Golden Visa vs Investor Visa: Which UAE Residency Fits You?

<h2>The two paths to investor residency</h2><p>The UAE offers two main residencies for business owners and investors: the <strong>10-year Golden Visa</strong> and the standard <strong>2-year investor/partner visa</strong> attached to a company licence.</p><h2>Golden Visa (10 years)</h2><ul><li>AED 2M+ in property, public investment, or company capital — or entrepreneur/talent categories</li><li>No sponsor or company required; not tied to a licence</li><li>Sponsor spouse, children (no age limit in most cases) and domestic staff</li><li>Stays valid even if you spend long periods outside the UAE</li></ul><p>Full eligibility list on our <a href="/en/visa-services/golden-visa">golden visa page</a>.</p><h2>Investor / Partner Visa (2 years)</h2><ul><li>Attached to your <a href="/en/business-setup/mainland">mainland</a> or <a href="/en/business-setup/free-zone">free zone company</a> — from as little as AED 15,000–25,000 total setup</li><li>Renewable every 2 years with the licence</li><li>Family sponsorship subject to salary/income criteria</li><li>Requires the company to stay active and licensed</li></ul><h2>Which should you choose?</h2><p><strong>Choose the golden visa</strong> if you meet an eligibility category and want long-term stability independent of a company. <strong>Choose the investor visa</strong> if you are starting a business anyway — the visa comes with the licence at no big extra cost, and you can upgrade to golden later.</p><h2>Free assessment</h2><p>Send your profile on WhatsApp (+971 58 626 3634) and we will tell you honestly which route is cheaper and faster for your case.</p>