Residence Visa

A sponsored residence visa is issued for one, two or three years, depending on the visa type and the sponsor; unsponsored visas, the Green and Golden residencies, run for five or ten years. For a company owner or employee, the sponsor is the licensed free zone or mainland company, and the visa is renewed as long as that company and its licence stay active. The permit itself is issued electronically and linked to your Emirates ID application. Dependants' visas can never outlast the sponsor's own permit. The framework is Federal Law by Decree No. (29) of 2021 and its Executive Regulations, Cabinet Resolution No. (65) of 2022. We time company licence renewals and visa renewals together so neither lapses.

Sources: UAE Government portal (u.ae) — General provisions for the residence visa; Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) — Issuing Residency Permit (accessed 24 October 2026)

You have 60 days from entry to complete the residence formalities. Inside that window the applicant, if 18 or over, passes a medical fitness test at an approved centre, gives biometrics for the Emirates ID, and the residence permit is issued electronically and linked to the Emirates ID application; the card is then delivered by courier. The ICP warns that if the permit is not finalised within 60 days, overstay fines apply. If you are already in the UAE on another visa, a change-of-status request costs AED 500 and avoids leaving the country. We book the medical and biometrics immediately after entry so the 60-day clock is never a problem.

Sources: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) — Issuing Residency Permit; UAE Government portal (u.ae) — General provisions for the residence visa (accessed 24 October 2026)

Yes. The usual route is sponsorship by your own licensed free zone or mainland company, which applies for your entry permit and residence under its visa allocation. The alternative is the five-year Green visa, which the UAE Government portal lists for investors and business partners: it needs no sponsor, is renewable and lets you sponsor your spouse and children. The ICP's published conditions for that category are proof of your investment or contribution to a business venture in the UAE and the licences and approvals required by the relevant authority. We advise on which route fits the company's structure, your shareholding and how often you will be in the country.

Sources: UAE Government portal (u.ae) — Green visa; Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) — Green Residence Guide (accessed 24 October 2026)

Yes, through the Green Residence. The ICP's conditions for skilled workers are a valid UAE employment contract, an occupation at MoHRE levels 1 to 3, at least a bachelor's degree and a monthly salary of at least AED 15,000. Freelancers and the self-employed need a freelance or self-employment permit from MoHRE, a bachelor's degree or specialised diploma, proof of financial solvency and freelance income of at least AED 360,000 over the previous two years. The permit lasts five years, is renewable, allows you to sponsor family and comes with a longer grace period on expiry. We also arrange freelance permits in Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah for clients who do not meet the Green thresholds.

Sources: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) — Green Residence Guide; UAE Government portal (u.ae) — Work permits (accessed 24 October 2026)

Yes. The ICP issues a property-owner residence where the property is fully built, registered with the land authority, wholly owned by you and suitable to live in, and you show monthly income of at least AED 10,000 or financial solvency for the period of stay; vacant land does not qualify. In Dubai, the Land Department's Taskeen service issues a two-year investor residence to an individual owner regardless of property value, and to a co-owner whose share is worth at least AED 400,000; DLD's published fee is AED 10,212.50 with a 7 to 10 business day processing time, and the applicant must attend in person. Properties of AED 2 million or more move you into the Golden Visa route instead.

Sources: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) — Issuing Residency Permit; Dubai Land Department — Investor Residence Application (Taskeen) (accessed 24 October 2026)

Yes, for an ordinary visa. The rule is that a residence visa is nullified automatically once you have been outside the UAE for more than 180 consecutive days, and you then need a new entry permit. The UAE Government portal lists exceptions, including investors holding valid residence visas, students abroad and residents sent abroad for treatment or by a public-sector employer. If your visa has lapsed for study, work or treatment reasons, an entry permit can be requested from outside the country with a fine of AED 100 for every 30 days abroad; this service is not available to Dubai residents. Golden and Green holders are exempt from the 180-day rule. We track your travel against the deadline.

Sources: UAE Government portal (u.ae) — General provisions for the residence visa; UAE Legislation portal (uaelegislation.gov.ae) — Cabinet Resolution No. (65) of 2022 Issuing the Executive Regulations of Federal Law by Decree No. (29) of 2021 Concerning the Entry and Residence of Foreigners (accessed 24 October 2026)

You get a grace period, then daily fines. The ICP has standardised overstay fines at AED 50 per day, charged from the day after the grace period for your visa type ends; grace periods run up to six months depending on the residence category. Only the sponsor can cancel a visa: an employer first cancels the MoHRE labour contract and work permit, confirming that wages and end-of-service benefits have been paid, then applies to the ICP, or GDRFA in Dubai. A sponsor must cancel dependants' visas before his or her own. Your Emirates ID expires with the visa. We run cancellations and renewals to a calendar so no fine accrues.

Sources: UAE Government portal (u.ae) — General provisions for the residence visa; Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) — Issuing Residency Permit (accessed 24 October 2026)

Yes, in every emirate. Dubai requires employers to insure employees and sponsors to insure resident dependants; Abu Dhabi places the same duty on employers and sponsors. Since 1 January 2025, MoHRE's Basic Health Insurance Scheme has made a policy a prerequisite for issuing or renewing residence permits for private-sector employees and domestic workers in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, with the employer bearing the cost; MoHRE's published basic package is AED 320 a year. Golden Residency applicants must also show comprehensive cover for themselves and their families. We make sure an eligible policy is in place before the residence application is submitted, because the ICP lists a valid UAE health insurance policy among its conditions.

Sources: Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) — The Basic Health Insurance Scheme; UAE Government portal (u.ae) — Getting a health insurance (accessed 24 October 2026)