More and more influencers are emigrating to Dubai and there are many reasons for this. On the one hand tax, on the other hand the great infrastructure and the opportunities to network and produce content. But how do you emigrate to Dubai as an influencer?
This comprehensive guide explains how to get your visa, which licenses you need and much more. It also explains the one-off and recurring costs and taxes for influencers.
Prerequisites
Basically, there are no prerequisites for emigrating to Dubai for influencers, as long as you have enough money and can afford the visa. The UAE is extremely liberal when it comes to issuing visas, as long as you can afford the cost of living and have a job or your own company that makes the visa possible. More on this shortly.
Taxes
One of the main reasons for emigration is, of course, the taxes or the Tax advantages in Dubai. In principle, most influencers in Dubai are still tax-exempt. This is because the following tax regulations apply to small businesses and influencers:
- 0 % Corporate income tax on revenue of less than €750,000 (3 million AED) – 9 % on revenue above that amount
- 0 % Income Tax
- 0 % Tax on Investment Income & Dividends (Stocks, Cryptocurrency, etc.)
- 0 % Tax on Rental Income
- 0 % Tax on Inheritance, Gifts, and Wealth
Visa
There are basically three common ways of doing this Residence visa in Dubai can receive. These are investment or real estate purchase, company foundation or employment or job. Most influencers set up their own company and hire themselves through it. As long as the company is active, the visa or residence permit remains valid.
Influencer Visa
However, if you have an enormous international reach and a certain relevance for the UAE, you can also try to obtain an influencer visa. This is a special form of the Golden Visa, which allows residence for 10 years and can be renewed afterwards.
The total number of Golden Visas is limited to 10,000 and the requirements are generally strict. These include, among others:
- Large reach (several hundred thousand followers)
- International relevance
- Ideally awards
- English speaking
Anyone who fulfills these requirements can use the Creative HQ submit an application.
For most people, however, setting up a company in Dubai is the more common and easier option.
Licenses
All influencers must have a Influencer license or Advertiser Permit, as it is correctly called. This must be applied for in addition to the company's licenses. For example, if you establish a company in the area of social media marketing, you will also need the permit that allows you to work as an influencer. This license must be obtained from [The sentence is cut off here]. New Media Authority can be applied for upon establishment. The costs for this are 5,000 AED in the first year and 2,500 AED for renewal.
Who needs this permit?
Essentially, anyone who shares content online and is compensated for it by a third party needs an advertising permit. In practice, the following professional groups are generally affected:
- YouTuber
- Blogger
- Streamer
- Instagram / TikTok Influencer
Excluded are content creators who merely advertise for themselves or their own products. Therefore, anyone who does not engage in paid collaborations with other companies but exclusively advertises for their own business is exempt.
Process
Below is a step-by-step guide to immigrating to Dubai as an influencer. This should be well-planned so that everything can be smoothly completed within a few weeks.
Deregistration
The first step is to plan your relocation, which includes properly deregistering in your home country. However, this doesn't just involve the local registration office, but also the tax office, insurance, and actually relinquishing your place of residence. Only by relinquishing your place of residence are tax obligations and emigration completed.
Furthermore, one should also consider the topic of exit tax and exit taxation if one owns shares in companies or is an active entrepreneur oneself. This should definitely be clarified by a tax advisor on a case-by-case basis.
Company Formation
At the same time, one should also take care of Founding a company in Dubai take care. It is absolutely essential to choose the right free zone, which offers the necessary licenses in the field of social media marketing and content creation. For example, it is recommended here to Founding a company with IFZA or in the Meydan Freezone. The company can be founded remotely and the following documents and details are required.
- Company name
- Activities / Licenses
- Managing Director
- Owner / Shareholder
- Share capital
- VISA selection
- Personal master data
- Current proof of address
You will then receive an e-mail to sign and confirm the submission.
Approval via NMA (Advertiser Permit)
During company formation, you will be asked to obtain a license or permit for the desired activities. For influencers and content creators, the New Media Authority is responsible for this. You submit your personal documents and a description of your intended activities here.
After paying the fee of 5,000 AED (only 2,500 AED in the first year afterwards), you will receive approval and can complete the company formation. This step usually takes 1-2 weeks.
Entry via eVISA
Once the company is established and you have obtained the permit, you can Residence Visa in Dubai apply. This is a form for obtaining the visa. Initially, however, you only receive the eVisa. A temporary Employment Visa, which is valid for 60 days and must be presented upon entry.
If you enter the country as a tourist instead of an employee (of your own company), you must submit a change of status. This should be avoided as it incurs additional costs.
Medical Check
On-site, you will then need to complete a short medical test. With the VIP application, this only takes a few minutes and you will receive the result within a few hours. With a “FIT” result, you can then proceed to the next step.
Emirates ID application
The result is then used to submit an application to a typing center for a Emirates ID. The Emirates ID is an identity card and the central document in Dubai. This one-page form is crucial and must be carried again at the next step.
Biometrics
Biometrics takes place in another official facility. The result of the medical check and the Emirates ID application are presented here. Fingerprints are then taken, which are subsequently stored on the Emirates ID.
Receipt of the Emirates ID / RV
After a few days, you will receive your Emirates ID and Residence Visa by email. This makes you an official resident of the UAE, allowing you to stay and work in Dubai on an ongoing basis.
Bank Account Opening
Once you have received your Emirates ID, you can apply for a Open a bank account in Dubai. Both for individuals and for companies, there are numerous options. The following banks are among those that can be recommended:
- Wio
- Mashreq
- ENBD
- FAB
Costs
The costs of emigration can be calculated relatively accurately from a bureaucratic and official perspective. Below is a list of the costs for the emigration of an influencer:
- Company Formation Free Zone: €4,000
- Permit: 1,200 €
- Medical Check, Biometrics, Emirates ID & Residence Visa: €600
- Costs for concierge / agency for emigration: 1,000 - 2,000 €
The last cost item is of course optional, but highly recommended, as several bureaucratic steps are necessary and if you are not familiar with them, it can often take weeks to get everything done. With a competent emigration agency, the entire process is usually completed in a few days.
Rules for influencers in Dubai
Apart from the tax aspects and the requirements for licenses and permits, there are generally a few basic rules one should observe.
- No gambling ads
- No alcohol advertisements
- Do not spread misinformation
- No defamatory content
Anyone who violates these rules or generally works as a content creator without a permit will face hefty fines of several thousand dirhams.
Influencers already living in Dubai
There is already a large number of influencers living in Dubai, and it has become a real hub for content creators. Below is a list of well-known influencers who have been living in Dubai for many years.
- Iman Gadzhi
- Andrew Tate
- Mike Thurston
- Mo Vlogs
- Supercar Blondie
FAQ
Below is an overview of frequently asked questions from influencers regarding emigration.
At what income should you emigrate as an influencer?
As a general rule, it is recommended to emigrate to Dubai only if you have a monthly income of €5,000 or more. Due to the increased Cost of living in Dubai should definitely be taken into account. However, anyone who earns more will be able to set a lot aside, as they will be living largely tax-free.
Which influencers should not emigrate?
In principle, one should not emigrate if one advertises content such as gambling, alcohol, or similar things as a content creator.
Summary
Moving to Dubai as an influencer definitely makes a lot of sense for many. This is because the tax advantages are enormous, the networking infrastructure is great, and there are many opportunities to produce interesting content.
If you are a global influencer, you can try to obtain an Influencer VISA. Otherwise, choose the path of a Freezone company formation and obtains the appropriate approval from the NMA for it. The total cost for emigration, usually through an agency, is typically €7,000 - €8,000.
