g. Smart Salem/DHA in Dubai) — before Emirates ID and stamping.

   Form: Examination of Medical Fitness for Residency VisaAuthority: Dubai Health / EHS centresTime: ~1–2 working days (express ~30 min)Cost: ~AED 250–700 (indicative)
6. 6

   Emirates ID registration (biometrics)

   Register for the Emirates ID and give biometrics at an ICP/EIDA point. Mandatory for every resident; the card is produced after the visa issues.

   Form: Emirates ID registrationAuthority: ICP / EIDATime: Biometrics on-site; card in ~7–10 days
7. 7

   Residence visa (e-visa) issued + property lien

   Your residence visa is issued electronically (no passport sticker). For the Golden Visa, DLD/GDRFA places a lien on the qualifying property for the visa’s validity. You can then sponsor eligible family — spouse, children (any age on the Golden Visa) and parents. The 2-year visa renews each cycle; the 10-year Golden Visa renews indefinitely with no minimum-stay rule.

   Form: Residence e-visa; property lien (Golden Visa)Authority: GDRFA Dubai / ICPTime: Within the 7–15 day window