Key takeaways
- A UAE company owner can usually get a self-sponsored residence visa as an investor or partner, with no employer or guarantor, when the owner's name appears as shareholder or partner on a valid trade licence.
- Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) lists an investor and partner residence of up to five years, and its green visa service page sets a minimum paid share of AED 1,000,000 (as of October 2026).
- The Golden Visa for company investors runs for 10 years and requires a share of the company's assets worth at least AED 2,000,000, according to GDRFA (as of October 2026).
- The Golden Visa file for a company investor needs a financial report certified by an accredited UAE audit firm, so a company with unreconciled books can't build the application.
- Each free zone sets its own shareholding and visa quota rules; DMCC, for example, publishes a three year partner and investor visa tied to 50 shares and AED 50,000 of share capital.
Can I get an investor visa through my company?
Yes, in most cases. If you hold shares in a licensed UAE company, or you're named as a partner on its trade licence, you can apply for a residence visa that rests on your stake rather than on an employer. GDRFA describes its investor and partner residence as a stay of up to five years "without a guarantor or employer", renewable on the same terms as the original issue.
The authority still has to approve the application and confirm you're authorised to practise the activity, so a licence on its own isn't enough. The legal base is Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021 on the entry and residence of foreigners and its Executive Regulations, Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022, in force since 3 October 2022.
Who qualifies for the investor or partner visa, and what does it cost?
You qualify when you hold a stake in a licensed company, your name is on the licence or shareholder documents, and the licensing authority approves your activity. The minimum stake isn't one national figure: it depends on the authority and the free zone, as the table shows.
| Item | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Validity | Up to 5 years, renewable on the same terms | GDRFA, green residence permit (partner investor) |
| Minimum stake (Dubai green visa page) | Investor or partner share of at least AED 1,000,000 paid, in a public shareholding company, private joint stock company, LLC, simple recommendation company or solidarity company | GDRFA, green visa issuance (investor/partner) |
| Minimum stake (DMCC) | Share certificate for a minimum of 50 shares, with total share capital of AED 50,000; visa valid for 3 years | DMCC visa guide |
| Documents | Personal photo, passport valid for at least 6 months, partnership agreement, memorandum of association or investment contract, trade licence | GDRFA |
| Expected processing | 48 hours | GDRFA |
| Grace period after expiry or cancellation | 180 days | GDRFA |
Accurate as of 08 October 2026. The two GDRFA pages don't list the same conditions: one names only the authority's approval and your authorisation to practise the activity, while the other sets the AED 1,000,000 share. Ask your free zone or PRO which test applies to your licence before you plan around a figure.
Government fees for the Dubai investor and partner residence are below. Medical test, Emirates ID, health insurance and free zone establishment card fees are separate; they're not published on those GDRFA pages.
| Government fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Residence permit | AED 200 |
| Knowledge Dirham | AED 10 |
| Innovation Dirham | AED 10 |
| Fee for applying inside the country | AED 500 |
| Delivery | AED 20 |
| Increase when the residency is over two years | AED 100 per year |
Accurate as of 08 October 2026. The separate green visa page quotes the work visa fee as AED 200 plus 5% VAT.
What is the difference between the investor visa and the Golden Visa for company owners?
The investor or partner visa is a standard residence tied to your stake; the Golden Visa is a 10 year residence with a higher threshold and a heavier file. Which one fits depends mostly on how much of the company's value you own and whether the company can show certified numbers.
| Criterion | Investor or partner visa (Dubai) | Golden Visa for company investors (Dubai) |
|---|---|---|
| Validity | Up to 5 years | 10 years, extendable if the same conditions are met |
| Threshold | AED 1,000,000 paid share, per the green visa page | Share of company assets worth at least AED 2,000,000 |
| Also assessed | Authority approval and authorisation to practise the activity | Investment size, employment, administrative efficiency and financial solvency |
| Key documents | Licence, memorandum of association or partnership agreement | Certified financial report from an accredited UAE audit firm, licence with partners' appendix, company bank statement, tax registration with last year's tax receipts, free zone certificate for free zone companies |
| Residence permit fee | AED 200 | AED 1,100 |
Accurate as of 08 October 2026.
AED 2,000,000: minimum value of a company investor's share of company assets for the 10 year Golden Visa. Source: GDRFA Dubai, golden residence permit (investors), checked 08 October 2026.
The u.ae portal also lists, for investors, either property ownership or a contribution to an establishment paying at least AED 250,000 a year in taxes. If your stake is under AED 2,000,000 or the company is young, the investor or partner visa is the practical choice; if your share and audited numbers clear the bar, the Golden Visa removes the shorter renewal cycle, though it still comes with conditions.
How do I apply for an investor visa through my company?
You apply through the licensing authority or its PRO channel, and the sequence matters because each step needs the one before it. The steps below follow the process free zones such as Meydan and DMCC describe; your authority may order them slightly differently.
- Confirm your name sits on the trade licence and in the memorandum of association or partnership agreement as shareholder or partner, with the free zone or Department of Economy and Tourism.
- Check your paid share against the threshold your authority applies, including any share count or capital figure the free zone sets.
- Have the company's establishment card and immigration file opened with the free zone, which also confirms your visa quota.
- Submit the entry permit or status change request with your photo, a passport valid for at least 6 months and the licence and ownership documents. GDRFA's business entry visa allows 60 days from entry while residency is completed.
- Complete the medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID application.
- Collect the residence and arrange health insurance, which DMCC lists as mandatory for residence visa holders.
If you'd rather not track renewal and licence dates by hand, the free UAE compliance calendar lists the tax and compliance deadlines for your company.
Does my free zone or emirate change the rules?
Yes. Each free zone sets its own shareholding, office and quota terms, and the immigration authority that issues the visa differs by emirate; the GDRFA figures above apply to Dubai. DMCC, for instance, links its visa quota to office type: up to 3 visas for a flexi desk, 4 or 5 for a serviced office depending on size, and 1 visa per 9 square metres of physical space, with increases subject to the free zone's approval.
For SHAMS and other zones, ask the zone for its current investor visa shareholding rule and quota in writing, because published terms change and the figures on a zone's blog may be older than its regulations.
What most guides don't tell you
- The Golden Visa file is built from audited numbers. The document list asks for a financial report certified by an accredited UAE audit firm, a company bank statement and tax registration with last year's tax receipts. A company that hasn't registered for tax, or whose books aren't reconciled, can't assemble that file in a week, so fix the accounts before you apply.
- The AED 2,000,000 test is about your share of company assets, not the cash you paid in. GDRFA's wording is the investor's or partner's share of the company's assets, and the certified report is what proves the value. Ask the audit firm how it treats loans and liabilities before you count on the figure.
- Two official Dubai pages list different conditions for the same visa. One sets AED 1,000,000, the other names only approval and authorisation. Get the threshold your own licence will be tested against in writing, because a PRO quoting a number from memory may be quoting the other page.
- The visa rests on the stake and the licence. GDRFA allows a 180 day grace period after expiry or cancellation, but a share sale or a lapsed licence changes the basis on which you hold the visa. Confirm the visa consequences with the authority before you transfer shares or let a licence expire.
Which deadlines apply to your company?
Your visa, licence renewal, VAT and corporate tax dates all run on different calendars, and missing one can hold up the others. The free UAE compliance calendar is a free calendar of your company's UAE tax and compliance deadlines, personalised from a few questions, as a PDF and calendar file.
Frequently asked questions
Is a freelance permit better than a company license for a solo consultant?
It depends on whether you need a partner, staff or the investor routes above. The investor and partner visas rest on a stake in a licensed company, while a freelance permit carries the visa terms its issuing authority sets, so compare those terms in writing before choosing.
What is the Golden Visa route for business owners?
Company investors can apply for a 10 year Golden Visa if their share of the company's assets is worth at least AED 2,000,000, supported by a financial report certified by an accredited UAE audit firm (GDRFA Dubai, as of October 2026). The u.ae portal also lists a contribution to an establishment paying at least AED 250,000 a year in taxes as a qualifying route for investors.
How many visas can I get with a free zone license?
The number comes from your free zone's quota, which usually depends on office type. DMCC publishes up to 3 visas for a flexi desk, 4 or 5 for a serviced office and 1 visa per 9 square metres of physical space; other zones set different numbers.
What is the visa quota and how is it calculated?
A visa quota is the number of residence visas your licence can sponsor, set by the licensing authority. DMCC ties it to office type, with fixed numbers for flexi desks and serviced offices and 1 visa per 9 square metres of physical space, and allows increases with the free zone's approval.
About Qawi · Qawi is a corporate services firm licensed in the Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) free zone, handling company formation, visas and PRO, bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax for UAE businesses. Guides are researched from FTA, Ministry of Finance and free zone sources. Qawi on LinkedIn
Sources
- GDRFA Dubai: Issuing green residence permit (partner investor)
- GDRFA Dubai: Green visa issuance (investor/partner)
- GDRFA Dubai: Issuing a golden residence permit (investors)
- u.ae: Golden visa
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security: Golden residency
- UAE Legislation portal: Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022 (Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021)
- DMCC: The 4 types of Dubai free zone visas
- Meydan Free Zone: Partner and investor visa guide
Last checked: 08 October 2026
This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.