Can I get a business owner visa without a separate office?

It depends on the emirate, the free zone and the company package. Some free zones offer packages with a coworking desk, but not every package includes visas. Before registration or leasing, we will check how many visas your option gives.

How long can I stay after my visa expires or is cancelled?

Under ICP rules — 180 days for Golden and Green holders and their families, widows, divorcees and graduates; 90 for skilled professionals of levels 1–3 and property owners; 60 for sponsored visas; 30 for everyone else. Dubai GDRFA states 60 days after cancellation of all visa types. After the grace period — AED 50 for each day.

Does the AED 750,000 threshold still apply to the 2-year property visa?

For a sole owner of property in Dubai, this threshold no longer applies. For joint ownership, the applicant’s share must be at least AED 400,000. The other conditions of the procedure and the property documents are still required.

Does the property have to be fully paid for to get a Golden Visa?

Not necessarily: ICP accepts a property mortgaged with an approved local bank. You then need a no-objection letter from the lending bank, and DLD confirms the property. With a developer instalment plan, we look at the developer’s documents and how much has been paid. There is no universal “any down payment will do”.

Can I get a Golden Visa with a property under construction?

Yes, ICP accepts off-plan property from an approved developer if it is worth AED 2 million or more. For filing in Dubai, we also check the project, the purchase registration and the documents the centre will accept. A contract or payment order alone may not be enough.

Can I combine several properties or use a share?

For a Golden Visa, properties in your name are counted in total — from AED 2,000,000. With shared ownership, the value of your own share is what counts. Some filing channels have a special procedure for spouses — we confirm it from the documents. The Golden and 2-year visa conditions differ.

Can I change employers without leaving the UAE?

Usually yes: the old work permit and visa are cancelled and new ones are issued inside the country. Family and Golden Visa holders do not need to change their visa — they can work under a separate MOHRE permit. MOHRE has 12 types of work permit in all, including part-time work.

What happens to my visa if I sell the company or my share?

If the visa was issued to you as an owner or partner, leaving the business can remove its basis. Before the deal, we decide whether to cancel the visa or move to another basis, and set the dates with the grace period in mind. Visas on another basis — employment or family — are assessed separately.

Does my family need health insurance?

Yes: valid insurance is on the ICP document list for a family visa, and it is checked on renewal in every category. In Dubai, insurance for a resident’s family members is mandatory. We will check each applicant’s policy.

Which stages require you to attend in person?

The medical test — from age 18 — and biometrics for the Emirates ID: fingerprints and signature are given from age 15, on first issue and on renewal. Sometimes the centre asks you to attend other stages in person — we will warn you in advance.

60 + 60 days

You must enter on an entry permit within 60 days of its issue, and complete the visa no later than 60 days after entry. After that, overstay fines apply.

Violetta Absalyamova

Business support and legal matters

Let’s look at your visa situation

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Business Support in the UAE and Abroad

UAE residence visas

Q: When can I get visas for my family?

Once you hold a valid residence visa and earn AED 4,000 a month or more — or AED 3,000 with housing from the employer. Visas can be issued to a spouse, unmarried daughters, sons under 25 and children with special needs. Family visas last no longer than the sponsor’s, and family members aged 18 and over take a medical test in the UAE. For parents, ICP and GDRFA requirements differ — we check them separately.

We find the right basis for your residence — your own company, a job, family, property, Golden, Green or Virtual Work — gather the documents and take you all the way to your Emirates ID. We also tell you upfront which deadlines and fines follow once the visa is issued.

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2 years
Usual term of an investor or employee visa: 10 years
Golden Visa — no sponsor needed: 5 years
Green Visa — no sponsor needed: Emirates ID
Proves residence instead of a passport sticker

This service in other countries

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Everything we do in the UAE

In short

An investor or employee visa is usually issued for 2 years, a Golden Visa for 10 years and a Green Visa for 5 years, both without a sponsor. After issue, deadlines matter: a regular residence visa is cancelled after more than 180 consecutive days outside the UAE, and each day past the grace period costs AED 50.

Checked 4 November 2026 · Violetta Absalyamova

Cost of a mistake

Visa cancelled

A standard residence visa is cancelled after 180 consecutive days abroad; exceptions include medical treatment, study and investors with a valid visa.

How to avoid it

How a residence visa works

A visa rests on a basis: a job, your own company, family, property or a special programme. The basis determines the sponsor, the term, the documents and what happens to the visa if the basis disappears.

The basis sets the conditions
An employer sponsors an employee’s visa; a resident relative sponsors the family. Golden Visa, Green Visa and Virtual Work need no sponsor if you meet the programme’s conditions.
The route is much the same
An entry permit or a change of status inside the country, a medical test, biometrics, the visa and the Emirates ID. Employment also needs a work permit from MOHRE or the free zone.
Company visas depend on the quota
Before filing, we check the licence, the establishment card and free places in the quota. How many visas a package gives and whether you need an office depends on the emirate, the free zone and the package itself.

Violetta AbsalyamovaHead of Legal Practice · Business support and legal matters

Who it suits

Who a residence visa suits

A good fit if

01You have a company in the UAE and want a visa as its owner or partner.
02You are moving to the UAE for a job or arranging visas for your company’s employees.
03You want to bring your spouse, children or parents on your visa.
04You own property in the UAE or plan to buy it with a visa in mind.
05You are looking at Golden Visa, Green Visa or Virtual Work.

Other tasks

01A short trip. For a stay of a few weeks you do not need a residence visa: the entry rules depend on your passport and the purpose of the trip.
02No company yet. We will first choose the jurisdiction and the registration package — it determines how many visas the company will give.Company registration
03Employee visas are an ongoing task. New hires, renewals and cancellations are easier to handle under annual support.Annual support

Benefits

What you get

A visa that fits your goal

We compare the options by term, sponsor and what it takes to keep the visa. We explain what happens if your job, shareholding or family status changes.

Checks before filing

We check the applicant’s documents and, for company visas, the licence, the establishment card and the quota. We tell you what is missing straight away, not after a rejection.

Status changes without gaps

We set the order: cancelling the old visa, the grace period, the new application. We take your travel into account so you stay within the permitted days.

Family documents

We check the sponsor’s income and housing, the proof of relationship and its legalisation. Family visas are filed right after yours.

Few visits in person

You only need to attend the medical test and give biometrics for the Emirates ID. We handle the rest and warn you in advance about any other visits.

Deadlines after issue

We remind you about renewing the visa and the Emirates ID and about the 180-day rule — so it is easier to avoid fines.

Visa types

Six residence visas — on the same terms

The essentials are the term, the sponsor, the main condition and how long you can stay after cancellation; the rest is behind the button. Based on ICP, Dubai GDRFA and u.ae as of October 2026. The 2-year visa for Dubai property owners is covered in the questions below.

Term

Usually 2 years

Not sure which visa is right for you?

Describe your situation: who the sponsor is, whether you have a company, who is coming with you. We will tell you which option fits and whether the quota has room.

Violetta Absalyamova

Business support and legal matters

Process

5 steps from the first conversation to the result

Steps on your side: 1 of 5

We handle it · 4Needed from you · 1

Who is getting the visa, through whom, and where you are now — in the UAE or abroad. We compare the suitable categories and set out the requirements of each.

Step 1 of 5

We review the basis

Who is getting the visa, through whom, and where you are now — in the UAE or abroad. We compare the suitable categories and set out the requirements of each.

We handle it

Documents

What to prepare — for your visa

Choose your situation and tick what you already have — the list of what is missing goes to your manager. We confirm the exact list with the authority we will file with.

Information

Documents

Ready

0 / 9

Foreign certificates and diplomas — with consular legalisation and an Arabic translation if the authority requires one.

Timing and budget

What makes up the budget

Below are ICP and Dubai GDRFA government fees, indicative as of October 2026. We add the medical test, insurance and legalisation to the estimate based on who is applying, and fix the price of our work before we start.

ItemAmount and breakdownWhen

Visa issue — ICPAmount and breakdownApplication AED 100, issue — AED 100 for each year of validity, smart service AED 100.WhenOn filing
Visa in Dubai — GDRFAAmount and breakdownAED 200 + AED 10 Knowledge Dirham + AED 10 Innovation Dirham; AED 500 if the applicant is in the country; delivery AED 20; validity over two years — another AED 100 per year.WhenOn filing
Change of status without leavingAmount and breakdownAED 500 under the ICP tariff.WhenIf you are already in the UAE
Emirates IDAmount and breakdownAED 100 per year of validity and AED 100 smart service.WhenTogether with the visa
Guarantee for an investor’s familyAmount and breakdownAED 3,000 per family member, but no more than AED 15,000.WhenFor an investor’s family visas
Medical test and insuranceAmount and breakdownAt clinic and insurer rates — we give the amounts in the estimate.WhenBefore issue and on renewal
Legalisation and translationAmount and breakdownMarriage and birth certificates, diplomas: the consular chain and an Arabic translation if the authority requires one.WhenBefore filing
Visa cancellation — GDRFAAmount and breakdownAED 100 + AED 10 + AED 10; for the private sector, a MOHRE work permit cancellation statement is also needed.WhenOn cancellation
Our supportAmount and breakdownWe agree the scope and price based on who is applying.WhenBefore work starts

After issue

What to renew and when, to avoid fines

The scale shows a two-year visa from the date of issue; below is what repeats and what an event triggers. Deadlines and amounts per ICP, Dubai GDRFA and u.ae, indicative as of October 2026.

0123456789101112131415161718192021222324months from visa issue

Day of issue

Visa and Emirates ID

The card is issued for the term of the visa and expires with it. Fingerprints and signature are given from age 15.

6 months before the end

Emirates ID can be renewed

Renewal opens once less than six months remain on the card. Outside Dubai, the card and visa are renewed in one application, and a new photo is needed.

End of term

Visa renewal

The issuing conditions must still be met. Insurance is required, and employees and some other categories also need a medical certificate.

If missed: AED 50 a day after the grace period; for the Emirates ID — AED 20 a day, up to AED 1,000

Every month

By the 1st of the following month
Employee salaries via WPS
For companies that sponsor employee visas. Since 1 June 2026, there is no grace period.
If missed: from the 5th day of delay, MOHRE may stop issuing new work permits

On renewal

Before the visa expires
Visa
ICP: application AED 100, AED 100 per year of validity and AED 100 smart service.
Less than 6 months left on the card
Emirates ID
AED 100 per year of validity and AED 100 smart service; a new photo, not the one on the card.
If missed: AED 20 a day, up to AED 1,000
Together with the sponsor’s visa
Family visas
They last no longer than the sponsor’s visa, so it is convenient to renew them together. A tenancy contract is needed on renewal.

On an event

60 days from entry permit issue
Entry and processing
You must enter within 60 days and complete the visa no later than 60 days after entry.
If missed: a fine for each day of overstay
180 consecutive days outside the UAE
A long trip
A standard visa is cancelled; exceptions include treatment, study, investors with a valid visa and others. Golden and Green holders can enter at any time. Outside Dubai, you can apply to ICP in advance for a permit to return — from abroad and with a valid reason.
If missed: fee of AED 100 for every 30 days beyond six months
After visa cancellation
Grace period
180 days — Golden, Green and their families; 90 — skilled professionals of levels 1–3 and property owners; 60 — sponsored visas; 30 — everyone else. Within this time — a new visa or departure.
If missed: AED 50 for each day beyond the grace period
Sponsor’s visa cancelled
Family visas are cancelled too
If the sponsor cancels their visa, the family’s visas are cancelled with it — it is worth planning a new basis for them in advance.

Getting it right

Common mistakes — and how to avoid them

Click a card to see how to do it right · 0 of 6 open

01 What people often do
Start date before the permit
Agree a start date with an employee and only then find there is no room in the company’s quota.
02 What people often do
Travelling mid-process
Fly off on business while the visa is still in progress.
03 What people often do
Cancelling without a plan
Cancel the visa and only then think about what to stay on.
04 What people often do
Family documents at the last minute
File certificates with name mismatches or without legalisation.
05 What people often do
Buying property on a hunch
Assume any property gives the right to a visa.
06 What people often do
Missed deadlines
Renew the visa on the last day and not count the days abroad.

FAQ

Expert answers

Violetta Absalyamova — Business support and legal matters

It depends on the category and how ready the documents are. For example, Dubai GDRFA states 48 hours to process a Virtual Work application once all requirements are met. The medical test, biometrics and the Emirates ID come separately. The law sets two limits: enter on an entry permit within 60 days of its issue, and complete the visa no later than 60 days after entry.