What We Handle
The Steps, in Order
Most residency processes run in the same order, and each step depends on the one before it. The order differs by basis — choose yours. The most common avoidable delay is attempting to sponsor family before the sponsor's own file is finished.
The Established Routes
A UAE property, or properties, with a total assessed value of AED 2 million or above. Mortgaged and off-plan properties can qualify.
A valid UAE employment contract with a monthly basic salary of AED 30,000 or above, an attested degree and a qualifying professional classification. Basic salary, not total package.
Further routes exist for capital investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talent, scientists and outstanding students. Thresholds and conditions vary by category and endorsing authority, and are confirmed case by case rather than quoted generally. Dependants — spouse and children — can be sponsored on the holder's Golden Visa.
Check EligibilityWhere It Goes Wrong
The sponsor's own residency and Emirates ID must be complete first. Starting the family file in parallel usually means restarting it.
Visa allocations follow the licence type, the free zone and the premises. Discovering the ceiling after the team is hired is a structural problem, not an administrative one.
Changing employer, closing a company or selling a property cancels the residency derived from it — and the grace period runs from the system's cancellation date, not the date you were told.
Old fines, an absconding report or a ban will block a new application. Where there is any history, the record should be checked before the application is filed, not after it is refused.
Value is assessed, not asserted, and the basis of the assessment matters.
Questions
How long does a residence visa take?
Once the sponsoring structure exists, a standard residence visa is usually a matter of weeks — most of it medical, biometrics and issuance. Golden Visa timelines depend on the route and whether an endorsement is required.
Can I get residency without a company?
Yes — through property, a qualifying investment, employment, or a Golden Visa category based on skill or achievement.
Does UAE residency make me tax resident?
Not automatically. A residence visa and tax residency are different things, with different tests and different evidence. Where the position matters — particularly if another country may still assert residency — it should be addressed deliberately.
Can my parents live with me?
Subject to conditions, including income and accommodation requirements. It is assessed case by case.
I have an old fine or a ban. Can I still apply?
The record needs clearing first, and that is separate work. Applying with an unresolved record generally produces a refusal that then has to be explained in the next application.
Do I need to be in the UAE for the process?
Partly. Entry permits and much of the paperwork are handled remotely; the medical and biometrics require presence.