UAE residence visa for company owners
Your UAE trade licence is the route to residency. Once your company is registered, you can sponsor your own residence visa, then visas for your team and family. Your quote lists the costs applicable to your selected visa route. No sales calls required.
Which visa fits a founder?
Investor / partner visa
Tied to your trade licence. The default route for founders who own equity in a UAE company. Renewable every 2 years and lets you sponsor family.
Employment visa
For team members you hire onto your company. Same medical and Emirates ID flow as the investor visa, processed through your licence.
Green visa (5-year)
Self-sponsored route for freelancers, skilled employees and investors meeting salary or qualification thresholds. Does not require a company sponsor.
Golden Visa (10-year)
Long-term residence for investors, specialised talent and founders meeting ICP criteria. Eligibility is assessed independently; setting up a company does not guarantee approval.
Dependent visas
Sponsor spouse, children and parents once your own visa is stamped, subject to minimum salary or housing requirements. Medical requirements depend on the age and category of the applicant.
Domestic worker visas
Sponsor a nanny or domestic helper through Tadbeer. Separate cost track from the investor flow. Ask us if relevant.
How many visas can I get?
Visa availability must be confirmed for the setup you select under the current authority rules. Tell us how many applicants you need before choosing a package. Published quota ranges and office-size formulas may be outdated.
Step-by-step residence visa
| Step | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Entry permit | Issued under your licence. Lets you enter (or stay inside) the UAE to begin the visa flow. | 3-7 days |
| 2. Status change | In-country activation of the permit. Done without leaving the UAE if you are already here. | 1-3 days |
| 3. Medical fitness test | Quick blood test and chest X-ray at an approved centre. Booked from your phone. | 1-2 days |
| 4. Emirates ID biometrics | Fingerprints and photo at an ICP centre. Your Emirates ID is the master identity document in the UAE. | 1-3 days |
| 5. Residence permit issuance | Residence visa issued electronically and linked to your Emirates ID record. You are now a UAE resident. | 5-10 days |
Times are indicative, not guaranteed. Authority review and appointment availability determine the final schedule.
Documents & requirements
For you (the founder)
- Passport scan (6+ months validity)
- Digital passport-style photo (white background)
- Entry stamp / current UAE visa page (if inside the country)
- Issued trade licence and immigration card (we handle these)
For dependents
- Marriage certificate (attested) for spouse
- Birth certificates (attested) for children
- Tenancy contract (Ejari) or property title
- Evidence of income meeting current sponsorship requirements
Itemised visa fees
These are indicative visa-related costs set by UAE authorities and providers. Ranges reflect typical inside-country vs outside-country processing and free zone differences.
| Item | Typical range (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry permit | 1,100 - 1,800 | Inside vs outside country differs |
| Status change (in-country) | 650 - 1,000 | Skipped if you fly in on the permit |
| Medical fitness | 320 - 750 | Express tiers available |
| Emirates ID (2 years) | 370 - 470 | 3-year ID for some categories |
| Residence permit issuance | 650 - 1,200 | Depends on free zone immigration |
| Medical insurance (required) | 800 - 3,500 / year | Mandatory for visa issuance |
| Indicative combined costs | Confirm in your quote | Depends on selected requirements |
Skip the back-and-forth. Get your exact visa and setup cost instantly in the Yallabase estimator. Automated, itemised, no manual quotes and no sales calls. Applicable visa costs are clearly itemised, with live chat support when you need a human.
Common mistakes founders make
Booking expensive flights before the entry permit is actually issued. Wait for the PDF in the portal.
Letting a tourist visa expire while waiting for the entry permit. Status-change inside the country is cheaper than overstay fines.
Choosing a package before confirming current visa availability for all applicants. Confirm your requirements before proceeding.
Forgetting to attest marriage and birth certificates in the home country before flying. Dependent visas stall without them.
Choosing medical insurance without confirming coverage and compliance with your visa requirements.
Assuming parental sponsorship is automatic. Confirm eligibility, housing, insurance and documentation requirements before applying.
UAE visa questions, answered
Do I need to set up a company to get a UAE residence visa?+
Most founder routes (investor and partner visas) require a UAE trade licence. Once your licence is issued, you can sponsor your own residence visa, then visas for your team and family. The Green and Golden visas are alternative routes that do not always require a company but have higher eligibility thresholds.
How long does the full residence visa process take?+
Timing depends on your visa route, authority review and appointment availability. Allow time for the entry permit or status change, medical test, biometrics and residence permit. Confirm the schedule before booking travel.
Can I apply for the visa from abroad?+
Yes. We issue an entry permit while you are outside the UAE; you then fly in on that permit and complete the medical, biometrics and stamping inside the country. Confirm appointment availability and the required length of stay before booking travel.
How many visas can I get with my company?+
Visa availability must be confirmed for your selected setup under current authority rules. Tell us your required applicant count before choosing a package. Do not rely on published quota ranges or office-size formulas.
Can I sponsor my family on my investor visa?+
Yes. Once your own residence visa is stamped, you can sponsor your spouse, children and parents subject to minimum salary or property thresholds. Requirements differ by relationship, age and visa category. Confirm current eligibility and documents before applying.
What is the difference between an investor visa and a Golden Visa?+
An investor (partner) visa is tied to your trade licence and renews every 2 years. The Golden Visa is a 10-year residence granted on merit (investment, specialised talent, founder/entrepreneur criteria) and is not tied to a single licence. Many founders start on an investor visa and upgrade to Golden once they qualify.
Are the visa fees fixed?+
Visa costs are set by the relevant authorities and can change. Your account shows the applicable immigration, medical and Emirates ID costs and the validity of your itemised quote before you proceed.
What happens if my medical test flags an issue?+
The UAE medical screens for a small set of communicable conditions. Results may affect eligibility. An approved medical centre and the relevant authority must advise on your case. If you are concerned about anything specific before flying in, message us on live chat first.
Your visa cost, in seconds
Sign up to the Yallabase portal and get an itemised quote for your company and visas in under a minute. Applicable visa costs are clearly itemised. No sales calls, no hidden markups, and live chat whenever you want to talk to a human.