How much income do you need for the Virtual Working Programme?

The Virtual Working Programme requires a minimum income of about $5,000 per month, per the program's current published rules.

How long is the Virtual Working Programme valid for?

The Virtual Working Programme for United Arab Emirates is issued for 1 year and is renewable under the published renewal rules.

Does the Virtual Working Programme lead to permanent residency?

No — the Virtual Working Programme does not directly lead to permanent residency.

Can family members join the Virtual Working Programme?

Yes — eligible dependents can apply to join the Virtual Working Programme per the program's family-clause rules. Verify per-dependent fees and documentation requirements against the official source.

Where can I read the official rules for the Virtual Working Programme?

The official source for the Virtual Working Programme (digital nomad visa for United Arab Emirates) is published at https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/. CountryLens only renders facts; the authority is the source.

United Arab EmiratesDigital Nomad Visa

Virtual Working Programme

A digital nomad pathway for United Arab Emirates. Below are the requirements, fees, and the deep-linked official government source. Verify against the source before applying — visa rules change without notice.

Minimum income

$5,000/mo

Application fee

$287

Duration

1 year

Renewable

Yes

Tax-residency trigger

183 days / yr

Last verified

2026-05-25

Eligibility

Qualification readout

Family allowed
Yes
Path to permanent residency
No
Health insurance required
Yes
Launched
2021

Notes

Threshold RAISED January 2026 to USD 5,000/mo (was USD 3,500). Health insurance minimum AED 500,000 coverage required (RAISED from AED 150,000 — 3.3x higher). Six months of bank statements required (was 3). 12-month annually renewable. No personal income tax in UAE. NOT a path to PR (UAE has no PR scheme); steppingstone to 10-year Golden Visa once income/asset profiles mature. Sister to AE Golden Visa + Green Visa.

Official sources

Verify the latest details on the issuing government’s own page. Rules and fees change without notice.

Sourceu.ae

Country data · Open full United Arab Emirates profile