UAE Investor Visas: Requirements, Process, Cost and Benefits
To encourage foreign investment in various sectors, the authorities established the UAE investor visa. There are several possible options for people who want to apply and have the opportunity to take advantage of the commercial and social advantages of the country. Thanks to this visa, you can also obtain a visa for your family members to live in the country.
In this article, we will show you the different requirements for each of the investor visa types. You will also be able to learn about the process and financial requirements, as well as the benefits of getting one of them.
What is a UAE investor visa?
The authorities created the UAE investor visa for foreigners who invest or create a business in the country. However, applicants must meet the specific requirements for each type of investor visa. Additionally, this visa allows holders to sponsor their family members so that they can live in the peace of mind of the UAE.
Apart from the necessary documentation according to the classification, you must meet financial criteria to establish a business, invest in one, or the real estate market. There is even a visa for citizens over 55 years of age to retire in the UAE.
UAE Investor Visa Requirements
One of the UAE investor visa requirements is that the applicant must be over 18 years of age. Therefore, this further broadens the eligibility criteria for those who wish to enter the business market. Next, we will show you the specific requirements to be able to apply for an investor visa when establishing or investing in a company.
Minimum investment Thresholds
Regarding the minimum investment requirements to obtain the visa, you must meet one of the following aspects:
- You can invest in one or more properties totaling AED 1 million or more. However, you must be the sole owner of the property and have a maximum mortgage value of 50%.
- If more than one person is investing, each person must contribute at least AED 1 million.
In both cases, the properties must be residential and not commercial, and off-plan properties are not eligible.
Business Ownership
To obtain a UAE investor visa, applicants must meet one of the following conditions:
- They must start a business in the UAE or have a stake in a business with a minimum capital of AED 72000.
The benefits in the case of establishing a company in a free zone are having full ownership and freedom from taxes. Similarly, when investing or establishing the business, you can apply for a 3-year investor visa.
Finance Documentation
For the processing of your investor visa application, you must provide various documents for certain checks. For example, the business license to prove that you created or invested in a company in the country. Likewise, to demonstrate your financial capacity and investment, you must present a bank statement from the previous 6 months.
Background Checks
To comply with the investor visa requirements, you must also present proof that you have no legal problems. In this case, to prove it to the authorities, you must present a certificate of good conduct.
Health Insurance
It is mandatory to apply for one of these visas to obtain health insurance that covers your stay in the UAE. Said insurance can be obtained from one of the insurance providers authorized to issue this type of document. You can choose from different levels of coverage which generally include the following benefits:
- Hospitalization
- Outpatient services
- Maternity
- dental insurance
- Ophthalmological
However, before choosing a plan, you should consider your requirements and the demands of the authorities.
UAE Investor Visa Process
Applying for a UAE investor visa consists of a series of steps and preparation to make the process flow. Next, we will show you the stages of the visa application that you must comply with:
Pre-application Steps
Preparation is essential so that the entire process is simpler and so that there are no delays in it. To begin, you must have ready the required documents according to the method you are using to obtain the visa. The investment evidence and other documents that you must present to prove that you qualify are the following:
- Commercial license of the company created or in which you invest
- Memorandum of Association or MoA
- Company establishment card
- Partnership Certificate
- Company training certificate
- Cancellation of any other type of visa
Application Submission
After you have the documentation and ensure that you meet the requirements of the investor visa, you can start the application. To properly comply with the process, you must make the request following the steps that we will indicate:
- Start by submitting the required documentation.
- You will then need to complete the application form and submit it to the immigration authorities of the Emirate where you wish to settle.
- Pay the fees that comprise the UAE investor visa cost.
- The next stage is to undergo a medical examination and register your biometric data.
- Lastly, apply for an Emirates ID, which is an essential document for everyone living in the country.
Review and Approval
After submitting the documents and visa application to the immigration authorities, you must wait for review and approval. If you have submitted each document and meet the requirements, it will only be a matter of time before to receive your visa. Generally, the processing time from company incorporation to obtaining the document can take between 15 and 20 days.
Visa Issuance
If the authorities approve your application, you will receive your visa and can begin living in the country legally. A UAE investor visa can be valid for 2, 3, 5, or 10 years depending on the type of application. Therefore, you must be attentive to renewing your visa because staying in the country illegally will have negative consequences.
Renewal process
As we just said, renewing your investor visa is essential to continue living in the country. To renew it, your company must be registered with the Directorate of Nationalization and Residency Department (DNRD). This government entity provides facilities so that investors can renew their visas easily.
If you have an e-DNRD account, go to an authorized typing center and complete the process without going to an immigration office. On the contrary, if you do not have an account, you must complete the following steps:
- Go to one of the typing centers and submit the necessary documentation for the process.
- Pay the corresponding renewal fees according to the type of visa and its validity period.
UAE Investor Visa Cost
The UAE investor visa cost consists of various fees that include the application and other mandatory procedures. Additionally, you must consider the financial criteria that establish the type of investor visa you wish to obtain. Below, you will see a breakdown of the fees and other financial aspects involved in the visa application:
Initial investment
One of the investor visas with the highest amount of validity is the golden visa, in which you must invest a minimum of AED 2000000. In this case, the authorities decreased the down payment for the purchase of a property from 50% to 20%. Additionally, for this 10-year visa, you can purchase the property at any stage of construction.
On the other hand, to get a 2-year visa, you must purchase a property of at least AED 750000 To do this, you can use a loan at an authorized local bank but you will have to pay 50% of the total value of the property.
Application Fees
The fees to obtain a UAE investor visa vary depending on whether the applicant is inside or outside the country. The request can be made at an Amer Center, and includes the following fees:
- Entry permit outside the UAE, AED 525.
- Entry permit for people within the country, AED 1175.
- The change of status costs AED 675 for those in the country.
- Visa stamping costs approximately AED 870.
Renewal Expenses
Renewing an investor visa also involves paying certain fees, which vary depending on the processing time. Here is a breakdown of the costs associated with renewing this type of visa with medical proof and UAE ID:
- The cost is AED 3600 for normal time, AED 4600 if urgent, and AED 5100 for Royal processing.
- Normal processing is 5 days, urgent processing is 2 days, and royal processing is 1 day.
On the other hand, the simple renewal, which does not include the medical exam or the Emirates ID, has the following cost:
- AED 2,730 for normal processing, AED 3,730 for urgent, and AED 4,230 for Royal.
- Normal processing is 8 days, urgent processing is 4 days, and royal processing is 2 days.
Additional Expenses
Apart from the document application fees, the UAE investor visa cost includes additional expenses. The procedures that fall within the financial aspects that you must consider are:
- The cost of the Emirates ID is AED 100 for each year of validity.
- The medical exam costs between AED 250 and AED 350
UAE Investor Visa Benefits
Having an investor visa and residing in the United Arab Emirates offers a host of advantages. Next, we will show you the benefits of obtaining one of these visas for establishment or investment in a business:
Residency Privileges
One of the UAE investor visa benefits is having the opportunity to reside long-term in the country. Depending on the type of investment and other requirements, you can opt for a visa of up to 10 years. Furthermore, once you are residing in the country, you can renew the visa for the same period and continue enjoying the other benefits.
Business Opportunities
Another advantage is that the dynamic and favorable environment offers a wide variety of business opportunities. The UAE has an established economy that continues to grow, encouraging foreign investment to diversify the market. Thus, with this visa, you can explore various types of business and participate in recognized businesses.
tax Advantages
One of the advantages of doing business in the UAE is that it has a favorable tax environment, especially in the free zones. For example, there is no personal income tax, although there is a very low corporate tax (maximum 9%). This way, you can retain a greater amount of income and profits from your activities.
Quality of Life
Another advantage of having a UAE investor visa is living in one of the safest countries in the world. Plus, thanks to the thriving economy of the nation, you can enjoy a luxurious standard of living. Likewise, you can bring your family and enroll your children in the high-level Emirati education system.
Global Mobility
With this visa, you can also travel between GCC countries for both business and pleasure without complications. By having investor status in the country, you may have greater opportunities to obtain a travel visa to the region. This is an advantage over the work visa, with which it is more difficult to travel between countries.
Types of Investor Visa
There is no single type of investor visa in the UAE as you can apply in different ways to obtain different validity. We will show you the different types of visas according to the requirements for obtaining each one below:
UAE Residence Investor Visa
This investor visa is for those people who want to invest or create a company in the country. However, individuals must meet the requirements, primarily creating or investing in a business worth AED 2 million. In addition, you have more than 2,000 options for business activities in which you can invest or create your own company.
UAE Free Zone Investor Visa
The UAE investor visa can also be obtained, and is more common there, in a free zone when establishing a business. Nevertheless, rates and requirements may vary depending on the free zone, and the nature of the business, among other characteristics. This will allow you to have 100% ownership if you decide to establish the business, as well as tax advantages.
Golden Visa
This visa is for both business and real estate investors but also entrepreneurs. In addition, it allows a residence in the country of 10 years for the holder and his family as well. To obtain it, you must invest at least AED 2 million in real estate or the public sector.
UAE Startup Visa
Entrepreneurs can also obtain an investor visa with a technical business idea or one that involves risk and innovation. This visa allows the holder to reside and do business in the country for 5 years, which are renewable. However, the investment must be at least AED 500 thousand, certified by an auditor and a business incubator.
Investor Visa for Real Estate Investment
The UAE investor visa requirements also allow the purchase of real estate to obtain it. In this case, the property or the sum of the value of the properties must be at least AED 1 million. This visa is for 3 years but if you want to obtain one for 5 years, the investment must be AED 2 million or more.
Investor Visa for Specific Sectors
The authorities can also grant an investor visa for those who make a certain investment. You can have an investment of AED 10 million in the public sector, by setting up investing in a company and owning property. Nonetheless, investment in sectors other than real estate should not be less than 60% of the total.
Investor Visa for Bond Investors
It is possible to obtain one of these visas by making a considerable investment in a local investment fund. However, to obtain the UAE investor visa in this case, you must comply with the following:
- Submit a letter from an accredited investment fund, indicating the investment of AED 2 million.
- Commercial or industrial license with Memorandum of Association (MoA), indicating the previous investment.
- Letter from the Federal Tax Authority proving that the applicant pays at least AED 250000 annually.
In any case, the capital must not be a loan and you must have valid health insurance in the UAE.
Family Investor Visa
The family visa allows the stay of dependents, spouse, child, or parents, for the same time as the visa of the sponsor. To obtain a family visa from investors, you must meet the following requirements:
- Housing lease contract.
- If the visa is for a spouse, you must provide the certified marriage certificate.
- Birth certificates if you will sponsor your children.
- Make a refundable deposit of AED 3,000 per dependent.
Retirement Visa for Investors
People over 55 years of age who meet the requirements can obtain a retirement visa, which is a type of investor visa. The requirement is that the applicant must meet one of the following requirements:
- own a property of AED 2 million
- possess funds raised of at least AED 1 million
- Have an active income of AED 20000 monthly or more.
This visa is valid for 5 years and can be renewed for the same amount of time.
Investor Visa Renewal Options
There are two options for renewing the investor visa, regardless of the type or validity. If you have a DNRD account, go to a typing center to complete the process with your username and password. If you do not have an account, you must go to one of these centers with the documentation and pay the necessary fees.
How Connect Zone can help you to Get an Investor Visa in UAE?
To obtain a UAE investor visa you must invest in a business, real estate, or create your own company. In this sense, at Connect Zone, we offer you a professional service to establish your company. Therefore, if you require more information in this regard, schedule a consultation by contacting us
