UAE Residence Visas
For investors, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and employees of Emirati companies
About the UAE Residence Visa Programme
A residence visa equals a residence permit in the UAE. The visa can be obtained on different grounds: for purchasing a property, opening a company, getting employed or obtaining a freelancer’s licence in the Emirates. Residence visas are also issued to family members of foreigners who legally reside in the UAE. The visa can be obtained by purchasing real estate, including deals with a mortgage. One can buy finished properties or the ones under construction.
The residence visa is issued within 2—3 months. The visa validity period is one to ten years, depending on the obtaining grounds. It is subject to renewal for the same period. It is optional to live in the UAE to maintain a residence visa. Some visa types, like the one issued for property purchase, allow the holder to visit the UAE only once or twice a year while keeping residency. UAE citizenship can be obtained by naturalisation after 30 years of living in the UAE or earlier for exceptional merit. An applicant must give up any other citizenship.
2-3 months Obtaining Period
1-10 years Visa validity period
8 facts about the UAE
Benefits of the UAE residence visas
Who can get a UAE residence visa by property purchase
2 year visa
10 year visa
Investment expenses
To obtain a UAE residence visa, the investor pays for legal support, buys a property, and pays a registration fee. After that, the investor passes a medical examination in the UAE, purchases health insurance for all family members and pays a fee for the issuance of the documents.
Let’s observe an investor’s costs for obtaining a 10-year residence visa.
| Investor | Married couple | Married couple with two children under 18 | |
| Purchase of real estate | AED 2,000,000+ ($545,000+) | AED 2,000,000+ ($545,000+) | AED 2,000,000+ ($545,000+) |
| Registration fee The rate depends on the emirate. In Dubai, the tax rate is 4% and usually paid in half by the buyer and the seller | AED 160,000+ ($21,800+) | AED 160,000+ ($21,800+) | AED 160,000+ ($21,800+) |
| Translation of documents, certification by a notary, consular legalisation | $1,000 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Medical insurance | $500 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Visa issuance fees Medical examination an application processing fee, and issuance of the visa and national ID card | AED 4,037+ ($1,100+) | AED 8,440+ ($2,300+) | AED 17,250+ ($4,700+) |
| Total | $569,400+ | $572,100+ | $577,500+ |
Dubai real estate for getting a residence visa
Apartments in a new residential complex by the sea €419,000+
$518,000+
Townhouse in a new residential project in Monte Carlo style
211+ m2 4—5 beds 4—5 bathrooms
$791,000+
Designer apartments in a residential complex with direct access to the beach
62+ m2 1—5 beds 1—5 bathrooms
$602,000+
Premium apartments in a new residential complex
105+ m2 4—5 beds 4—5 bathrooms
$200,000+
Apartments in a luxury complex in the Jumeirah Lake Towers area
72+ m2 1—3 beds 1—3 bathrooms
Step-by-step procedure for obtaining the UAE residence visa by purchasing real estate
Preliminary Due Diligence
A certified Compliance Anti Money Laundering Officer studies the investor’s documents and assesses potential risks. It helps prepare for government Due Diligence and detect issues in advance.
The procedure is confidential; only a copy of the investor’s passport is needed. If there are issues that could cause the rejection of the visa application, we will offer a solution or other programs.
The preliminary Due Diligence reduces the rejection risk for our clients to 1%.
Preparation of documents
Immigrant Invest lawyers compile a list of documents for application, and the investor provides the originals.
Lawyers arrange translation and notarisation of documents.
After that, the consular legalisation of documents is needed.
Property purchase
You can choose and buy a property remotely. Specialists of the Immigrant Invest Real Estate Department will select a property according to your tasks and wishes, arrange a property examination online or onsite in the UAE, and check the real estate title and the contract terms. Then lawyers help register the property and obtain an ownership certificate for the residence visa application.
Medical examination in the UAE
The investor and their family members over 18 do fluorography and take blood tests for dangerous infections at an accredited clinic in the UAE. The clinic issues a health certificate for the visa application.
Submitting biometrics and applying for a visa
The investor and their family members submit the biometric data at a typing centre in the UAE and apply for a visa to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.
Immigrant Invest lawyers accompany the investor in the UAE from applying to obtaining the visa
Due Diligence
Applicants undergo Due Diligence to prove they are no threat to national security and public order.
The check usually takes 5—7 days, but questions may arise, and additional documents may be requested during the process. In this case, the processing period may extend up to 30 days. Immigrant Invest lawyers reply to additional requests.
Getting a residence visa
After the investor’s application has been approved,
the applicants receive Emirates IDs, and residence visas are pasted into their passports.
UAE residence visa by opening a company
2+ weeks Obtaining period
3 years Visa validity period
Key points about UAE residence visas by opening a company
Entrepreneurs can get UAE residence visas in different ways. For example, investing in a local company or getting approval from a business incubator. We will look into a fast and relatively inexpensive path — company registration. Opening a company in the UAE is available to any foreigner.
A company can be registered in a free zone or outside it. Registration in a free zone might be more beneficial for international companies because a foreigner can own 100% of the company’s shares, the profits are tax-free for 15 years, and no fees are charged on import and export.
To open a company, one must get a licence first. Governmental permission is required to perform some activities like medical services, banking or oil business. A company also needs to rent or buy an office. To get residential visas for the company’s owner and staff, a special document is required — an Establishment Card or a Company Immigration Card. A card is issued by the migration office of the emirate where the company is registered. The fee is up to AED 5,000 ($1,360). The card is valid for a year, subject to renewal. The visa validity period for the business owner is three years. It can be renewed an unlimited number of times
Who can get a UAE residence visa by opening a company
Family members get residence visas after the main applicant who acts as a sponsor for the relatives.
Steps to register a company in UAE
To open a company outside free zones, one must:
The procedure of registering a business in a free zone is similar. In addition to the described steps, an entrepreneur selects a free zone. There are about 40 free zones in the UAE, and many of them are field-specific.
After registering a company, an entrepreneur must collect documents, pass a medical examination at an accredited clinic in the UAE and apply for a residence visa.
UAE residence visa for freelancers and remote workers
Up to 3 years Visa validity period
AED 7,500+ Licence cost in Dubai
UAE residence visas for freelancers
Foreigners can get a residence visa as licensed freelancers or remote workers.
| Licensed freelancer | Remote worker | |
| Visa validity period | 3 years | 1 year |
| Requirements | Licence in a free zone of a corresponding activity | Employment contract for at least a year Monthly salary of $5,000+ Bank statement for 3 months and salary certificate for the last month |
| Basic expenses for getting a residence visa | AED 5,000 ($2,042) — visa fee AED 7,500+ ($2,042) — freelancer’s licence AED 2,000 ($545) — Establishment Сard | AED 2,451 ($667) — visa fee $500 — health insurance |
The 5-year Green Visa for freelancers was announced in 2022. To get such a visa, an applicant must provide a diploma of higher education and prove income of at least AED 360,000 (about $98,000) from freelance activities for the last two years. However, one cannot apply for this visa; the launch date has yet to be revealed.
Who can get a UAE residence visa for freelancers
Family members get residence visas after the main applicant who acts as a sponsor for the relatives
