Visas and residency — the chain
Why visas matter
To LIVE in the UAE (not just visit), a person needs a residence visa. Without it: no Emirates ID, no bank account, no apartment rental contract, no school for kids. The visa is the entry door to everything.
Types of visas we work with
| Type | For whom | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa | visitors | 30–60 days |
| Employment visa | a person hired by a company | usually 2 years, renewable |
| Partner / investor visa | owner of a company | usually 2 years, renewable |
| Golden Visa | investors (e.g. property from AED 2 million), top specialists | 10 years |
| Green Visa | freelancers / self-employed / investors ~AED 1 million level | 5 years |
| Family (dependent) visa | spouse, children — sponsored by a resident | tied to sponsor |
NOTE. An owner-manager of his own company gets a residence visa through the company without any big capital requirement — this is the normal path for our clients.
The chain — learn it by heart
Almost every client goes through this chain:
- Entry permit — an electronic permission to enter / change status. The process starts with it.
- Status change — if the person is already in the UAE, their status switches to the new permit (no need to fly out).
- Medical test — a simple blood test and X-ray at an approved center.
- Biometrics — fingerprints and photo for Emirates ID.
- Residence approval + Emirates ID — residency is electronic now (no paper sticker in the passport); the plastic Emirates ID card arrives in about a week.
Typical total time: 1–3 weeks if documents are fine. Always tell clients a safe estimate, not the best case.
Renewals — our recurring bread
Most residence visas live ~2 years. Then: renewal (medical + EID again). A company license renews every year. These renewals are exactly the «ongoing care» we sell. Missing a renewal = fines for the client. Our job: never let a client miss a date.
Example
Client Sergey opened a company in Meydan. We apply for his partner visa: entry permit (2–4 days) → status change → medical (1–2 days) → biometrics → EID delivered. In about 2 weeks Sergey is a UAE resident. In 2 years we will remind him about renewal — he will not even need to think about it.
What you must remember
- No residence visa = no ID, no bank, no rent.
- Chain: entry permit → status change → medical → biometrics → EID.
- Golden 10y, Green 5y, standard ~2y; owner-manager visa needs no big capital.
- Renewals are our recurring business. Dates are sacred.