v256.0 · relocation checklist · IN → AE · verified 2026-04
India to UAE — relocation checklist
17-step ordered checklist covering visa, banking, healthcare, housing, taxes, schooling, shipping, and pets. Written for the Indian professional, freelancer, founder, or family seeking tax-free salary + Golden Visa pathway.
From
Total cost
₹4-15 lakh (USD 5,000-18,000) — visa, deposit, shipping, setup
Timeline
6-12 weeks pre-arrival, 4 weeks post-arrival to full setup
Typical profile for this pair
Indian professional, freelancer, founder, or family seeking tax-free salary + Golden Visa pathway
Step-by-step checklist (17 steps)
Pre-departure (8-12 weeks out)
- Choose visa pathway — Golden Visa (AED 2M investment or AED 30K/month salary), Employment Visa, Investor Visa, Family Visa, Green Visa (5-year skilled)
- Apply for emigration clearance / PCC from local Indian police station
- Obtain attested educational + experience certificates via MEA Apostille (valid 6 months)
Pre-departure (6-10 weeks out)
- Apply for UAE residence visa via employer (Employment) or UAE consulate (Golden/Investor)
Pre-departure (4-8 weeks out)
- Tax planning — file IT-30 declaration; use LRS USD 250K/year cap strategically
Pre-departure (4-6 weeks out)
- Convert NRO/NRE accounts at HDFC/ICICI/SBI · open Wise multi-currency
Pre-departure (3-4 weeks out)
- Medical fitness test at UAE-approved center (₹2,500-5,000)
Pre-departure (2-3 weeks out)
- Ship household goods via sea freight Nhava Sheva/Mundra to Jebel Ali (30-45 days, ₹50K-3 lakh) or air freight via Emirates SkyCargo
Pre-departure (1-2 weeks out)
- Cancel utilities, settle leases, transfer EPF/PPF to NPS/NRI accounts
Pre-departure (1 week out)
- Pet shipping — UAE import permit + microchip + rabies + USDA-equivalent vet certificate (USD 500-1,500)
Arrival (Week 1)
- Emirates ID biometric appointment within 30 days at any Tasheel center
- Ejari rental contract registration (mandatory for utility + bank account)
Arrival (Week 1-2)
- Open UAE bank account (Emirates NBD, FAB, ADCB, RAKBANK)
Arrival (Week 2-3)
- Set up utilities (DEWA Dubai / ADDC Abu Dhabi) + mobile (Etisalat, du) + internet
Arrival (Week 2-4)
- Enroll children — GEMS, Delhi Private School, Indian High School, CBSE/IB curriculum
Arrival (Week 3-4)
- Set up mandatory health insurance — Daman, AXA Gulf, Bupa Arabia (employer often provides)
Arrival (Month 2-3)
- File Indian ITR for partial year; obtain UAE FTA Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) for India-UAE DTAA benefits
Cost breakdown
| Visa application (Golden/Investor/Employment) | AED 3,000-15,000 |
| Medical + Emirates ID | AED 1,500 |
| Ejari + first month rent + deposit (Dubai 2BR) | AED 15,000-40,000 |
| Shipping (sea freight 20ft container) | ₹50,000-3,00,000 |
| School fees (per child, K-12 international) | AED 30,000-100,000/year |
| Initial bank deposit | AED 3,000-25,000 |
| Pet relocation | USD 500-1,500 |
⚠ Gotchas + watch-outs
- 20% TCS on outbound forex remittance >₹7 lakh/year (LRS) — plan transfers around fiscal year boundary
- Indian ITR still required for India-source income (rental, dividends, capital gains)
- Cannot sponsor parents on Family Visa unless salary >AED 20K/month (raised 2023)
- PCC validity 6 months — apply close to visa filing
- India-UAE DTAA (1992) prevents double taxation — file TRC promptly
Official sources
- UAE GDRFA visa — https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/
- India MEA Emigration — https://emigrate.gov.in/
- India-UAE DTAA — https://incometaxindia.gov.in/Pages/international-taxation/dtaa.aspx
See also: India profile · United Arab Emirates profile · all relocation checklists · United Arab Emirates digital nomad visa · United Arab Emirates tax residency · United Arab Emirates banking · United Arab Emirates healthcare
Last verified 2026-04. Immigration, tax, and banking rules change frequently — verify with official sources before acting.