The United Arab Emirates has quietly—but significantly—tightened the documentation required for its popular Remote Working (Digital Nomad) Visa. From 27 January 2026, applicants must now submit six months of consecutive bank statements instead of the previous three. Immigration specialists say the change effectively raises the minimum length of employment with an overseas company to half a year, because salary deposits are used as the primary proof of ongoing income.
The Remote Working Visa, first piloted in Dubai in 2020 and rolled out federally in 2022, allows foreign professionals to live in the UAE for up to twelve months while working for an employer based abroad. It has become a magnet for start-ups, distributed teams and solo consultants who value the country’s tax advantages, time-zone overlap with Europe and Asia, and world-class digital infrastructure. Demand surged in 2025 when corporate offices globally adopted "remote-first" policies.
Fragomen and several regional media outlets confirmed that immigration portals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were updated overnight to reject applications that do not show six months of salary credits. In practical terms, this means brand-new freelancers or employees who have switched jobs recently will have to wait longer—or provide additional evidence such as pay slips, tax returns or proof of long-term contracts.
![UAE Tightens Remote-Working Visa Rules, Doubling Bank-Statement Requirement]()
For applicants unsure how to navigate these stricter requirements, VisaHQ can streamline the process by offering tailored checklists, pre-submission document reviews and direct online filing for the UAE’s Remote Working Visa. Their local experts keep pace with real-time rule changes and can suggest alternative proofs of income when banking records are patchy. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/
Law firms are advising employers to issue letters that explicitly confirm remote-work approval for at least twelve months, and to prepare staff for a slightly longer lead time when relocating to the Emirates. Remote workers already holding the one-year visa are unaffected until renewal, but they too will need to meet the six-month proof at extension time.
For multinationals using the UAE as a hub for regional project teams, the rule change is a reminder that the government continues to fine-tune newer visa categories. HR departments should build a bigger buffer into mobility timelines and double-check that payroll set-ups generate clear, regular deposits that immigration officials can trace.
The Remote Working Visa, first piloted in Dubai in 2020 and rolled out federally in 2022, allows foreign professionals to live in the UAE for up to twelve months while working for an employer based abroad. It has become a magnet for start-ups, distributed teams and solo consultants who value the country’s tax advantages, time-zone overlap with Europe and Asia, and world-class digital infrastructure. Demand surged in 2025 when corporate offices globally adopted "remote-first" policies.
Fragomen and several regional media outlets confirmed that immigration portals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were updated overnight to reject applications that do not show six months of salary credits. In practical terms, this means brand-new freelancers or employees who have switched jobs recently will have to wait longer—or provide additional evidence such as pay slips, tax returns or proof of long-term contracts.
For applicants unsure how to navigate these stricter requirements, VisaHQ can streamline the process by offering tailored checklists, pre-submission document reviews and direct online filing for the UAE’s Remote Working Visa. Their local experts keep pace with real-time rule changes and can suggest alternative proofs of income when banking records are patchy. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/
Law firms are advising employers to issue letters that explicitly confirm remote-work approval for at least twelve months, and to prepare staff for a slightly longer lead time when relocating to the Emirates. Remote workers already holding the one-year visa are unaffected until renewal, but they too will need to meet the six-month proof at extension time.
For multinationals using the UAE as a hub for regional project teams, the rule change is a reminder that the government continues to fine-tune newer visa categories. HR departments should build a bigger buffer into mobility timelines and double-check that payroll set-ups generate clear, regular deposits that immigration officials can trace.
