Is it easy to obtain a UAE Residence Visa? Well, it is possible, but you may still encounter some technical barriers. Emirates ID has always been sought after by foreigners that permanently reside in the Emirates. A Dubai resident can enjoy practically all the privileges that a UAE citizen has. You may have some difficulties on the way, but you should know that the laws allow you to do it. There are cases of formal refusal to grant a UAE Resident Visa, but they are rare and mainly explained by technical reasons.
If you want to invest in Dubai real estate to simplify the possibility of obtaining a Residence Visa, consider buying an apartment in Safa One, a residential complex in the center of Dubai.
Keep in mind that there are different ways of obtaining the right to live in the UAE. Our specialists will offer you interesting alternatives and give all the information required to make a decision at a free one-on-one session that you can book right now.
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The most popular ways of obtaining a Residence Visa in the UAE (Dubai) in 2023:
- Residence Visa through business (company registration)
- Golden Residence Visa of Dubai (UAE) granted for 10 years
- Investment Residence Visa by purchasing real estate
- Green Residence Visa for 5 years
- Dubai (UAE) residence permit for 55+ residents
- Work Residence Visa
- Dubai (UAE) Residence Visa for remote work
Benefits of the UAE Residence Visa:
- Expanded banking services (personal account, credit, mortgage, etc.)
- Dubai/UAE residence ensures visa-free access to several countries
- Secondary and higher education for children
- UAE Residence Visa gives the right to obtain a driver’s license
- Medical services for the whole validity term of the Emirates ID under Dubai/ UAE Residence Visa
Residence Visa in the UAE Through Business (Company Registration)
This option is one of the most popular ones. The matter is that Dubai (UAE) Residence Visa gives a double package of advantages to provide you a comfortable and prosperous life and wide business opportunities in a competitive jurisdiction.
The most important aspects of Residence Visa for entrepreneurs:
- A commercial license is issued automatically (if you get an Emirates ID)
- A possibility of obtaining a UAE residence permit for family members
- The company’s minimum authorized capital starts from AED 72,000
- The Residence Visa issue to entrepreneurs is valid for 3 years (and you can extend it upon expiration)
- It provides multiple advantages for business
- You can obtain it on the condition that you form a company in the mainland Emirates or in any FEZ
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UAE Residence Visa: Special Golden Visa Program
This is a popular scheme whose main advantage consists in quite modest requirements. You can get a UAE (Dubai) Residence Visa using several options, some of which do not require considerable financial expenses. The program was considerably extended and simplified in October 2022. As a result, the UAE/Dubai visa can now be granted even to the investors that did not meet the qualification requirements before. The validity term is 10 years.
The main details about the Golden Residence Visa:
- The candidates are required to meet the minimum requirements (depend on the selected investment scheme)
- The UAE Golden Visa is granted for no more than 10 years
- The investor obtains the right to live, work, and study in the UAE
- The approved candidate receives all the advantages granted to the Arab Emirates resident that possesses an Emirates ID
- You can get Dubai Residence Visa under the Golden Visa program by investing in real estate (from 2 million AED, see the details below)
- The persons that wish to obtain an Emirates ID by buying real estate in the UAE can obtain a bank credit (not all banks give this opportunity, and there are limitations on the amount in AED)
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UAE Residence Visa By Investment in Real Estate
The housing market in the United Arab Emirates is actively developing. In 2022, foreigners invested at least 536 billion AED in UAE real estate, which is twice higher than, for instance, the same indicator in London (UK). It should be taken into account that buying real estate in the UAE (Dubai or another emirate) does not automatically give you a possibility to obtain a Residence Visa.
Approximate level of expenses (the minimum cost of real estate in the UAE starts from AED 1 million, while the Golden Visa program requires at least AED 2 million):
- State of health certificate – AED 700
- Obtaining an Emirates ID form – AED 1,153
- A new residence permit – AED 2,706.75
- Registration in Dubai Land Department – AED 4,020
- Administrative fees – AED 1,155
The advantages of UAE Residence Visa by investment in real estate:
- Reasonable financial threshold
- Absence of age limitations
- You can get a Residence Visa if you jointly own real estate
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UAE Residence Visa: Alternative Options
Investment in real estate, Golden Visa program, and options for business people are not all possible variants of obtaining a UAE/Dubai Residence Visa. The country’s laws provide for several alternative ways, but you cannot call them universal. What is the easiest scheme you can use to obtain a UAE Residence Visa? The precise answer to this question will depend on the number of factors that are unique for each case, but your choice should be conscious, well thought-out, and informed.
A Possibility to Obtain a Green Residence Visa
It is suitable for talents, qualified specialists, freelancers, investors, and entrepreneurs (different documents are required for each category).
Peculiarities of the Green Residence Visa:
- Validity term: 5 years
- A sponsor and an employer in the UAE are not mandatory
- Requirements for qualified employees (supporting documents will be required): Bachelor’s degree, stable income from AED 15,000, professional level 1, 2, or 3
- Freelancers that wish to obtain a Residence Visa must have an annual income of at least AED 360,000 (a bank document is required to prove this fact)
- Investors that intend to get a UAE Residence Visa should be approved by the special governmental authority in the Emirates and are required to obtain a permit from the local authorities.
A Residence Visa Possibility for Retirees
The relevant UAE program was launched in 2018. Dubai Residence Visa for Retirees is valid for 5 years and you can extend it.
Receiving a Retiree Residence Visa (you will need to provide the supporting documents and comply with any condition below):
- Actual income level: at least AED 20,000 a month (for the whole term of stay in the UAE; it has to be proved by a bank statement, an employer’s letter, etc.)
- Personal savings: at least AED 1,000,000 (you will need to provide a document issued by the bank, and Dubai/UAE bank will be best)
- Real estate in the UAE personally owned by the applicant (you will need to provide a document that confirms the fact of the transaction) that costs at least AED 2,000,000
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A Residence Visa Possibility for Remote Workers
The program was launched in 2020. It is focused on the foreigners that work online, mostly business owners and highly-qualified specialists. Subject to meeting a number of requirements, a UAE Residence Visa owner has the right to be a sponsor for the family members that want to live in the Emirates with him/her.
Basic qualification requirements to obtain a Residence Visa for remote workers (supporting documents will be required):
- A salary threshold from USD 5,000 (about AED 18,300) is set for the employees and company (business) owners in the UAE
- Company employees are required to provide the documents to confirm the fact of their work in the company (a contract valid for at least 1 year), as well as the level of their salary
- The employees and company owners in the UAE will need to provide bank statements for the past 3 months
- Company owners that wish to obtain a UAE Residence Visa will need to prepare corporate documents that confirm a) the fact of conducting real business during 1 year, and b) company ownership.
One of the most tangible advantages of a UAE Residence Visa for remote workers is the low cost of the document itself: it equals USD 287 (AED 1,054) per person.
A Possibility to Obtain a Work Residence Visa
A licensed organization registered in the UAE will have to be your sponsor if you want to receive a Work Residence Visa.
Peculiarities of the Work Residence Visa:
- A mandatory condition is a contract with the company registered in the UAE or the one officially present in the Emirates (a document from the registration authority will be required)
- Obtaining a Residence Visa in the UAE will require some expenses, and the amount depends on whether you have the status of a qualified worker (there are 4 categories in total)
- The standard validity term of such a UAE visa is 1-2 years (depending on the employment agreement validity term)
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Investor Residence Visa: How to Obtain
You cannot give one correct answer to the question of how to become a resident of Dubai. The UAE laws provide for several options, not just real estate. However, the investment scheme remains in highest demand. The interest of the prospective Golden Visa owners is quite logical: real estate is an asset whose cost only grows with the time, so the investments are 99% sure to yield profit.
Basic information on how to become a UAE resident by buying real estate:
- The minimum amount of investments starts from AED 2,000,000
- The validity term of the Dubai Residence Visa is 10 years, while alternative options depend on the method of obtaining
- Family members can legally stay in the UAE if you sponsor them
- The investment program conditions may vary in different emirates
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Minimum package of documents:
- ID document (passport)
- Document that confirms the right of ownership to real estate in the UAE
- photos
- Valid medical insurance with a sufficient amount of coverage
- Emirates ID (is any)
- UAE visa (if any)
Actions to be taken:
- Visit to the service center
- Submission of a full package of documents
- Compliance with all financial requirements
- Passing the medical checkup
Payment methods:
- Bank transfer
- Cash settlement
- Terminal (a bank card is required)
Service centers:
- Dubai Land Department
- Dubai World Trade Centre
Invest in a room in a luxury hotel in Dubai to obtain a Residence Visa.
Additional information on the UAE:
- Open a Personal Account in the UAE Remotely
- How to Register an Offshore Company in the UAE
- UAE Real Estate: Buy Dubai Property and Qualify for Residence Visa
- Business Relocation to the UAE
- Getting UAE Residence Permit Will Now Become Easier
- Resident Work Visa in the UAE
We are here to help you! Contact us by email (in**@***********rt.com) or using alternative communication channels.
17 July 2023 