Dubai Visa for Colombians.
Identify the type of visa you need based on the actual purpose of your trip: coming for a few days of tourism is very different from relocating to work, invest or reunite with your family. We support you throughout the entire process, from Colombia to Dubai.
5.0Verified Google reviews
Options available
for Colombians.
Tourist visa.
Allows a Colombian to enter Dubai / UAE for leisure travel for a limited period, with single or multiple entry depending on the option chosen.
Visit visa.
Allows travel to visit a UAE resident or family member, normally with a resident sponsor supporting the application where applicable.
Employment visa.
Residency managed and sponsored by a UAE company so you can live and work legally, starting with an entry permit and finishing with your Emirates ID.
Investor or entrepreneur.
Long-term residency for profiles qualifying by investment, entrepreneurship or specific professional criteria, with stability benefits and renewal depending on the category.
Family residency.
Allows spouse and children (and in some cases other dependants) to reside in the UAE under the sponsorship of a person who already holds valid UAE residency.
What you need
according to the visa type.
Tourist visa
- Passport
- Valid, with a minimum of 6 months recommended.
- Passport photo
- Light background, digital format.
- Health insurance
- Valid for the UAE according to the modality.
- Return ticket
- Or confirmed onward travel.
- Accommodation
- Hotel details or lodging address.
- Financial solvency
- In some cases: bank statements or reservations.
Visit visa
- Passport
- Valid with a minimum of 6 months recommended.
- Photo + health insurance
- Passport-size photo and valid UAE coverage.
- Return ticket
- Or confirmed onward travel.
- Host details
- Name, contact and address of the UAE resident.
- Proven relationship
- Marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc. where applicable.
- Sponsor's solvency
- Evidence of sponsor's income and residency, where applicable.
Employment visa
- Employer management
- Normally managed by the hiring company.
- Offer / contract
- Employment contract with employer sponsorship.
- Entry permit
- Entry permit to initiate the process.
- Medical examination
- Mandatory for residency where applicable.
- Emirates ID
- Registration and issuance upon completion of the procedure.
- Qualifications and background checks
- In some cases these require legalisation / validation.
Investor / Golden Visa
- Eligibility
- Evidence according to category: investment, property, project.
- Real estate
- Property documents (title / registration) + minimum value required.
- Mortgage
- Bank letter / documentation if applicable.
- Entrepreneur
- Company licence, activity and evidence of investment.
- Approval
- Incubator letter or competent authority where applicable.
- Medical + Emirates ID
- Part of the residency process.
Family residency
- Sponsor with residency
- Valid UAE residency of the sponsor is mandatory.
- Income threshold
- Sponsor must meet minimums under current regulations.
- Family relationship
- Marriage certificate (spouse), birth certificates (children). Frequently legalised.
- Health insurance
- For each dependant.
- Accommodation
- Contract or equivalent document in the UAE.
- Emirates ID
- Issuance for each dependant as part of the procedure.
Common to all
- Passport
- Valid Colombian passport with at least 6 months validity.
- Photograph
- Passport-size, light background, digital format.
- Dual nationality
- Always use the same passport for the application and entry.
- Financial means
- May be requested by immigration on arrival.
- Exit reservation
- Worth having digitally or printed.
How long can you stay.
Maximum duration by visa type
| Visa type | Duration | Extensions / renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism | 30 or 60 days (depending on visa issued) | Can be extended up to a cumulative maximum of 120 days |
| Visit | 30, 60 or 90 days | Some categories can be extended up to 180 days |
| Employment | 1, 2 or 3 years (usually 2) | Renewable while sponsorship / contract remains active |
| Investor | 2 years per period | Renewable while investment and licence remain active |
| Golden Visa | 5 or 10 years | Automatic renewal upon meeting requirements |
| Family residency | Aligned to sponsor (1/2/3 years or Golden) | Renewal together with the sponsor's residency |
Indicative fees
for visas.
Fees by visa type (AED, 2026)
| Type | Indicative cost | What is included | Who pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism | 0 AED (no visa fee at origin) | Entry authorisation for tourism. Extensions may attract additional fees. | The traveller |
| Visit | 300 – 1,200 AED | 30 / 60 / 90 day permit and administrative management. | Applicant or UAE sponsor |
| Employment | 3,000 – 7,000 AED | Entry permit, change to residency, medical, Emirates ID and stamping. May include insurance. | Usually the hiring company |
| Investor / entrepreneur | From 10,200 AED (2-year residency) | Residency procedure, Emirates ID, medical and immigration fees. Does not include licence / office. | Investor / owner |
| Family reunification | 1,500 – 3,500 AED per dependant | Entry permit, residency, Emirates ID, medical where applicable and stamping. | The sponsoring family member in the UAE |
Amounts are indicative for 2026 and may vary depending on the emirate, duration, single or multiple entry, processing channel, and whether the procedure is carried out inside or outside the UAE. They do not include flights, accommodation or, in many cases, health insurance.
What you can do
before travelling.
Remote processing
- Tourist
- Processed from Colombia; you travel with the approved authorisation.
- Visit
- Usually managed by the UAE sponsor; you travel once it has been issued.
- Company incorporation
- Many structures can be incorporated remotely with a notarised power of attorney.
Requires travel to the UAE
- Employment
- Starts from Colombia, but you need to be in the UAE for the medical, Emirates ID and final issuance.
- Investor / entrepreneur
- Partly remote; you need to be in the UAE to complete the residency.
- Family residency
- The UAE sponsor starts the procedure; dependants usually need to be in the UAE to activate their residency and Emirates ID.
In many cases, a Colombian can start their stay in Dubai on a tourist or visit visa and, if a real opportunity arises (employment, company formation or family sponsorship), change to residency without having to leave the United Arab Emirates. This process is known as a status change and allows you to move from "visitor" to "resident" in a more convenient way.
When it typically applies:
- From tourist / visit to employment — if a company hires and sponsors you.
- From tourist / visit to investor — if you incorporate a company or access investment-based residency.
- From tourist / visit to family reunification — if a UAE-resident family member sponsors you as a dependant.
Advantages: avoids having to travel abroad just to activate residency, allows coordinating the medical, Emirates ID and procedures in a single period, and reduces dead time and logistics.
Key points: must be processed before your current stay expires, not all cases apply in the same way (depends on visa, sponsor and emirate), and there may be additional administrative fees for the change.
Plan my status change →A good idea to delegate visa management
in Dubai.
For work, investor or residency visas, the most practical approach for many Colombians is to leave the processing in the hands of specialists. These are processes with multiple requirements, hard deadlines and procedures that run in parallel. A document uploaded incorrectly or a step out of order translates into delays and additional costs.
End-to-end management
We coordinate the entry permit, procedure with the company or licence, medical examination, Emirates ID and renewals. A single point of contact from start to finish.
Colombian documentation
Support with Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostilles, sworn translations and validation of Colombian qualifications required for residencies.
Error prevention
We avoid the typical mistakes: licences that do not cover the actual activity, packages without banking support, incorrectly calculated deadlines.
Tax planning
We coordinate the visa with company structure, bank account and tax strategy between Colombia and the UAE from day one.
Status changes
We take you from tourist to resident without leaving the UAE, coordinating timelines to avoid fines or interruptions to your plans.
Bilingual service
Full communication in English and Spanish with an understanding of the Colombian context. No approximate translations or administrative misunderstandings.
Related information.
Golden Visa.
10-year residency by investment, talent or demonstrated achievements. Accessible for Colombians with the right profile.
Discover → XIV · InvestorInvestor Visa.
For Colombians who create a company or invest in Dubai. 2-year renewable residency.
Discover → XV · EmploymentEmployment Visa.
Requirements and process for the UAE work visa. Employer sponsorship and 1–3 year duration.
Discover → XVI · ArgentiniansVisa for Argentinians.
Comparison: Argentinians have a visa on arrival with different duration conditions to Colombians.
Discover →What people ask us most.
What can immigration ask for on arrival (besides the passport)?
Sometimes they request a hotel reservation or address, return ticket, insurance and/or evidence of financial means for the stay. They do not always ask, but it is worth having it ready (digital or printed).
If I am Colombian with dual nationality, which passport should I use to apply and travel?
The ideal is to apply and travel with the same passport (the one you use to enter). Mixing passports in application / boarding / entry can generate inconsistencies and additional checks.
Do I need translations or legalisations (apostille / attestation)?
For tourism / visit, normally not. But for residencies (employment, family, investor) it is common for certain documents (certificates, diplomas, criminal records) to need to be legalised / attested and, where applicable, translated by an authorised translator.
Can I open a company in Dubai while in Colombia and activate residency later?
Yes, many structures allow the company to be incorporated remotely (depending on licence type / provider) and then travel to complete the in-person residency steps (medical and Emirates ID).
Do I need a physical office for the licence or can I start with a flexible arrangement?
It depends on the licence and the zone / authority. Many entry options allow flexible space or a "desk", but some activities or staffing levels require an office. Choosing incorrectly can significantly increase annual costs.
Does the investor visa allow me to work for clients outside the UAE (remotely) and invoice from Dubai?
Normally yes, provided your licence covers that activity and you invoice through your structure. The key is that the business model is aligned with the activity and the licence to avoid banking or administrative blocks.
Can I have a partner in Colombia while I reside in Dubai on an investor visa?
Yes, you can structure the company with partners in Colombia or other countries. The key is to clearly define shareholdings, signing powers and who acts as manager / authorized signatory, as this affects procedures and banking.
What mistakes make a "cheap company" expensive in the first year?
Choosing a licence that does not cover your actual activity, failing to budget for recurring costs (renewal, office, visas), taking on "packages" without banking support, and not planning from the start the objective: bank account, invoicing, family visa or hiring.
The trust of those who already
work with us
From Bogotá or Medellín
to Dubai, with the right
visa from day one.
Book an initial consultation with no commitment. We design the optimal path tailored to your Colombian profile, from apostilles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the opening of your UAE bank account.
Book a consultation →