Residence Visas for Company Owners in the UAE (2026)
A company owner in the UAE can get residency through the company itself, through a long-term programme such as the Green Visa or the Golden Visa, or on an employment visa. The right route depends on your share of the company, the capital behind it and how long you want to stay.
Key takeaways
- Most owners start with an investor or partner visa issued through the company’s licence and establishment card.
- The Green Visa for partners and investors lasts five years and does not need an employer sponsor.
- The Golden Visa lasts ten years and has company routes that start at a share or capital of AED 2 million, or AED 250,000 in annual federal taxes.
- Employee visas follow a quota that depends on your premises and legal form, not on your ownership.
The Main Residence Routes for Owners
Each route suits a different stage of the business. The table compares what each one offers.
| Route | Typical length | Main condition |
|---|---|---|
| Investor or partner visa through the licence | Usually two years in free zones such as Meydan | An active licence, an establishment card and a visa quota |
| Green Visa (partner or investor) | Five years | A partner’s share of at least AED 1 million, paid |
| Golden Visa, company investor | Ten years | A share or capital of AED 2 million, or AED 250,000 in annual federal taxes |
| Golden Visa, entrepreneur | Ten years | An SME with revenue of at least AED 1 million, or ventures sold for AED 7 million |
| Employee visa | Usually two or three years | A quota and a sponsoring company |
Free zones and DET set the practical steps for the first row, while the Green and Golden routes are federal programmes with their own requirements.
Investor and Partner Visas Through Your Licence
Once the company has a licence and an establishment card, the owner can apply for a residence visa. The card is the immigration file that links the company to its visas.
Meydan publishes the costs for its zone, which show what to expect. It lists an investor visa from AED 4,000, an employee visa from AED 3,500, an establishment card at AED 2,000 and medical and Emirates ID assistance at AED 2,250. Its FAQ puts the extras for a first investor visa at around AED 7,850 in total, and residence visas are typically valid for two years.
- Licence issued. The company receives its licence and a workspace.
- Establishment card. The company applies for the card.
- Entry permit or status change. The owner enters or changes status inside the UAE.
- Medical test. The owner completes the health check.
- Emirates ID and visa stamp. The visa is issued and the ID is delivered.
Our guide to UAE business visa requirements explains the options before and after you land.
The Green Visa for Partners and Investors
The Green Visa gives partners and investors up to five years of residency without an employer or a local sponsor. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) sets the conditions.
- Capital. The partner’s share cannot be less than AED 1 million paid, or the equivalent in another currency.
- Company type. Permitted forms include a limited liability company and a private or public joint stock company.
- Documents. A photo, a passport valid for at least six months, a partnership agreement, memorandum of association or investment contract, and a trade licence.
- Renewal. The permit is renewed on the same terms, with a 180-day grace period to stay after expiry or cancellation.
A partner who enters to complete the process receives a 60-day business entry visa. If the permit is not finalised in that time, overstay fines apply, so plan the steps in advance.
Golden Visa Routes for Company Owners
The Golden Visa lasts ten years and renews automatically while you meet the conditions. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) lists several company routes.
- Partner share. Be a partner in a new or existing company with a financial share of at least AED 2 million.
- Company capital. Set up a company with capital of at least AED 2 million.
- Tax route. Own a company committed to paying at least AED 250,000 in annual federal taxes. A partner qualifies when their shareholding corresponds to AED 250,000 a year of the tax paid.
The invested capital must be fully owned by you and must not come from a loan. Dubai’s GDRFA also asks for a trade licence with the partners’ appendix and a certified financial report from an accredited UAE audit firm for the share route.
Founders of smaller businesses can also look at the entrepreneur category. It requires an SME with annual revenue of at least AED 1 million, or ventures you founded and sold for at least AED 7 million, with approval from an accredited incubator or the Ministry of Economy. Read our guides to the Golden Visa and the Golden Visa for business owners and entrepreneurs.
Employee Visas and Visa Quotas
Many companies hold some staff, and often the owner, on employee visas. These follow a quota rather than an ownership test.
Under the federal rules, the authority sets the quota using the company’s legal form, the area of its premises, its projects and the demand for the work, as evidenced by the employer. The quota can be changed on request with the authority’s approval.
- Dubai’s GDRFA quota request asks for the establishment card, the Ejari lease, the passport of the owner or partner and a Dubai Economy and Tourism classification certificate.
- No published formula links the number of visas to the size of the office, so ask the authority or your adviser about your case.
- In a free zone, the workspace you rent usually sets the quota, and a flexi-desk is limited to one visa in many zones.
Our guide to PRO services in Dubai explains how visa applications and renewals are handled for you.
Costs to Budget for
The visa itself is one line in a longer list. These are the lines to price before you start.
- The investor or employee visa fee.
- The establishment card.
- The medical test and Emirates ID.
- Health insurance, which is required for Golden Residency applicants and their families.
- Document attestation and translation for certificates issued abroad.
- Renewal fees at the end of the visa term.
The cost calculator adds these lines for your case, and our guide to the Dubai trade licence cost explains the licence side.
Bringing Your Family
Owners with a residence visa can usually sponsor a spouse and children, subject to the visa type and the income or housing rules that apply. Golden Residency holders can also sponsor parents, and children of any age, under ICP’s published terms.
Requirements change by route and by emirate, so confirm them before you plan the move. Read our guide to UAE family visa sponsorship for the steps.
Three Example Owners
These illustrations show how the choice differs. They are not advice for your case.
- A solo founder in a free zone. The owner takes an investor visa through the licence, because it is the lowest-cost route for one person. Later they consider the Green Visa if their share and capital meet the conditions.
- A partner in an LLC with AED 1.2 million paid in. The partner looks at the Green Visa. It lasts five years and does not need an employer sponsor.
- An investor with an AED 3 million stake in a mainland company. The investor looks at the Golden Visa company route. They prepare the trade licence, the partners’ appendix and the audit report.
Common Mistakes
- Applying before the licence and card are ready. The visa depends on both.
- Assuming ownership equals residency. Each route has its own capital and document tests.
- Using borrowed capital for the Golden Visa. The capital must be fully owned and not from a loan.
- Letting the company licence lapse. A lapsed licence can block visa renewals.
- Forgetting the grace period. If a permit is cancelled or expires, you have a limited time to act.
Which Route to Start With
- Start with the licence and the establishment card, because every route needs the company in place.
- Take an investor visa through the licence if you want the lowest entry cost.
- Check the Green Visa once your paid-in share reaches AED 1 million.
- Check the Golden Visa once your share, capital or tax contribution meets the ICP conditions.
- Plan visas for staff as the team grows, and review the quota before you hire.
Our company formation services help you plan the licence, workspace and visas together.
Documents to Prepare
Each route has its own list, but the same core documents appear again and again. Gathering them early keeps the process moving.
- A passport valid for at least six months and recent photos.
- The trade licence and the memorandum of association or partnership agreement.
- The establishment card, once the company has one.
- Proof of capital or share, and for Golden Residency the source of that capital.
- Valid health insurance in the UAE.
- Attested certificates, if the route asks for them.
Planning the First Months
Build the visa steps into your launch plan. The licence and card come first, then the owner’s visa, then staff visas as the team grows.
If you plan to apply for a Green or Golden Visa, collect the proof of capital and the audit documents in parallel. Starting those papers late often stalls long-term visa applications.
Summary: What to Remember
- Most owners begin with an investor visa through the licence and the establishment card.
- The Green Visa is for partners and investors with a paid share of at least AED 1 million.
- The Golden Visa company routes start at AED 2 million in share or capital, or AED 250,000 in annual federal taxes.
- Employee visa quotas depend on premises and legal form, so plan your space before you hire.
- Capital for Golden Residency must be your own and not borrowed.
To discuss your route, book a free consultation. Our sister site covers dependent visa sponsorship for business owners, and companyformationinuae.com has more on company formation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Owners can get an investor or partner visa through the company's licence, or a Green Visa or Golden Visa if they meet the conditions. None needs an employer sponsor.
GDRFA says the partner's share cannot be less than AED 1 million paid, or the equivalent in another currency.
A share or capital of at least AED 2 million, or a company paying at least AED 250,000 a year in federal taxes. The capital must be fully owned and not borrowed.
It depends on the legal form, the area of the premises, the projects and the demand for the work. There is no published formula, so ask GDRFA or your adviser.
Meydan lists an investor visa from AED 4,000, with around AED 7,850 in total extras for a first visa. Other zones and DET price their own packages.
Usually yes, subject to the visa type and the income or housing rules. Golden Residency holders can sponsor a spouse, children of any age and parents.
