Obtainment of the UAE 3-Year Investor Visa

• Amount of investment in real estate – from AED 1 million (appr. USD 272 200).
• For the purpose of visa application, it is important what purchase value of the property is indicated in the title deed; upward or downward fluctuations of the property’s market value are irrelevant for the issue of a residence visa.
• Investments in several properties (no more than three) are allowed, in this case their total value is taken into account.
• In the case of joint ownership where the owners are not spouses, the value of the applicant’s share is taken into account.
• In the case of joint ownership by spouses, the total value of the property is taken into account. One of the spouses will be the main applicant, i.e. the investor, and the other can apply as family member. If each spouse’s share is over AED 1 million, then both can apply for an investor visa.
• the real estate must be ready-to-move-in;
• the property must be fully owned by the investor;
• both residential and commercial property is permitted;
• in the case of buying mortgaged property, at least 50% of the mortgage must be paid by the investor by the time of submitting a visa application;
• the property can be rented out
• The investor must have a monthly foreign-source income of at least AED 10 000 (appr. USD 2 725).
• Investors over 60 years of age need additional permission to obtain a residence visa.

1. On receipt of a residence visa, the investor can apply for residence visas for his family members.
2. Upon expiry, a residence visa can be renewed for another 3-year period without limitation on the number of renewals, provided the investor continues to own the qualifying property.
3. It is necessary to retain the investment during the entire validity period of the visa. In case of sale of real estate, a residence visa is subject to cancellation.
4. This category of visa gives no right of work in the UAE. Investor’s family members can work, provided the employer sponsors their work visa (thus the status of a residence visa will change).
5. To maintain a residence visa, one needs to enter the country at least once every 180 days. This requirement applies to all visa holders, both the investor and the family members holding visas.

Approval from several departments is required:

• apply to the Land Department and receive a request to the Police Department to issue a certificate of no criminal record;
• obtain from the Police Department a certificate of no criminal record;
• submit the documents to the Land Department and await their decision on the application;
• after receiving a positive decision on the application, apply to the Land Department for an investor licence;
• apply for the visa to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.

On receipt of a residence visa, the investor can apply for residence visas for his family members.

• title deed;
• passport, current visa;
• 2 photos (‘passport’ size, against white background);
• certificate of no criminal record issued in the UAE;
• bank statements confirming the income (on demand);
• health insurance;
• marriage certificate if the property is jointly owned by spouses