A Partner Visa is issued to foreign nationals who own a company, hold shares in an existing business, or seek to set up a business in the UAE. Valid for two years and renewable, with the right to live, work and sponsor your family.
Visa services
Overview
The Partner Visa in Dubai serves as an excellent gateway for foreign entrepreneurs and investors eager to engage with the city’s dynamic business environment. This visa presents a prime opportunity for individuals to establish or expand their business ventures within the Emirate and beyond.
A Partner Visa is issued to foreign nationals who either own a company, hold shares in an existing business, or seek to set up a business in the United Arab Emirates. It is a residency visa designed to promote international collaboration and attract foreign investment. Visa holders are granted the legal right to live and work in the UAE and can also sponsor visas for their family members. The visa is valid for two years and is renewable.
The Partner Visa offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow their businesses or launch new ventures in Dubai, capitalizing on the city’s favorable economic climate, strategic location, and global connectivity. Dubai presents significant opportunities for growth and profitability for foreign nationals investing in the Emirate.
How it works
Research and Choose: identify and select a Trade License Zone, such as a Free Zone, that aligns with your business goals and requirements. Initial Consultation: schedule a consultation with the Trade License Zone to understand the specific requirements and benefits. Agreement on Partnership: negotiate terms and conditions, including investment amounts, business scope, and operational guidelines.
Draft the Agreement: work with legal professionals to draft a comprehensive partnership agreement that outlines the roles, responsibilities, profit-sharing, and other key terms of the partnership. Review and Finalize: both parties review the agreement to ensure accuracy and completeness before signing.
Choose a Business Name: select and register a company name that complies with Dubai’s naming conventions. Obtain Initial Approval: submit an application for initial approval from the Department of Economic Development (DED) or the relevant Free Zone Authority. Prepare and Submit Documents: provide required documents such as passport copies, business plan, and partnership agreement. Obtain a Trade License: after approval, obtain a trade license from the relevant authority, which allows you to legally operate your business in Dubai.
Visa Application Form: complete the partner visa application form. Passport Copies: provide copies of your passport and any other required identification documents. Photographs: submit passport-sized photographs as per the visa requirements. Proof of Business: include documents related to the company formation, such as the trade license, partnership agreement, and proof of business premises.
Submit Application: submit the completed visa application along with all required documents to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) or the relevant Free Zone authority. Pay Fees: pay the applicable visa processing fees.
Schedule an Appointment: book an appointment with an approved medical center for the mandatory health check-up. Undergo Examination: complete the medical examination, which typically includes tests for communicable diseases and a health check-up. Obtain Medical Report: receive the medical report required for visa processing.
Wait for Approval: await approval of your partner visa application from the GDRFA or Free Zone authority. Visa Stamping: once approved, visit the relevant office to have your visa stamped into your passport. Receive Emirates ID: after visa stamping, apply for and receive your Emirates ID, which serves as proof of residency.
Each step involves interaction with various governmental and legal bodies, so it’s important to stay organized and adhere to all requirements to ensure a smooth process.
Benefits
When applying for a Partner Visa New in Dubai, you’ll need to gather and submit several key documents. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each requirement:
Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months from the date of application. Provide a clear, colored copy of the passport’s biographical page.
Obtain the appropriate visa application form from the Dubai immigration authority or through the relevant online portal. Fill out the form accurately with all required details about yourself and your business partner.
A formal document that outlines the terms and conditions of the partnership. It should include details about the nature of the business, the roles and responsibilities of each partner, and the distribution of profits and losses. Ensure the agreement is signed by all parties involved and notarized if required.
A copy of your company’s trade license issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This document proves that your business is legally registered and operational in Dubai.
Bank statements for the company’s accounts, typically for the past six months, to demonstrate the financial health and activity of the business. Other relevant documents might include audited financial statements, profit and loss statements, and balance sheets.
Copies of the Emirates IDs of all shareholders in the company. This helps verify their identities and their involvement in the business.
Proof of health insurance coverage for the applicant, which is mandatory in Dubai. The insurance should meet the minimum coverage requirements as stipulated by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
You may need to provide additional supporting documents or undergo a medical examination, depending on the specific requirements of the Dubai immigration authorities. Ensure that all documents are translated into Arabic if they are originally in another language, and that translations are certified if necessary.
Government fees
Government charges for a Partner Visa New application, shown at cost. Our service fee is quoted separately, in writing, before you commit.
Total of the five charges above for one applicant. Fees vary by jurisdiction and are reviewed periodically — we confirm the figures applicable on the day of filing.
Fees are set by MOHRE and GDRFA and are reviewed periodically. We send an itemised written breakdown showing government cost at cost and our fee separately, before any payment is made.
Before you apply
A partner visa is assessed against the company as much as the person. These six are confirmed before anything is filed — because a licence or an agreement that does not support the application cannot be corrected mid-file.
A partner visa is issued against your position in the company. The licence and the shareholding must both support the application before anything is filed.
The agreement is read as evidence of your role, your stake and your entitlement. Inconsistencies in it stop the file.
The authorities assess whether the business is genuinely trading. Six months of banking history is the usual evidence.
Some things about the applicant must be right before an entry permit is filed, and a few cannot be corrected once the application is in.
Health insurance is mandatory in Dubai and is a condition of visa approval, not an optional extra to arrange afterwards.
A partner visa runs through company formation before it reaches immigration, so the timeline depends on where you are starting from.
Start the process
Gather these 24 items and we can open the file the same day. Company documents first — they decide whether the application can be filed at all. Tap any line to tick it off as you collect it.
FAQs
A Partner Visa is issued to foreign nationals who either own a company, hold shares in an existing business, or seek to set up a business in the United Arab Emirates. It is a residency visa designed to promote international collaboration and attract foreign investment.
The visa is valid for two years and is renewable. Visa holders are granted the legal right to live and work in the UAE.
Yes. Visa holders can sponsor visas for their family members once their own residency and Emirates ID are in place, subject to the applicable criteria.
The five government charges are entry permit 1,130 AED, change status 680 AED, Medical VIP 750 AED, Emirates ID 385 AED and visa stamping 550 AED — around 3,495 AED. Our service fee is quoted separately.
Bank statements for the company’s accounts, typically for the past six months, to demonstrate the financial health and activity of the business. Other documents might include audited financial statements, profit and loss statements, and balance sheets.
Ensure that all documents are translated into Arabic if they are originally in another language, and that translations are certified if necessary.
Yes. Book an appointment with an approved medical center for the mandatory health check-up. The examination typically includes tests for communicable diseases and a general health check.
A Partner Visa is issued against your shareholding, so the company must exist and the trade licence must name you. Where the business is not yet formed, we handle company formation and the visa as one sequenced project.
Get in touch
Business setup, visas, PRO services or Golden Visa — send us the details and a consultant will come back with a clear plan and a full cost breakdown.
