Own part of a UAE company? The green visa lets qualifying investors and partners live in the UAE for up to five years without an employer or sponsor. PROXPAT checks eligibility and handles every stage to your Emirates ID.
Page last updated: . Requirements, government fees and processing times are set by the relevant UAE authority and can change.
Investor and Partner Visa in the UAE
For company owners, one of the cleanest UAE residence routes is the green visa for investors and partners. The green visa guide covers all three ICP categories, including the skilled worker and freelance routes. GDRFA Dubai describes the green residence permit as allowing an investor or partner in a commercial project to live in the UAE for up to five years without needing a guarantor or employer, renewable on the same terms as when it was first issued.
One condition decides eligibility more than any other: the size of your stake. According to GDRFA Dubai, the investor's or partner's share, at incorporation or contribution, cannot be less than AED 1 million paid or its equivalent in other currencies, and the company must be set up in one of five legal forms.
PROXPAT checks your licence and memorandum against those conditions before anything is filed, prepares the partnership documents, and manages the sequence from entry visa to Emirates ID through our visa and residency services. If your stake falls below the threshold, we map the alternative route with you.
The Eligibility Test
| Condition | Requirement published by GDRFA Dubai |
|---|---|
| Value of your share | Not less than AED 1 million paid, or its equivalent in other currencies, upon incorporation or contribution |
| Company legal form | Public joint stock company, private joint stock company, limited liability company, limited partnership (listed by GDRFA as a "simple recommendation company") or general partnership (listed as a "solidarity company") |
| Activity | Approval of the competent authorities and the applicant's authorisation to practise the activity |
| Continuity | The green residency must be maintained and renewed to continue meeting the terms |
If you are not sure which legal form your company has, see types of companies in the UAE. A sole establishment is not on the list.
Two Stages: Entry Visa, Then Residence Permit
| Stage | What it does | Validity | Expected completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green visa issuance (investor/partner) | A business entry visa for the partner or investor category while residency is processed | 60 days from entry | 48 hours |
| Green residence permit (partner investor) | Residence without a guarantor or employer | Up to 5 years, renewable | 48 hours |
Between the two, the usual residency steps apply: a medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics. Both GDRFA services can be applied for through its digital channels, Amer service centres and Customer Happiness Centres.
Documents Required
GDRFA Dubai lists the same four core documents for the entry visa and the residence permit:
Personal photograph
Passport copy valid for at least 6 months
Partnership contract, memorandum of association or investment contract
Trade licence
What PROXPAT checks before filing
- The memorandum shows your share and that the qualifying amount is paid, not just subscribed.
- Your name appears on the trade licence as a partner.
- The company's establishment card is valid and reflects the current partners.
- The company's legal form is one of the five accepted forms.
- Any activity requiring a separate authority approval already has it.
Government Fees Published by GDRFA Dubai
Green visa (entry visa) for investor or partner
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | AED 200, plus 5% VAT |
| Knowledge Dirham (if inside the UAE) | AED 10 |
| Innovation Dirham (if inside the UAE) | AED 10 |
| Fee for applying inside the country | AED 500 |
Green residence permit (partner investor)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Residence permit fee | AED 200 |
| Knowledge Dirham | AED 10 |
| Innovation Dirham | AED 10 |
| Fee inside the country | AED 500 |
| Delivery | AED 20 |
| Longer residency | The issuance fee increases by AED 100 annually for each year beyond two years |
Please note: these are GDRFA Dubai's published figures and GDRFA notes the total may vary with the applicant's circumstances. Medical test, Emirates ID, health insurance, typing and PROXPAT service fees are separate. Other emirates process through ICP.
Green Visa or Golden Visa?
| Green visa (investor or partner) | Golden Visa (investor) | |
|---|---|---|
| Residence period | Up to 5 years, renewable | 10 years, extendable if conditions are still met |
| Sponsor or employer | Not required | Not required |
| Investment test | Share of at least AED 1 million paid in an eligible company | Higher and category-specific investment criteria |
| Suits | Owners of operating companies meeting the share threshold | Larger investors, property owners and other eligible categories |
See Golden Visa services for the long-term categories and their requirements.
If Your Share Is Below AED 1 Million
Many founders own less than AED 1 million of paid share value, especially in newly formed companies. The green investor route is then not available, but other routes usually are. Which one fits depends on your structure:
- Company sponsorship as an employee. Your own company obtains a work permit and an employment visa for you.
- Restructuring the capital. Where the business genuinely has the capital, the memorandum can be amended so the paid share reflects it. This is a legal and accounting decision, not a paperwork shortcut.
- Family sponsorship. If a spouse or parent already holds UAE residence.
- Golden Visa categories. If you qualify under another long-term category.
Keeping the Visa Valid
- Renew on time, under the same terms as the original issuance.
- Know the grace period. GDRFA Dubai states a grace period of 180 days to remain in the country after the residence permit expires or is cancelled.
- Keep the company in good standing. An expired trade licence or establishment card blocks renewal.
- Update data when things change, for example a new passport or a change in your partnership.
- Cancel properly if you exit the company. See visa cancellation.
Step-by-Step: Investor or Partner Green Visa
Step 1: Confirm share value, paid status and legal form
Step 2: Amend the licence or memorandum if needed
Step 3: Check the establishment card
Step 4: Apply for the green entry visa or in-country change
Step 5: Complete the medical fitness test
Step 6: Complete Emirates ID biometrics
Step 7: Receive the green residence permit
Step 8: Sponsor family members if required
How PROXPAT Helps
Eligibility review against GDRFA conditions
Memorandum and licence alignment
Establishment card check or renewal
Entry visa or status change application
Medical and Emirates ID booking
Residence permit issuance and renewal
Family sponsorship after approval
Alternative route planning if below threshold
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan residency for you and your family.
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Get Your Investor or Partner Visa
PROXPAT checks your share and company form against GDRFA conditions, fixes gaps in the licence or memorandum, and handles the entry visa, medical, Emirates ID and residence permit.