The investor visa — often called the partner visa — is the standard residence route for shareholders of a UAE company. It is issued on the strength of your shareholding rather than an employment contract, which means you sponsor yourself through your own entity and can then sponsor your family.
This guide covers who qualifies, the documents and thresholds involved, each step from entry permit to Emirates ID, realistic costs and timelines, and how the investor visa compares with the Golden Visa and an employment visa in your own company.
Who qualifies for an investor visa
Any shareholder named in the Memorandum of Association of a mainland company, or on the share register of a free zone entity, can generally apply. Mainland authorities typically look for a share value of at least AED 72,000, while free zones apply their own thresholds and often issue the visa to any registered shareholder within the package quota.
The company must have a valid trade licence, an open immigration file and an establishment card. Where several shareholders apply, each is processed individually against the licence quota.
- Named shareholder on the MOA or free zone share register
- Valid trade licence and establishment card
- Share value meeting the authority's threshold (commonly AED 72,000 mainland)
- Clean medical fitness result and security clearance
Visa duration and variants
The standard investor visa is issued for two years and is renewable indefinitely while the shareholding and licence remain valid. Free zones may issue two- or three-year variants depending on the zone and the package.
Investors making substantial qualifying property or capital investments may instead qualify for a five- or ten-year Golden Visa, which is not tied to a specific company licence.
The application process step by step
- Confirm the licence quota and open or verify the establishment card
- Apply for the entry permit under the company's immigration file
- Complete a status change inside the country, or exit and re-enter on the permit
- Attend the medical fitness test — blood test and chest X-ray
- Complete Emirates ID biometrics at an authorised centre
- Submit for visa stamping in the passport or issuance of the digital residence file
- Receive the Emirates ID card, then apply for family sponsorship if required
Documents required
- Passport valid for at least six months, plus a copy
- Passport-size photographs on a white background
- Trade licence and establishment card copies
- Memorandum of Association or share certificate showing your shareholding
- Entry stamp or existing visa page copy
- Emirates ID application form and medical fitness certificate
Investor visa costs
| Item | Typical cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Entry permit | 1,100 – 1,600 |
| Status change (inside country) | 650 – 900 |
| Medical fitness test | 320 – 750 |
| Emirates ID (2 years) | 370 – 500 |
| Visa stamping | 500 – 1,200 |
| Total per investor | 3,500 – 6,500 |
Sponsoring your family
Once your Emirates ID is issued you may sponsor a spouse, children and, subject to conditions and a deposit, parents. Sponsorship requires proof of income or company standing, an Ejari-registered tenancy contract or title deed, attested marriage and birth certificates, and medical tests for dependants over eighteen.
Health insurance is mandatory for every sponsored dependant before the residence visa is issued.
Renewal and cancellation
Renew within thirty days of expiry to avoid overstay fines. Renewal requires a valid licence, a fresh medical test in most cases, and an updated Emirates ID application.
If the company is liquidated or your shareholding is transferred, the investor visa must be cancelled. Dependants' visas are cancelled first, then the sponsor's, and the process must be completed before leaving the country permanently.
Investor visa versus alternatives
| Route | Validity | Tied to a company? |
|---|---|---|
| Investor / partner visa | 2–3 years | Yes — your own licence |
| Employment visa in own company | 2 years | Yes — plus labour contract and WPS |
| Golden Visa | 5 or 10 years | No |
| Green Visa (self-sponsored) | 5 years | No, criteria-based |
Frequently asked questions
What is a UAE investor visa?
A renewable residence visa issued to a shareholder of a UAE company on the strength of their shareholding, allowing them to live in the UAE and sponsor family members.
How much investment is required?
Mainland authorities commonly look for a share value of at least AED 72,000. Free zones apply their own thresholds, and many issue the visa to any registered shareholder within the licence quota.
How long does an investor visa take?
Usually seven to fifteen working days once the establishment card is active, covering entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID and stamping.
How long is the investor visa valid?
Typically two years, with some free zones issuing three years. It renews indefinitely while the licence and shareholding remain valid.
Can an investor visa holder sponsor family?
Yes — spouse, children and, subject to conditions, parents, once the Emirates ID is issued and housing and insurance requirements are met.
Is a medical test required?
Yes, a blood test and chest X-ray at an approved centre, repeated at most renewals.
What happens if I sell my shares?
The visa must be cancelled, along with any dependants' visas. A new sponsor or a different visa route is then required.
Investor visa or Golden Visa?
The investor visa is faster and cheaper but tied to your licence. The Golden Visa gives five or ten years of self-sponsored residence for those who meet its investment or talent criteria.