30.07.2025
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What is it about? A UAE residence visa is equivalent to a residence permit in other countries. Obtaining it gives foreigners the right to stay in the country for an extended period — from one to ten years.
What to pay attention to? There are different types of residence visas: work and student visas, visas for freelancers and retirees, visas through property purchase and company establishment. The list doesn't end there, and obtaining each such document involves certain nuances.
The UAE authorities are interested in attracting foreign investments, therefore they strive to create favourable conditions for foreigners. Investors and expats from around the world show interest in this country, as there are certain advantages for everyone here. Becoming a citizen of this wealthy nation is almost impossible, so obtaining a residence visa is a very good alternative.
One could say that a UAE residence visa provides roughly the same opportunities as a residence permit in Europe, and in some ways even surpasses them.
Firstly, the Emirates offers very good conditions for business development. World Bank Group studies have shown that the UAE ranks 16th globally in terms of ease of doing business. The country's leadership periodically provides subsidies and grants to organisations working in IT, construction, and medical technology sectors. Even foreign businesspeople can access support from the Mohammed bin Rashid Fund for SME Development.
Secondly, this visa provides the opportunity to become a tax resident of the UAE and exempts from income tax. As of June 2023, legal entities must pay corporate profit tax. If a company's annual income is more than 102,000 dollars or 375,000 AED, the tax rate is 9%. However, if the business is registered in one of the free economic zones, the tax regime can be optimised — the organisation may be exempt from VAT, customs duties, and corporate tax for 15–50 years.
Thirdly, one can receive international education in the UAE. There are 70 universities in the country, three of which are listed among the world's best universities. However, foreign citizens must pay for education. This applies to both private and public educational institutions.
Fourthly, there is the possibility of obtaining a mortgage. Expats can apply for loans to purchase both residential and commercial property. A mortgage can only be taken if the initial deposit is not less than 20% of the total cost. The maximum mortgage amount is 2,700,000 dollars or 10,000,000 AED.
This visa has other advantages. Its holder can:
There are two important points. The resident status, unlike UAE citizenship, does not allow free education in the country or free use of local healthcare. Foreigners have practically no opportunity to obtain citizenship of the country. Visa holders must visit the UAE at least a couple of times per year (conditions depend on the type of visa).
The UAE government treats expats with respect, as they make up a significant portion of the population in major cities, and offers various ways to obtain residence permits. The UAE has developed programmes for people of different ages, allowing young professionals, students, retirees, and real estate investors to find a suitable option. Obtaining a visa through one of these programmes is not difficult; one simply needs to follow all the rules and collect the required documents. Let's examine the main types of residence visas and what to consider when obtaining them.
Commercial or residential property located in Abu Dhabi or Dubai is eligible for such a visa. You can purchase either a completed property from a developer or an off-plan apartment. The construction company must be accredited. Property can be purchased with your own funds or through a mortgage.
UAE residency through property purchase is issued not only for residential properties (apartments, townhouses, villas) but also for hotel rooms, offices, and warehouses. Purchasing such property also provides the opportunity to obtain a resident visa.
When obtaining a UAE residence visa, the property value must exceed 204,000 dollars if the visa is issued for 2 years. If you plan to get a 10-year visa, you need to invest at least 544,500 dollars in the purchase.
In both cases, the visa can be renewed multiple times. It's important that you remain the owner of the purchased property. The visa can also be issued for a spouse or a child. A three-year visa is available for all children under the age of 18, and a five-year visa — for sons under the age of 25 and daughters of any age, provided they are unmarried. If the property costs more than 2 million dirhams, there is an opportunity to obtain a "Golden Visa".
It is called a business visa. Obtaining it requires meeting certain conditions. For example, you must establish a new or innovative company or acquire a stake in an existing business. The application can also include your spouse, unmarried sons under 25 years old and unmarried daughters regardless of age. Similar to the property visa, the business visa is included in the "Golden Visa".
For a five-year visa, you need to invest at least 136,000 dollars in an innovative enterprise.
A ten-year visa requires meeting other conditions:
This type of visa can be obtained by an expat who has signed an employment contract with a UAE organisation. According to the country's legislation, all costs for obtaining work permits and visas for new employees are borne by the employer. The visa duration is determined by the employment contract term. Typically, it is effective for 12 months.
Foreigners arriving in the Emirates must undergo a medical examination and obtain insurance within 2 months of arrival. The cost of the insurance policy may be reimbursed by the employer. Additionally, verification of educational credentials is mandatory. For this, you need to submit an application on the UAE Ministry of Education portal and pay a fee.
To work legally, a freelancer must obtain a licence in a specific UAE free economic zone. For this, you first need to choose a free economic zone, as each corresponds to a specific type of activity. For instance, developers and programmers can apply to Dubai Internet City, while photographers or other creative professionals can choose Dubai Media City.
After this, you need to create a licence application on the free economic zone's website. You must pay for the licence. Its cost is determined by the type of activity and the freelancer's age. The minimum licence price in the Ajman Free Zone is 1,630 dollars per year, with foreign citizens aged 20–30 paying less — 1,360 dollars.
Remember that the visa may be cancelled if you live outside the UAE for more than six months.
In Dubai, a special "Retire in Dubai" programme was launched in 2020. Thanks to this, retirees from other countries can become residents of the emirate. The visa can be issued for 5 years, allowing them to enjoy all the benefits of living in the Emirates. Any foreigner is allowed to participate in the programme, including residents of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and other CIS countries, if they are over 55 years old and meet the following requirements:
Joint ownership of property by both spouses is acceptable. In this case, both husband and wife can apply for a retirement visa. The visa can be obtained with a marriage certificate with consular legalisation.
A retiree from another country can not only become a resident but also sponsor their spouse and all children of any age. It's important to note that these children must be unmarried.
Foreigners who have reached the age of 18 can obtain a student visa to study at UAE colleges or universities. The visa can only be obtained if the educational institution is accredited. First-year students must receive an official acceptance letter to be issued a visa.
The visa is valid for one year, after which it needs to be renewed. If a student performs excellently, they can obtain a residence visa for 5 to 10 years. Applicants entering UAE universities don't necessarily need to know Arabic; they only need to confirm their level of English proficiency.
This is a type of work visa that doesn't require sponsorship. While regular programmes don't allow expats to work in the UAE without an employer sponsor, the green visa can be obtained without third-party involvement.
This option, like the remote work visa, is the most accessible, including in terms of monetary costs. The "Green Visa" is also suitable for self-employed individuals or freelancers. It doesn't require attachment to a specific employer, large investments in property, or involvement in investments. However, applicants must provide evidence that they can support themselves while in the country. To obtain a green visa, one must have a valid employment contract, medical insurance, and meet the requirements of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, which include a minimum salary of 15,000 UAE dirhams and a bachelor's degree.
The Green Visa is valid for 5 years and can be renewed. Family members can also obtain resident visas through it. This includes spouses, sons under 25 years old, unmarried daughters, and other close relatives if they live in the same place as the visa holder.
The Green Visa has a long grace period. After expiration, expats have plenty of time to extend their residence permit or find new work if their previous contract is terminated. Working foreigners are given 6 months for this. Other visa programmes offer only a 30-day period.
This is a special type of long-term visa for UAE residents. The validity period is 5–10 years, and it's available to investors, scientists, entrepreneurs, and property owners. The "Golden Visa" provides the opportunity to live and do business in the Emirates, have a bank account, and obtain tax resident status with a comfortable taxation regime.
A residence visa has the same benefits as the "Golden" one and can be obtained by buying property worth more than 205,000 dollars. However, if you received a "Golden Visa" for property investment, the residence permit will be valid for 10 years, and the property can be sold before the term expires. The visa holder can continue to remain a UAE resident for all 10 years, even after selling the property earlier and directing funds to new investments. This can be done after three years.
The following categories are eligible for a "Golden Visa":
Applicants of any age and from any country can participate in the programme. When the visa expires, it can be renewed provided that the conditions under which it was obtained are maintained (the resident is still a business leader or property owner).
All the mentioned types of UAE residence visas are available to Russians. Today, there is a large Russian diaspora living in the United Arab Emirates.
The country's government rarely refuses to issue residence visas to citizens of Russia or CIS countries. Currently, the Arab Emirates is among the countries where it is easiest for our citizens to obtain a residence visa.
Most often, real estate investments are used for this purpose, as they provide not only a legal opportunity to live in the country but also to have housing available in case of relocation.
The list of documents depends on the specific type of visa and the applicant's position. For example, a student coming to the Emirates to study and a parent applying for a child's visa must prepare different documents. However, everyone must have:
Additionally, the following may be required:
Documents should be submitted to the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. There is also the option to submit documents online.
The process of obtaining a new resident visa in the UAE may differ slightly depending on which visa you need, however, there are common stages that almost all categories must go through:
The country's legislation does not provide restrictions on extending the visa validity period. It is only important to maintain the conditions under which the visa was initially obtained. For example, if you leave a UAE company, the right to a residence visa is lost. If a person drops out of studies and has no other grounds for permanent residence in the country, they also cannot extend their residency when the visa expires.
On the other hand, it is difficult to lose real estate investments in the UAE, as this country respects private property rights, although the state is formally a monarchy. If at the end of your visa's validity period you remain the owner of property with the required value, or your business continues to operate successfully in the UAE, you can easily extend your visa.
The list of documents for visa renewal is similar to the list needed for its initial obtaining. You will need to provide:
Usually, visa renewal is applied for one month before its expiry date. If you need to extend the visa earlier, for example, if you are leaving, you need to obtain special permission from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. Permission must be obtained in the emirate where you received the visa. UAE residents are also given a 30-day grace period to comfortably extend it after expiration.
The waiting period for results is determined by the complexity of the specific situation. Usually, student and work visas are extended quickly, while for a "Golden Visa" the waiting time can be up to a month. The decision is made by the UAE Ministry of Interior or the immigration department. It is recommended to start the visa renewal procedure in advance, as it is never possible to say exactly how long it will take.
The residence visa is automatically cancelled if a foreign citizen lives outside the UAE for more than 6 months per year. Subsequently, it will need to be obtained anew. Exceptions are:
An entry visa gives you the right to stay in the country for a limited time, for example, to come for business meetings or as a tourist.
A residence visa allows you to live and work in the Emirates for an extended period of time.
Such a visa is given to property owners in the Arab Emirates, business owners, employees, retirees, students, and family members of Emirates residents.
To renew a visa before expiry, you need to submit an application in advance to the immigration service or the Ministry of Interior of the Arab Emirates. Depending on the type of visa, requirements for its renewal may vary, but usually, you need to provide additional documentation and pay a government fee.
If an expat plans to bring their family to the Emirates, they must become their sponsor. A man's earnings must be more than 1,090 dollars monthly, and a woman, to act as a sponsor, must earn at least 2,772 dollars per month. A residence visa can be obtained for a wife, minor sons, unmarried daughters, and parents. Female citizens of other countries have the right to obtain visas only for their children and spouse.
With such a visa, you can live in any area of the Arab Emirates, including emirates such as Sharjah, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi.
A foreign citizen may be denied a visa if they provided incomplete documentation or if the documents do not correspond to reality.
The United Arab Emirates has been attracting cosmopolitans from around the world for many years. The country's population is almost 10 million people, with only 1.5 million being native inhabitants. The proportion of immigrants reaches almost 88% of all country residents. This is the highest rate in the world, which speaks volumes. Each year, more people want to obtain a residence visa for this country. Use this article to better understand the important nuances of this procedure.
