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.
You can get a UAE residence visa through your company by having your own company sponsor you as an investor. Once your trade license is issued and your company holds an establishment card, the process runs through an entry permit, a change of status if you are already in the UAE, a medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics, and then the residence visa itself.
Your company can also sponsor the people you employ, and once you hold a residence visa you can sponsor family members if you meet the salary or income requirement. This guide covers each visa type, the steps, the documents you typically need and our indicative costs.
Key takeaways
- Your company can sponsor investor visas for you and your partners, and employee visas for your team.
- You need a valid trade license and an establishment card before your company can sponsor visas.
- The medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics happen in person in the UAE.
- Family visas depend on a minimum salary or income requirement set by the authorities.
- Keep your trade license valid: late renewal can bring penalties and may block visa renewals.
How company sponsorship works
Most UAE residence visas need a sponsor, such as an employer or a family member. When you set up a company, the company can act as the sponsor for you as a shareholder and for the people you employ. This is what getting a residence visa through your company means in practice.
To sponsor visas, your company needs:
- A valid trade license. Your visas depend on it, so keep it renewed on time.
- An establishment card. Also called an immigration card, it is needed once your company holds any visa. At DHCC Free Zone, it costs AED 2,000 a year.
- A visa allocation for each visa. With us, each allocation costs AED 1,850 a year.
The rules are set by the UAE immigration authorities: the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and, in Dubai, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). Rules and requirements can change, so check their official channels or ask our advisers for the current position.
Which visas your company can sponsor
Investor visa
The investor visa is for you and your partners as shareholders of the company. It lets you live in the UAE and, once issued, sponsor family members if you meet the requirements.
Employee visa
The employee visa is for the people you hire. Each employee visa uses its own visa allocation, so plan the number of visas you need when you set up your company.
Family visa
Once you hold a residence visa, you can sponsor family members such as a spouse, children or, in some cases, parents. You need to meet the minimum salary or income requirement set by the authorities and provide supporting documents. At DHCC Free Zone, we can handle the family visa process for you.
Tip: If you are setting up with partners, count everyone who will need an investor visa before you apply. It makes your first-year cost easier to plan.
The residence visa process, step by step
The steps are broadly the same for investors and employees.
- Trade license and establishment card. Your company is licensed and registered for immigration purposes.
- Entry permit. An entry permit is issued for the person being sponsored. If they are outside the UAE, they use it to enter the country.
- Change of status, if already in the UAE. If the person is already in the UAE on another visa, a change of status lets them move to the new visa without leaving the country.
- Medical fitness test. This takes place in person at an approved medical center in the UAE.
- Emirates ID biometrics. This also takes place in person, usually to record fingerprints and a photo.
- Residence visa issuance. The visa is now recorded electronically against the Emirates ID rather than as a passport sticker.
You can apply online, but the medical test and the biometrics need you to be in the UAE. Timing usually depends on appointment availability and on how quickly your documents are ready. Your adviser can plan the steps around your travel. Our visas page explains each visa in more detail.
Documents you typically need
Exact requirements depend on the visa type and the person's circumstances, and the authorities can ask for more. As a starting point, prepare the following.
For investor and employee visas
- A clear copy of the passport, with enough validity to cover the process. Your adviser will confirm the minimum.
- A recent passport-style photo.
- The current UAE visa or entry stamp, if the person is already in the country.
- For employees, details of the role and salary.
For family visas
- Passport copies and photos for each family member.
- An attested marriage certificate for a spouse.
- Attested birth certificates for children.
- A tenancy contract for your home in the UAE.
- Proof that you meet the salary or income requirement.
Tip: Certificates issued outside the UAE usually need attestation before you can use them. Start this early if you plan to bring your family.
What a company-sponsored visa costs with us
These are our indicative visa fees. They are confirmed when you apply.
| Item | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| Investor visa | AED 4,000, plus a visa allocation of AED 1,850 a year per visa |
| Employee visa | AED 3,500, plus a visa allocation of AED 1,850 a year |
| Family (dependent) visa | AED 6,000 |
| Establishment (immigration) card | AED 2,000 a year, needed once you hold any visa |
| Change of status inside the UAE | AED 1,500 per person |
| Medical test and Emirates ID (optional add-on) | AED 2,250 per person |
For example, a founder who is already in the UAE and wants one investor visa would typically need the investor visa fee, one visa allocation, the establishment card and a change of status. The medical test and Emirates ID add-on is optional. Our cost calculator adds these to your license cost so you can see the total before you apply.
The trade license itself starts from AED 12,500 a year, including a flexi-desk and up to 3 activity groups. Our guide to business setup cost in Dubai covers the full picture.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
Plan around these points before you start. Each one is easy to avoid with a little preparation.
- Booking travel before you plan the in-person steps. The medical test and biometrics need you in the UAE. Agree your dates with your adviser before you book flights.
- Letting a passport run low. A passport close to expiry can hold up the process. Renew it first if needed.
- Leaving attestation late. Family visas usually need attested certificates, and these can take longer to prepare than other documents.
- Forgetting the yearly costs. The visa allocation and the establishment card are charged every year, not just once. Include them in your budget.
- Overlooking your current visa. If you are in the UAE on another visa, check its status and expiry before you start, so the change of status can be planned.
- Mixing up who sponsors whom. Your company sponsors investor and employee visas. Family members are sponsored by a resident who meets the salary or income requirement.
With DHCC Free Zone, you can add visas to your package when you set up and request more as your team grows. Raise any of the points above with your adviser at the start.
Keeping your visa valid
A company-sponsored visa stays tied to the company, so the company's paperwork needs to stay in order.
- Renew your trade license before it expires. Late renewal can bring penalties and may block visa renewals.
- Keep your establishment card valid. It is needed for as long as your company holds any visa.
- Keep your Emirates ID details current. Your residence visa is recorded against it.
- Plan visa renewals in advance. Check expiry dates for every visa your company sponsors.
Our renew and manage page explains how renewals and amendments work at DHCC Free Zone. Your residence visa and Emirates ID also help with steps such as opening a corporate bank account, because banks typically ask signatories and shareholders for them where available. Read our guide to opening a corporate bank account in the UAE.
When you are ready to start, set up your company, then add the visas you need. Talk to our advisers to plan your visas around your arrival in the UAE.
Frequently asked questions
For some steps, yes. The medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics happen in person in the UAE, while other parts of the process can be done online.
Yes, if you meet the minimum salary or income requirement set by the authorities. You usually also need documents such as attested marriage or birth certificates and a tenancy contract.
No. The residence visa is now recorded electronically against your Emirates ID rather than as a passport sticker.
An investor visa is AED 4,000 plus a visa allocation of AED 1,850 a year, and your company needs an establishment card at AED 2,000 a year. These figures are indicative until confirmed.
Your visa depends on your company, so keep the license valid. Late renewal can bring penalties and may block visa renewals.
About DHCC Free Zone
We license companies in Dubai across 2,000+ business activities, from trading, e-commerce and consultancy to technology, media, education and healthcare, and support them from setup to every renewal.
This guide is general information about doing business in Dubai at the time of writing, not legal or tax advice. Fees are indicative until confirmed by DHCC Free Zone.
