Work for yourself in Dubai, in your own name.
A freelance license or permit is a sole proprietor establishment issued in your name — you, working independently. With the license you can invoice your clients, and with the package, live in the UAE on your own residency visa.
- Issued in your own name, for your approved freelance activities
- Residency visa, medical and Emirates ID when your package includes them
- A written quotation before you pay, and one consultant throughout
Which one do you need?
Tick what your work needs. Nothing is sent until you choose to.
A license covers everything you ticked.
Approval is decided by the authorities, never by us.
One application, handled end to end.
You fill in one online form. A consultant checks it, quotes it in writing, and follows the application through every authority step until it is done.
License or permit
A sole proprietor establishment in your own name, for the freelance activities you choose.
Up to 10 activities
Pick from the published list, or describe your work and let the assistant suggest activities.
Residency visa
Establishment card, entry permit, change of status, medical and Emirates ID, where your package includes them.
Everything in writing
A written quotation before you pay, the terms you accept emailed to you, and progress you can track online.
The difference is what you can do with it.
Both are issued in your own name and both keep your work freelance. For most clients the license is the stronger choice.
| What you get | Freelance license | Freelance permit |
|---|---|---|
| Issued in your own name | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Work in your approved freelance activities | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Invoice your clients | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Access to a business bank account | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| UAE residency visa | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Sponsor your family | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
A permit suits someone working in a professional activity who will never invoice clients, open a business account or sponsor anyone. Changing from a permit to a license later can add fees and time.
Every stage, and who does what.
You can follow all of it online with your reference and email. The authorities decide each approval; we prepare, submit and chase.
Your details, activities and documents in one form.
A person reviews every file and your written quotation follows.
The application goes for approval, then KYC verification.
Your freelance license & permit, then establishment card and E-Channel.
Entry permit and change of status, medical, then stamping.
Your licence lists the work you actually do.
Choose up to 10 activities from the published list. Not sure which ones fit? Describe your work on the form and an AI assistant suggests activities you can accept or untick.
Can I get a residency visa with this?
Yes, with a freelance license and a package that includes it. Your licence sponsors your residency visa, and the process covers the establishment card, entry permit, change of status, medical examination and Emirates ID. The immigration authority decides every one of those.
Can I sponsor my family?
Family sponsorship comes with a freelance license, not a permit. Tell your consultant before you choose if sponsoring your family matters to you.
What does it cost?
It depends on your package — license or permit, and whether a residency visa is included. You get a written quotation before you pay anything, and the terms you accept are emailed to you.
What happens if the application is rejected?
Approval is never guaranteed. If the initial approval is rejected, Trivup deducts AED 1,000 from the amount paid as an application, administrative and documentation fee, and the rest is refunded under the terms you accepted.
What about renewal, cancelling or transferring?
A licence and permit are renewed each year, and renewal is not automatic — you get a renewal quotation to approve first. If you later cancel your package or transfer it, including asking for an NOC, Trivup charges a service fee for handling that request, on top of government fees. The fee is set at the time and told to you before we act.
Send your application, or ask first.
The online form takes one sitting and saves as you go. If you'd rather ask a question first, a consultant replies on WhatsApp.