What are UAE visa services?
A UAE visa service means one partner runs your whole application instead of you chasing three government bodies. Every UAE residence visa passes through the same chain. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) issues work permits. The GDRFA in Dubai, or the ICP at federal level, issues the entry permit and residence visa. The ICP also issues your Emirates ID.
Miss the order and the file stalls. Riz & Mona Consultancy books the medical, files with the right authority and tracks each step, so you land in the UAE with the correct visa the first time. Since 2022 the residence visa is a digital record linked to your passport, not a sticker, which is one more reason the process runs online and needs someone watching it.
UAE visa types we handle
“Which visa do I need?” has five common answers for UK applicants: a residence visa, a golden visa, a work visa, a freelance or remote-work visa, or a short visit visa. Each suits a different plan and a different budget. Start here, then open the page that matches your situation.
The standard 2-year route via work, property or family sponsorship.
Long-term residency you sponsor yourself, for investors and skilled workers.
Employer-sponsored permit for professionals taking a UAE job.
Work for yourself or a foreign employer while living in Dubai.
Tourism or family visits of 30 to 90 days for UK passport holders.
One call sorts which route fits your plan and your budget.
Visa notice: UAE visa rules are set by the ICP and GDRFA and can change over time. Approval is never certain and depends on your papers, visa type and background checks. This is a general guide, not legal advice. Riz & Mona Consultancy confirms in writing whether you qualify before you apply.
| Best for | Visa route | Typical length | Sponsored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employees taking a UAE job | Work / employment visa | 2 years | Your employer |
| Investors and top talent | Golden visa | 10 years | Self-sponsored |
| Property or business investors | Investor / residence visa | 2 to 10 years | Self-sponsored |
| Freelancers and self-employed | Freelance permit visa | 2 to 3 years | Self-sponsored |
| Remote staff of a UK firm | Remote work visa | 1 year | Self-sponsored |
| Family joining a resident | Family / dependent visa | Matches sponsor | A UAE resident |
| Tourists and short visits | Visit visa | 30 to 90 days | Self or host |
How the UAE visa process works
TYPICAL TIMELINE: 2 TO 4 WEEKS
A residence visa runs through four main steps, and most cases finish in two to four weeks. The exact steps shift a little by visa type, but the spine below is the same for work, investor and family routes.
Step 01 · Entry permit Takes 3 to 5 days
We file your entry permit with the GDRFA or ICP. This lets you enter or stay in the UAE while the residence visa is processed.
Step 02 · Medical test Takes 1 to 2 days
A quick fitness test at an approved centre, including a blood test and chest scan. Results feed straight into your file.
Step 03 · Emirates ID Takes 5 to 7 days
You give fingerprints and a photo for the ICP. The Emirates ID is your main identity card for banking, tenancy and government services.
Step 04 · Residence stamp Takes 3 to 5 days
The GDRFA issues the residence visa as a digital record linked to your passport. Your residency is now live and you can sponsor family.
Avoid the mistakes that stall a UAE visa
Most rejected or delayed files fail for the same handful of reasons. Here is what trips UK applicants up and how we handle each one.
Skilled work permits need your UK degree officially stamped, first in the UK and then by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is the slowest step and people leave it too late.
Our fix: We get your degree stamped first, so it never holds up your MOHRE permit.
The remote work visa does not let you work for UAE clients. Take local work on it and you risk fines and losing the visa.
Our fix: We match the visa to how you really earn, so you stay on the right side of the rules.
The 2-year property investor visa and the 10-year golden visa follow different rules. Headlines about “no minimum property value” apply only to the shorter investor visa.
Our fix: We check which one you actually qualify for before you apply.
Since January 2026 the remote work visa needs six months of statements at the required income. Gaps or uneven deposits get files rejected.
Our fix: We review your statements early and flag any shortfall.
A UK visitor stamp has a firm limit. Overstay and fines run daily, which also complicates a later residence application.
Our fix: We track your dates and move you onto residency in good time.
UAE visa costs: what to expect
A residence visa usually runs from about AED 3,000 to AED 9,000 for a standard 2-year permit. The golden visa costs more because it asks for a large investment. Your figure depends on the visa type, whether you go mainland or free zone, and your job. Here is what a typical price covers.
- Government and authority fees
- Entry permit and residence stamping
- Medical fitness test
- Emirates ID card
- Our processing and PRO handling
- Document stamping, where a role needs it
- Health insurance (priced separately)
- Status change, if you switch in-country
- Family or dependent visas, if added
- Express handling, if you are in a rush
All figures are rough 2026 ranges and shift with government fees, company type and visa type. They are not a quote. Riz & Mona Consultancy gives you a fixed, personal quote once we know your visa type and situation, with the government and service fees listed one by one.
Opening a UAE bank account after your visa
You can open a UAE bank account once your residence visa and Emirates ID are ready. Banks want to see the visa, the Emirates ID and proof of income or business, and they run their own checks on top. Riz & Mona Consultancy points you to banks that fit your case and gets the file ready so it clears first time.
Banks we work with
Banks Active With DAFZA Companies
Typical account timelines
Banking note
The bank decides whether to open your account, not Riz & Mona Consultancy, and each bank takes its own time to run checks. We get you ready and make the introduction, but no agent can promise an account or a set opening date. For full company banking, see our banking page.
Why choose Riz & Mona Consultancy for UAE visas
Riz & Mona Consultancy runs UAE visas for UK clients from one desk, so you deal with a single team from first question to Emirates ID. We handle residence, golden, work, freelance, remote and visit visas, plus the banking and family visas that follow. If a cheaper or simpler route suits you, we say so before you spend.
- UK-based support
- Every visa type
- End-to-end handling
- After-arrival help
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The legal form you choose affects ownership rules, liability, banking, and visa eligibility. These are the structures we most often recommend to international founders.
1. What UAE visa do I need as a UK resident?
It depends on your plan. If you are moving to live in the UAE you need a residence visa; if you have a job offer, a work visa; if you are self-employed, a freelance visa; if you are keeping a UK job, the remote-work visa; if you qualify on investment or salary, the 10-year Golden Visa; and for a short trip, a visit visa. Most UK applicants land on one of these five or six routes, and we match you to the right one on a call.
2. Can I apply for a UAE visa from the UK?
Yes. Most of the process is handled remotely from the UK, and Riz & Mona Consultancy files your entry permit, books your medical and tracks each step for you. You usually only need to be in the UAE for the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics, which together take a day or two.
3. How long does it take to get a UAE residence visa?
About two to four weeks for a standard case. It runs through four main stages: the entry permit (3 to 5 days), the medical test (1 to 2 days), the Emirates ID (5 to 7 days) and the residence stamp (3 to 5 days). Having your documents ready, especially an attested degree for a work visa, is what keeps it on the shorter end.
4. How much does a UAE visa cost?
A standard two-year residence visa usually runs from about AED 3,000 to AED 9,000, depending on the visa type, whether you set up on the mainland or in a free zone, and your role. The Golden Visa costs more because it requires a large qualifying investment. We give you an itemised figure for your exact situation before you commit.
5. What is the difference between the investor visa and the Golden Visa?
The investor visa is a two-year, renewable residence visa based on owning a UAE business or property, while the Golden Visa is a 10-year visa with higher thresholds and more benefits. They are often confused, and the “no minimum property value” headlines apply only to the shorter investor visa, not the Golden Visa, whose AED 2 million property floor still stands.
6. Do I need a job offer to get a UAE visa?
Not always. A work visa needs an employer to sponsor you, but you can also get residency without a job offer, through a freelance visa if you work for yourself, a remote-work visa if you keep a UK job, or an investor or Golden Visa if you set up a company or meet the thresholds. There are several routes that need no UAE employer.
7. Can I work in the UAE on a visit visa?
No. A visit visa is for tourism, meetings and family visits only. Taking paid work on it, including for UAE clients, risks fines and can complicate a later residence application. To work legally you need the right work, freelance or remote-work visa first.
8. Which UAE authorities issue the visa?
Every UAE residence visa passes through the same chain. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) issues work permits, the GDRFA in Dubai or the ICP at federal level issues the entry permit and residence visa, and the ICP issues your Emirates ID. Miss the order and the file stalls, which is why one team tracking the whole chain matters.
9. Do I need to get my UK degree attested for a UAE work visa?
Usually, yes. A skilled work permit needs your UK degree officially stamped, first in the UK and then by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is the slowest step in the process, so we get it attested early, before it can hold up your MOHRE work permit.
Do RAK companies pay tax?
RAKEZ companies fall under UAE corporate tax. Qualifying free zone income can be taxed at 0%, while non-qualifying income, including most mainland services, is taxed at 9% above AED 375,000. Our accounting team confirms where you stand.
10. Can I sponsor my family on a UAE visa?
Yes. Once your own residence visa and Emirates ID are live, you can sponsor your spouse and children, subject to the usual income and housing rules. We arrange the family visas alongside your own so everyone is covered together.
11. Do I still pay UK tax if I get a UAE residence visa?
A UAE visa gives you residency and 0% personal income tax in the UAE, but it does not end your UK tax on its own. Whether you stop being UK tax-resident is decided by the Statutory Residence Test, based on your days and ties, so the exit needs planning to make the saving real.
12. What is the cheapest way to get UAE residency?
For most people the lowest-cost routes are a freelance permit or a company in a low-cost free zone, both of which come with a two-year residence visa from a few thousand dirhams. The right “cheapest” option depends on how you earn and whether you need to serve UAE clients, which we confirm before you apply.
13. Can I open a UAE bank account after getting my visa?
Yes. Once your residence visa and Emirates ID are ready, you can open a bank account. Banks want to see the visa, the Emirates ID and proof of income or business, and they run their own checks. We point you to banks that fit your case and prepare the file so it clears first time. A personal account usually takes one to two weeks, a company account two to four.
14. What documents do I need for a UAE visa?
The core set is a valid passport, passport photos, and, once you are in the process, a medical fitness test and biometrics for your Emirates ID. Route-specific documents follow: an attested degree and contract for a work visa, six months of bank statements for the remote-work visa, or proof of investment for the investor or Golden Visa. We tell you the exact list for your route upfront.
15. Why use a visa consultancy instead of applying myself?
Because the UAE process runs across three government bodies in a set order, and most rejected or delayed files fail on the same handful of avoidable mistakes: an unattested degree, the wrong visa for how you earn, or bank statements that do not prove the income. Riz & Mona Consultancy handles the whole chain from the UK, catches those issues before they cost you, and will tell you if a cheaper route fits, even when it earns us less.
Start your UAE visa with Riz & Mona Consultancy
Speak to an advisor today and get your route mapped, costed and started.
