Residency and visas in the UAE

In the UAE, residency is usually tied to the company: a licensed company can sponsor visas for its owner and staff, subject to the licence type and the office space it holds. Long-term options also exist; the government describes a Golden Visa for investors and entrepreneurs, with different periods and conditions for each category. Conditions and fees change, so confirm the current position with the authority or a licensed adviser.

Many corporate services providers offer visa processing together with licensing, which is why this list is large. Ask exactly what is included: the entry permit, the medical test, the Emirates ID, a change of status from inside the country, or family visas. Ask how many visas the licence allows, what office arrangement it needs, and what the firm does if an application is rejected. Check the languages in the profile, particularly if you will be dealing with the process remotely. The UAE country guide explains how the licence choice affects visas.

265 firms list residency and visa support: 185 corporate services providers and 79 accounting firms and 1 law firms. Startups, small and medium companies and entrepreneurs are named most often, and 100 focus on foreign clients. Firms are grouped by emirate on the pages for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman, or you can use one free quote request instead.

Firms offering residency and visa support in the UAE

Avyanco

Corporate services provider · Medium-sized firm

Dubai

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +7 more

Languages: English

View profile of Avyanco

Incorpyfy

Corporate services provider · Medium-sized firm

Dubai

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +4 more

Languages: English · Arabic · Hindi

View profile of Incorpyfy

Kisser Legal

Law firm · Boutique firm

Ras Al Khaimah

  • Company formation
  • Tax compliance
  • Bank account assistance
  • +2 more

Languages: English · German · Arabic · Ukrainian …

View profile of Kisser Legal

241 more firms offering residency and visa support in the UAE

Frequently asked questions

Does a UAE company give me a residence visa?

A licensed company can usually sponsor visas for its owners and staff, within the limits of its licence and its premises. The details depend on the emirate and on whether you hold a mainland or free zone licence, so ask your provider for a written breakdown.

What is the UAE Golden Visa?

It is a long-term residence visa described on the government portal, with different conditions for investors, entrepreneurs and other categories. Ask an adviser whether you qualify and which documents the application needs, because the criteria are updated from time to time.

Who handles the visa paperwork?

Often the same provider that arranged the licence, since the steps are linked. Ask whether the fee covers every stage, including medical tests and the Emirates ID, and what happens if you need to change visa status later.

Other services in the UAE

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Setting up a company in the UAE: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.