UAE RESIDENCY OPTIONS AT A GLANCE

Over the past decade the UAE has become one of the most popular jurisdictions worldwide for the relocation of individuals. With no taxes applied on individuals, straight forward administrative requirements and
low processing costs, coupled with excellent accessibility, high-quality of life, political stability and sunny weather year-round, the UAE is indeed a very attractive proposal as a residency jurisdiction. The UAE’s
position has further been reinforced by the ongoing tax backlash in other relocation hubs – e.g. amended UK tax regimes pertaining to “non-doms”, increased costs of the lump-sum tax system in Switzerland
– as well as plans from various countries to “tighten the screw” on Europe’s tax heavens.
Following the introduction of long-term visa options, the present fact sheet – and its illustrative chart below – help you navigate the different visa options available in the UAE.

Mainland You qualify for a 2 Year Investor/Employee visa

Are you a share holder or Employee in Yes
a UAE company?
No Free Zone You qualify for a 3 Year Investor/Employee visa
1. Company Investor Visa
2. Employment Visa

Property value: AED 750,000+ You qualify for a 3 Year Property visa
Do you invest in UAE property as Yes
an individual?
No Property value: AED 5 million+ You qualify for a 5 Year Property visa
3. Real Estate Invesment Visa

Public Investment of AED 10 million You qualify for a 10 year visa

AED 500,000+ project

Do you hold investments Yes
You qualify for a 5 year visa
in the UAE?
Accredited UAE business incubator
No 4. Public Investments /
Entrepreneurs / Gold Card Visa

Total Investment exceeding AED 10 million You qualify for a permanent visa

Financial Savings of AED 1 million

Yes
Are you over 55 years? Income of AED 20,000 per month You qualify for a 5 Year visa

No
5. Retirees Visa
Real estate investment in the UAE of AED 2 million+

Yes
Are you a qualified specialist? You qualify for a 10 Year specialist visa

6. Specialist Visa

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 RESIDENCY IN THE UAE

What’s new in 2021? What are the other specific regulatory changes related to visas?
The UAE has overhauled its UAE’s immigration framework once again, with the formal introduction • Extension of business trip permits from three months to six months
of a Green card visa system (Validity: 5 & 10 years) and a Permanent Residency for investors,
• Sponsorship of parents under the visa of direct family members
entrepreneurs, specialized talents and researchers.
• One-year residency extension for humanitarian cases
The new measures have been introduced to enhance the competitiveness and flexibility of the UAE
• Extension of children’s age limit on parents’ residency from 18 to 25 years
labour market, facilitate sector growth, spur knowledge transfer and skills development, and create
greater stability and security for residents. • Extension of grace period upon job loss or retirement to 90 to 180 days
The UAE Government also announced it would allow people who have lost their jobs to remain in
the country for up to 180 days from the earlier 30 days.
Who we are

Why the UAE? We are a multi-services platform catering to a broad spectrum of clients – from individual
entrepreneurs and local SMEs to wealthy international families, to established blue-chip
• Total exemption from income tax and wealth tax for individuals
companies and multinationals. Our one-stop-shop offering is unique in the Middle East: a holistic
• No quotas on the number of issued residence permits and cross-disciplinary combination of a market-leading corporate services firm, a law firm’s
• No requirement to obtain a fiscal quitus from the foreign country specialist expertise and a regulatory & compliance services practice, all through one single
• No minimum requirement regarding the time spent annually in the jurisdiction1 platform.
• Competitive costs for issuance and renewal of the residence permit We have broad experience in facilitating entry-to-market for businesses across all major fields
• Presence of internationally recognized financial, legal and tax services providers of activities. We have a one-of-a-kind practical expertise understanding and handling complex
• Primary hub and platform to access international business corporate structures.
• Political stability Headquartered in the UAE, we are an entrepreneurial firm for entrepreneurial clients.
• Yearly sunny climate

Taxation Who will assist you

A residence permit holder is not subject to income tax and wealth tax in the UAE.
He/she may claim additional tax relief through UAE’s vast network of double tax treaties. A
residence permit allows its holder to reside anywhere in the UAE and authorizes him/her to enter Stephanie Campbell Yann Mrazek
Managing Partner
and exit the country an unlimited amount of times. Head of Clients Relations
[email protected]
[email protected]

1. Other than visiting the UAE at least once every six months; however, in order to obtain a tax residence certificate, an applicant must in principle
reside in the UAE for at least 180 days in the past year. Exemptions – based on subjective “close ties to the country” criteria are available.

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 RESIDENCY IN THE UAE
Presence
Residence required in Required legal presence
Visa Type Validity & Renewability Key Conditions Documents Required the UAE Timeframe Dependents’ visa “day counting”
Company • Mainland: 2 Years • Valid Trade license • Company trade license copy Yes 7-10 working days Applicant is qualified to sponsor dependents’ visa Employee visa - Applicant must return to the UAE
• Free Zone: 3 Years • Valid Immigration Card for spouse and children under 18 years subject to within 180 days to keep the visa active. Investor
• Current passport copy
• Medically fit certain conditions visa - Applicant must return to the UAE within 365
• Renewable on completion • Medical fitness result days to keep the visa active.
of 2 / 3 year visa
• Emirates ID registration
• Valid UAE health insurance
• Subject to qualifying the route of investment

Real Estate • 3 years • Property value must be or more than AED 750,000 for 3 • Current passport copy Yes 7-10 working days Applicant is qualified to sponsor dependents’ visa Applicant must return to the UAE within 365 days
Investment • 5 years years visa for spouse and children under 18 years subject to to keep the visa active.
• Number of properties under the applicant’s
certain conditions
• Property value must be or more than AED 5 million for name in the UAE
• Renewable on completion of 3 /
5 years visa
5 year visa • Title deed which reflects the property value
• Property must be constructed and fit for habitation
• Latest Utility bills/ security deposit slip
• Property should have a mortgage no more than 50% of
• Valid UAE health insurance
the value for 3-year visa
• Subject to qualifying the route of investment
• Property should be wholly owned by the investor and not
loaned for 5-year visa
• Applicant shall present a valid title deed, indicating the
Applicant as direct (co-) owner

Remote working visa • 1 year If you are an employee, you need to: • Current passport and UAE visa copy Yes 7-10 working days Sponsorship of children until the age of 25 Employee visa - Applicant must return to the UAE
(instead of 18 previously) within 180 days to keep the visa active.
• Provide proof of employment with a contract valid for one • Medical fitness result
• Renewable completion
year from your current employer Sponsorship of parents
of 1 year • Emirates ID registration
• Earn a salary of minimum USD 5,000 per month Extension of the grace period for leaving the
• Valid UAE health insurance
country upon job loss or retirement to 90 to 180
• Provide the salary slip for the last month and bank
• Subject to qualifying the route of investment days (instead of 30 days previously).
statements for the preceding three months.
If you are a company owner, you need to:
• Provide proof of ownership of company for one year
or more
• Have an average monthly income of USD 5,000 per
month
• Provide bank statements of the company’s account for
the preceding three months.

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 RESIDENCY IN THE UAE
Presence
Residence required in Required legal presence
Visa Type Validity & Renewability Key Conditions Documents Required the UAE Timeframe Sponsorship visa “day counting”
Entrepreneurs • 10 years • Previous project with a minimum of AED 500,000 OR • Current passport copy Yes 6-8 weeks • Applicant is qualified to sponsor dependents’ Applicant must return to the UAE within 365 days
visa for spouse and children under 18 years to keep the visa active.
• Entrepreneurs having approval of an accredited business • Corporate bank account statement reflecting
• Renewable automatically on subject to certain conditions
incubator in the country a deposit for 3 years
completion of 10 years
• Visa can be extended to include business
• Approval of an accredited business incubator
partners, on the condition that each partner
in the country
contributes AED 10 million.
• Valid UAE health insurance
• The long-term visa can include the spouse
• Subject to qualifying the route of investment and children, as well as one executive
director and one advisor.
• Investors from abroad may apply for a
multiple-entry permit for a six-month period.

Free Lance Visa • 3 years • Self-employed workers based in the UAE and overseas in • Current passport and UAE visa copy Yes 6-8 weeks • Sponsorship of children until the age of 25 Applicant must return to the UAE within 365 days
• 5 years specialised fields such as artificial intelligence, blockchain (instead of 18 previously) to keep the visa active.
• Medical fitness result
and digital currencies.
• Sponsorship of parents
• Renewable on completion of 3 / • Emirates ID registration
• Precise Key conditions - TBC
5-year visa • Extension of the grace period for leaving the
• Valid UAE health insurance
country upon job loss or retirement to 90 to
• Subject to qualifying the route of investment 180 days (instead of 30 days previously).

Green Visa • 10 years • Self-residency status has been further expanded to • Current passport and UAE visa copy Yes 6-8 weeks • Sponsorship of children until the age of 25 Applicant must return to the UAE within 365 days
investors, entrepreneurs, highly-skilled individuals, top (instead of 18 previously) to keep the visa active.
• Medical fitness result
• Renewable automatically on students and graduates. Those running Small and
• Sponsorship of parents
completion of 10 years Medium Enterprises, scientists and other talented people • Emirates ID registration
will also be considered. • Extension of the grace period for leaving the
• Valid UAE health insurance
country upon job loss or retirement to 90 to
• Precise Key conditions - TBC
• Subject to qualifying the route of investment 180 days (instead of 30 days previously).
Gold Card Route

Public Investment • 10 years • Amount to be fully deposited by the applicants existing • Current passport copy Yes 6-8 weeks • Applicant is qualified to sponsor dependents’ Applicant must return to the UAE within 365 days
UAE registered company illustrating no visa for spouse and children under 18 years to keep the visa active.
• Company License copy (parent company
• Renewable automatically on subject to certain conditions
• less than AED 10 million in UAE investments; no loans/ (translated and super
completion of 10 years
finance support, retained for min. 3 years in a UAE bank & • Visa can be extended to include business
• legalized) & UAE company)
financial solvency up to AED 10 million partners, on the condition that each partner
• Corporate bank account statement reflecting contributes AED 10 million.
• Establishing a UAE company with a capital of no less
a deposit of AED 10 million for 3 years
than AED 10 million; no loans/ finance support, retained • The long-term visa can include the spouse
for min. 3 years in a UAE bank & financial solvency up to • Memorandum of Association or equivalent and children, as well as one executive
AED 10 million director and one advisor.
• Company establishment card
• Real estate can qualify as part of the AED 10 million but • Investors from abroad may apply for a
• Audit report
only 40% of the total investment amount can be Real multiple-entry permit for a six-month period.
estate investments. • Subject to qualifying the route of investment

Retirees • 5 years • Real Estate Investment: Own a property in the UAE of • Current passport, UAE visa copy Yes 6-8 weeks • Applicant is qualified to sponsor dependents’ Applicant must return to the UAE within 365 days
a minimum market value of AED 2 million (approx. USD visa for spouse and children under 18 years to keep the visa active.
• UAE bank account statements reflecting
• Renewable automatically on 550,000) subject to certain conditions
financial savings of no less than AED 1 million
completion of 5 years
• Financial Savings: Fixed deposit for 3 years or cash or income of AED 20,000 • Visa can be extended to include business
savings in the UAE personal bank account of no less partners, on the condition that each partner
• Valid UAE health insurance
than AED 1 million (approx. USD 275,000) contributes AED 10 million.
• Subject to qualifying the route of investment
• Monthly Income: Proof of an income of not less than AED • The long-term visa can include the spouse
20,000 per month (approx. USD 5,500) and children, as well as one executive
director and one advisor.
• Combination of Property and financial Savings: To
combine both real estate investment (option 1) and • Investors from abroad may apply for a
financial savings (option 2) with both combined the total multiple-entry permit for a six-month period.
value must be no less than AED 2 million
(approx. USD 550,000)

Specialised talents • 5 years • Holder of PhD degree from one of the top 500 universities • Current passport copy Yes 6-8 weeks • Applicant is qualified to sponsor dependents’ Applicant must return to the UAE within 365 days
& Researchers in the world Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific visa for spouse and children under 18 years to keep the visa active.
• PHD degree (legalized, translated and super
• Renewable automatically on Excellence subject to certain conditions
legalized)
completion of 5 years
• Contribution to major scientific research • Visa can be extended to include business
• Valid UAE health insurance
partners, on the condition that each partner
• Published articles/scientific books in distinguished
• Subject to qualifying the route of investment contributes AED 10 million.
publications
• Investors from abroad may apply for a
• Membership in an organization associated, which requires
multiple-entry permit for a six-month period.
excellent work
• 10-year professional experience
• Specialization in areas of priority to the UAE (additional
requirement for doctors)
• Emirates Scientists Council must accredit scientists

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