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Investor and partner visa in Dubai

An investor or partner visa gives you UAE residence through a company you own, rather than through an employer. We check your shareholding and company files, prepare the application and follow it up, while the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) make the decision.

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Overview

How investor and partner residence works

When you own shares in a UAE company, that company can sponsor your residence. People call this an investor visa or a partner visa. It runs through the company's immigration file, so the company needs a valid trade license and an active establishment card before your application can start, and the authorities also look for approval of the business activity you have invested in.

There are two broad routes. The standard route is residence sponsored by your own company. Its term and conditions are set by GDRFA Dubai and depend on your company and its license, so we confirm them for your case instead of quoting a general rule. The Green visa is the defined route for larger investors: GDRFA Dubai lists it for investors and partners whose paid share is AED 1 million or more, in a limited liability company (LLC), a joint stock company or another listed company form.

The Green visa gives residence for up to 5 years, renewable on the same terms, and it does not need an employer or guarantor. Whichever route you take, your residence stays linked to your investment. If the license lapses or your shareholding changes, the visa is affected too, so keeping the company's files current matters as much as the application itself.

Who it's for

Who it's for

  • 01

    Partners in a Dubai company

    You hold shares in a Dubai company and want residence through it, rather than through an employer.

  • 02

    Larger shareholders

    Your paid share is AED 1 million or more in an LLC, joint stock company or other listed form, which opens the Green visa route.

  • 03

    New company owners

    You have just formed a company and want residence so you can live in the UAE while you run it.

  • 04

    Owners switching route

    You hold an employment visa today and want to move your residence to your own company.

Our part

What we do, and what we don't

Clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're paying for and who decides each step.

Included

  • Checking your shareholding, trade license and establishment card before you apply
  • Advising whether the standard partner route or the Green visa fits your investment
  • Preparing and typing the entry permit or change-of-status application
  • Booking the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics
  • Arranging legal translation and attestation for documents that need it
  • Submitting to GDRFA Dubai and following up until there is a decision
  • Planning residence for your spouse and children once yours is issued

Not included

  • Promising approval: GDRFA Dubai and ICP decide every application
  • Valuing your company or certifying that your share capital is paid
  • Investment, legal or tax advice
  • Forming the company itself, which is a separate business setup service
  • Hiding government fees inside our fee: they are always listed separately
Documents

Documents you'll need

  • Passport copy with enough remaining validity, and a recent personal photo
  • Trade license of the sponsoring company
  • Memorandum of association (MOA), partnership agreement or investment contract showing your share
  • Company establishment card details
  • Evidence that your share capital is paid, for the Green visa route
  • Current visa or entry stamp, if you are already in the UAE
  • Health insurance valid for UAE residence

Extra documents depend on your company form, nationality and current status; we send the exact list after checking your file.

Fees and timing

Two fees, shown separately

  • Government fees, paid at cost

    Set by GDRFA Dubai and ICP and paid at cost, along with the medical test and Emirates ID charges; we confirm the exact amounts for your route before you pay.

  • Global Sky PRO service fee

    Quoted in writing before we start, so you know the full cost up front.

  • Timing

    Timing is set by the authorities and depends on whether you apply from inside or outside the UAE, how complete your company file is and appointment availability. We give you a realistic estimate once we have seen your documents.

Process

How it works, step by step

Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.

  • You
  • Global Sky PRO
  • Authority

  1. Step 1: Send your company and passport details

    You

    Share your trade license, MOA and passport copy on WhatsApp or by email, and tell us whether you are inside or outside the UAE.

  2. Step 2: Check the route and company files

    Global Sky PRO

    We confirm whether the standard partner route or the Green visa fits, check the license and establishment card, and send a written quote.

  3. Step 3: Prepare and submit

    Global Sky PRO

    We type the entry permit or change-of-status application and submit it to GDRFA Dubai. You pay government fees at cost.

  4. Step 4: Medical test and biometrics

    You

    Once you are in the UAE with an entry permit or changed status, attend the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics we book.

  5. Step 5: Residence decision

    Authority

    GDRFA Dubai decides on your residence and ICP issues the Emirates ID. If they ask for more, we prepare it with you and keep you updated.

  6. Step 6: Next steps for family and renewals

    Global Sky PRO

    With your residence issued, we can start family sponsorship and note the renewal dates for your visa, license and establishment card.

Good to know

Details that save time

Standard partner route or Green visa: how to choose

The Green visa is the clearer route when your paid share reaches AED 1 million. The conditions are published, the residence runs for up to 5 years and it renews on the same terms. Below that level, residence through your own company may still be possible, but its term and conditions depend on the company, so we check them with you before you spend money on applications.

If you own UAE property with a purchase value of AED 2 million or more, compare the Golden Visa as well. It offers 10 years of residence and is not tied to your company, which can suit owners who expect to restructure, sell or bring in new partners.

Common reasons investor visa applications stall

Most problems sit in the company file rather than with the applicant, which is why we check the company first.

  • The trade license is close to expiry or has already lapsed
  • The establishment card has not been issued or renewed
  • The MOA shows a different name spelling or share split from the passport and license
  • Share capital for the Green route is declared but not evidenced as paid
  • The applicant travels before completing the medical test and biometrics

Keeping your residence valid

Your residence depends on the company staying in good standing. Renew the trade license and establishment card on time, update the MOA when partners join or leave, and talk to us before you change your shareholding. A change in ownership can mean a fresh application rather than a simple update, and it is easier to plan for that in advance.

Health insurance also has to stay valid for anyone you sponsor. In Dubai, the Dubai Health Authority fines sponsors who let cover lapse, and the fine is deducted automatically when the visa is renewed, so it is worth keeping insurance and visa renewals on the same calendar.

FAQs

Investor visa: your questions

Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.

Still have a question?

An adviser replies during opening hours, Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00.

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Who can get an investor visa in Dubai?

Shareholders and partners in a UAE company can usually get residence sponsored through that company, as long as its trade license and establishment card are valid. If your paid share is AED 1 million or more in an LLC, joint stock company or another listed form, the Green visa route is also open. GDRFA Dubai decides each application.

What is the Green visa for investors?

It is a residence route GDRFA Dubai offers investors and partners whose paid share in the company is AED 1 million or more. It gives residence for up to 5 years, renewable on the same terms, without an employer or guarantor. We check your share evidence and prepare the application, and the authority makes the decision.

Can I sponsor my family on an investor visa?

Yes, in most cases. Once your residence is issued, you can apply for your spouse and children under the family visa rules, which include a salary condition of AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. The UAE government portal also notes that Green visa holders can sponsor first-degree relatives. We check how you will evidence income as an owner.

Can I get a visa through property?

Yes, through the Golden Visa, if your UAE property has a purchase value of AED 2 million or more. It gives 10 years of residence, mortgaged property can qualify with a bank no-objection certificate (NOC), and the Dubai Land Department (DLD) lists government fees of AED 9,884.75. Our Golden Visa page explains the steps.

Is there a minimum share value for a standard partner visa?

We don't quote one figure, because the conditions for standard partner residence depend on your company, its license and the authority's current rules. The published threshold we can point to is the Green visa: a paid share of AED 1 million or more. For smaller shareholdings, we check your case with you before you apply.

Can I apply from outside the UAE?

Yes. The usual path is an entry permit first. You then travel to the UAE to complete the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics before residence is issued. If you are already in the country on another visa, a change of status may be possible instead, and we confirm which applies to you.

What fees does GDRFA Dubai list for a Green investor residence permit?

At the time of writing, GDRFA Dubai lists a residence permit fee of AED 200 for issuing Green residence to a partner investor. On top of that come Knowledge Dirham and Innovation Dirham charges of AED 10 each, an in-country fee of AED 500 and AED 20 for delivery, and the issuance fee rises by AED 100 a year where residence runs beyond two years. Medical test and Emirates ID charges are separate, and our fee is quoted in writing.

Source: GDRFA Dubai: Green residence for investors

How long does GDRFA Dubai take to issue a Green investor residence?

GDRFA Dubai lists an expected completion time of 48 hours for issuing a Green residence permit to a partner investor, at the time of writing. That is the authority's own processing step. Your overall timeline also depends on whether you need an entry permit first, how soon the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics can be booked, and how quickly any request for extra documents is answered.

Source: GDRFA Dubai: Green residence for investors

Which documents does GDRFA Dubai ask for on a Green investor visa?

GDRFA Dubai asks for a personal photo, a passport copy valid for at least six months, the partnership agreement, memorandum of association or investment contract, and the company's trade license. Its terms also require the competent authorities' approval and your authorisation to practise the activity. Before submitting, we check that names, share figures and dates match across every document and arrange legal translation where one is needed.

Source: GDRFA Dubai: Green residence for investors

What happens if my Green investor residence expires or is cancelled?

GDRFA Dubai lists a grace period of 180 days to stay in the UAE after a Green residence permit for a partner investor expires or is cancelled. The permit is renewable on the same terms as when it was first issued, through a separate renewal service. Because the residence rests on your shareholding, speak to us before you sell shares or close the company, so your next residence step is planned.

Source: GDRFA Dubai: Green residence for investors

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Global Sky PRO is a private consultancy. Residence and work permit decisions are made by ICP, GDRFA Dubai and MOHRE. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.

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