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

The two paths to investor residency

The UAE offers two main residencies for business owners and investors: the 10-year Golden Visa and the standard 2-year investor/partner visa attached to a company licence.

Golden Visa (10 years)

• AED 2M+ in property, public investment, or company capital — or entrepreneur/talent categories
• No sponsor or company required; not tied to a licence
• Sponsor spouse, children (no age limit in most cases) and domestic staff
• Stays valid even if you spend long periods outside the UAE

Full eligibility list on our golden visa page.

Investor / Partner Visa (2 years)

• Attached to your mainland or free zone company — from as little as AED 15,000–25,000 total setup
• Renewable every 2 years with the licence
• Family sponsorship subject to salary/income criteria
• Requires the company to stay active and licensed

Which should you choose?

Choose the golden visa if you meet an eligibility category and want long-term stability independent of a company. Choose the investor visa 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.

Free assessment

Send your profile on WhatsApp (+971 58 626 3634) and we will tell you honestly which route is cheaper and faster for your case.