UAE Residence Visa
Residency visa for living in the United Arab Emirates, doing business and optimising taxes
Download the guide Calculate the costAED 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Get maximum information about the process
- Step-by-step procedure
- Requirements for applicants
- Conditions for getting a golden visa
- Frequently asked questions and answers
PDF, 36 pages, 12 MB
Requirements for applicants for a 10-year UAE residence visa by the purchase of a real estate
Investor
Over 18 years old
Capable of confirming the legality of the income
No criminal record
Without any socially dangerous diseases, such as HIV or tuberculosis
Spouse
Over 18 years old
No criminal record
Without any socially dangerous diseases
Children
Unmarried sons under 25 years old
Unmarried daughters of any age
Without any socially dangerous diseases, if a child is over 18 years old
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 50%.
| Purchase of real estate | $545,000+ (AED 2,000,000) |
| Registration fee | $21,800+ (AED 160,000) |
| State fees for issuing visas and identity cards | $1,043 (AED 3,860) per person |
| Medical checkup | $220+ per person |
| Health insurance | $400+ per person |
| Translation of documents, notarisation and consular legalisation | $1,000+ per person |
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
Get the cost calculationWe will send you a quote by email within 1 hour.
Examples of real estate to buy for a UAE residency visa
Selection of real estate
Individual selection of properties for investment
- Discuss your tasks and goals
- Choose between properties from reliable developers
- Get fully prepared and verified documents for a purchase
Natalia Oganesyan, Real Estate Chief Operations Officer, RICS certified professional
Step-by-step procedure for obtaining a UAE residence visa by investment in real estate
1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence 
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.
Evaluate your chancesEvaluate your chances of getting a residency visa
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 
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 
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 
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 
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
Download the guide
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
Download the guide
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
Download the guide
for employees of Emirati companies
Case Studies
UAE residence for an American: what if you invest in a property under construction
Case Studies
UAE Golden Visa: how a British entrepreneur moved from Estonia to the Emirates and optimised taxes
Case Studies
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UAE Golden Visa by buying property for a family from Ukraine
Case Studies
Schedule a meeting
Let’s discuss the details
Schedule a meeting at one of the offices or online. A lawyer will analyze the situation, calculate the cost and help you find a solution based on your goals.
Zlata Erlach, Investment Programs Expert
Frequently asked questions
How to get a residency visa in the UAE?
There are several ways to get a UAE residency visa; one of the most convenient is to buy real estate in the country.You’ll need to invest AED 2 million for a 10-year visa.
What properties are suitable for investment to get a UAE residence visa?
Investors may buy properties in the Freehold Zones; these are the areas in the UAE where foreigners may own real estate.
What is the validity period of a UAE residence visa?
If you buy property in the UAE, you may obtain a residency visa for 2 or 10 years.
What is a UAE Golden Visa?
The UAE Golden Visa is a residency visa for investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, professionals, exceptional talents and frontline heroes.
How much is a Golden Visa in Dubai?
An investor may buy a property for AED 2 million ($545,000) in Dubai to get a UAE Golden Visa. There are some additional costs, including taxes, fees, health insurance and legal services.
Who’s eligible for a UAE Golden Visa?
Investors over 18 with legal income, no criminal record or dangerous infectious diseases may get a UAE golden visa. Their spouses, unmarried sons under 25 and unmarried daughters of any age may be included in the application.
What is the purpose of the Golden Visa in the UAE?
The UAE Golden Visa allows talented foreigners to live in the UAE, run a business there and enjoy some other benefits provided by this status.
What are the benefits of the Dubai Golden Visa?
An investor with a Dubai Golden visa may visit the UAE anytime, live there and optimise taxation. In some cases, it is possible to get UAE citizenship by exceptional merit.
How long does it take to get a golden visa in the UAE?
Usually, it takes 2+ months to get a UAE residency visa. An investor buys real estate, undergoes a medical checkup and Due Diligence, and gets a visa after the application is approved.
Does UAE Golden Visa lead to citizenship?
Yes, if an investor lives in the country for 30 years, they may apply for citizenship by naturalisation. In some cases, it is possible to get UAE citizenship by exceptional merit.
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How much does it cost to live in the UAE?
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Healthcare system for foreigners in the UAE: everything you need to know
Living abroad
Schedule a meeting
Let’s discuss the details
Schedule a meeting at one of the offices or online. A lawyer will analyze the situation, calculate the cost and help you find a solution based on your goals.
Zlata Erlach, Caribbean Investment Program Expert
Natalia Oganesyan, Real Estate Chief Operations Officer, RICS certified professional
Let’s discuss the details
Schedule a meeting at one of the offices or online. A lawyer will analyze the situation, calculate the cost and help you find a solution based on your goals.
Schedule a meeting