Updated on April 10, 2025
UAE Residence Visa
Residency visa for living in the United Arab Emirates, doing business and optimising taxes
AED 750,000
Minimum investment
2+ months
Obtaining period
2 or 10 years
Visa validity period
Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, qualified professionals, and exceptional talents may apply for a UAE Golden Visa, which is a long-term residence visa. The country started to issue these visas in 2019, and getting a Golden Visa as an investor formerly required AED 5 million to 10 million.
In 2022, the government approved new conditions for getting a Golden Visa in the United Arab Emirates by investment, with a reduced investment amount, no restrictions on the duration of stay in other countries and an opportunity to buy off-plan properties and take a mortgage. The new rules came into force in October.
You may purchase real estate in the UAE for AED 2 million ($545,000) to get a 10-year Golden Visa. Another option is purchasing real estate for AED 750,000 ($204,000) to get a 2-year residence visa.
Benefits of the UAE residency visa
1
Moving to the UAE or creating a “safe haven”
Investors and their families may move to the UAE, one of the wealthiest and most developed countries worldwide. They also can visit the country anytime they wish.
Residing in the UAE is not obligatory. Investors with a residency visa may visit UAE once or twice a year to maintain their status.
Investors and their families may move to the UAE, one of the wealthiest and most developed countries worldwide. They also can visit the country anytime they wish.
Residing in the UAE is not obligatory. Investors with a residency visa may visit UAE once or twice a year to maintain their status.
2
Tax optimisation
Income, capital gains, inheritance, gifts and properties are exempt from taxation in the UAE. Also, there is still no tax on corporate profit, but from 2023 it will be 9% if a company generates a profit of AED 375,000+. The UAE corporate tax will be lower than in many other countries.
Income, capital gains, inheritance, gifts and properties are exempt from taxation in the UAE. Also, there is still no tax on corporate profit, but from 2023 it will be 9% if a company generates a profit of AED 375,000+. The UAE corporate tax will be lower than in many other countries.
3
Opening a bank account in the UAE
An investor with a residence permit may open accounts in the UAE banks in dollars, euros, dirhams or other currencies. An account is suitable for savings and international transfers.
An investor with a residence permit may open accounts in the UAE banks in dollars, euros, dirhams or other currencies. An account is suitable for savings and international transfers.
4
Getting a driver’s licence
A resident must obtain a UAE driver’s licence to drive a car there. Usually, passing an exam is required, but citizens of the US, the UK, Germany, Australia, Turkey, Spain, India and some other countries may just exchange their licence.
A resident must obtain a UAE driver’s licence to drive a car there. Usually, passing an exam is required, but citizens of the US, the UK, Germany, Australia, Turkey, Spain, India and some other countries may just exchange their licence.
5
Access to the UAE healthcare and educational systems
Foreigners with the UAE residency visas can be treated in the country’s clinics. The UAE is a world medical tourism centre; specialists in dentistry, orthopaedics, dermatology and reproduction are in great demand.
Investor’s children may attend schools and universities in the UAE. Some international schools work there in the country, and the higher education programmes are mainly in English.
Foreigners with the UAE residency visas can be treated in the country’s clinics. The UAE is a world medical tourism centre; specialists in dentistry, orthopaedics, dermatology and reproduction are in great demand.
Investor’s children may attend schools and universities in the UAE. Some international schools work there in the country, and the higher education programmes are mainly in English.
6
An easy path to a residence visa
The process of acquiring a Golden Visa may be more convenient than the one for other UAE visas. Investors mustn’t search for an employer or another sponsor to get a UAE Golden Visa. Also, they’re granted a 6-month visa to enter the country before getting residency. And when they acquire their residence visas, they mustn’t stay in the country for long to maintain their status.
The process of acquiring a Golden Visa may be more convenient than the one for other UAE visas. Investors mustn’t search for an employer or another sponsor to get a UAE Golden Visa. Also, they’re granted a 6-month visa to enter the country before getting residency. And when they acquire their residence visas, they mustn’t stay in the country for long to maintain their status.
7
Visas for the whole family
Main applicants may sponsor their spouses and children to get long-term visas. Parents can be granted a 1-year visa.
Main applicants may sponsor their spouses and children to get long-term visas. Parents can be granted a 1-year visa.
8
Getting an Esaad Privilege Card
Esaad is a Dubai’s discount program. Its participants may get exclusive offers, bonuses and discounts of up to 70% in shops, clinics, service companies and other establishments in the UAE and abroad.
Esaad is a Dubai’s discount program. Its participants may get exclusive offers, bonuses and discounts of up to 70% in shops, clinics, service companies and other establishments in the UAE and abroad.
9
An opportunity to get UAE citizenship
Foreigners may apply for UAE citizenship by naturalisation after living in the country for 30 years. But some persons may be granted citizenship for exceptional services.
The UAE passport allows you to visit 176 countries visa-free; this list includes the Schengen states, the UK and Canada.
Foreigners may apply for UAE citizenship by naturalisation after living in the country for 30 years. But some persons may be granted citizenship for exceptional services.
The UAE passport allows you to visit 176 countries visa-free; this list includes the Schengen states, the UK and Canada.
Get maximum information about the process
Step by step procedure
Requirements for applicants
Conditions for getting a golden visa
Frequently asked questions and answers
Requirements for applicants for a 10-year UAE residence visa by the purchase of a real estate
Investor’s costs for getting a UAE residence visa
1 option
10-year visa — AED 2,000,000+
You may obtain a UAE residency visa for ten years by purchasing real estate.
Investors can buy properties in the Freehold Zones; these are the areas where foreigners may purchase real estate.
The minimum investment amount is AED 2,000,000, or about $545,000. It doesn’t depend on family composition. An investor may take a mortgage in a UAE bank with a down payment of 20%.
2 option
2-year visa — AED 750,000+
Investors can buy properties in the Freehold Zones to get a 2-year residency visa in the UAE. If an investor takes a loan, they should make a down payment of 50%.
The investment amount depends on the number of owners. For an investor, the minimum investment is AED 750,000 ($204,000), and if the ownership of real estate is registered for spouses, it is AED 1,000,000 ($272,255).
An investor may include a spouse and children under 18 in the application.
Individual calculation of the cost of the UAE golden visa
Get an individual calculation for your family with all associated costs and government fees
Examples of real estate in the UAE
Step-by-step procedure for obtaining a UAE residence visa by investment in real estate
1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence
Immigrant Invest conducts a preliminary check to prepare for the program’s primary Due Diligence. This initial check allows us to find possible issues and raise the chances of getting a visa.
The check is confidential. The investor’s documents are verified by a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Officer, which is aware of the peculiarities of the Due Diligence conducted in the UAE.
Pass a 5-minute test to discover the main points of Due Diligence under residency by investment programs.
5—7 weeks
Preparation of documents and getting a 6-months visa
You get a list of documents for an application from Immigrant Invest lawyers. Then you submit the original documents, and the lawyers translate them, notarise and conduct consular legalisation.
To have an opportunity to see the properties to buy, pass a medical checkup and apply for a golden visa in the UAE, you’ll receive a 6-months visa.
5—6 weeks, at the same time with the preparation of documents
Purchase of real estate
You can buy a property without visiting the UAE. Immigrant Invest’s real estate professionals will offer you some options that might suit your goals and wishes. Our lawyers help to conclude the purchase and sale agreement and register ownership.
1—5 days
Medical checkup
The investor and their family members over 18 years old undergo a medical checkup in a UAE clinic. They are tested for dangerous infectious diseases and pass fluorography to obtain a certificate of health status.
Up to 30 days
Due Diligence and getting the UAE residence visa
The inventors and their family members come to the UAE to apply for the visa and give biometrics to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. Immigrant Invest lawyers accompany them.
Usually, the application consideration takes five to seven days. If additional questions occur, the investor and their lawyers have 30 days to answer. After the application’s approval, the investor and their family get visas.
Other residence visas for relocation to the UAE
For business owners
Foreigners can open companies in special Free Zones and outside of them. One needs a licence to register a business in the UAE.
Company founders get residence visas for three years. They can extend the visa validity period to 5—10 years by investing at least $136,000 in a business or getting approval from a business incubator.
3 years
The validity period of a UAE residence visa
issued for registering a company
For freelancers
Freelancers and remote workers can get residence visas on the following grounds:
by getting a freelancer’s licence in a free zone to qualify for a 3-year residence visa;
by concluding an employment agreement outside the UAE and making more than $5,000 a month to qualify for a 1-year residence visa.
Expenses for obtaining a visa are usually lower for freelancers than for business owners
Up to 3 years
The validity period of a UAE residence visa
for freelancers
For employees of Emirati companies
A registered Emirati company can get residence visas for new employees by receiving quotas and work permits.
The minimum cost of one visa is AED 6,000, or about $1,630.
2 years
The validity period of a UAE residence visa
for employees of Emirati companies
Case studies
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