Yes. You may qualify for a 10-year UAE Golden Visa if you meet the company investor or entrepreneur criteria. The investor route can use AED 2 million in qualifying capital or share value. An alternative uses AED 250,000 in annual federal tax attributable to you. A trade license alone gives you a business registration. Golden Visa eligibility is assessed separately.
This guide explains each route, the documents authorities ask for, and the mistakes that slow approvals down.
Key Takeaways
- The company investor route falls under public investment and offers a renewable 10-year Golden Visa.
- Show AED 2 million in qualifying capital or share value, or AED 250,000 in annual federal tax attributable to you.
- The capital must be your own money. Loan-funded capital does not count.
- Eligible founders can apply for a separate 10-year entrepreneur Golden Visa.
- Eligible small business owners can also look at standard investor or partner residency.
- The Golden Visa needs no sponsor and stays valid during long stays abroad.
At a Glance
| Criteria | Company investor route | Entrepreneur route |
|---|---|---|
| Visa length | 10 years | 10 years |
| Eligibility | AED 2 million in qualifying capital or share value, or AED 250,000 in annual federal tax attributable to you | Eligible innovative business, approved venture or qualifying project sale |
| Main evidence | Trade license, MOA, and applicable bank, audit or tax records | Evidence of business or project eligibility and any required nomination |
| Application authority | ICP or GDRFA in Dubai | ICP or GDRFA in Dubai, with relevant nomination or approval |
| Best for | Owners and partners with documented investment or tax payments | Founders of eligible innovative ventures |
| What to check | Whether your own share or attributable tax meets the threshold | Whether the venture and nomination meet your emirate’s criteria |
Golden Visa for Company Owners in the UAE
The public investment category gives company owners and partners three ways to demonstrate eligibility. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) administers applications federally. Dubai applications go through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
1. Company capital of AED 2 million or more
If you own the company, you may qualify with at least AED 2 million in eligible capital. ICP may ask for your trade license and memorandum of association (MOA) to document it.
Mainland and free zone owners can apply. For example, RAKEZ asks for AED 2 million in share capital per investor.
Expect to prove the money is real. Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development asks for a bank or fund letter confirming the deposit. RAKEZ asks for six months of personal and company bank statements.
2. A partner share worth AED 2 million
If you co-own the company, the authority looks at the value of your own qualifying stake. Dubai asks for a certified financial report from an accredited UAE audit firm.
For example, a 40% share of AED 5 million is AED 2 million. A 20% share of the same amount is AED 1 million. The authority reviews the documents used to substantiate the share value.
3. AED 250,000 in annual federal tax attributable to you
The tax route looks at the annual federal tax attributable to you. A letter from the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) can confirm qualifying payments. Ask your emirate about the periods and records it requires.
For example, if you own 25% of a company that pays AED 1 million in qualifying tax, your share would be AED 250,000.
This route may suit established trading and service firms with a record of federal tax payments.
Can a Startup Founder Get a Golden Visa?
Yes. Current ICP and Dubai guidance list a 10-year Golden Visa for eligible entrepreneurs. In Dubai, founders seeking this visa need a nomination from the Dubai Future Foundation and approval from GDRFA.
The criteria depend on the project and the authority handling your application. Examples in current guidance include an eligible UAE business with at least AED 1 million in annual revenue, an approved innovative venture, or previously sold projects worth at least AED 7 million in total. Check the criteria for your emirate before paying for a valuation or preparing a nomination file.
Golden Visa vs Standard Investor Visa
A standard investor or partner residence permit is often the first option for a new business owner. The Golden Visa has separate criteria and provides longer residency. The benefits of a UAE Golden Visa also include family sponsorship and more flexibility to spend time abroad.
| Feature | Standard investor or partner residency | Golden Visa through public investment |
|---|---|---|
| Validity | Often two years, depending on the permit | 10 years, renewable if eligible |
| Eligibility | Depends on the relevant permit, business and emirate | Qualifying capital, share value or attributable federal tax |
| Sponsorship | Depends on the permit | Self-sponsored |
| Time abroad | Standard absence rules apply, subject to exceptions | Extended stays abroad permitted |
| Best for | Eligible new and small business owners | Established owners and partners who meet the investment or tax criteria |
Some owners start with standard investor residency and apply for a Golden Visa as the business grows. If you’re setting up a company, our guide to getting UAE residency through a business in Dubai walks you through the setup and residence permit steps. Eligible investors or partners can also explore the five-year Green Residence option.
How to Apply for a Golden Visa Through Your Company
The process runs online through ICP or, in Dubai, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). Here are the six steps.
- Check your eligibility. Review the current requirements with ICP or GDRFA before spending on documents.
- Pick your route. Choose the capital, partner share, tax or entrepreneur category that matches your circumstances.
- Prepare your documents. Gather your passport, trade license, MOA and relevant bank, audit or tax records. Free zone investors in Dubai may also need a free zone certificate. Entrepreneurs should prepare the relevant nomination documents.
- Submit your application. Use the relevant ICP or GDRFA service and complete any nomination steps first.
- Complete medical and biometrics. Take the medical test and give Emirates ID biometrics once approved.
- Receive your visa. Once it is issued, you can apply to sponsor eligible family members.
Common Mistakes That Delay Approval
Many owners meet the threshold but stall on paperwork. Watch for these errors:
- Mixing up the visas. The 2-year investor visa and the Golden Visa have very different thresholds.
- Using borrowed money. For the public investment category, ICP requires you to own the qualifying capital outright.
- Capital on paper only. An MOA figure alone may not be enough. Keep bank evidence ready.
- Splitting capital too thin. Three equal partners in a company with AED 3 million in qualifying capital each hold AED 1 million. Each would need to qualify through another route.
- Reducing your stake. Check how a sale or restructuring could affect your eligibility before changing ownership.
Expert tips
- Raising capital? Update your MOA and trade license, where required, before you apply.
- Running a profitable firm? Compare the tax and capital routes based on the evidence you already have.
- Keep FTA filings current. The tax letter depends on returns that are filed and paid.
Conclusion
A UAE company can support a Golden Visa application through qualifying capital, share value or tax paid. Innovative founders may also be eligible under the entrepreneur category. Start by identifying the route your records can support.
Planning Your Golden Visa Through a Company?
The right route depends on how your company is set up today. Momentum helps founders set up mainland and free zone companies and plan residency from day one. If you are weighing a capital increase or a new setup, talk to Momentum to check which route fits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a free zone company owner get a Golden Visa?
Yes. Free zone owners can apply if their own qualifying share meets the criteria. Dubai may ask for a free zone certificate and a certified financial report. RAKEZ also has an application service for its license holders.
Can I get a Golden Visa with a new company?
You may be able to apply through a newly formed company if your qualifying capital and documents meet the requirements. Expect to show that you own the capital outright and can document the investment.
Does my company need to be profitable?
The capital and share routes focus on the qualifying investment and the evidence of ownership and value. The tax route depends on documented annual federal tax attributable to you.
Can I sponsor my family on a company Golden Visa?
Yes. Golden Visa holders can apply to sponsor a spouse and children, subject to the applicable family residency requirements.
What happens if I sell my shares?
If you qualified through your shareholding, selling part or all of your stake can affect your eligibility. Check the effect on your residency and renewal before transferring shares.
How long does approval take?
Timing depends on the emirate, your route and whether the authority needs additional evidence. Plan separately for any nomination, document checks, medical fitness screening and Emirates ID steps.
