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Moving to Dubai: Visa and Health Insurance Guide for Expats

Expats moving to Dubai need two essentials: a valid residence visa and proof of health insurance coverage. These are the main requirements to legally live in the UAE, and both can be applied for and secured online before relocating.

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Pacific Prime, with over 20 years of experience as an international insurance broker, helps expats navigate this process by offering guidance on residence visa types and connecting them with tailored medical coverage plans. This ensures that newcomers to Dubai can meet visa requirements while protecting their health from the start.

This article will help you learn about the many types of residence visas, some of their requirements and lengths of duration, and your options to get health insurance as a Dubai expat.

This article is a touchpoint in a larger series we’ve created all about moving to Dubai. We have linked out to dozens of other articles that can go into more detail about related topics, and we highly encourage you to utilize these great resources.

Two such articles expats may find value in are our articles titled How to Become a Citizen in Dubai and The Best Places to Live in the UAE.

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Expat Guide to Relocating to Dubai

Image of Modern Building On Sandy Beachfront In Dubai with text overlay of "Expat Guide to Relocating to Dubai"

Moving to Dubai as an expat entails applying for and renewing a visa, securing a health insurance plan with coverage in the UAE, and adjusting to the culture and lifestyles of Dubai. Expats in Dubai come from around the world, so there is great diversity in this city.

Because it is such a big topic to cover all the things worth knowing as an expat moving to Dubai, we’ve written a series of articles that cover this in more detail.

Please read the following articles that speak specifically to what it’s like moving to Dubai from certain countries in the world:

This “Moving to Dubai” article series addresses topics such as the cost of living in Dubai, cultural differences, visas, the best places to live in Dubai, education, and healthcare in Dubai.

How to Apply for a Dubai Residence Visa

Expats who are moving to Dubai should apply for a residence visa. Depending on your situation and reason for moving to Dubai, you will need either a Golden Visa, Work Visa (for either inside or outside of the UAE), Retirement Visa, Student Visa, or Residence Visa for Family Members.

There are several places for Dubai expats to apply for their visas. The online channels include the eChannels portal, the GDRFA website, and more.

Let’s take a close look at each of the visas available to expats heading to Dubai.

Golden Visa: Long-Term Residency in Dubai

The Golden Visa is for long-term residents who have foreign talent coming to the UAE to live, work, or study. If you are an investor, entrepreneur, scientist, outstanding student or graduate, humanitarian pioneer, or frontline hero, you are eligible for this visa.

The Golden Visa grants expats a six-month entry visa and a long-term, renewable residence visa for 5 – 10 years. Golden Visa holders do not require a sponsor.

Work Visa Options for Jobs Within Dubai

There are three types of work visas for expats moving to the UAE to work inside the UAE. These are the Green Visa for skilled employers for five years, the Standard Work Visa for employees in the government and private sectors, and the Domestic Workers Visa for domestic helpers.

  • The Green Visa works well for freelancers, self-employed individuals, and skilled employees. This visa lasts for 5 years and does not require a sponsor/employer.
  • The Standard Work Visa usually lasts for 2 years if you are employed in the private sector, government sector, or free zone. Your employer must apply for this visa.
  • The Domestic Workers Visa is for 19 types of employees, such as housemaids, sailors, guards, shepherds, nannies, home nurses, cooks, and more.

Virtual Work Visa for Remote Professionals

The Virtual Work Residence Visa is for expats who move to the UAE and work virtually from inside the UAE. This is a one-year visa, and it allows workers to enter the UAE under self-sponsorship. You must receive a monthly income minimum of USD $3,500 to qualify for this visa.

To learn more about the work visa options in Dubai, read our blog post that dives deeper into this topic.

Retirement Visa in Dubai for Expats

Retired expats from the USA who are over age 55 residing in Dubai or the UAE can get a long-term Retirement Visa for 5 years. To qualify, the individual must have worked for a minimum of 15 years inside or outside of the UAE or be 55 years old or above.

In addition to that, you must:

  • Own a home of no less than AED 1 million (about USD $272,200)
  • Have financial savings of no less than AED 1 million (about USD $272,200), or a monthly income of AED 15,000 in Dubai (about USD $4,000) or AED 20,000 in the rest of the UAE (about USD $5,400)
  • Provide a bank statement for the last six months

Student Visa Requirements for Studying in Dubai

Expat students who move to Dubai to study apply for a Student Visa that lasts for up to one year at a time. Students can either be sponsored by their parent who resides in the UAE or be sponsored by their accredited university/college. This visa can be renewed with proof of continued study.

Family members of foreign students can live in the UAE as well, as long as they can afford housing.

Sponsoring Family Residence Visas in Dubai

Employers and employees who have a valid UAE residence visa can sponsor residence visas for their family members. Employees can sponsor their families no matter what their job title is if they earn a minimum salary of AED 4,000 (about USD $1,000) or AED 3,000 (about USD 800) plus accommodation.

Short-Term Visit Visa Options in Dubai

The visit visa options in Dubai include the jobseeker visit visa, investment explorer visit visa, patient and his/her companions visit visa, GCC resident visit visa, tourist visa, and the transit visa. These are available for travelers who don’t plan to live in Dubai for an extended period of time.

Because health care and treatment are ranked so well in Dubai, medical tourism is very popular. The patient and his/her companions’ visit visa allows foreign patients to enter the UAE for medical treatment.

If you’re interested in traveling to Dubai or elsewhere in the UAE for health reasons, you’ll want to learn about the hospitals in the UAE so you can pick the one you want to be treated in.

Health Insurance Requirements for Expats in Dubai

The Dubai Health Insurance Law of 2013 made it mandatory for all residents of Dubai to have a minimum amount of health insurance. This holds true for expats, and you will not qualify for a visa without proof of medical insurance or a health card.

If Dubai expats do not have health insurance, they may face serious fines, legal complications, and possible deportation. For this reason, we highly recommend that you become familiar with your expat health insurance options in Dubai and the UAE.

The very best insurance providers that offer coverage in Dubai include:

You can read about the insurance plans offered by these companies in the following blog posts:

It is always wise to compare quotes between several providers before you select your plan. This can help you ensure you get the best policy and price for your needs and budget. If you have any questions about these providers, reach out to Pacific Prime, and we will clarify your concerns.

Expat Lifestyle in Dubai

Dubai’s life for expats means living in a city with one of the lowest crime rates in the world, making Dubai an incredibly safe place to live. It is also one of the grandest, most luxurious cities in the world. It has beaches, water attractions, and extravagant eating venues.

If you’re unsure if it’s a good idea to move to Dubai, you should read our blog post that addresses that question.

Here are some of the features of Dubai that attract expats:

  • Delicious Middle Eastern foods, such as hummus and shawarma
  • A warm climate that suits perfectly for beach activities
  • A growing international school system for expat students
  • A diverse variety of residential apartments and luxury condominiums
  • Luxury golf courses in a beautiful landscape

To read more about what life is like in Dubai, read our blog posts about Dubai Laws for Expats, Living in Dubai – What to Expect, and our above-mentioned “Moving to Dubai” series.

If it’s finances you’d like to learn more about, you should read our articles that address what type of salary expats need to move to Dubai and if Americans are paid more in Dubai or not.

Conclusion

A large part of moving to Dubai is applying for and renewing your residence visa. In order to qualify for a visa, residents need to provide proof of a health insurance plan. Pacific Prime has helped over one million expats get health insurance globally and specifically in Dubai.

Please reach out to us with your questions and compare health insurance quotes on your own so you can find the best insurance policy for your situation.

Here are some more resources expats will value:

Serena Fung
Serena Fung
Head of Content at Pacific Prime
Serena Fung is the Head of Content at Pacific Prime, a global insurance brokerage and employee specialist serving over 1.5 million clients in 15 offices across the world. With 6+ years of experience writing about the subject, she aims to demystify the world of insurance for readers with the latest updates, guides and articles on the blog.

Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).

Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
Serena Fung
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