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Applying for a Dubai Residence Visa
If you want to emigrate to Dubai and live there, you will need a corresponding Residence Visa of the United Arab Emirates as well as an Emirates ID. The Residence Visa allows you to stay in Dubai for a long time, while the Emirates ID serves as an important identification proof throughout the UAE.
To apply for your Dubai Residence Visa, you must meet some important requirements. In the following article, we will explain all the important information about the application process and show you how to apply for your Dubai Residence Visa and Emirates ID quickly and easily with us.
Table of Contents
- The Costs of a Residence Visa in Dubai
- Residence Permit for Company Owners in Dubai
- Residence Permit for Dubai as an Employee
- The Residence Permit for Family Members
- Residence Permit through a Dubai Property
- The Residence Permit for Retirees in Dubai
- Do I Need to Renew My Residence Visa in Dubai?
- How Do I Apply for My Residence Visa for Dubai?
Apply for Dubai Residence Visa in Six Steps
- Evidence of company setup, employment contract or property purchase in Dubai
- Apply for the visa
- Enter Dubai with an issued E-Visa / Entry Permit
- Medical & biometric examination at approved health centres
- Receive Residence Permit
- Issuance of Emirates ID within 5–7 working days
The Costs of a Residence Visa in Dubai
The costs for the Residence Visa in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates particularly depend on the type of visa and the applicant’s country of origin. Typically, the United Arab Emirates offer five types of Residence Visas:
Residence Visa for Company Owners in the UAE
For company founders, known as investors, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates offer a specific Investor Visa. This visa allows you, as a company owner in Dubai, to live, work, and conduct your business over the long term.
The costs for the Investor Residence Visa start from AED 12,285 plus applicable fees* for medical tests. The Residence Visa for investors in Dubai has a validity of 2 years and can typically be extended without issues.
Residence Visa for Employees in the UAE
This Residence Visa including work permit must be applied for by the respective employer or their PRO. The costs incurred at the time of application start from AED 3,500 plus applicable fees* for medical tests. The Residence Visa for employees in Dubai has a validity of 2 years and can also typically be extended without problems.
Residence Visa for Family Members in the UAE
The UAE Residence Visa for Family Members is intended for individuals who want to live in Dubai with their families over the long term. The costs for this visa start from AED 3,205 per person in fees* for medical tests, immigration fees, and typically additional processing fees. The Residence Visa for family members has a validity of 2 years and can usually also be extended without problems.
Residence Visa for Property Buyers in the UAE
The costs of the Residence Visa for property buyers, its validity period, and specific requirements depend on various factors. Current information about the Residence Visa for property buyers in Dubai and the UAE is available from us on request.
Residence Visa for Retirees and Individuals Over 55 Years
Under the aforementioned conditions – such as property ownership within the UAE, existing reserves in a fixed minimum amount or monthly incomes in a fixed minimum amount, a corresponding application for a Retirement Visa can be made in the United Arab Emirates. The costs of applying are also dependent on various factors for a Retirement Visa, so we can provide you with concrete information only if we know the individual case.
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Residence Permit for Company Owners in Dubai
As an owner or partner of a company within the United Arab Emirates, you are entitled to apply for what is known as an Investor Visa. This type of UAE Residence Visa enables you to live long-term in Dubai and the entire United Arab Emirates and to work for your company.
Before you can apply for your Residence Visa in Dubai, your company must first be fully established and the requested business licence for your company must have been granted. In case you want to emigrate to Dubai with your family, there is also the possibility to apply for a Residence Visa for family members (see Residence Visa for Family Members).
The processing time until the issuance of the Investor Residence Visa for Dubai generally takes 8-10 working days and can be reduced to only 5 working days by paying an additional fee.
In connection with your company formation at Privacy Management Group, we can handle all formalities for you on request and guide you step by step through the entire application process. Our multi-language specialists are always available for a free consultation.
Residence Permit for Dubai as an Employee
Applying for a Residence Visa as an Employee in Dubai
As an employee of a company based in Dubai or another emirate of the UAE, your employer will handle the application of your Residence Visa for you. In case you want to emigrate to Dubai with your family and live there, the PRO (Public Relations Officer) of your employer will also take care of the necessary Residence Visa for your family members in the UAE. You should inform your future employer about your plans in advance and make the appropriate arrangements with them.
Residence Visa, Your Company in Dubai as an Employer
If you have entrusted Privacy Management Group with the management of your company in Dubai or in another emirate of the UAE, we are happy to handle all formalities for you and guide your company and employees step by step through the entire visa process.
The processing time until the issuance of the Residence Visa for employees generally takes 10 working days and can be reduced to 5 working days by paying an additional fee for the VIP Fast‑Track. Our multi-language specialists are always available for a free and non-binding consultation.
The Residence Permit for Family Members
If you have obtained your residence permit for Dubai due to company formation, property purchase, or an employment relationship in the UAE, you have the opportunity to also submit a Residence Visa application for your children and your spouse.
The processing time from application submission for a Residence Visa for family members is 10 working days. Through the chargeable VIP Fast‑Track, you can reduce the processing time to 5 working days.
Our team will gladly assist you and take care of all the formalities, guiding you step by step safely and quickly through the entire application process. Our multi-language specialists are always available for a free and non-binding consultation.
Residence Permit through a Dubai Property
If you own or purchase one or more properties in Dubai and/or another emirate of the UAE and the value of your property exceeds AED 2,000,000 , you are eligible to apply for the so-called UAE Golden Visa.
Once the pre-approval has been obtained, the processing time for the Golden Visa is approximately 28 working days and can be reduced to approximately 8–10 working days by paying an additional fee.
If you are a client of our firm or were assisted by our team in finding a suitable property in the United Arab Emirates, we will take care of all the necessary formalities for the application and guide you step by step through the entire visa process. Our multi-language specialists are always available for a free and non-binding consultation.
The Residence Permit for Retirees in Dubai
If you are over the age of 55, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates offer you the opportunity to apply for a so-called Retirement Visa. This special type of residence permit is subject to one of the following conditions:
- you own properties in the UAE with a total value of more than AED 1,000,000
- you have financial savings of more than AED 1,000,000
- your regular monthly income is at least AED 20,000 .
Do I Need to Renew My Residence Visa in Dubai?
The various types of Residence Visa in the United Arab Emirates vary in terms of their validity period. In the following table, we have compiled an overview of the different Residence Visas and their respective validity periods.
| UAE Residence Visa | Validity Period | Renewal |
| UAE Investor Visa | 2 years | yes, upon request |
| UAE Visa for Family Members | 2 years | yes, upon request |
| UAE Visa for Employees | 2 years | yes, upon request |
| UAE Visa for Property Buyers | 5–10 years | yes, upon request |
| UAE Visa for Individuals over 55 | 5 years | yes, upon request |
How Do I Apply for My Residence Visa for Dubai?
The costs for the Residence Visa in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates particularly depend on the type of visa and the applicant’s country of origin.
Your Entry
Typically, we first apply for an Entry Permit on your behalf, which allows you to enter the United Arab Emirates.
Step 1 — The Medical Examination
The medical examination required before issuing the Residence Visa is mandatory and includes, among other things, a blood test and an X-ray of your upper body.
Step 2 — The Biometric Registration
Your biometric data is recorded at an approved centre in the UAE as part of the Emirates ID application process.
Step 3 — Your Residence Visa and Emirates ID
As soon as the results of your examination are available without any pathological findings, we apply for your Residence Visa and the Emirates ID, with which you can subsequently open bank accounts in the UAE, buy cars, or rent an apartment.
We can accompany you step by step through the entire process until you have your Residence Visa and Emirates ID in your hands.
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*Information provided without guarantee
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