If you own shares in a UAE company, the partner visa Dubai cost is one of the first figures to pin down, because unlike an employment visa, this residence visa is tied to your ownership stake, not a job. The partner (or investor) visa lets business partners and shareholders live in the UAE, sponsor their families, and travel freely, with residency linked to their shareholding rather than an employer. This guide covers who qualifies, the requirements, the indicative costs, and the step-by-step process in 2026.
PRO VISA UAE, operated by NOR ALAYAM Documents Clearing Services LLC, processes partner and investor visas for shareholders across Dubai's mainland and free zones every week, the process below reflects how it actually works in practice.
What Is a Partner / Investor Visa?
The partner visa (also called the investor visa) is a UAE residence visa issued to individuals who hold shares in a licensed UAE company, mainland or free zone. Key features:
- Residency tied to ownership, not employment, no employer sponsor required
- Typically issued for 2 years (renewable as long as the shareholding and licence remain valid)
- Allows you to sponsor your spouse, children, and parents for family residence visas, subject to the usual salary/accommodation criteria
- Allows multiple entries and the standard residency benefits (Emirates ID, ability to open bank accounts, driving licence eligibility)
It is distinct from the Golden Visa's investor categories (which offer 10-year residency at higher investment thresholds) and from the property investor visa (tied to real estate, not company shares). For many SME owners, the 2-year partner visa is the practical, affordable route to residency.
Who Qualifies?
You generally qualify if you:
- Hold shares in a UAE-licensed company, mainland (Department of Economy and Tourism licence) or free zone. Your name must appear on the trade licence or in the company's memorandum of association / share certificate.
- Hold a minimum share value, requirements vary by emirate and licence type; some free zones set minimum share capital thresholds for partner visa eligibility. Confirm with the issuing authority for your specific licence.
- Are 18 or older and pass the standard medical fitness test and security checks.
- Hold a valid trade licence, the company must be licensed and in good standing; an expired licence blocks the visa.
Common scenarios: two founders splitting a mainland LLC, a free zone company shareholder, or an investor who bought into an existing business. If you are still at the company-formation stage, our new business setup page covers getting the licence that the visa depends on.
Partner Visa Dubai Cost: Indicative Breakdown
Costs vary between mainland (GDRFA Dubai) and free zones, and between applicants inside vs. outside the UAE. The following is indicative as of 2026, confirm current fees with GDRFA/ICP or your free zone authority before applying:
- Entry permit: approximately AED 1,000–1,500
- Status change (if applying inside the UAE): approximately AED 500–750
- Medical fitness test: approximately AED 300–700 depending on service tier
- Emirates ID: approximately AED 100–400 per year of validity
- Visa issuance/stamping: approximately AED 500–1,000
- Establishment card (if not already held): approximately AED 2,000 (mainland companies)
A realistic all-in budget for a partner visa application is roughly AED 4,000–7,000 excluding typing-centre service charges and any PRO service fees, but treat this as a planning figure only. Free zone partner visas are often processed as packages by the free zone itself, with bundled pricing that differs from the mainland itemised route.
Additional costs to budget: health insurance (mandatory in Dubai), document attestation if your supporting documents are foreign-issued, and Arabic legal translation where required.
Requirements and Documents
The standard document set for a partner visa application:
- Passport, valid for at least 6 months, with a clear copy of the photo page
- Passport-size photograph: UAE visa photo specifications (white background)
- Trade licence copy, valid and showing the applicant as partner/shareholder
- Memorandum of Association (MOA) or share certificate evidencing ownership
- Establishment card copy (mainland) or free zone equivalent
- Entry permit (for out-of-country applicants) or current visa copy (for in-country status change)
- Tenancy contract (Ejari), required at the family-sponsorship stage and sometimes for the visa itself
- Bank statements, some authorities request recent statements as financial evidence
Foreign-issued documents (such as a marriage certificate for subsequent family sponsorship) must go through the full attestation chain, see our guide to degree and certificate attestation for UAE visas. Our dedicated partner visa service page lists the current document checklist for Dubai applications.
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Confirm eligibility and documents. Verify your shareholding is recorded on the licence/MOA and assemble the document set. A pre-check here prevents the most common rejection: a licence that does not yet reflect the partner's name.
Step 2: Apply for the entry permit. Filed through GDRFA (mainland) or the free zone portal. Approval typically takes a few working days.
Step 3: Enter the UAE or change status. Out-of-country applicants enter on the entry permit; in-country applicants complete a status change without exiting.
Step 4: Medical fitness test. Blood test and chest X-ray at an approved medical fitness centre. Results are usually available within 24–48 hours (faster tiers available).
Step 5: Emirates ID biometrics. Fingerprints and photo at an ICP service centre.
Step 6: Visa issuance. The residence visa is issued and linked to your passport and Emirates ID.
Step 7: Health insurance and Emirates ID delivery. Arrange mandatory insurance; the Emirates ID is delivered to your address.
Realistic timeline: 2–4 weeks for a clean mainland application; free zone timelines vary by authority. Our guide on avoiding UAE visa delays explains how document errors stretch this to months.
Partner Visa vs. Other Investor Routes
It helps to place the partner visa among the alternatives:
- Partner/investor visa (2 years): for company shareholders; the most accessible business-ownership route.
- Property investor visa (2 years): for real estate owners, see our guide to the Dubai property investor visa's new 2026 rules, including the removal of the minimum property value for sole owners.
- Golden Visa (10 years): for larger investors (e.g., AED 2 million+ in public investments or property), see our Golden Visa guide.
- Retirement visa (5 years): for those 55+ meeting property or income criteria, see our UAE retirement visa requirements guide.
Choosing wrong wastes application fees, so match the route to your actual situation before filing.
Renewal and Common Pitfalls
The partner visa renews every 2 years alongside your trade licence renewal, and this linkage is the number one pitfall: if the trade licence lapses, the visa cannot renew. Keep licence and visa calendars aligned.
Other pitfalls:
- Shareholding changes not updated on the licence before applying, the names must match.
- Applying while the company has fines, outstanding licence fines can block immigration transactions.
- Letting the entry permit expire before completing the medical, entry permits have limited validity; schedule the medical promptly.
- Missing the visa renewal window, overstay fines accrue daily.
Our PRO services include renewal calendar management so licence, establishment card, and visa never fall out of sync.
Official sources: UAE Government Portal · GDRFA Dubai
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a partner visa cost in Dubai in 2026? A realistic all-in budget is roughly AED 4,000–7,000 for a standard mainland application (entry permit, status change if applicable, medical, Emirates ID, visa issuance), excluding insurance, attestation, and service charges. Free zone packages are priced differently. All figures are indicative as of 2026, confirm current fees with GDRFA/ICP or your free zone authority before applying.
What is the difference between a partner visa and an investor visa? The terms are used interchangeably in Dubai for the residence visa issued to company shareholders/partners. Both refer to residency based on business ownership rather than employment.
Can a partner visa holder sponsor family? Yes, spouse, children, and parents can be sponsored for family residence visas, subject to the standard minimum salary and accommodation (Ejari) requirements. See our family visa page for the current criteria.
How long is the partner visa valid? Typically 2 years, renewable as long as the shareholding and trade licence remain valid. Longer-term options include the 10-year Golden Visa for qualifying larger investors.
Do I need to be in the UAE to apply? No, you can apply from outside the UAE on an entry permit and complete the medical and biometrics after arrival. In-country applicants use a status-change process instead.
What happens to my visa if I sell my shares? Your residency is tied to the shareholding. If you exit the company, the partner visa is typically cancelled, and you would need an alternative visa (employment, freelance, family, or another investor route) to remain resident.
Need a partner visa handled end-to-end? PRO VISA UAE manages the full process, document pre-check, entry permit, medical booking, Emirates ID, and issuance, for mainland and free zone shareholders. Call +971 52 505 3494 or WhatsApp https://wa.me/971525053494 for a free eligibility assessment.