United Arab Emirates · investor
UAE Investor / Partner residence visa
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Residence for business owners and partners holding qualifying shares in UAE companies.
- Processing time
- 2–6 weeks.
- Government fees
- Variable by emirate and authority.
- Typical duration
- 2 or 3 years, renewable.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
Overview
Owners and partners in UAE-licensed companies can obtain residence linked to their ownership stake. Free zones, mainland, and offshore structures each have different thresholds and procedures. For qualifying holdings, Golden Visa categories may also be available.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Ownership of a UAE-licensed company or free-zone entity.
- ✓Capital/equity threshold varies by authority.
Common blockers
- !Equity below authority threshold.
Typical evidence
- ·Trade licence and share-certificate.
- ·Passport and medical.
Application pathway
Incorporate or buy into UAE company
Mainland, free zone, or offshore.
Apply for investor residence
Via ICP or free-zone authority.
Medical and Emirates ID
Standard issuance.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantApply for investor residence ↗
Company owners use this official page to identify the investor residence route and emirate-specific filing channel.
The Official Portal of the UAE Government · verified
Fees and processing time
Indicative government fees: Variable by emirate and authority.. A decision then typically takes 10 days – 4 weeks. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
Matches these professions
Also explored by
Compare United Arab Emirates with
Related routes
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between investor residence and Golden Visa?+
Standard investor residence is 2–3 years tied to your company and reviewed on licence renewal. The Golden Visa investor category is 10-year residence with additional dependants and more flexible structural rules.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor →