The Main Residence Routes
A UAE residence visa is almost always tied to a basis: a company, an employer, property or a specific government programme. The route determines the validity period, whether family can be included and what obligations follow.
Visa Through Your Own Company
The most common option for founders: the company (mainland or free zone) holds visa quotas and the owner is sponsored as a partner or employee. The quota depends on the licence type and office space. Approval is followed by Emirates ID, medical testing and health insurance.
Employment Visa
Issued by an employer and tied to the employment contract. For managers being relocated by the company this is usually the fastest route, but the status depends on continued employment.
Long-Term Visas
The UAE operates long-term residence programmes — publicly known as the 10-year Golden Visa and the Green Visa — for investors, entrepreneurs, specialists and certain categories of skilled employees. Criteria differ between emirates and are updated periodically, so they should be checked before filing.
A Visa Is Not Tax Residence
Holding a visa does not make you tax resident. A UAE tax residency certificate requires evidence of presence and genuine ties. In parallel, check whether you remain resident in your previous country under the 183-day test and by reference to family, housing and income source. A formal move without cutting previous ties is the most common cause of double taxation.
What to Prepare in Advance
- Company documents and proof of office space supporting the visa quota.
- Legalised and translated personal documents, including marriage and birth certificates for family members.
- A presence plan if UAE tax residence is the goal.
- Health insurance, which is required to obtain and renew the status.
Our Role
We check which route matches your actual activity, prepare the company and family file, and align the visa plan with the tax picture so the new status does not create obligations you did not expect. Programme criteria change: confirm them at the date of filing.