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The Golden Visa is a prestigious programme offering 10 years of residency in the UAE. It is granted to investors, entrepreneurs and exceptionally talented individuals in fields such as science, the arts, medicine and sport. One of its biggest advantages is that the restriction on time spent outside the UAE has been removed, giving globally mobile holders great flexibility (an exemption from the mandatory entry/exit rule).
Previously, the Golden Visa required at least AED 10 million in real estate investment, and mortgaged or off-plan properties were excluded. The new rules have eased this considerably:
Entrepreneurs can now apply by buying or being a partner in a startup registered in any emirate and classified as an SME. The only condition is that the venture generates at least AED 1 million in annual revenue and obtains approval from the Ministry of Economy or an accredited business incubator.
The application has been simplified for specialists making a difference in fields such as science, medicine, law, management and technology. To apply for the 10-year Golden Visa, meeting one of the following is enough:
Foreign students who graduate with high honours from schools and universities in the UAE, as well as graduates of the world's top 100 universities, can also apply for the 10-year Golden Visa.
The investor visa is a residence permit granted to those who invest by setting up a company in Dubai or becoming a partner in an existing one. Its duration varies by the size of the investment and the licence type; small-to-medium investments usually provide a renewable residency, while high-value real estate or company investments can move the holder up to the Golden Visa. The investor visa grants the right to run your own business, sponsor family members and open a bank account. Important note: investor visas other than the Golden Visa require entry into the UAE at certain intervals to keep the visa valid (see the table below).
The employee visa is a residence permit under an employer's sponsorship, granted to a person employed by a UAE employer. It is usually valid for 2 years and is renewed as long as the employment contract continues. The process is handled by the employer; the employee completes the medical check and Emirates ID steps to obtain residency. On an employee visa, the limit on continuous time spent abroad is critical: staying outside the country beyond a certain period can invalidate the visa (details in the table).
The new rules introduced Green Residence, a flexible 5-year residence permit for talented foreigners that is sponsor-free. It targets freelancers, specialists and entrepreneurs in particular; when the visa expires, the holder is granted a further 6 months to stay in the country.
Freelancers, who could previously obtain only a 2-year permit, can now apply for the 5-year Green Visa. No employer or sponsor is required. Application requirements:
For skilled specialists, the conditions for the 5-year Green Residence are: a valid bachelor's degree; being at level I, II or III in the Ministry of Labour's professional classification; a valid employment contract; and a monthly income of at least AED 15,000. For company founders, the Green Residence also replaces the old 2-year permit; the investor must obtain government approval and, if they hold more than one licence, document the total investment.
The new regulations have also made family reunification easier. Key highlights:
In family reunification, the sponsor is usually the person holding an employee/investor/Golden Visa; a spouse, children and, under certain conditions, parents can be sponsored.
There are also important changes to entry visas: all entry visas now offer a single or multiple entry option, are valid for 60 days and require no sponsor or host. The main types:
To keep your UAE residence visa valid, you must enter the country at certain intervals depending on your visa type. Otherwise the visa may become inactive in the system and you may face problems on your next entry. The table below summarises the frequency of mandatory entry/exit within one year for common visa types:
| Visa Type | Required Entry Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Visa (10 years) | No requirement | The holder may stay outside the UAE with no time limit; exempt from the entry/exit rule. |
| Investor Visa | At least every 12 months (1 year) | At least one entry into the UAE per year is recommended to keep the visa active. |
| Employee Visa | At least every 6 months | Continuous time abroad beyond 6 months can invalidate the visa; entry/exit at least every 6 months is essential. |
| Green Residence / Freelancer (5 years) | At least every 6 months | The general residency rule applies; always confirm for long stays abroad. |
Note: these periods reflect general practice and regulations may change. Especially if you are planning a long stay abroad, it is safest to confirm the situation specific to your visa type in advance.
One of our clients owned a mainland textile company in Dubai, and their residence visa required entry/exit into the UAE at least every 6 months. Due to a busy work schedule and supply negotiations abroad, they unknowingly exceeded this 6-month window.
On returning to Dubai, passport control showed that their visa was inactive/flagged in the system, and they faced a problem entering the country — their travel plans were suddenly at risk. Fortunately, their company was a mainland entity with an active trade licence and establishment card, which meant the situation could be resolved.
Our team stepped in: working in coordination with the immigration unit and the Amer service point inside the airport, we reorganised and reactivated our client's file. Thanks to the mainland company's sponsorship and up-to-date paperwork, the process was completed the same day, and our client entered the country without any issue.
The lesson from this case: always follow the entry/exit rule tied to your visa type. Even if the period has been exceeded, with an active mainland company and the right consultancy the issue can often be resolved on the spot at the airport. What matters is keeping your file and company documents up to date and acting quickly with the right authorities.
We can accompany you throughout the entire process, from setting up a company in Dubai to your visa application; for details, see our guide to setting up a company in Dubai.
The table below summarizes approximate government fees and additional costs by visa type. Fees are updated periodically; please confirm exact, current amounts via official channels such as GDRFA Dubai or ICP before applying.
| Visa Type | Approx. Government Fee | Additional Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Visa | ~AED 2,800 – 4,000 | Excludes investment/property amount; medical test and Emirates ID billed separately |
| Investor/Partner Visa | ~AED 3,000 – 5,500 | Excludes company formation fees, visa process only |
| Employment Visa | ~AED 3,000 – 5,000 | Usually covered by the employer |
| Freelance / Green Residence | ~AED 3,500 – 7,000 | Varies by income proof and sector approvals |
Regardless of visa type, the Dubai residence visa process generally follows these steps:
Average processing time ranges from 5-15 business days depending on visa type.
If you're only planning a short visit, a Dubai tourist visa may be a better fit than a residence visa.
For up-to-date regulations and application details, we recommend following official government resources:
Under the current rules, the minimum real estate investment was reduced to AED 2 million (about USD 545,000); mortgaged properties and off-plan projects from approved developers are also accepted.
Yes. If you have a company, you qualify for the Golden Visa once you raise its capital to AED 2 million and obtain the paid-up capital letter from the bank. Alternatively, if you deposit an amount of AED 2 million into instruments such as a fixed deposit, funds or shares in your personal account, blocked for a certain period, you can qualify for the Golden Visa with the document you receive from the bank.
On an employee visa, the general rule is that continuous time abroad must not exceed 6 months; otherwise the visa may become invalid. It is recommended to enter/exit the UAE at least every 6 months.
No. Golden Visa holders may stay outside the UAE with no time limit; this is one of the programme's biggest advantages.
No. Green Residence is sponsor-free. A bachelor's degree, a freelance permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and annual income of at least AED 360,000 over the last two years are required.
In most cases, yes. Especially if you have the sponsorship of an active mainland company, the file can be reorganised and entry secured through immigration and Amer services. The right consultancy speeds up the process.
The main points of the new regulations are as follows: the standard visitor visa duration has been extended from 30 days to 60 days and can be extended for an additional 60 days; many entry visas no longer <strong>require a sponsor or host</strong>; the investment thresholds for the Golden Visa have been lowered; and a sponsor-free <strong>Green Residence</strong> program has been introduced for freelancers and specialists. Below, we examine each of these categories in detail.
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