Residence Visa

Dubai Residence Visa

We process all kinds of Residence visas in Dubai and UAE including Dubai investor visa and residence visas in UAE .

All investors get residence visa for himself and his family with any company formation in Dubai or in Freezones along with visas for employees if any.

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UAE Residence Visa 2026: Cost, Steps, Timeline & Requirements

A UAE residence visa is the legal permit that lets a non-citizen live, work, sponsor family, open a bank account, and obtain an Emirates ID in the United Arab Emirates. For investors and employees, it is the single most important document after the trade licence — without it, you cannot run payroll, lease an apartment under your own name, or sponsor dependants.

This page covers investor, partner, employment and dependant residence visas issued under UAE federal sponsorship rules effective 2026. If you only need a short visit, see our UAE visit & visa services page.

Cost breakdown (AED, indicative 2026 starting ranges)

All AED amounts shown below are 2026 indicative starting ranges based on standard activity codes. Final cost depends on the activity, jurisdiction, shareholder structure and visa quota. Request a written quotation via WhatsApp +971543322846 or our contact form before remitting any payment.

Item	2-Year Visa (from)	Notes
Entry permit (e-visa)	AED 1,200	Inside or outside country status
Status change / port stamping	AED 750	Skipped if applied outside country
Medical fitness test	AED 320	VIP options available
Emirates ID (2 years)	AED 370	Mandatory for all residents
Visa stamping	AED 650	Inside the residence permit booklet
Insurance (mandatory)	AED 800–1,800	Depends on age + emirate
DBS PRO + typing service fee	AED 1,500	Fixed; covers full file handling
All-in starting price	AED 5,590	Single 2-year investor visa

Step-by-step process (7 steps)

1. Eligibility check. DBS confirms whether you qualify for an investor, partner, employment, dependant or Golden visa.
2. Entry permit application. Filed online via the issuing authority (GDRFA / ICP / free-zone authority).
3. Status change (if inside UAE). Your tourist or visit visa is converted to a residence-applicant status.
4. Medical fitness test. Blood test + chest X-ray at an approved DHA / SEHA / MOHAP centre.
5. Emirates ID biometrics. Fingerprint + photo at any ICP service centre.
6. Health insurance. Mandatory; DBS arranges a compliant policy from a panel of UAE insurers.
7. Visa stamping. Final residence stamp issued — Emirates ID delivered within 5–10 working days.

Timeline

Standard: 7–14 working days from entry permit issuance to Emirates ID delivery. Express (Tasheel + Fawri): 3–5 working days at premium government fees. Free-zone investor visas typically clear in 5–7 working days.

Required documents

• Coloured passport copy (minimum 6 months validity)
• Recent passport-size photograph (white background, biometric)
• Valid trade licence + share certificate (for investor / partner visas)
• Tenancy contract / Ejari (for residence inside Dubai)
• Educational certificates attested by MOFA (for skilled-employment visas)
• Marriage / birth certificates attested by MOFA (for dependant visas)
• Salary certificate or bank statement (for dependant sponsor)

Eligibility criteria

• Investor / partner visa: minimum 5% shareholding on a valid UAE trade licence.
• Employment visa: active employment contract + Ministry of Labour approval.
• Dependant visa: sponsor’s salary ≥ AED 4,000 (or AED 3,000 + accommodation).
• Golden visa (10-year): investors, specialised talents, scientists, students & humanitarian pioneers — separate criteria.

Common pitfalls

• Letting your entry permit expire (60-day validity) — re-issuance attracts AED 100/day fines.
• Using an unattested marriage certificate for spouse sponsorship — the Immigration Department will reject the file.
• Choosing the cheapest insurance — many low-cost plans fail the new Dubai-Insurance compliance gate.
• Missing the 30-day Emirates ID renewal window once visa is stamped — AED 20/day late penalty.

Why work with Dubai Business Services (DBS)

• 20+ years of UAE setup experience — established 2003, headquartered in Dubai.
• 147 active corporate licenses currently under management across mainland and free-zone jurisdictions.
• 4 official sponsors on retainer, enabling faster mainland LLC structuring and PRO continuity.
• 99.3% on-time license renewal rate for clients on our retained-PRO program (12-month rolling).
• Single point of contact from incorporation through visas, banking, Ejari, VAT and Corporate Tax registration.
• Fixed-fee proposals with no surprise add-ons — every quotation lists every government, translation and typing charge separately.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much does a UAE residence visa cost in 2026?

An all-in 2-year investor residence visa typically starts from AED 5,590, covering entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, insurance and DBS service fees. Employment visas are usually paid by the employer; dependant visas start from AED 4,800 per dependant.

How long does it take to get a UAE residence visa?

Standard turnaround is 7–14 working days. With DBS Express handling, most investor and employment visas are issued in 3–5 working days, including medical and Emirates ID biometrics.

Do I need to be inside the UAE to apply?

No. Entry permits can be issued while you are abroad — you then enter on the e-visa, complete the medical and Emirates ID, and receive the residence stamp. Inside-country applicants undergo a status-change step instead of re-entry.

Can I sponsor my family on a residence visa?

Yes. Once your own residence is stamped and your salary or investor status meets the threshold, you can sponsor a spouse, children, parents (with conditions), and domestic workers. DBS handles the full sponsor file in parallel with your own visa.

How long is a UAE residence visa valid for?

Standard residence visas are valid for 2 years; investor and partner visas in most free zones are issued for 3 years; Golden Visas run for 10 years. All require a valid Emirates ID and approved health insurance throughout the term.

What happens if I leave the UAE for more than 6 months?

If a residence-visa holder stays outside the UAE for a continuous period exceeding 6 months, the residence is automatically cancelled by Immigration. DBS can re-apply once you return, but a fresh entry permit and medical will be required.

Does DBS handle the medical and Emirates ID appointments for me?

Yes. The DBS PRO team books the medical centre, accompanies you for biometrics where required, delivers your Emirates ID to your office or home, and uploads digital copies to your client portal.

Comparison: Mainland vs Free-Zone investor visa

Feature	Mainland investor visa	Free-zone investor visa
Issuing authority	GDRFA / ICP	Free-zone authority + GDRFA
Typical validity	2 years	2 or 3 years
Visa quota	Linked to office Ejari	Linked to package (1–6 visas)
Sponsor	Self (own LLC)	Free-zone authority
Indicative all-in cost	From AED 5,590	From AED 4,990

Useful internal links: All UAE visa services · Dubai mainland LLC formation · UAE free-zones overview · DBS PRO services.

Sponsoring family on a UAE residence visa

Once your investor or employment residence visa is stamped and you meet the salary or shareholding threshold, you can sponsor your spouse, children (sons under 25 if studying, daughters until they marry), and parents (with a separate medical-insurance and accommodation package). DBS handles the dependant file in parallel with the principal sponsor’s residence so the family is on a single, synchronised renewal cycle. Typical add-on cost per dependant is approximately AED 4,800 (2-year) and approximately AED 5,500 (3-year), all-in including medical, Emirates ID, insurance and stamping.

UAE residence visa renewal

Residence visas should be renewed within 30 days of expiry; staying outside this window triggers a daily overstay fine (currently AED 50/day). DBS issues automatic 90-day, 60-day and 30-day expiry alerts to every client and pre-books medical and Emirates ID slots so renewal is a single 1-day touchpoint. Renewal cost is broadly identical to the original issuance, except the entry-permit and status-change fees are not required.

Cancelling a UAE residence visa

If you leave the UAE permanently or change sponsor, the residence visa must be formally cancelled before exit – otherwise it remains active in immigration records and can block future visas. DBS handles cancellation, Emirates-ID surrender and final salary settlement letters where employment-based, with no exit penalty when the file is closed correctly.