UAE residence visa by buying property in 2024
The United Arab Emirates grants foreigners a residence permit for purchasing real estate in the country’s free zones. However, there are no such concepts as “residence permit” nor “permanent residency” in the UAE legislation. An immigrant receives a residence visa, which grants residency status and the right to live in the country in a certain period. UAE residence visa is essentially the equivalent of a residence permit valid for up to 10 years. The period for which a residence visa is granted depends on the value of the property purchased.
For what period of time is a residence permit issued in the UAE for buying property?
- A residence visa for 3 years is issued for purchasing a flat in Dubai worth more than 750,000 dirhams (about 205,000 US dollars). In this case, the investor can take out a mortgage.
- A residence visa for pensioners for a period of 5 years is granted to investors who are over 55 years of age when they purchase a flat in Dubai worth at least 1 million dirhams (about 275,000 US dollars). The entire amount of 1 million dirhams must be paid from their own funds. Mortgage may only be used for the properties priced over 1 million dirhams — on payments that exceed this amount.
A 10-year Golden Visa UAE will be granted under the new rules starting September 2022 for purchasing real estate worth 2 million dirhams (approx. 545,000 US dollars) or more. The amount of 2 million dirhams is payable without a mortgage.
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NB: An investor can renew his residence visa in the Emirates as long as the property remains in the investors’ ownership. The total period of visa extension is not limited.
When foreigners are granted a UAE residence visa for 3 years, they cannot leave the country for more than 6 consecutive months, otherwise their visa will be revoked. In contrast, there is no minimum residency requirement for the holders of a 10-year Golden Visa.
What properties can be bought for getting a residence visa in the UAE?
- The property must be residential, not commercial or mixed-use;
- The building must be completed and move-in ready;
- The floor space must be sufficient for living in respect to the number of family members;
- It is possible to purchase between 1 and 3 properties that meet all the conditions;
- If the property is jointly owned, each investor's share must be at least 750,000 dirhams.
UAE Family Residence Visa
An investor who obtains residence permit in the Emirates through the real estate purchase may also take his entire family along when moving to the country.
Who can get a residence visa together with the property investor in the UAE?
- Investor’s spouse;
- Investor’s sons under the age of 18 or under the age of 21 if they are studying in the UAE or abroad; the visa is issued for one year and may be renewed during their studies as well as for one year after their graduation;
- Investor’s daughters of any age, unmarried;
- Investor’s dependent parents receive a visa for one year, renewable. This requires payment of a deposit and proof of income of 20,000 dirhams (5,450 US dollars) or more per month.
A male UAE resident can bring his wife and children to the country if he earns at least the minimum wage of 4,000 dirhams (1,090 US dollars) per month.
A female resident may also buy a house in Dubai and sponsor her family. However, in that case, she will have to prove that her monthly salary exceeds 10,000 dirhams (2,720 US dollars) and obtain special permission from the Dubai Department of Naturalisation and Residency (DNRD), to sponsor the family.
If an investor is granted a 10-year Golden Visa, he/she can apply for residence visas for the whole family, without any age restrictions for children. There are no financial requirements for sponsors. In addition, the applicant will be able to bring their home care assistants to the UAE: nannies, housekeepers, butlers.
Points to Consider When Buying Property on Mortgage
It is also possible to obtain a 3-year residence visa in Dubai if one buys a flat on mortgage, but the investor needs to take into account the terms of the programme.
How to get a residence visa in the Emirates if you take out a mortgage?
- The down payment must be at least 50% of the property value or at least 750,000 dirhams.
Example. If a villa costs 3 million dirhams, and the investor has made a down payment to the bank of 750,000 dirhams, the bank may provide a mortgage for the remaining amount, and the buyer will be able to apply for a residence visa.
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UAE Resident Visa Procedure
- Purchasing a property in the UAE worth at least 750,000 dirhams (205,000 US dollars).
- Registering the property with the Land Department in the Emirate where the property was purchased and obtaining a certificate of ownership.
- Obtaining a certificate of good conduct from the UAE Police.
- Medical check-up at a certified medical centre in the UAE including tests on serious infectious diseases such as a blood test for HIV and a chest X-ray for TB.
- Providing your fingerprints, taking a biometric photo and submitting your passport at one of the GDRFA government centres or Amer centres in Dubai.
- Applying for a residence visa online or offline.
- Obtaining a UAE Resident Identification Card and then arranging visas for family members.
Where to Apply for a Residence Visa UAE?
- online or offline — in the General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in the target Emirate;
- in person — in Amer Centres where visas and entry permits are issued;
- online — at the portal of ICA (Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship);
- for retirement visas — online at Visit Dubai.
It is also possible to apply for UAE residence visa via mobile applications:
How Long Does it Take to Get UAE Residence Visa?
Obtaining a residence visa in the Emirates is a quick procedure. You can get a residence visa in the UAE through the purchase of a property in just 2-3 weeks after submitting the documents.
How to Track the Visa Application Status?
In Dubai, you can check if your residence visa is ready on the GDRFA web-site. It is also possible to track the status of the application through the DubaiNow app.
Documents Required for UAE Residence Visa
- Valid passport, a copy of it and copies of visas;
- Certificate of no criminal record from the Dubai Police;
- Certificate of ownership of immovable property;
- Medical certificate with the check-up results;
- Emirates ID card, if you have one;
- Bank statements proving income (for sponsors who are bringing their family to the UAE);
- Legalised marriage and birth certificates (for relocating family)
- Health insurance;
- Photos.
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