There are several options for obtaining residence permit
(resident visa) in Dubai, UAE.
1) The first option - the acquisition of residential
property (real estate) in Dubai.
In order to be eligible to apply for a resident status in
Dubai in this category, it is necessary that the property is ready for
occuppancy, i.e. Its construction should be completed, and its cost should be
at least 1 million Dirham which is about 273 thousand US dollars. The visa can
be obtained only by the person indicated as the owner in the certificate of the
ownership of the real estate (Title Deed). Advantages of this option - there is
no need to register a company. Disadvantages – the visa is issued only for 2
years, does not give the right to work in the UAE, requires high investment in
the purchase of real estate.
2) The second option – the registration of your own company
in Dubai.
Such company shall be registered either 1) in one of the
Dubai free economic zones or 2) in the form of a limited company in Dubai (with
49% of foreign shareholding and 51% share of UAE citizen or 3) the professional
company in Dubai. The ownership in the company gives the right to apply for a residence
permit in the Dubai as a shareholder of the Dubai registered company.
To date, the creation of the cheapest company in Dubai (in the
Dubai South Free Zone located at the new terminal of the Dubai airport) with two
shareholders and two resident visas will cost 22,000 (twenty-two thousand US
dollars). The annual renewal of the company will cost 12,000 US dollars (including
audit). Resident visa will be issued for 3 years. The time required for
processing all documents, registering a company and obtaining a residence
permit is on average 3-6 weeks.
Advantages – this option does not require vast amount of
investment that is required when obtaining a residence permit as a property
owner in Dubai. At present, it is not required to deposit the declared capital
($ 82,000) into the bank account. A visa of this type is issued for a longer
period - for 3 years. Plus, this visa allows you to conduct business through
the company.
The drawback of this option is the costs of the company's
registration and its annual renewal.
Based on the above, the majority business people choose the
second option of registration of the right to permanent residence in the UAE -
through the registration of their own company.
3) The third option is to be hired as an employee of a
company in Dubai
A person who has a job in Dubai has the right to a resident
visa. A visa is issued on the basis of an employment contract with the
employer.
1) Visas for family members
Residence visas for family member can be issued only after
the completion of the procedure for obtaining residence visa for head of the
family.
It should be noted that in order for an employee to be a
sponsor of his family (wife and children), he must have an appropriate
position, for example, to be a manager and have a high education. In order to
issue visas to family members, the employee's diploma, marriage certificate and
birth certificates of children must be translated into Arabic and certified by
the UAE Embassy in the country of their issuance.
The cost of processing of 1 resident visa is currently
about 1000 US dollars.
