Quick answer: Getting your own 2-year residence visa in the UAE means sponsoring yourself through a company you own (an investor or partner visa), not through an employer. The cheapest legal route is a Northern Emirates free zone company with one investor visa, which costs roughly AED 10,500–12,500 all-in — licence, establishment card, entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and basic insurance included. In a Dubai free zone the same all-in package runs about AED 16,000–20,000.
Key takeaways
- Your "own visa" is a self-sponsored investor/partner visa — you must own a company to get one.
- Cheapest legal route: a Northern Emirates free zone (Ajman, SPC, SHAMS) at AED 10,500–12,500 all-in for licence + one 2-year visa.
- A Dubai free zone gives the same 2-year visa but costs roughly AED 16,000–20,000 for the address.
- The Emirates ID for a 2-year visa is a fixed government fee of AED 286 — there is no 1-year card.
- Government and authority fees are set by the authority and can change without notice.
What does "your own visa" mean in the UAE?
Your own visa means a self-sponsored UAE residence visa — one you hold through a company you own rather than one an employer issues to you. In the UAE you cannot simply buy a 2-year residence visa as an individual; residence is always tied to a sponsor. When you own a mainland or free zone company, that company becomes your sponsor, and the visa issued to you as the owner is called an investor visa (or partner visa if there are multiple shareholders).
That is why the honest answer to "how much own visa in UAE for 2 years" is not a single visa fee — it is the cost of the smallest company that can legally sponsor you, plus the visa itself. The two are quoted together as an all-in package, and that package is the number you should compare between providers.
How much does your own visa in UAE for 2 years cost?
Your own 2-year visa costs roughly AED 10,500–20,000 all-in, depending on whether you set up in a Northern Emirates free zone or a Dubai one. The table below shows the all-in package price — licence plus one investor visa, with establishment card, medical, Emirates ID and basic insurance included.
| Free zone | All-in: licence + 1 investor visa (AED) | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Ajman (ANC) | 10,500 – 12,500 | Ajman |
| SPC Free Zone | 11,000 – 13,000 | Sharjah |
| SHAMS | 11,500 – 13,500 | Sharjah |
| RAKEZ | 12,000 – 14,500 | Ras Al Khaimah |
| IFZA (Dubai) | 16,000 – 18,500 | Dubai |
| Meydan (Dubai) | 17,000 – 20,000 | Dubai |
The visa itself is the same 2-year residence permit in every one of these zones. What changes is the address on your licence. A Sharjah or Ajman zone gives you a fully valid UAE residence visa and Emirates ID at roughly half the cost of a Dubai zone — you simply have an Ajman or Sharjah trade licence instead of a Dubai one.
All authority fees above are set by the free zone and immigration authorities and can change without notice. DBM quotes the government cost and its own professional service fee separately, so you always see what goes to the authority and what goes to us.
What is inside that all-in price?
The all-in figure covers every government step needed to turn "I own a company" into "I have a residence visa and Emirates ID in hand." Here is what those AED are actually paying for on a 2-year package:
| Component | Typical cost (AED) | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Free zone trade licence | 5,500 – 8,500 | The company that sponsors you (Northern Emirates) |
| Establishment / immigration card | 1,200 – 2,000 | Required before any visa can be issued |
| Entry permit + status change | 1,500 – 2,500 | Converts you to residence status |
| Medical test | 350 – 750 | Mandatory fitness test |
| Emirates ID (2-year visa) | 286 | Fixed government fee |
| Medical insurance (basic, 2-year) | 1,600 – 3,000 | Mandatory health cover |
Two things surprise most first-timers. First, the Emirates ID for a 2-year visa is exactly AED 286 — a fixed government fee, not an estimate, and there is no 1-year Emirates ID card, so two years is the shortest term available. A typing centre may add a small handling charge on top; that is a service fee, not part of the government fee. Second, medical insurance for a 2-year visa costs more than for a 1-year one (AED 1,600–3,000 versus AED 800–1,500), because you are pre-paying two years of cover.
The cheapest legal route to your own 2-year visa
The cheapest legal route is a Northern Emirates free zone company with one investor visa, starting around AED 10,500 all-in. This is a real, valid UAE residence visa — the confusion in the market comes from providers advertising a licence-only price and quietly leaving the visa out.
A Northern Emirates free zone licence on its own starts at roughly AED 5,500–7,000, and an online-only Ajman e-commerce licence can go as low as AED 4,880 — but neither of those figures includes a visa. The moment you add your own 2-year residence visa, you are into the AED 10,500–12,500 band. Any advertised "from AED 5,500" that promises a visa is comparing a licence-only price against a visa package, which is not the same thing.
If you specifically want a Dubai address on your licence, the same 2-year visa comes through a Dubai zone such as IFZA or Meydan at roughly AED 16,000–20,000. You are paying for the Dubai branding, not a better visa. For a full comparison of the cheapest zones, see our guide on the cheapest free zone licence in the UAE.
How to get your own 2-year UAE visa: step by step
Here is the actual sequence from decision to Emirates ID. With documents ready, the whole process typically takes 7–15 working days.
- Choose your free zone and activity. This sets your licence cost and your address. For the lowest all-in price, pick a Northern Emirates zone like Ajman (ANC) or SPC in Sharjah.
- Reserve the trade name and register the company. The free zone issues your trade licence and shareholder documents.
- Apply for the establishment (immigration) card. No residence visa can be issued until this card exists — it registers your company with immigration.
- Apply for the entry permit. This authorises your change to residence status. If you are outside the UAE, you enter on it; if you are already inside, you do an in-country status change.
- Complete the medical test and biometrics. A standard fitness test plus fingerprints for the Emirates ID.
- Visa stamping and Emirates ID issuance. Your 2-year residence visa is stamped and your Emirates ID (AED 286) is printed and delivered.
You can handle the government portals yourself, but the establishment-card and status-change steps are where most self-filers lose days. This is exactly what our visa services and free zone company formation teams manage end to end.
Documents checklist for a 2-year investor visa
Have these ready before you start — missing paperwork is the single biggest cause of delay:
- Passport copy valid for at least 6 months (colour scan)
- Passport-size photo on a white background
- Current UAE visa or entry stamp (if you are already in the country)
- Proof of address in your home country (for some zones)
- Company trade licence and shareholder certificate (issued during setup)
- Establishment card (issued during setup)
- Signed application and authorisation forms
Investor visa vs freelance visa vs mainland — which fits?
Your own 2-year visa can come through several routes, and the cheapest depends on what you actually do. An investor visa via a free zone company is best if you run a business, want to hire, or need to open a corporate bank account. A freelance permit is cheaper if you are a solo professional — see our breakdown of the 2-year freelance visa price. A Dubai mainland setup costs more (AED 15,000–25,000+ with office and one visa) but gives you a DET licence and the ability to trade directly in the local market.
If you plan to bank locally, note that the free zone route is usually smoother for account opening — our business bank account service handles that alongside the setup. Not sure which route is cheapest for your situation? Run the numbers on our cost calculator or read mainland vs free zone.
FAQ
How much does it cost to get your own visa in the UAE for 2 years?
Getting your own 2-year UAE visa costs roughly AED 10,500–12,500 all-in through a Northern Emirates free zone, or AED 16,000–20,000 through a Dubai free zone. This covers the company licence that sponsors you plus the investor visa itself — establishment card, entry permit, medical, Emirates ID (AED 286) and basic insurance included.
Can I get a UAE residence visa without a company?
Not directly as a self-sponsored applicant — a standard UAE residence visa always needs a sponsor. To sponsor yourself you must own a company (giving you an investor visa), be employed by one, be sponsored by a family member, or qualify for a Golden Visa. For most entrepreneurs, a small free zone company is the cheapest legal path.
Is the Emirates ID fee different for a 2-year visa?
Yes. The Emirates ID fee scales with visa length: AED 286 for a 2-year visa, AED 686 for a 5-year visa and AED 1,186 for a 10-year Golden Visa. These are fixed government fees. There is no 1-year Emirates ID card, so AED 286 is the minimum you will ever pay for the card.
What is the difference between an investor visa and an employment visa?
An investor visa is issued to you as the owner of a company — you sponsor yourself and control the company. An employment visa is issued to an employee and sponsored by their employer, which controls it. Both can be 2-year residence visas, but only the investor visa keeps you independent of an outside sponsor.
Does a cheaper Sharjah or Ajman zone give me a weaker visa?
No. A Northern Emirates free zone issues the exact same 2-year UAE residence visa and Emirates ID as a Dubai zone. The only difference is the emirate on your trade licence. You pay roughly half the price for an Ajman or Sharjah address, and your visa gives you the same right to live, bank and travel across the UAE.
How long does it take to get a 2-year investor visa?
With complete documents, a 2-year investor visa typically takes 7–15 working days from company registration to Emirates ID. Company formation and the establishment card come first, then the entry permit, medical test and biometrics, and finally visa stamping and Emirates ID issuance. Delays usually come from missing paperwork, not the government processing itself.
Ready to get your own 2-year UAE visa at the lowest legal cost? DBM has helped form 1,000+ companies over 10+ years and holds a 4.9-star rating from 126 Google reviews. We'll tell you the exact government fee and our service fee separately — no bundled surprises. Book a free consultation via our contact page or message us on WhatsApp at +971 50 504 6228 and we'll map the cheapest route for your situation today.