UAE Residency Visa:
Routes to Live and Work in the UAE
There is no single UAE residency visa. You get residence through a sponsor, such as your business, employer or family, or through a self-sponsored route such as the Golden or Green visa. Maven& compares the routes against your plans, income and investment, then manages the application.
- Residence routes compared for your plans
- Application and follow-up handled
- Transparent, itemised pricing
- Get your free setup quote
- UAE residency partner
Residence routes
Company, employer, family, Golden and Green.
Authorities involved
ICP, GDRFA, MOHRE and approved medical centres.
Team from start to launch
One consultant handles your application, approvals, visas and bank account introductions.
- Residence routes
Main ways to get UAE residency
Through your business
Investor or partner visas for shareholders of a licensed company.
Through an employer
Employment visas for hired staff.
Through family
Dependant visas sponsored by a resident.
Self-sponsored
Golden and Green visas with set eligibility rules.
What should you know about UAE residency?
Residence follows a few shared rules, whichever route you choose.
- Sponsor first: most residence visas depend on a sponsor, such as a company, employer or family member.
- Medical test and Emirates ID: every adult resident completes both.
- Validity: residence visas are renewable, and the term depends on the visa type.
- Grace periods: after expiry or cancellation a grace period applies, and daily fines of AED 50 apply after it.
- Rules change: requirements are updated often, so we confirm them before you apply.
- Residence routes
UAE residency routes compared
The best route depends on who can sponsor you and what you plan to do.
| Route | Sponsor | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Investor or partner visa | Your company | Business owners |
| Employment visa | Employer | Employees |
| Family visa | A resident sponsor | Spouse, children and parents |
| Golden Visa | Self-sponsored | Investors, founders and specialists |
| Green Visa | Self-sponsored | Freelancers and skilled workers |
- Residence services
Three residence service types
Residence
Through a company or employer
- Company or employer sponsors you
- Quota and labour approval checked
- Medical test and Emirates ID
- Renewal tracked
Final cost depends on your case, premises and visas, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
Residence
Golden or Green Visa
- Eligibility checked first
- Documents prepared
- Family options reviewed
- Longer grace periods
Final cost depends on your case, premises and visas, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
Renewal
For existing residents
- Renewal before expiry
- Medical test where required
- Emirates ID renewed
- Fines avoided
Final cost depends on your case, premises and visas, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
How much does UAE residency visa cost?
There is no single price, because the total depends on your case, the authority fees and the work involved. Maven& gives you an itemised quote that lists every government and service fee before you commit.
- Government and authority fees
- Medical test and Emirates ID, where required
- Typing and application fees
- Extra approvals, if your case needs them
- Attestation or translation, if needed
- Maven& service fee
- How it works
How to get UAE residency in 5 steps
Confirm your route
We check the visa route, the sponsor and your eligibility.
Open the immigration file
We obtain the approvals and submit the entry permit or status change.
Enter or change status
You enter the UAE, or change status if you are already here.
Medical test and Emirates ID
You complete the medical fitness test and biometrics.
Residence visa issued
The visa is stamped or issued digitally and your Emirates ID arrives.
Documents required for UAE residency visa
Most applications need only a few documents to start. Send us what you have and we will tell you what is missing for your case.
- Passport copy with sufficient validity
- Passport-size photograph on a white background
- Current UAE visa and Emirates ID, if you live in the UAE
- Trade licence and establishment card, for company-sponsored visas
- Medical fitness test result, where required
- Marriage and birth certificates, for family cases, attested where required
- Employment contract or sponsor documents, where required
- Approval documents, where your case is regulated
- Why Maven&
Why choose Maven& for UAE residency visa
One dedicated consultant
One consultant handles your trade licence, visas, Ejari and bank account introductions, so you never repeat yourself to a new team.
Transparent, itemised pricing
Every quote lists government fees, office, visa and service costs line by line, with no hidden extras after you sign.
Right route checked before you pay
Rules and requirements change by visa type and authority. We check your route and eligibility before you pay a fee.
Licence, visas and bank in one process
Company formation, residence visas, corporate tax registration and bank introductions are handled as one coordinated plan.
- FAQs
UAE residency visa: frequently asked questions
Through a sponsor, such as your business, employer or a family member, or through a self-sponsored route such as the Golden or Green visa. We compare the routes for your case.
No route is easiest for everyone. Owners use a company visa, employees an employment visa, and eligible investors or freelancers may use a Golden or Green visa.
Not always. A company owner, a family member or a Golden or Green Visa holder can have residence without an employer.
Some property investors qualify for long-term visas, and the value thresholds change. See the Golden Visa.
It depends on the visa type and the rules in force, and visas are renewable. We confirm the term for your route.
The residence visa is your legal permission to live in the UAE, and the Emirates ID is the identity card issued with it. The ID expires with the visa.
Yes, if the visa is cancelled or expires and you do not renew, change status or leave within the grace period.
The cost depends on your case, the authority fees and the work involved, so there is no single price. Maven& gives you an itemised quote before you commit. Try the cost calculator.
The timeline depends on your case, the authority, your documents and any approvals. We give you a timeline for your case before you start. See the 5-step process.
Yes. We confirm your route and eligibility, prepare the application, manage approvals and follow the process through to your Emirates ID. Final approvals are always the authority\u2019s decision. Contact us for an itemised quote.
Reviewed by the Maven& corporate setup team. Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules and fees change, so we confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before you commit.
Ready to start with UAE residency visa?
Get a clear, itemised quote and a plan built around your case. Talk to a Maven& consultant today.
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