UAE residence visas for business owners
When you set up a company in the UAE, your residency comes with it. The company is what lets you sponsor yourself for a residence visa — and, once you hold it, your family and your staff. Which route fits depends on your shareholding and what you own, not on how much paperwork you're willing to do.
Speak to us about your situationWhat you get when you set up
Residency isn't a separate product you buy — it flows from the company. Set the company up properly and the visa, the Emirates ID and the ability to sponsor your family and staff follow.
- Your residence visa comes from the company — the company sponsors you as owner or partner.
- Issued whether your company is in a free zone or on the mainland.
- Two routes most owners use: a standard visa (around two years) or the ten-year golden visa.
- Once you hold yours, you can sponsor your family and your staff.
- The process runs around two weeks end to end, from around AED 7,500.
- Immigration residency and tax residency are separate questions — we keep them distinct.
The routes most owners take
Which route fits comes down to your shareholding and what you own. Here's how the two main owner routes compare.
| Route | Who it suits | Validity | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard residence visa (via your company) | Most owners setting up — free zone or mainland | ~2 years, renewable while the company is active | AED 7,500–8,500 |
| Golden visa | Owners who qualify on property (~AED 2m) or company capital | 10 years, renewable | ~AED 13,500 |
There's also a five-year green visa for larger shareholdings. It's a niche route we don't typically handle — if it's genuinely the better fit, we'll tell you and point you the right way. For the ten-year route in full, see the UAE golden visa.
How residency works, in full
Do I need a local sponsor?
For most mainland commercial activities, no — 100% foreign ownership has applied since June 2021, so there's no Emirati sponsor on your company. A small number of strategic activities still require Emirati participation; we confirm whether yours is one before you commit. More on corporate sponsorship.
Your family
Once you hold your own residence visa you can sponsor your spouse and children, and — where the higher income bar is met — your parents. Spouse and children are straightforward for most owners; parents are assessed case by case. There are income and housing conditions and some attested documents (marriage and birth certificates). Family visas can only be applied for from inside the UAE, so the family come in and we run the process from here.
Staff and mainland visas
If you'll employ people, the company sponsors their visas too. How many you can issue is tied to your set-up — office space on the mainland, or the visa allocation in your free zone package. Employment visas can be applied for either before the person arrives or once they're already in the country — useful when you're hiring someone who hasn't moved yet.
The process, step by step
Residency follows the licence: establishment card, entry permit, then the residency steps. The medical is a blood test and chest X-ray. Biometrics come a day or two after the medical results are submitted — an electronic hand print and a digital signature, recorded for your Emirates ID — then the Emirates ID application. We often see the digital residence visa issued the same day, with the Emirates ID card arriving two to four days after. We coordinate it so you make one trip, not two. End to end, allow around two weeks.
What we handle, and what it costs
We handle it start to finish: the PRO work, the applications, the bookings, the medical, the Emirates ID — and we take you, your staff and your family to every appointment. That means the whole application: getting the photo right and to the correct proportions, the applicant's details correct, issuing the entry permit, the change of status, the passport entry stamp where it's needed, and finally collecting the Emirates ID and delivering it to you. Most clients deal with Gareth directly, and the same person stays with it the whole way. What it costs depends on the route, the number of family members and whether staff visas are involved; we give you the exact figure for your situation before any work starts.
"An excellent experience throughout our move and business setup — company formation, residency visas, Emirates IDs and banking, all handled professionally."
Frequently asked questions
Do I get UAE residency automatically when I set up a company?
Not automatically, but the company is what makes it possible. Once the licence and establishment card are in place, the company sponsors your residence visa — a separate set of steps after the licence, not part of it.
Can I work in the UAE on my residence visa?
Yes — your own residence visa, sponsored through your company, is what lets you run and work in the business. Anyone you employ needs their own visa, which the company sponsors.
How long does a UAE residence visa take?
Allow around two weeks end to end once the licence and entry permit are in place. The medical and biometrics are a couple of days apart, the digital visa is often issued the same day as biometrics, and the Emirates ID card follows two to four days after.
What documents do I need for a residence visa?
Your passport, a photo, the entry permit, your medical test result, and the Emirates ID application — with the trade licence and establishment card sitting behind it on the company route. We prepare and submit the set for you.
How long does a UAE residence visa last?
The standard owner/partner visa runs around two years and renews while the company is active. The golden visa runs ten, for owners who qualify on property or capital.
Can I bring my family?
Yes, once you hold your own residence visa you can sponsor your spouse and children, and your parents where the higher income requirement is met, subject to income and housing conditions we check against your situation.
What's the validity of a family visa?
A family visa is linked to yours — it's issued for the same period and renews alongside your own.
Can I sponsor staff?
Yes — the company sponsors employee visas. How many you can issue depends on your office space on the mainland or the allocation in your free zone package.
How much does a UAE residence visa cost?
Around AED 7,500 to 8,500 for a two-year visa, and currently around AED 13,500 for the ten-year golden visa. The total depends on the route, the number of family members, and whether staff visas are involved — we confirm the exact figure before any work starts.
Can I switch a free zone visa to a mainland one?
Yes. Moving between a free zone and a mainland visa (either direction) means cancelling the old one and issuing the new — we handle the switch.
Is there anything to keep up each year?
Yes — the licence and your residence visa renew on their own cycles, and your UAE bank will ask for updated documents each year to keep the account active. We track these so a renewal doesn't creep up on you.
Do I have to live in the UAE full-time to keep it?
You can't be continuously outside the UAE for more than six months on a standard residence visa — but you don't need to live here full-time. The golden visa is more flexible. Immigration residency and tax residency are separate — a UAE visa doesn't by itself change your tax position at home. For UK owners we set out how UK tax residence works after a move.
What happens to my visa if I close the company?
Your residence visa runs off the company, so winding it down means cancelling your visa — and any you sponsor — as part of the process. If you want to stay attached to the UAE, you move onto a new residence visa and Emirates ID, through another company, property, or the golden route. We plan that transition so you're not left without cover.
Do I qualify for the golden visa?
Maybe — it depends on property of around AED 2 million, qualifying company capital, or other set categories. We'll tell you plainly rather than putting you through an application that won't land. → UAE golden visa
Where to read next
The visa flows from the company, so the structure comes first — UAE company structures.
The other half of being operational — opening a UAE business bank account.
The ten-year route, in full — UAE golden visa.
Whether you need a local sponsor — corporate sponsorship.
How a move affects your tax at home — UK tax residence.
Thinking about your UAE move?
Tell us what the business does and where it's heading, and we'll set out the residency that fits — and what it takes to get it.
Speak to us about your situation