Investor (partner) visa for the founder
A shareholder in a mainland or free zone company can obtain a residence visa as an investor or partner in that company. An investor visa lets you live in the UAE, open a personal bank account, get an Emirates ID and a driving licence, and sponsor your family. Validity and the shareholding or capital requirements depend on the company's jurisdiction and the visa category.
Larger investors can apply for the separate 10-year Golden Visa — see below and our page on UAE visas and residency.
Employee visas and quotas
To hire a foreign employee, the company first obtains a work permit and then a residence visa. On the mainland this goes through MOHRE (the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation); in a free zone, through the zone authority.
- Quota. Visa numbers are limited: in free zones they are tied to the licence package and office size, on the mainland to the office and departmental approvals. A flexi-desk usually comes with a minimal allocation.
- Employment contract. Issued on the prescribed form; terms must comply with UAE labour law.
- Costs. By law the employer bears the employee's visa fees, insurance and medical test.
For a dispute with an employee, see employment disputes in the UAE.
How the visa process works
- An entry permit if the person is outside the UAE, or a change of status inside the country.
- Medical fitness test at an approved centre.
- Biometrics and the Emirates ID application.
- Health insurance — mandatory for residents of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- Residence visa issued (now electronic and linked to the Emirates ID).
Timing depends on the emirate, the free zone and authority workloads; extra documents may be requested at any stage. For some professions, foreign degrees must be attested and legalised.
Family visas
A UAE resident — founder or employee — can sponsor a spouse, children and, under certain conditions, parents. You will need proof of income or salary at the level set for sponsors, a tenancy contract and legalised marriage and birth certificates. Documents from Russia and the CIS usually need an apostille or legalisation and an Arabic translation — we cover this under powers of attorney and legalisation.
Golden Visa for investors
The Golden Visa is a 10-year residence visa that needs no sponsor and is not cancelled by long stays outside the UAE. For investors the main routes are:
- property worth AED 2 million or more (with conditions on the property and, for mortgaged property, the lender);
- at least AED 2 million placed in an accredited UAE investment fund or in a UAE company's capital.
There are also categories for entrepreneurs, skilled professionals and others, each with its own criteria. The rules change from time to time, so before applying we check them against the current ICP and Dubai residency requirements.
What we do
- Plan your visa allocation before you choose an office and licence package, so you don't have to move later.
- Process visas for the founder, staff and family and track renewal dates.
- Check Golden Visa eligibility and prepare the application.
Visa support is included in a company formation project (from AED 5,000) or a retainer (from AED 3,500/month). Government fees, medicals and insurance are paid separately as per the estimate.
FAQ
It depends on the jurisdiction, the licence package and the office. In free zones the quota is usually tied to the package and space; on the mainland, to the office and approvals. Plan it before choosing an office.
Yes, for the medical test and biometrics. Document preparation and filing can be handled remotely under a power of attorney.
Not by itself. The Golden Visa requires meeting separate criteria, such as investing AED 2 million or more, or qualifying as an entrepreneur or skilled professional.
Yes. An investor resident can sponsor a spouse and children, subject to income and housing requirements and legalised family documents.