HOW TO GET A LONG-TERM Residence VISA FOR DUBAI & THE UAE

This article was updated on July 7th, 2023

This article has been researched and written by Scott Cairns and the team at Creation Business Consultants and has not used AI in generating this article.

Over the last few months, the UAE has taken great strides in making local residency more appealing to foreigners and those considering relocating to the Emirates. Following the release of the retirement visa, there are also two other options for those considering calling the UAE their new home that does not require employment from a UAE-based company.

Created for affluent foreigners with sufficient capital, the UAE Long-Term Residence Visa, also known as the UAE Golden Visa and the UAE Green Visa is issued for a five or ten-year period, depending on the type of visa you may be eligible for. Both the five or ten-year visas do not require a sponsor in the UAE, and you can continue to enjoy your life in the UAE, the way you want to.

The five-year UAE Golden Visa for a Property Investor is a brilliant option for foreigners looking to plant their roots without the requirement of a more considerable investment. The benefit of this option is that, although local property ownership is required, you have total freedom in the UAE and can even sponsor your family and other dependents under a property investor visa.

Below we list everything you need to know about the UAE Golden Visa for a Property Investor.

A five-year UAE Golden Visa for a Property Investor can be issued to someone who owns a property in the UAE and meets the following prerequisites: 

• The five-year visa is available to individuals who have purchased a property of AED 2 million or more.
• A maximum of 50% of the property value is allowed under mortgage.
• Investors in a jointly owned property are eligible to apply if everyone’s share is worth at least AED 1 million.
• The  investment must be retained for a period of at least three (3) years.
• The investment must be in a single residential property and not in commercial properties.

WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR A UAE GOLDEN VISA?

The minimum documents required for a UAE Golden visa are:

• Passport.
• Availability of an electronic copy of the title deed certificate.
• Personal photo.
• Valid health insurance.
• Original Emirates ID (if any).
• Copy of latest visa in the UAE (if any).
• Police clearance (issued by Dubai Police and addressed to Land department).

HOW TO GET A UAE GOLDEN VISA?

Here are the steps toward obtaining a UAE golden visa for a property investor:

• The first port of call is to contact Creation Business Consultants for your free visa consultation. Our team will complete a discovery session to check your visa eligibility.
• Land Department will require certain documentation such as original passport, original title deed of the property, copy of current visa page (if any), and request for a reference letter to submit to the Police.
• Once the letter is issued by the Land Department, the next step is to approach the Police for a Certificate of Good Conduct
• Following on, a visit to the Department of Economic Development (DED) is required with the relevant documents to apply for an investor license.
• Once the investor license is issued by DED the necessary steps towards applying for a UAE residence visa will need to be completed.

If you are looking for a longer-term commitment, and you have additional capital to invest, then the 10-year UAE Golden Visa to an Investor in Public Investments may be another option to consider.

To qualify for the UAE Golden Visa to an Investor in Public Investments, you need to commit to one of the following:

• A deposit of at least AED 2 million in an investment fund inside the UAE.
• Establishing a company in the UAE with a capital of not less than AED 2 million.
• Partnering in an existing or new company with a share value of not less than AED 250,000.
• The owner of a business or establishment that pays annual taxes to the federal government totalling at least AED 250,000.
• Holding onto the investment for at least two years after the visa was granted.

The visa can be extended to include business partners, on the condition that each partner contributes an additional AED 1 million each. The long-term visa can include sponsorship of the spouse and children, as well as one Executive Director and one Advisor.

Creation Business Consultants team have combined experience of more than 20 years in the industry, and with a team of highly skilled and experienced visa corporate structuring consultant, it would be our pleasure to support you with your UAE Long-Term Visa so that you too, can continue living life in the UAE.

Feel free to contact us for a complimentary, no-obligation call at +971 4 878 6240 or email [email protected] to find out more about our visa processing and corporate structuring services.

Scott Cairns,
Managing Director