The United Arab Emirates has quietly tightened the eligibility rules for its Remote Work (Virtual Work Residence) Visa, a programme that lets foreign professionals live in the country for a year while working for overseas employers. Effective 27 January 2026, applicants must now submit six consecutive months of bank statements rather than the previous three months to prove a stable foreign income of at least US $3,500 per month. Immigration advisors familiar with the change say files that arrive with only three months of salary deposits are already being returned as incomplete.
Officials have not altered the salary threshold itself, but the longer documentary period gives authorities a clearer view of whether an applicant’s earnings are consistent and sustainable. The move aligns the UAE with EU digital-nomad schemes in Portugal and Spain, which also require half-a-year’s worth of financial evidence. It is part of a wider recalibration of the UAE’s mobility ecosystem that has seen the Golden, Green and family-sponsorship visas all tweaked in the past 12 months to favour «quality» expatriates who can contribute economically without adding strain on government services.
Prospective applicants who find the new six-month documentation hurdle daunting can lean on VisaHQ’s end-to-end support: the platform can pre-screen your bank statements, flag any compliance gaps and submit the full Remote Work Visa package directly to UAE authorities on your behalf. For tailored guidance and pricing, visit https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/
![UAE doubles bank-statement requirement for Remote Work Visa applicants]()
For businesses that hire talent remotely, the longer look-back period means recruitment lead-times will lengthen. Candidates who switched jobs recently or took a career break may need to wait before applying or ask employers for proof of continuous earnings across contracts. Start-ups that onboard staff on project-based retainers—a model common in the creative and blockchain sectors—should review whether their pay cycles generate the regular deposits immigration officers expect to see.
Digital-nomad advisers nonetheless stress that the scheme remains one of the world’s more accessible: no local sponsor is needed, the entire process is online, and dependent family members can join on the same permit provided they hold insurance. Processing still averages two to four weeks once paperwork is in order, and renewals after the first year are unaffected by the new rule. Applicants are reminded that health insurance, a letter from the foreign employer confirming remote status, and a police-clearance certificate are also mandatory.
Companies running ‘work-from-anywhere’ policies should update internal relocation guides immediately and budget extra time for candidate document collection. Individuals planning a Q2 or Q3 move to Dubai or Abu Dhabi would be well advised to assemble the required six months of statements now, ensuring they show clear, regular credits from the same employer or contracting entity.
Officials have not altered the salary threshold itself, but the longer documentary period gives authorities a clearer view of whether an applicant’s earnings are consistent and sustainable. The move aligns the UAE with EU digital-nomad schemes in Portugal and Spain, which also require half-a-year’s worth of financial evidence. It is part of a wider recalibration of the UAE’s mobility ecosystem that has seen the Golden, Green and family-sponsorship visas all tweaked in the past 12 months to favour «quality» expatriates who can contribute economically without adding strain on government services.
Prospective applicants who find the new six-month documentation hurdle daunting can lean on VisaHQ’s end-to-end support: the platform can pre-screen your bank statements, flag any compliance gaps and submit the full Remote Work Visa package directly to UAE authorities on your behalf. For tailored guidance and pricing, visit https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/
For businesses that hire talent remotely, the longer look-back period means recruitment lead-times will lengthen. Candidates who switched jobs recently or took a career break may need to wait before applying or ask employers for proof of continuous earnings across contracts. Start-ups that onboard staff on project-based retainers—a model common in the creative and blockchain sectors—should review whether their pay cycles generate the regular deposits immigration officers expect to see.
Digital-nomad advisers nonetheless stress that the scheme remains one of the world’s more accessible: no local sponsor is needed, the entire process is online, and dependent family members can join on the same permit provided they hold insurance. Processing still averages two to four weeks once paperwork is in order, and renewals after the first year are unaffected by the new rule. Applicants are reminded that health insurance, a letter from the foreign employer confirming remote status, and a police-clearance certificate are also mandatory.
Companies running ‘work-from-anywhere’ policies should update internal relocation guides immediately and budget extra time for candidate document collection. Individuals planning a Q2 or Q3 move to Dubai or Abu Dhabi would be well advised to assemble the required six months of statements now, ensuring they show clear, regular credits from the same employer or contracting entity.
