Residency Visas

Your UAE Residency, Properly Structured.

The right visa category is rarely the obvious one. Seven structures, fifteen years of getting these decisions right, and one founder who knows which file your situation actually belongs in.

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There is no single "UAE residency visa." There is a system of seven primary categories, each tied to a different qualifying activity: company ownership, employment, family, retirement, exceptional talent, long-term investment, or remote work. The right one is rarely the one a client walks in asking for. The wrong one is expensive to undo.

We assess your situation against the current framework, advise on the category that actually fits, and handle the application from documentation through Emirates ID issuance. Below: the seven structures we work in most often.

Visa Types We Handle

Seven primary categories. One advisor. The right structure for your situation.

UAE Golden Visa

10 years, renewable

The UAE's long-term residency category for investors, specialists, entrepreneurs, exceptional talent, scientists, top students, and individuals with notable contributions. Real estate investors qualify with property worth AED 2 million or more (full valuation, not down payment). The Golden Visa is the only UAE residency that does not require entry within six months of issuance. Family and domestic staff sponsorship included.

See the full Golden Visa deep dive on our home page

Tracks

  • Investor
  • Entrepreneur
  • Talent
  • Scientist
  • Student
  • Property

UAE Green Visa

5 years, self-sponsored

A 5-year residency that does not tie to a UAE employer. Designed for skilled professionals, freelancers, and self-employed individuals who want professional independence in the Emirates. Eligibility centers on a MOHRE-issued freelance or self-employment permit, a recognized degree, and a documented income track record. Family sponsorship extends to spouse, sons up to 25, and unmarried daughters.

Tracks

  • Skilled Professional
  • Freelancer
  • Self-Employed

Standard Employment Visa

Typically 2 to 3 years, depending on contract

The visa most expat employees hold. Sponsored by your UAE-licensed employer through MOHRE, renewable with continued employment. Includes Emirates ID, medical fitness, and health insurance under your employer's coverage. The right starting point for relocating professionals taking a UAE job.

Investor / Partner Visa

3 years

For shareholders of UAE-licensed companies (mainland or free zone). Investor Visa for sole shareholders; Partner Visa for those with co-owners. Tied to the underlying license. As of 2026, renewal requires demonstrable business substance: a physical office (Ejari, not virtual), active financial records, and verified ownership. We structure your setup so renewal is uneventful.

Tracks

  • Sole Investor
  • Company Partner

Family Sponsorship Visa

1 to 2 years, renewable

For residents sponsoring spouse, children, and in some cases parents. Eligibility depends on the sponsor's monthly income meeting a published threshold (different thresholds apply for spouse and children versus parents). Required documents include attested marriage and birth certificates through the full UAE consular chain. Children sponsored to age 18; extended ages and conditions apply depending on the sponsor's visa category and the child's circumstances.

Retirement Visa

5 years (age 55+)

For retired expatriates aged 55 or older with 15+ years of work history. Three qualifying routes: a UAE property of at least AED 1 million, savings of at least AED 1 million on fixed deposit, or a monthly income route (threshold varies by emirate). Renewable as long as financial eligibility continues to be met.

Tracks

  • Property
  • Savings
  • Income

Virtual Working Visa

1 year, renewable

For remote workers and entrepreneurs employed by or running businesses outside the UAE. A one-year residency that allows you to live in the Emirates while continuing to work for foreign employers or clients. Income thresholds and insurance requirements are updated periodically; we confirm the current threshold against your situation at consultation.

How We Help

Five stages, from eligibility review through issued residency.

STEP 1

Eligibility Review

A 15 to 30 minute call to map your situation against UAE visa categories. We identify which structures you qualify for and which serve your goals best.

STEP 2

Strategy Selection

We recommend a primary visa path (and a backup, where applicable), explain the timeline, and walk through documentation requirements before anything is filed.

STEP 3

Documentation

We prepare attestations, MOFA stampings, employer or sponsor coordination, and authority submissions. You provide source documents once.

STEP 4

Medical, Biometrics, Emirates ID

We coordinate medical fitness, biometric capture, and Emirates ID issuance through the appropriate authority for your visa category.

STEP 5

Visa Issued

Your residency is active. We hand over your file with all renewals diarized and remain your contact for amendments, dependents, and category changes.

Information current as of May 2026. UAE visa categories, thresholds, and processing rules update frequently. Contact us for current requirements specific to your situation.

Ready to map your UAE residency?

Fifteen-minute call with the founder. No script, no junior consultant, no obligation.

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