It is mandatory to learn about the cost of an investor visa in the UAE if you’re a foreign investor who is starting a business in Dubai and wants to obtain an investor visa. Due to the business-friendly policies and world-class facilities provided by the UAE government, Dubai has become a dream location for new entrepreneurs.
The UAE government has introduced two types of visas for foreigners: Investor Visa and Partner Visa. Both visas have their structure and regulations. A company investing in the UAE Free Zone or Mainland can apply for an investor visa Dubai. In this article, we will discuss Dubai investor visa cost, how to apply for an investor visa, and the detailed process.
Difference Between Partner Visa & Investor Visa Dubai
A Partner Visa is granted to those investors who want to start their business with other partners and shareholders. If you’re setting up an LLC in mainland UAE, you’ll have to get a local partner or shareholder, and the visa issued will be a partner visa. An investment of AED 1 million is required for a UAE-based company.
An Investor visa is given to foreign investors who want to start a sole proprietorship business with no other investor or shareholder. For an investor visa, the investor is required to make an investment of AED 10 million in an operating company in Dubai or start a new company with the same investment.
Key Steps to Get an Investor Visa Dubai
There are certain requirements imposed by the government on the investors in order to get a 3-year investor visa. We have discussed these requirements in detail below.
Make an Investment Plan
Before applying for your investor visa Dubai, make sure to plan your investment carefully. Do proper market research and select a sector where you want to invest your money.
Fulfill Capital Requirement
There are certain capital requirements set by the authorities that are crucial to fulfill. Make sure to select the right business sector according to your capital.
Select a Legal Structure
New businesses in the UAE need to select a legal business structure for their company. There are options for Offshore company setup, UAE Free Zones, and UAE Mainland. Each setup has its advantages, rules, and regulations.
Submit Necessary Documents
Gather all the necessary documents mandated by the authorities, such as business plans, passport copies, visa applications, bank statements, etc.
Submit Visa Application
After selecting a business structure, apply for your visa. If you have a mainland company, apply to the Department of Economic Development (DED), and for a Free Zone structure, apply to the relevant free zone authorities.
Get Medical Checkup
After getting approval for your visa, you must undergo a medical checkup as mandated by the authorities.
After getting your visa approval by following the necessary steps and submission of documents, you will get your investor visa Dubai, allowing you to do business in the UAE.
3-Year Investor Visa Dubai Requirements
For a foreign investor looking to invest in an existing business or start a new company in Mainland UAE or free zones, getting a 3-year investor visa Dubai is an ideal option.
The 3-year investor visa Dubai requirements are:
- Starting a new company with a minimum capital investment of AED 72,000
- Investing the amount as mentioned earlier in the shares of an existing running company in the UAE
- Making a fixed deposit in any bank in the UAE makes you a well-qualified candidate for an investor visa in Dubai.
Benefits of getting a 3-year Investor Visa
There are a lot of benefits that come with getting an investor visa in Dubai. Some are given below.
100% Company Ownership
Business owners with a free zone company setup have 100% ownership of their companies.
Tax Exemption
Due to UAE’s no-tax policies, there are no income or corporate taxes on the free zone businesses, which is a huge benefit for entrepreneurs.
Residency Visa & Family Sponsorship
Along with a 3-year investor visa Dubai, the company owner can also apply for a 3-year residency visa and sponsor their families.
Investments Accessibility
You can freely invest in the different industries of UAE, such as Real Estate, manufacturing industry, tourism, etc.
Opportunity to Get a Golden Visa
If you have an investor visa Dubai and you’re running a successful company in the UAE, you can apply to get a 10-year Golden Visa. This residency visa is only given to entrepreneurs, investors, and highly acknowledged persons who have helped the economy grow.
Travel Facility
There are a lot of travel facilities available to investor visa holders in Dubai. They can easily travel to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries for vacation or do business.
Prolonged Overseas Stay
A UAE investor visa holder is allowed to stay outside the UAE for a maximum of one year without worrying about the cancellation of your residency visa.
The benefits of getting an investor visa Dubai also include working in the thriving economy of UAE, collaborating with other businesses and getting lots of work opportunities.
Costs of 3-year Investor Visa Dubai
In order to get your investor visa in the UAE, it is important to understand the costs involved for your company. The 3-year investor visa Dubai price involves application charges, medical expenses, Emirates ID, and visa charges, which are explained in the table below.
| Types of Costs | Candidate Residing in UAE | Candidate Not in UAE |
| Permit of Entry | 1250 | 650 |
| Emirates ID | 420 | 420 |
| Medical Checkup (24 hrs) | 370 | 370 |
| Medical Checkup (30 mins) | 800 | 800 |
| Status change | 750 | N/A |
| Visa Application | 850 | 850 |
| Renewal Fee | 1750 | 1750 |
Documents Required for an Investor Visa
The following are the documents that need to be submitted with your visa application.
- Photocopy of trade license
- Photocopy of partner’s passport
- Photographs
- Memorandum of Association (MoA)
- Sponsor’s Emirate ID
- Sponsor’s bank account number
- Establishment card
Categories of Investor Visas in UAE
The government of UAE has presented different types of investor visas in Dubai according to the diverse requirements of the applicants. Some of these are discussed below.
Real Estate Investment Visa
This visa is given to investors who have made an investment in real estate in the UAE. The real estate owners are also eligible to get a residency visa in Dubai. Although, there are certain conditions that you must keep in mind before investing in real estate.
- In order to get full ownership of the company, the required investment is AED 1 million.
- If there are shareholders in the company, each shareholder must invest a minimum of AED 1 million.
- This advantage is only given for residential property investment, not commercial property.
- The investor only becomes eligible for a residency visa if they invest in a freehold property.
Furthermore, if an investor owns property worth AED 750,000 or more, they can apply for a 2-year investor visa in Dubai. You can also apply for residency visas and sponsor your family members.
Business Investment Visa
If you want to start a business in UAE’s mainland or Free Zones, you can apply for a 3-year investor visa Dubai. Some criteria for a business investment visa are
Suppose you start your own company with a capital amount of AED 72,000 or make an investment of the same amount in an existing operating company in Dubai. In that case, you can apply for a 3-year investor visa Dubai.
Benefits of a Free Zone Company
- Company owners or investors in the UAE have full ownership of their free zone company.
- Free zone businesses are free from any taxes, including income tax, VAT tax, corporate or import/export tax.
- Investors or owners of a company in free zones are eligible to get a partner visa, making the free zone their sponsor.
In order to understand the rules and regulations of free zones, hiring an expert business consultant can be helpful.
Apply for Golden Visa UAE
The government of UAE has introduced the Golden Visa UAE for highly qualified and skilled individuals, investors, or entrepreneurs. There are two options for Golden Visas, a 5-year or 10-year Golden Visa.
There are also certain requirements for both 5-year and 10-year golden visas, which are discussed below.
- The investor must be capable of running their business for three years
- The investor must have full ownership of your capital investment
- It would be best if you didn’t make real estate investments by taking loans.
Retirement Visa in UAE
This visa targets individuals who are above the age of 55 and retired. The validity of this visa is five years. Although there are certain conditions for a retirement visa, as well
- The candidate must be above the age of 55 and have stayed in the UAE for 15 years.
- Having a monthly income of AED 15,000 is mandatory
- They must own a property worth AED 1 million
- They must have savings of AED 1 million in a 3-year fixed deposit account
Make sure to hire a business consultant to thoroughly discuss the 3-year investor visa Dubai price, documents, and other regulations set by the authorities.
Final Words!
Here, our complete guide to Dubai investor visa cost comes to an end. Make sure to gather all the necessary documents and meet the investment criteria and other regulations set by the authorities. Although the 3-year investor visa dubai requirements are complex, with the help of an experienced UAE business consultant, this process can be simplified.
If you still need clarification due to the complex procedure for obtaining an investor visa in Dubai, contact our skilled team at Al-Riyady. We are here to guide you through all the documentation and regulation process. Our services also include Accounting Services, Auditing Services, Tax Consultancy, Business Plan & Feasibility Studies, and much more.
