Visas

The 10-year Golden Visa in the UAE is a type of investor visa with specific requirements that should be fulfilled by the applicant.

It is considered as a residency visa by investment because the applicant must have public investments of a certain amount in the UAE. Check out the requirements and conditions as stated below.

Requirements:

One of the following requirements for the UAE Golden Visa must be fulfilled:

• An investment in the UAE that’s no less than AED 10 M
• Being an owner of a company within the UAE whose capital is at least AED 10 M
• Partnering in a company in the UAE with a share that’s valued at a minimum of AED 10 M
• Investing in all of the above sectors mentioned in previous points with a total amount of AED 10 M at least (given that 60% of the total investments should be in non-real estate sectors).

Guidelines:

• The investor shouldn’t be loaned the money they invest
• The investment must be retained for a duration of 3 years
• The investor should have financial assets amounting to AED 10 M
• If the investor wishes, business partners can be included in the investment, provided they invest an amount of AED 10 M each.

Validity:

• This visa is valid for 10 years and will be renewed automatically.

There’s always the question of whether you can get a residency if you buy a property in Dubai or the UAE, and the answer is yes. If you’re wondering how, you can achieve residency through property investment, you should read about this type of residency visa.

Requirements:

• Passport
• Previous visa
• Personal photo (white background)
• The title deed of the property
• Good Conduct Certificate
• Bank statement
• Health insurance approved by DHA
• Utility bill.

Validity:

• It is valid for 5 years with automatic renewal.

Residents in the UAE who are above the age of 55 years old can apply for a retirement visa.

Requirements:

One of the following requirements must be fulfilled:

• The applicant must have an investment in a real estate property that’s worth AED 2 M (in this case it is considered a type of investment visa)
• The applicant must have savings in the amount of AED 1 M or more
• It would help if you had ongoing income that’s worth at least AED 20,000 per month
• The applicant can combine owning a property and their savings in the UAE, amounting to AED 2 M

Documents:

The below copies are required by the applicants in any of the above cases:

• Passport (applicants and their dependants if any)
• Marriage certificate (when applicants are spouses)
• Current UAE residency visa
• Emirates ID

Further specific documents are required depending on the case as follows:

• Real estate investment
• Copy of title deed
• Savings
• Proof of retirement letter
• Proof of savings in UAE letter
• Fixed income
• Proof of retirement letter
• Proof of income letter
• Bank statement of 6 months
• Property investment and savings
• Copy of title deed
• Proof of savings letter.

Validity:

• The UAE retirement visa is valid for 5 years and can be renewed.

The first type of residency visa in the UAE is obtained when a foreign national is employed by a company within the country. This type of visa allows them to legally live and work in the UAE.

Documents:

Some documents are required from the company and the employee as follows:

For a mainland company, copies of the following are required:

Company

• Trade License
• Company Immigration Card
• Company Labour Card

Employee

• Passport
• Personal photo (white background)
• Education certificate
• Previous residency visa if applicable
• Previous Emirates ID if applicable
• Tourist Visa if applicable
• Health Insurance approved by DHA

For a Freezone company or government entity, copies of the following documents are required:

Company

• Online visa application
• Trade License
• Company Immigration Card
• Office Lease Agreement

Employee

• Passport
• Personal photo (white background)
• Copy of offer letter/appointment letter
• Education certificate
• Previous residency visa if applicable
• Previous Emirates ID if applicable
• Tourist Visa if applicable
• Health Insurance approved by DHA

Validity:

• The UAE Employment Visa’s validity with a mainland company is 2 years
• The UAE Employment Visa’s validity with a freezone company or government entity is 3 years.
• Both visas are subject to renewal.

This UAE residency visa is acquired by foreigners who are owners of their own company in the UAE or hold shares in one. Furthermore, it’s for expats looking to start up their own businesses in the country.

The UAE residency visa by investment gives legality to its holder to live and work in the country for its duration of validity.

Documents:

For investing in a mainland company, the following copies are required from the company and the investor:

Company:

• Trade License
• Immigration Establishment Card
• Memorandum of Association (LLC)
• Local Service Agreement
• Partnership contract if available
• Partners list (LLC)

Investor:

• Passport
• Personal photo (white background)
• Bank statement if applicable
• Previous visa if applicable
• Previous Emirates ID if applicable

For those investing in a Freezone company or government entity, these copies will be required as follows:

Company:

• Trade License
• Share Certificate
• Immigration Card
• Memorandum of Association
• Certificate of Incorporation

Investor:

• Passport
• Personal photo (white background)
• Bank statement if applicable
• Previous visa if applicable
• Previous Emirates ID if applicable

Validity:

• This type of investor visa is valid for 3 years, subject to renewal.

1. UAE Family Visa

If an expat has acquired any type of residency visa within the UAE, they are then able to be a sponsor to their immediate family.

Requirements:

• Investors looking to sponsor their family have to pay a refundable amount of AED 3,000 per family member.
• For employees wanting to sponsor their families, their salary has to be at least AED 4,000. Alternatively, it can be AED 3,000 plus the monthly rent.
• When sponsoring parents, the person’s monthly income should not be less than AED 20,000. In this case, both parents are sponsored; if one is deceased, their death certificate is required.

Documents:

Sponsor:

• Passport copy
• UAE residency visa copy
• Original Emirates ID
• Labor card and contract by Ministry of Labour copy
• For employment by Freezone or a governmental facility, an Arabic salary certificate
• Ejari or Tawtheeq Certificate
• Utility bill
• Bank statement if applicable

Dependants:

• Passport (with at least 6 months validity)
• Passport-size photo (white background)
• Previous visa copy if applicable
• Marriage certificate (if the dependant is the spouse)
• Birth certificate for children
• Health insurance approved by DHA

Validity:

• Family visas have different durations depending on the type of visa their sponsor carries. They can be issued from 1 to 3 years or in parallel to the sponsor’s visa duration. Renewal depends on the case.
• Furthermore, family visas are linked to the visas of their sponsors. If for any reason the sponsor’s UAE residency visa is cancelled, then the dependents’ visas have to be cancelled as well.
• When the sponsor’s visa is cancelled, a grace period for the UAE family residency visa is 30 days to be cancelled. Following this duration, they are subject to fines.

If an expat has acquired any type of residency visa within the UAE, they are then able to be a sponsor to their immediate family.

Requirements:

• Investors looking to sponsor their family have to pay a refundable amount of AED 3,000 per family member.
• For employees wanting to sponsor their families, their salary has to be at least AED 4,000. Alternatively, it can be AED 3,000 plus the monthly rent.
• When sponsoring parents, the person’s monthly income should not be less than AED 20,000. In this case, both parents are sponsored; if one is deceased, their death certificate is required.

Documents:

Sponsor:

• Passport copy
• UAE residency visa copy
• Original Emirates ID
• Labor card and contract by Ministry of Labour copy
• For employment by Freezone or a governmental facility, an Arabic salary certificate
• Ejari or Tawtheeq Certificate
• Utility bill
• Bank statement if applicable

Dependants:

• Passport (with at least 6 months validity)
• Passport-size photo (white background)
• Previous visa copy if applicable
• Marriage certificate (if the dependant is the spouse)
• Birth certificate for children
• Health insurance approved by DHA

Validity:

• Family visas have different durations depending on the type of visa their sponsor carries. They can be issued from 1 to 3 years or in parallel to the sponsor’s visa duration. Renewal depends on the case.
• Furthermore, family visas are linked to the visas of their sponsors. If for any reason the sponsor’s UAE residency visa is cancelled, then the dependents’ visas have to be cancelled as well.
• When the sponsor’s visa is cancelled, a grace period for the UAE family residency visa is 30 days to be cancelled. Following this duration, they are subject to fines.

If expats are looking to recruit a domestic worker, this residency visa should be issued for the worker. In this case, they are sponsoring either a maid, housekeeper, cook, private driver, babysitter, etc.

Requirements:

• The expat looking to be a sponsor has to earn a salary that’s at least AED 25,000
• The domestic worker cannot be related to the person sponsoring them
• The sponsor has to be a UAE resident already who lives with their family
• If the domestic worker is a private driver, then the sponsor must have two personal cars registered under their name in the UAE.

Documents:

Sponsor:

• Visa application
• Proof of non-relation (if a worker is of the same nationality as their sponsor)
• Passport copy
• Resident visa copy
• Passport-size photo (white background)
• Bank statement
• Labor contract copy
• Health insurance card copy
• Tenancy contract (at least 2-bedroom unit)
• Salary certificate

Worker:

• Passport copy
• Visa copy
• Passport-size photo (white background)
• Medical fitness certificate from worker’s country of origin

Validity:

• The visa will be valid for one year and the sponsor can apply for renewal or cancellation.

This is a residency visa that can be granted to special talents working in the Emirates in the fields of science and knowledge. Ongoing employment is mandatory for all applicants.

Requirements:

• Scientists have to be accredited by the Emirates Scientist Council or winners of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence
• Applicants working in the culture and arts field have to be accredited by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development
• Investors must have a patent valuation that adds extreme value to the economy in the UAE, and it has to have approval from the Ministry of Economy
• Any exceptional talents must be documented by patents or published in globally recognized journals
• Executives applying for this visa must own a renowned company that is considered a leading organization on a global scale

On the other hand, doctors and specialists need to fulfil at least two requirements from the below list:

• The applicant’s PhD has to be from a university that is on the list of the best 500 universities in the world and they have experience working in the field for at least 10 years
• The applicant has to be recognized by a special award or a certificate of appreciation for work in their field
• They have contributed significantly to large-scale scientific research in their respective fields
• An article or scientific book in their field has been published by the applicant in a well-known publication
• The applicant is a member of an esteemed organization that specializes in their field of work
• Their specialty is specifically needed and considered a priority profession in the UAE.

Validity:

• The specialist visa’s duration is for 10 years and can be renewed if conditions are still met.

Students looking to apply to educational institutions in the UAE can do so through a student residency visa in the UAE.

Documents:

• Passport copy (validity of at least 6 months)
• Passport-size photo (white background)
• Visa and tuition fees receipt
• Current visa copy (if applicable)
• Copy of admission letter.

Validity:

• The student visa is issued with a 1-year validity period; the student applies for renewal on an annual basis until their education years are done.
• Furthermore, outstanding students can apply for a 5-year student visa, provided they have a grade of 95% in secondary school. For university students, their GPA should be 3.75 at least.

The UAE has recently introduced this new type of visa, the: Green Visa. It’s designed to attract highly skilled professionals, investors, entrepreneurs, and students to the country.

It’s also considered one of the investment and employment visa types in UAE as it’s suitable for both cases.

Benefits of Green Visa:

• Long-term residency
• The ability to sponsor family members
• The freedom to work for any UAE-based company or establish a business of their own
• Green Visa holders will have access to healthcare, education, and other government services
• You will also enjoy a more flexible grace period that is up to 6-months after the end or cancellation of your residency visa.
• As a holder of a Green Visa, you can bring all your first-degree relatives.

Sponsorship

The holder of this visa has the right to sponsor all their family members and they get the same residency duration as the holder.

Eligibility 

• Talented people
• Skilled professionals/employees
• Freelancers
• Investors and entrepreneurs.

Requirements:

Skilled Professionals/employees

• You should have a valid employment contract.
• They should be classified at the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd occupational level, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization.
• The minimum educational level must be a BA degree or equivalent
• Your salary shouldn’t be less than AED 15,000 (USD 4,083.74).

Freelancers/Self-employed 

• From the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization in UAE, you should submit a freelance or self-employment permit.
• A proof of their education, while the minimum educational qualification is a BA or specialized diploma.
• Your annual income from self-employment for the past 2 years should be equal to or more than AED 360,000(USD 98,009.86)

Investor or Partner

• You should have an investment of AED 1 millionwith approval or proof of it.
• In case the investor or partner has more than 1 license, the sum of its capital in total will be calculated.
• It’s mandatory to have the approval of the responsible local authorities.

Documents:

• Valid passport for at least 6 months
• A copy of your passport-size photograph on white background
• Medical reports from the responsible local authorities
• Proof of health insurance or health card
• Valid entry permit
• Document proving your qualification
• A freelancing permit from MOHRE or Proof of employment
• An application form fully filled

Validity:

The Green visa in UAE gives you 5-year residence in the country to all the eligible parties.

You are eligible for the investor visa in Dubai after formation of the company in UAE and holds the minimum capital of AED 50,000/- in a local Mainland LLC company, and also for a free zone company any capital allows you to get an investor visa. It is also called a partner visa if it is issued through a partnership firm. Therefore, if it is a single owned company then it is only called an investor visa.

Requirements:

• Opening a company under the person’s name
• Buy a property less than a 2 million worth.
• You can also invest in a property for at least three years with your own money. But, borrowed money and loans obtained through a bank or an individual are not applicable here.

Documents Required:

• The sponsor’s IBAN bank account number
• Card of Establishment
• Memorandum Papers (MOA) as evidence of the ownership stake
• A single image with a white backdrop
• A current UAE visa for the partner (if applicable)
• Copy of the partner’s passport
• The sponsor’s authentic Emirates ID
• Copy of Trade License

Tourist Visa:

1. Tourist Visa Multiple Entry

The multiple entry 5-year tourist visa enables tourists to enter the UAE multiple times on self-sponsorship and remain in the country for 90 days on each visit, and can be extended for further 90 days. This type of tourist visa can be issued for all nationalities.

To obtain this visa, the applicant must have:

• a bank balance of 4,000 USD or its equivalent in foreign currencies during the last six months
• a valid health insurance policy applicable in the UAE
• a ticket to and from the UAE
• proof of stay (hotel/residential address) in the UAE.

 Documents required

• a colored photo
• a copy of the passport
• medical Insurance
• bank statement for the last 6 months with a balance 4,000 USD or its equivalent in foreign currencies
• tour programme
• a ticket for onward journey.

1. Tourist Visa Single Entry

one trip for tourism for a duration of 30 or 60 days. The guarantor/host within the country must be an agency engaged in the tourism industry.

Documents Required

• A personal photo.
• A copy of the passport.
• The identity card of the country of origin for some nationalities (Iraq – Pakistan – Iran – Afghanistan).

  Family Visit Visa

•  For people who want to visit family or friends in the UAE, this one is ideal for them. It is usually valid for 30 or 90 days and can be extended for an additional 90 days.

  The UAE entry permit to visit relatives or friends will require a sponsor or a host. Moreover, it is mandatory to submit the following documents to apply for the entry permit:

  • UAE Visa Application Form
  • Photocopy of the Passport, valid for at least six (6) months, of the family member/s being sponsored.
  • Colored passport-size pictures of the family member/s being sponsored
  • Relationship proof from the Embassy (if not mentioned on the passport)
  • Proof of residency of the sponsored, such as the details of hotel bookings
  • Copy of the flight ticket
  • Consanguinity proof or certificate if you’re sponsoring your blood relatives (birth certificate or marriage certificate)
    Business Visa:
  •  It’s suitable for those who want to visit the UAE for business purposes, such as attending conferences or meetings. It’s valid for 14 or 30 days and can be extended for an additional 14 days.
    Residence Visa

  • It’s for individuals who want to live and work in the UAE for an extended period. Its validity range is for 3 years and can be renewed.

    Transit Visa:

    Such a type is for individuals who are in transit through the UAE and want to leave the airport for a short period. Its validity duration is for 48 hours.

    Mission Visa:

    If you want to visit the UAE for government or diplomatic purposes, this type is made for such cases. It is usually valid for 30 days and can be extended.

    UAE visa on arrival

    1. 30‑day visit eligibility

    If you are a passport holder of the below country or territory, no advance visa arrangements are required to visit the UAE. Simply disembark your flight at Dubai International and proceed to immigration, where your passport will be stamped with a 30‑day visit visa free of charge.

    Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Kazakhstan       Macau, China, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, San Marino, Singapore, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, United States of America,  Vatican City

    1. 90‑day visit eligibility

    If you are a passport holder of one of the below countries or territories, your passport will be stamped with a multiple entry 90‑day visit visa that’s valid for 6 months from the date of issue, and for a stay of 90 days in total. Citizens of the below European countries are also entitled to apply for a pre‑arranged visit visa if their 90‑day visa on arrival has been fully utilized.

    Argentina, Austria, Bahamas Islands, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden ,Switzerland, Uruguay.

     

    1. 180‑day visit eligibility

    If you hold a Mexican passport, you’re eligible for a multiple entry 180‑day visit visa that’s valid for 6 months from the date of issue, and for a stay of 180 days in total.