Visas & immigration
UAE residence visas for you, your team and your family.
Live and work in Dubai with a residence visa through your DHCC Free Zone company. We guide you from entry permit to Emirates ID.
Investor & employeevisas through your company
Family visasfor your spouse, children or parents
Types of UAE residence visa.
Investor visa.
For the shareholders of your company. Live in the UAE and sponsor your family.
Employee visa.
For the people you hire. Your company sponsors their residence and work permit.
Family visa.
Sponsor your spouse, children or parents, if you meet the salary and housing requirements.
Establishment card.
Your company’s registration with immigration. It’s needed before your company can sponsor any visa.
How to get a UAE residence visa.
- 01
Establishment card.
We register your company with immigration, so it can sponsor visas.
- 02
Entry permit.
We apply for your entry permit. If you are already in the UAE, you change your status instead.
- 03
Medical fitness test.
Visit an approved medical center in the UAE for a short health screening.
- 04
Emirates ID biometrics.
Give your fingerprints and photo for your Emirates ID.
- 05
Residence visa issued.
Your residence visa is issued and linked to your Emirates ID.
Visa costs.
| Visa or service | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Investor visa | AED 4,000 | Plus a visa allocation of AED 1,850 a year |
| Employee visa | AED 3,500 | Plus a visa allocation of AED 1,850 a year |
| Family visa | AED 6,000 | For a spouse, child or parent |
| Establishment card | AED 2,000 a year | Needed once your company holds visas |
| Change of status | AED 1,500 | Per person already in the UAE |
| Medical test and Emirates ID | AED 2,250 | Per person, optional |
Indicative fees. A 2 or 3-year license also takes 15% off the visa allocation. Use the cost calculator for your total.
Documents for your visa application.
- A passport copy, usually valid for at least six months
- A recent passport-size photo with a white background
- Your current UAE visa or entry stamp, if you are in the UAE
- For family visas: attested marriage or birth certificates and a tenancy contract
Your adviser confirms the exact list for each visa.
Guides for your next step.
Visas & residency
How to get a UAE residence visa through your company
Your company can sponsor your UAE residence visa, your team and, through you, your family. Here are the steps, documents and indicative costs.
Read moreLicensing & costs
Business setup cost in Dubai: license, visa and extra fees explained
What a Dubai company costs in year one and after: license fees, multi-year savings, visa costs, optional extras and the yearly costs to plan for.
Read moreCompany setup
How to set up a business in Dubai: a step-by-step guide
A step-by-step guide to setting up a business in Dubai, from choosing a free zone or the mainland to your license, visas, bank account and tax.
Read more
UAE residence visas: FAQs.
It depends on your license and workspace. Your adviser confirms how many residence visas your company can apply for.
Yes, if you meet the minimum salary or income and housing requirements set by the authorities.
You can start from abroad with an entry permit, but the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics take place in the UAE.
It is your company’s registration with immigration. Your company needs one before it can sponsor any visa, and it is renewed every year.
They are linked. Your residence visa gives you the right to live in the UAE, and your Emirates ID is your identity card, which now also carries your residence details.
Start your business in Dubai today.
Tell us about your plans and a DHCC Free Zone business setup adviser will contact you.
- Talk to a real adviser
- Every fee explained upfront
- Help with activities, visas and banking
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