UAE residence visa services

Investor, partner, employee and family residence visas, handled from entry permit to Emirates ID. Investor and partner visas start from around AED 4,000, with our service fee included.

From AED 4,000Investor or partner visa
2 to 3 weeksTypical, on a clean file
Mainland and free zoneBoth visa routes
Emirates ID includedWe finish the full file

Response within 15 minutes during working hours

What a UAE residence visa is

Your legal right to live in the UAE

A residence visa lets you live in the UAE, open a personal bank account, rent a home and sponsor your family. It's always linked to a sponsor: your own company, your employer or a family member who is already a resident.

Every residence visa follows the same basic path. An entry permit, a status change if you're already in the country, a medical test, Emirates ID fingerprints and then the visa stamping. Employee visas on mainland companies also go through the labour ministry.

We run the whole file. We check the documents, book and follow each step, and tell you the total cost before we start.

The sponsor decides the route. Who sponsors you changes the documents, the steps and the cost, so that's the first thing we confirm.

Types of UAE residence visa

Pick the one that matches your sponsor

VisaWho it's for
Investor visaThe sole owner of a UAE company, sponsored by their own company. More on investor visas
Partner visaOne of several owners. The partner must hold more than 20% of the shares and the company's share capital must be AED 50,000 or more. More on partner visas
Employee visaSomeone hired by a UAE company. More on employment visas
Family visaA spouse, children or parents sponsored by a UAE resident. More on family visas

For a 10 year visa that isn't tied to a sponsor, see the UAE Golden Visa.

Documents you need for a residence visa

What we usually ask for, by visa type

VisaDocuments
Investor or partnerPassport copy with enough validity, passport photo on a white background, trade license and memorandum of association. For partners, the company papers showing the shareholding.
Employee on a mainland companyPassport copy, photo and the offer letter signed by the employee. Degree certificates, attested, where the role needs them.
Employee on a free zone companyPassport copy, photo and the employment contract, which is submitted with the visa application.
FamilyThe sponsor's passport, visa and Emirates ID, tenancy contract, proof of income, and attested marriage or birth certificates.

The company's establishment card must be valid before any new visa can be applied for. Documents issued abroad need attestation first, which is the most common reason a family visa takes longer than expected.

How the residence visa process works

The same order every time, typically 2 to 3 weeks

StepWhat happensTypical time
1. Entry permitImmigrationPermission to enter, or to start the visa if you're already here.3 to 5 days
2. Entry or status changeImmigrationYou enter on the permit, or your status is changed inside the UAE.1 day
3. Medical testHealth authorityDone in person at an approved centre. Not needed for children under 18.1 day
4. Emirates IDICPFingerprints and photo taken in person.5 to 7 days
5. Health insuranceInsurerA valid policy has to be in place.1 day
6. Visa stampingImmigrationThe residence visa is issued. You're now a UAE resident.1 to 3 days

Mainland employee visas also include labour ministry steps, such as the work permit and labour card. Free zone employee visas don't go through the labour ministry. For every detail, see our visa management page.

Residence visa cost

Approximate totals, our service fee included

VisaApproximate cost
Investor visaFrom around AED 4,000
Partner visaFrom around AED 4,000
New employee visaAround AED 5,500 or AED 7,750, depending on your company's MOHRE category
Family visaDepends on who sponsors whom. See the full table on our visa management page.

These figures are for budgeting. Your written quote confirms the exact total for your case before anything starts.

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers on UAE residence visas, cost, timing and documents.

How long does a UAE residence visa take?

Around two to three weeks on a clean file. Delays usually come from missing documents or certificates from abroad that aren't attested yet.

How much does a residence visa cost?

Investor and partner visas start from around AED 4,000. A new employee visa is around AED 5,500 or AED 7,750, depending on your company's MOHRE category. These include our service fee, and we confirm your exact total in writing.

Can I apply while I'm already in the UAE?

Yes. Your status is changed inside the country, so you don't need to leave. This adds a status change step, which costs a little more than applying from outside.

Can every company sponsor visas?

No. It depends on how the company is licensed and set up, and some license types can't sponsor visas at all. Tell us how many visas you need before you choose a license, and we'll confirm what works.

Do I need to be present for any step?

Yes, for the medical test and the Emirates ID fingerprints. We handle everything else and tell you exactly when and where to go.

Tell us which visa you need

Send us the visa type and who the sponsor is. We'll confirm the steps, the documents and the total cost in writing.

Free consultationTotal cost in writingNo obligation

No spam. No follow up calls unless you ask. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm.