Types of UAE visas and residency
A UAE residence visa lets you live in the country, open a personal bank account, obtain an Emirates ID, rent a home in your own name and sponsor your family. The main routes are:
- Golden Visa — a long-term 5- or 10-year visa with no local sponsor;
- investor/partner visa through your own free zone or mainland company — see investor and employee visas;
- employment visa;
- family visa for a spouse, children and, in some cases, parents, sponsored by a resident.
Golden Visa: the main categories
According to the official u.ae portal, the Golden Visa is issued for 5 or 10 years depending on the category:
- investors — in real estate or public investments, with a minimum threshold of AED 2 million;
- entrepreneurs with an innovative or technology-based project;
- exceptional talent and specialists — doctors, scientists, creatives, executives, athletes and others;
- outstanding students and graduates;
- humanitarian pioneers.
Golden Visa holders can sponsor family members and stay outside the UAE for longer than the usual six months without losing status. Detailed requirements — what counts towards a property's value, whether mortgaged or off-plan units qualify, what proof of income is needed — change over time and vary by emirate, so we check them at the date of application.
Golden Visa through property
For buyers of Dubai property this is the most common route. Before you buy, it pays to confirm that the unit will meet the requirements: the value recorded with the DLD, the ownership structure, joint ownership and off-plan status. If you are still choosing, combine the visa check with transaction support.
How the process works
- Diagnosis (1–2 days). We review your assets, family and goals and pick the visa category.
- Documents. We prepare the checklist and, where needed, arrange legalisation and translation of Russian and CIS documents (marriage and birth certificates, diplomas).
- Application. We manage filing with the relevant authorities and platforms (ICP, GDRFA Dubai, DLD — depending on the category).
- Medical and Emirates ID. We coordinate the final steps that need you in the UAE in person.
- Family. We process visas for your spouse and children.
Timing depends on the category, the completeness of documents and authority workloads.
Common mistakes
- buying a property that does not technically meet the value or ownership requirements;
- unlegalised marriage and birth certificates — no family visa;
- inconsistent transliteration of names across passport, title and company documents;
- missed renewals and overstay fines.
Renewals, status changes and family
UAE residency has to be maintained: visas and Emirates IDs renewed on time, insurance kept current, changes of employer or sponsoring company reported. When moving from a company-based investor visa to a Golden Visa, or selling the property your visa is based on, plan the sequence in advance so you are never left without status.
We also help with visas for children born in the UAE and with documents for schools. If your residency is tied to a business, see company formation in the UAE.
Fees
Visa support is a fixed-price project from AED 5,000; government fees, medicals, insurance and translations are paid separately and itemised in the estimate. A consultation is from AED 750 for 60 minutes and is credited if you sign a contract.
FAQ
5 or 10 years depending on the category, and it can be renewed while the grounds still apply.
In some cases yes, but the conditions change and depend on the emirate and developer. We check the specific unit before you buy.
Yes — a Golden Visa or residence visa holder can sponsor a spouse and children, subject to document requirements.
Preparation and filing are handled remotely, but the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics require a personal visit.