UAE · Guide
UAE investor visa through your company: steps, timeline and cost
The UAE partner visa through your own company, step by step: licence, Establishment Card, entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID. ICP fees and timelines.
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- Globexpat Team
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#Visas#Residency#Documents
The UAE investor visa, also called the partner visa, is issued to a shareholder of a company registered in the country. Your own company is the sponsor, so you do not depend on an employer. It is the most common route to residency for entrepreneurs and remote professionals, wherever they come from.
The route has five steps: the company licence, the Establishment Card, an entry permit or status change, the medical test and biometrics, and finally the residence permit together with the Emirates ID. In our experience the process usually takes 2-4 weeks once the licence is issued; the exact timing depends on the free zone and how busy the medical centres are.
Federal ICP fees at each step are modest: from AED 100 to AED 2,000. Most of the budget goes on the free zone package, which often already includes visas. Below we go through each stage with figures from the official service cards.
Who the partner visa suits
- A business owner who wants to operate through a UAE company.
- A freelancer or consultant with clients around the world who needs a residence visa and a local bank account.
- A family where one spouse sets up the company and then sponsors visas for the others.
A partner visa does not require a degree or proof of salary, unlike the Green or Golden Visa. On the other hand, it is tied to the company: if the licence is not renewed, the visa loses its basis. If independence from a company matters to you, compare it with the Green and Golden Visa.
Read more: UAE Green Visa.
Steps from licence to Emirates ID
| Step | What happens | Indicative timing | ICP fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Licence | Company registration in a free zone or on the mainland | From a few days to 2-3 weeks | Free zone tariffs |
| 2. Establishment Card | The company registers in the immigration system | A few working days | AED 100 application, AED 100 per year, AED 100 smart fee, AED 2,000 subscription |
| 3. Entry or status change | Entry permit if you are abroad, or a status change inside the country | A few working days | Status change AED 500 |
| 4. Medical test | Blood test and chest X-ray for applicants aged 18 and over | 1-5 working days | Medical centre tariff, check locally |
| 5. Biometrics and Emirates ID | Fingerprints, photo, card issuance | 1-3 weeks | AED 100 for each year, AED 100 smart fee |
| 6. Residence permit | Visa decision, details recorded on the Emirates ID | At the same time as step 5 | AED 100 application, AED 100 for each year, AED 100 smart fee |
The amounts come from the ICP service cards (Establishment Card, Issuing Residency Permit, Identity Card). Free zones and emirates add their own charges, so the total on your free zone invoice will be higher.
Step 1. Company licence
No licence means no company, and no company means no sponsor. The zone you pick determines how many visas the package includes and what they cost. In free zones such as IFZA or Meydan, the visa quota depends on the package and whether you have an office. On the mainland, office size sets the quota. We cover free zone registration in detail on the free zone company page.
Step 2. Establishment Card
The Establishment Card (the company's immigration card) shows that the company is registered with ICP or GDRFA and can sponsor visas. It lists the name, licence number, partners and activity.
According to ICP, the first year costs AED 100 for the application, AED 100 per year of validity, AED 100 smart fee and AED 2,000 for the e-system subscription. Renewal: AED 100 application, AED 100 per year, AED 1,000 subscription, AED 100 smart fee. Many free zones include the card in the package; GoFreelance, for example, lists it at AED 2,000.
Step 3. Entry permit or status change
If you are abroad, the company requests an entry permit and you arrive as a future resident. If you are in the UAE on a visit visa, a status change is filed without leaving the country. The ICP fee for a status change is AED 500; GDRFA Dubai lists the same AED 500 plus small charges (Knowledge and Innovation Dirham, AED 10 each).
For the 5-year partner Green Visa, GDRFA requires a share of at least AED 1 million in paid-up capital and gives 60 days to complete the formalities after entry. Free zones issue standard 2-3 year partner visas under their own rules; check the capital threshold for those with your chosen zone.
Step 4. Medical test
According to u.ae, all applicants aged 18 and over take a medical test at an accredited centre. As standard this is a blood test and a chest X-ray. If anything irregular shows up, a repeat test may be ordered, and this is the most common cause of delays at this stage. The cost depends on the emirate and the service speed; as of October 2026, check with the medical centre.
Step 5. Biometrics and Emirates ID
The Emirates ID application is filed together with the visa. You are then invited to give fingerprints and have your photo taken. The ICP fee for a resident is AED 100 for each year of validity plus AED 100 smart fee, and AED 150 for express service. The card is valid for as long as the visa. Read more in Emirates ID: timeline and cost.
Step 6. Residence permit
Once approved, the visa details are recorded on the Emirates ID; a passport sticker is no longer issued. According to u.ae, sponsored visas are issued for 1, 2 or 3 years. In free zones the partner visa is usually issued for 2 years, but the zone sets the exact term. Health insurance is a condition of the visa, so arrange cover before the residence permit is issued.
Total budget
| Component | Indicative amount |
|---|---|
| ICP fees: Establishment Card, first year | AED 2,300 |
| ICP fees: 2-year residence permit | AED 400 (100 + 2 × 100 + 100) |
| ICP fees: 2-year Emirates ID | AED 300 (2 × 100 + 100) |
| Status change, if you are in the UAE | AED 500 |
| Free zone package with visa | Depends on the zone, see prices |
| Medical test and insurance | As of October 2026, check locally |
Beyond the start-up costs, budget for annual ones. Renewing the Establishment Card costs AED 1,300 a year in ICP fees (AED 100 application, AED 100 per year, AED 1,000 subscription, AED 100 smart fee). The free zone licence is renewed every year at the zone's tariff, and the visa and Emirates ID every 2-3 years, depending on the term. If the company misses a licence renewal, the bank and the immigration authority will see it at the next check.
A common budgeting mistake is to count only the free zone package. The medical test, insurance, express service and courier delivery of the Emirates ID add a noticeable amount, especially when visas are arranged for the whole family at once.
We advise on choosing a free zone and prepare the file with you through every step; the application itself is submitted by a licensed agent or by the free zone.
Read more: UAE company setup cost over two years.
What changed in 2026
- ICP fees for the Establishment Card, residence permit and Emirates ID as of October 2026 match those listed above: a base AED 100 for the application and AED 100 per year of validity.
- Since late 2025 the ICP catalogue splits services into separate cards, each with its own fee list. Before paying, check the specific card rather than a general table.
- The GDRFA threshold for the partner Green Visa (a share from AED 1 million) remains, so for most founders of small companies the standard partner visa is still the main option.
FAQ
How many visas can my company issue?
It depends on the free zone package and office. In free zones the quota is set in the package; on the mainland it is calculated from office size. You can usually expand the quota by moving to a larger package.
Can I sponsor my family on a partner visa?
Yes, if you meet the sponsor income threshold: according to u.ae, AED 4,000 a month or AED 3,000 plus housing. A company owner proves income with company documents and bank statements.
What happens to the visa if I do not renew the licence?
The visa loses its basis. The company has to renew its licence and Establishment Card, otherwise fines follow and renewing the visa becomes difficult.
Do I need to live in the UAE to keep the visa?
A standard visa is cancelled after 180 days of continuous absence. Details and exceptions are in the 180-day rule.
Can I get the visa without travelling to the UAE?
No. The medical test and Emirates ID biometrics take place in person in the UAE, so at least one trip is needed.
Sources
- ICP, Issuing an Establishment Card and Renewal of Establishment Card: icp.gov.ae
- ICP, Issuing Residency Permit (fees, AED 500 status change): icp.gov.ae
- ICP, New Identity Card Issuance and Identity Card Renewal: icp.gov.ae
- GDRFA Dubai, Green visa issuance (investor/partner) and Status Amendment: gdrfad.gov.ae
- u.ae, General provisions for the residence visa: u.ae
- GoFreelance, Establishment Card FAQ: gofreelance.ae