No employer needed
Sponsorship comes from your own company shareholding, not an external employer.
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- Business Bay, Dubai, UAE
SERVICE · VISAS
Investor Visa
Sponsor your own UAE residency through company ownership — tied directly to your trade licence, with no separate employer needed.
At a glance
- 5–10 working daysTypical timeline
- 2–3 years validityStandard renewal cycle
- Tied to ownershipNot to an employment contract
- Mainland or free zoneAny licensed company structure
Overview
What the investor visa gives you
An investor visa lets a company shareholder sponsor their own UAE residency based on ownership rather than employment. It is the standard route for founders and owners who want to live in the UAE and run their business without needing a separate employer to sponsor them.
The visa is tied to your shareholding in a licensed company, so it stays valid as long as your company licence and ownership position remain active.
Eligibility confirmation against your shareholding
Entry permit or status change application
Medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics
Visa stamping and Emirates ID card issuance
Benefits
Why the investor visa route
Works with any structure
Available whether your company is mainland, free zone or offshore-linked.
Multi-year validity
Typically valid for two to three years before renewal, depending on your licence type.
Family sponsorship enabled
Once issued, this visa lets you sponsor your spouse, children and other dependants.
Who this is for
Company shareholders and founders who want to sponsor their own UAE residency through their ownership stake rather than an employment contract.
Requirements & Process
What you’ll need, and how we run it
Documents & eligibility
The file is built mostly from your company’s own documents — the ownership stake is what qualifies you, not a separate application.
Trade licence and Memorandum of Association showing your shareholding
Passport copy, valid at least six months
Passport-size photograph against a white background
Current establishment card
No Objection Certificate from a current UAE sponsor, where applicable
Additional documents may be required depending on your company’s licensing authority. We confirm the exact list for your case before any fee is paid.
How it works
The 5-stage process
Once your company file is in order, most investor visas complete within five to ten working days.
01
Eligibility confirmation
We confirm your shareholding qualifies for investor visa sponsorship.
1 working day02
Entry permit or status change
The application is filed with GDRFA or ICP.
2–4 working days03
Medical fitness test
We book the earliest available medical appointment.
1–3 working days04
Emirates ID biometrics
Biometric capture is completed at an approved centre.
1–2 working days05
Visa stamping and card delivery
The residence visa is stamped and the Emirates ID card issued.
3–5 working daysSponsor your own UAE residency
Tell us about your company shareholding — a senior consultant confirms eligibility and quote in writing, usually within the hour.
Free consultation
Exact cost in writing
Response in under 5 minutes
Related visa services
Want the numbers first? Dubai Mainland Cost Calculator
