Introduction

Living and working in the UAE long-term requires a residence visa, which is entirely dependent on the Rulers’ and Crown Princes’ Courts, Offices of the Executive Councils and the Cabinet. Knowing which residency visa to apply for, how and where can increase your chances of approval significantly and make the process a lot easier. We’ve highlighted 9 ways you can obtain a UAE residence visa. 

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Key Takeaways (Bullet Points) 

• UAE Residents enjoy impressive infrastructure, high-class business and quality of life opportunities.
• There are 9 different types of residency visas to choose from, including Real Estate, Retirement, Student, Business Ownership, Virtual Work, Green, Blue and Golden visas. 
• Use experts like Mirabello Consultancy to guide you through the application process and ensure you get approval from the Rulers’ and Crown Princes’ Courts, Offices of the Executive Councils and the Cabinet. 

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3 benefits of a UAE Residence Visa

Residents can enjoy the many benefits that come with living and working in the UAE, including:

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1. Impressive Infrastructure

The UAE has world-class infrastructure, including transportation, telecommunications, and utilities that improve your quality of life and work significantly. Known for its political stability and strong governance, the UAE has been rated one of the safest places in the world. The UAE also has loads of leisure and entertainment options to choose from, including shopping malls, exquisite dining options, cultural festivals and sporting events.

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2. Business Opportunities

The UAE authorities offer foreign entrepreneurs many incentives as the country is generally interested in attracting international business to the UAE. With some UAE residencies, you have access to other GCC countries, exposing you to emerging and big market opportunities. Its favourable tax environment, which doesn’t require residents to pay personal income, capital gains, inheritance, gift or property tax also reduces the cost of doing business. The large expatriate community also offer various skills to help you bolster your work teams. 

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3. Better Quality of Life

There are also many benefits for you and your family, including endless holiday and sightseeing opportunities, the best schools and universities in the UAE, and a comprehensive health insurance plan that gives you access to state-of-the-art medical and healthcare facilities and professionals. You can make use of the Esaad Card to engage in the country’s economy and tourism, with exclusive discounts on school fees and accommodation, for example. 

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9 Types of UAE Residence Visas

Becoming a UAE resident is easier than ever, with new policies giving individuals many more avenues to explore. The types of residence visas in the UAE vary depending on the way they are obtained. Partnering with professionals like Mirabello Consultancy, who has navigated the different residency options countless times before, can help you decide which residency visa opportunity suits you better.

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1. Employment Visa

The traditional avenue, an employment visa, requires a hiring company or organisation registered in the UAE to sponsor your stay in the country. You have to make a salary of at least $1,090, or $820 plus accommodation expenses. This is usually valid for between 1 and 3 years, depending on your employment contract. If you have a work visa, you can only work for that company during your time in the UAE. You have to reapply if you change jobs.

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2. Real Estate Visa

If you purchase a property in the UAE worth at least $204,000, you could qualify for a real estate visa that lets you sponsor yourself and your dependents. The visa is issued for 2 or 5 years (depending on the value of the property and location) and mortgage loans are permitted.

This doesn’t just apply to the purchase of apartments, villas or townhouses. You can also acquire hotel rooms, warehouses and offices to gain residency.

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3. Retirement Visa

Anyone living outside the UAE or anyone currently in the UAE who has reached the age of 55 can apply for a retirement visa. It is valid for 5 years and renewable, as long as you invest in UAE property worth at least $544,000, have financial savings of at least $270,000 and have an active income of no less than $4,100 per month.

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4. Student Visa

Anyone 18 years and older who has enrolled in a college in the UAE can be sponsored by their parents (male students only) or by the university with a student visa. It is usually valid for a year, but you can extend it if you have proof that you are still studying. 

To apply for a course in any UAE college or university, you will need to provide your IELTS or TOEFL test results. You should also bear in mind that at many universities and colleges, you are required to pay for the whole academic year, which can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000, and in private universities, it’s over $20,000. In addition to this, if you have a student visa you are not allowed to work in the UAE.

Exceptional graduates who have achieved a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.75 are also eligible for a 5-year Golden Visa to enable them to stay in the UAE and pursue a career in the country. 

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5. Business Ownership Visa

Owners or partners of a startup with a minimum value of $136,000, in a small and medium-sized enterprise category generating an annual income of at least $272,500, as well as founders and co-founders of a project sold for at least $1.9 million, can obtain a 5-year residency visa. 

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6. Virtual Work Visa

Introduced in 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic, the virtual work residence visa is designed for people employed by companies based outside the UAE but still wish to live and work remotely within the country. This gives you residency for a year, with the possibility of renewal. 

To apply, you need a valid passport, proof of employment and proof of income (showing a monthly salary of at least $3,500 or its equivalent in a different currency).

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7. Green Visa

Foreign nationals employed outside the UAE are permitted to live in the country with a virtual work visa, which gives you legal entry to the country under self-sponsorship for 5 years. This is intended for freelancers, self-employed and skilled employees. 

You have to provide proof that you work remotely for an organisation outside the UAE (a valid employment contract, for example) and that you receive a monthly income of at least $3,500, permits from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and bachelor’s degrees or specialised diplomas that verify your eligibility.

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8. Blue Visa

This 10-year visa grants residency to those who have made an exceptional contribution towards the environment’s protection and sustainability, both inside and outside the UAE. This includes members of international organisations and companies, associations and non-government or non-profit organisations, global award winners, as well as environmental activists and researchers.

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9. Golden Visa

The golden visa is a long-term, renewable visa for investors, entrepreneurs, specialized talents, students, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes. 

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UAE Residency Requirements

Each type of residency in the UAE comes with a specific set of application criteria, but there are several general provisions for obtaining your visa in the UAE that you need to be aware of. Experts like Mirabello Consultancy can guide you through the requirements and make sure you meet the ones that apply to you. 

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This includes: 

• A recent passport photo (coloured with a white background)
• Copy of passport
• Emirates ID application receipt
• Lease contract or proof of residence
• Entry permit
• Birth certificate (of dependents)
• Medical insurance or health plan

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Applicants over 18 must undergo a medical test to prove they are medically fit to live in the country. You must also pass a security check and apply for an Emirates ID card from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.

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Why Should You Consider a UAE Golden Visa?

The UAE Golden Visa offers a renewable, long-term residency permit that grants foreigners the right to live, work, and study in the UAE. The program welcomes doctors, scientists, investors, specialists and creatives who have made significant contributions in their respective fields – specifically around AI, big data, epidemiology, and renewable energy. Students with outstanding academic achievements can also apply for a UAE Golden Visa.

A significant benefit for these UAE Golden Visa holders is the streamlined process of property ownership within the country. While foreign nationals can own property in designated areas, Golden Visa holders enjoy the ease of purchasing and managing properties in these prime locations.

It doesn’t require local sponsorship for entrepreneurs and investors, giving them full autonomy over their business operations without the usual requirement of a local partnership. This autonomy significantly simplifies the process of establishing and managing businesses.

Another key feature of the UAE Golden Visa is the ability to sponsor family members, including spouses, children, and in some instances, parents and siblings. This eliminates the need for separate visa applications per family member and ensures that the entire family can stay together. Additionally, Golden Visa holders can sponsor their domestic staff, including housemaids, drivers, and other domestic workers. However, you are required to comply with the UAE’s regulatory standards by providing proper accommodation and fair salaries to your sponsored staff per local employment laws.

The UAE Golden Visa also exempts you from the traditional employment restrictions that typically apply to other visa categories. This exemption allows you to change employers or pursue multiple job opportunities simultaneously without jeopardising your visa status.

Specialising in UAE residency opportunities, Mirabello Consultancy can guide you through the process of applying for a UAE Golden Visa and making the most of its benefits. We’ve broken down the steps below: 

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1. Check your category (are you an investor, scientist, student, etc?).
2. Do your due diligence (this is where issues are addressed regarding your application criteria).
3. Submit your documents (and wait for lawyers to translate, notarise and conduct consular legislation regarding these documents) and supporting material. If you are an investor, this is when you put down your money to make a deal. 
4. Undergo a medical checkup in a UAE clinic to obtain a certificate of health statement and make sure you have a comprehensive health or medical insurance plan in place. 
5. While in the UAE, you and your family must give biometrics to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. You will also have to pledge allegiance to the UAE constitution. 

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It can take anywhere between 5 and 7 days to review your application. If there are additional questions, you will have 30 days to answer them. 

Let Mirabello Consultancy handle the application process for you, or apply via the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, or through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. You can also apply for a new visa or renewal thereof through online portals and applications like eChannels. UAEICP and DubaiNow. 

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The Next Step. Citizenship

If you meet all the guidelines and complete all the processes above, you may qualify for UAE citizenship if you have approval from the Rulers’ and Crown Princes’ Courts, Offices of the Executive Councils and the Cabinet. 

The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship appoints a central advisory committee and sub-committees to review each candidate’s application independently. The sub-committees review all the data you’ve submitted and filter the applications based on their eligibility to qualify for citizenship. 

Once approved, your application is passed on to the advisory committee (which consists of representatives from each Emirate) for a final statement. 

Even if you meet all the criteria, you might still be denied UAE citizenship. The UAE Golden Visa is a good alternative that gives you long-term residency in the country without citizenship, through investment. 

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Conclusion

Whether you're an entrepreneur seeking to establish a business, a skilled professional working remotely, or an investor looking for a strategic location, there's a UAE residence visa option tailored to your lifestyle and work goals. Remember that partnering with a professional consultancy like Mirabello can streamline the application process and ensure you choose the most suitable visa option.

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FAQ

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How long does UAE residence last?

The validity of a UAE residence visa depends on the type. It can range from 1 year to 10 years, with options for renewal. Investors, specialized talents, exceptional university students and humanitarian work pioneers qualify for 10 years of UAE residency. Entrepreneurs and outstanding high school students can get residency for 5 years.

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Can I sponsor my parents for a UAE residence visa?

The UAE Golden Visa extends its benefits to the families of the main applicants, including spouses and children (regardless of age) as well as parents and domestic workers. 

Foreign residents can only sponsor their daughters if they are unmarried, with no restrictions concerning their ages. Moreover, expats can sponsor their sons until the age of 25. If sons have special needs, expats can sponsor them with no restriction on their ages.

You can also sponsor your parents for a year’s stay by paying a deposit as a guarantee for each parent. The UAE requires that you sponsor both parents together, with proof that you are the sponsor for both parents. If parents pass away or get divorced, you have to submit official proof. 

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What are the medical tests required for the residence visa?

Whether applying for a residency visa or a work permit, all visa applicants will require a thorough medical exam, along with a series of blood tests before being granted their visa. The exam includes: a physical check-up; full blood count; biochemistry; random blood sugar tests; Glycosylated Haemoglobin tests; serology; tests for sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, Hepatitis C and B, and Syphilis; complete urinalysis; chest x-rays; pure tone audiometry; spirometry; and a routine 12-lead ECG for people over the age of 40. 

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How long can a UAE resident stay outside the UAE?

The general rule is that if a UAE resident lives outside the country for more than 180 days continuously, their residence visa will be nullified automatically. If this happens, they will have to apply for a new entry permit to enter the UAE again. In case you are a holder of a 10 years Golden Visa however, there is no restriction on how long you can stay outside the UAE, therefore no minimum stay requirements are set.