Immigration
UAE Visas and Residency
A UAE residence visa and UAE tax residency are two different things, and confusing them is the most expensive mistake in this section. The ten-year Golden Visa for property investors requires property worth at least AED 2,000,000 held in your own name, with valid health insurance throughout and a lien registered on the title. Being tax resident is a separate test: 183 days in the country across twelve months, or 90 days if you hold a residence permit and have a permanent home or a business here, under Cabinet Decision 85 of 2022.
These guides cover the routes into UAE residency and what each one actually requires — the Golden Visa categories and their thresholds, the standard employment and investor visas, and the Emirates ID that follows every visa.
For founders the two tracks converge. Setting up a company is, for most people, the practical route to sponsoring their own residence visa and their family's, which is why the visa, the structure and the tax position are one decision rather than three. A visa gives you the right to live here. The tax residency certificate is what you show a foreign tax authority when it asks where you are resident.
Our figures come from GDRFA, ICP and u.ae, and we date them, because visa thresholds have moved repeatedly. Where a published fee is inconsistent between official sources, we say so instead of quietly picking one. If the company comes first in your case, start with Business Setup; if you have already arrived, the practical side of settling in is in Lifestyle.
All our guides (3)
Frequently asked questions
Is a UAE residence visa the same as being tax resident in the UAE?
No, and this is the costliest confusion in the category. A residence visa is an immigration status. Tax residency is a separate test under Cabinet Decision 85 of 2022: 183 days of physical presence over twelve months, or 90 days combined with a residence permit, UAE or GCC nationality, and a permanent home or a business here. You can hold a valid visa and fail the tax residency test, which is exactly what a foreign tax authority will check.
What does the Golden Visa require if I buy property?
Property worth at least AED 2,000,000, owned in your own name, with a lien registered on the title and comprehensive health insurance maintained for the duration. The permit runs ten years and is renewable while the conditions hold. The property value is certified by the Dubai Land Department.
Do I need a company to get a residence visa?
Not necessarily — employment and property investment are both routes. But for a self-employed person or a founder, forming a company is usually the practical route, because it lets you sponsor yourself and your family rather than depend on an employer. Which structure to use is a Business Setup question, and the two decisions are best taken together.
How much does an Emirates ID cost?
Our own pages currently disagree on this, so we are not going to guess at it here. The fee depends on the permit duration and the processing channel, and we are re-checking it against ICP before publishing a figure. Until then, confirm the current fee on icp.gov.ae at the time you apply.