Life and business in the UAE start with two basics: the right visa and a valid work permit. Rules shift from Dubai to Abu Dhabi to the northern emirates. Paperwork changes with updates, sometimes overnight. This guide keeps it clear and shows the route: what to apply for, which documents to bring, and how long each step takes. No guesswork. Just useful steps and plain talk.
Many founders scan official portals first, then double-check tricky points with legal information and legal guidance from specialists such as Qlegal Consultancy during document review and sponsor setup. Use this as a roadmap: entry permit, medical tests, biometrics, Emirates ID, visa stamping. Clean, doable, step by step. For complex setups, find a lawyer early to avoid rework.
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Visa Options at a Glance
- Employment Visa (MOHRE + residency): Standard route for salaried roles. The sponsor is the UAE employer. Good for stable jobs in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
- Investor/Partner Visa (mainland or free zone): For founders and co-owners. Ties to a trade license and shareholding. Solid for small teams that need a quick setup.
- Golden Visa (10-year): Long stay for investors, entrepreneurs, and specialized talent. Wider benefits for the family.
- Green Residence (5-year self-employed/freelancer): For independent professionals with contracts, income proofs, and qualifications. Flexible if clients change.
- Dubai Remote Work Visa: Live in Dubai while employed abroad. Not a local work permit, but helpful for relocation planning.
- Family Sponsorship: For dependents once status is sorted. Not a work route, yet key for family life and school timelines.
Tip: check official legal information before filing, then seek legal advice when share capital, sponsor duties, or activity codes look fuzzy. Use “find a lawyer” searches only if the case feels unique, not for routine forms.
Core Requirements and Documents
Every route shares a few basics. Valid passport with blank pages. Recent photos. Entry permit to start the file. Medical exam after arrival. Biometrics for Emirates ID. Health insurance in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is often required elsewhere. Keep originals and clear scans handy.
Employment Visa: Your UAE employer sponsors you. Sign an offer, then a MOHRE contract. Some roles need attested degrees. Submit passport, photos, signed contract, and insurance proof. After entry, finish medicals, Emirates ID, and visa stamping. Double-check job title codes and the stated workplace.
Investor/Partner Visa: Founders link status to a trade license. Reserve the name, get initial approval, and issue the license. Provide Memorandum of Association, share certificate, establishment and immigration cards, Ejari or tenancy. Bank IBAN and utility bills help with address checks. If switching from a tourist or another sponsor, file a status change first. For unclear points, use legal guidance before you submit.
Golden Visa: Long stay for investors, entrepreneurs, and certain professionals. Each track has its own proof, such as investment amounts, audited accounts, incubation or approval letters, or salary and degree for talent categories. Benefits cover family, so prepare attested marriage and birth certificates early.
Green Residence: You work independently under a freelancer permit or self-employment license. Show contracts, recent invoices, and income that meets the threshold. Add a degree or professional qualification if needed. If a prior sponsor exists, secure a clean cancellation letter before the new file moves. When terms feel fuzzy, search “lawyer near me” or “attorney near me” for quick legal guidance.
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Process From Entry Permit to Emirates ID
Start with the entry permit. If outside the UAE, use it to enter and trigger the file. If already in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, switch status in-country so the clock keeps running.
Next comes medical fitness at a government clinic. Blood test and chest X-ray. Results arrive fast, then the file moves.
Biometrics follow. Fingerprints, photo, and signature at an ICP center. Save the SMS and email confirmations for tracking. Insurance must be active per emirate rules before residence issuance.
Authorities print your Emirates ID after approval, and your residence links to it. Digital copies appear in the ICP app, useful for bank, utilities, and housing checks. Keep PDFs of everything: permit, medical slip, biometrics receipt, ID application, residence approval.
Fees and Timelines
Fees vary by route, emirate, and extras like VIP medicals. Expect separate charges for the entry permit, medical, biometrics and Emirates ID, and residence issuance. Company setup adds its own items if you take the investor path. Free zones bundle some costs. Mainland often itemizes.
Here’s the usual pace: entry permit in a few days. Do the status change the same day or the next. Medical results land in 24 to 48 hours. Biometrics come soon after. Emirates ID and residence approval take about 5 to 10 working days. Add a little buffer during peak months in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Missing documents or name mismatches cause the longest delays.
Plan cash flow early. Keep fee schedules and receipts for renewals. For unusual cases—dependents, overstays, or complex cancellations—many founders ask for legal advice from specialists for up-to-date legal information before paying anything.
Conclusion
UAE residency and work rights come together piece by piece. Pick the route that fits, then move step by step: entry permit, medicals, biometrics, Emirates ID. Keep copies, track dates, renew on time. When a rule looks murky, rely on solid legal guidance and, if needed, find a lawyer or legal services near me to check the file before submission. Less stress, fewer repeats, faster start in Dubai and across the UAE.