If you’re exploring how to register a company under golden visa sponsorship in the UAE, you’ve come to the right place. Many sources mix up the business‑setup steps, the Golden Visa eligibility and the sponsorship rules. I’ll walk you through the process clearly and accurately, based on official UAE government sources and current practices as of 2025, so you can make informed decisions.
Why this matters to you
If you’re applying for the UAE Golden Visa (long‑term residency via investment/entrepreneurship), or you already hold one and want to register a company under that sponsorship, you face unique challenges:
- Which legal structure and emirate suits your business when tied to the Golden Visa?
- How the visa category (investor/entrepreneur/manager) affects company registration and vice‑versa?
- Avoiding misinformation: many articles incorrectly assume all business set‑ups automatically give Golden Visa eligibility.
- Ensuring you meet both the business registration rules and the Golden Visa criteria (two separate but related processes).
My goal is to give you a user‑first, step‑by‑step explanation of how to register a company under Golden Visa sponsorship in the UAE, including typical pitfalls, and to link to authoritative sources so you can verify each step.
Understanding the link between company registration & Golden Visa
Before diving into “how to register”, it’s crucial to highlight how the Golden Visa and business registration relate:
- The Golden Visa is a residency permit issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security (ICP) (among others) for 5 or 10‑year residence rights under certain categories (investor, entrepreneur, talent). See “What is Golden Residency?” on the ICP website.
It’s important to note that holding a Golden Visa does not automatically lead to permanent residency in the UAE; it provides long-term residency under specific categories such as investor, entrepreneur, or specialized talent (learn more here).
- Company registration (mainland or free zone) is a business‑licensing process with the local economic/development department (for example, in Dubai: the Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism) or free‑zone authority. The “Dubai Mainland Business Set‑Up” page details this.
- If you hold the Golden Visa as an “entrepreneur” category, you often must have an existing company/project that meets certain criteria (revenue, incubator/accelerator endorsement) or you aim to register one so you can apply for the Golden Visa.
- If you plan to use your Golden Visa sponsorship to register or own a company (for example as investor/partner) you still must meet normal business‑setup regulations (trade name, licence, office, visa quota) and maintain the visa‑eligible status.
In short: you register your company under standard UAE business rules, and the fact that you hold (or apply for) a Golden Visa means you may qualify for sponsorship/residency under that category. The company registration does not automatically give the Golden Visa, and vice‑versa.
Step‑by‑Step: How to Register a Company Under Golden Visa Sponsorship
Here’s a detailed walkthrough of how I (speaking as a consultant guiding clients) would approach registering a company under Golden Visa sponsorship in the UAE in 2025.
Step 1: Define your Golden Visa route & business purpose
- Determine which Golden Visa category you fall under: Investor, Entrepreneur, Manager/Executive, or Talent. For example, for the entrepreneur category, some emirates require you to be the owner or partner of a project or startup sold for a certain value.
- Ask: Do I already have a business or startup that qualifies? Or am I registering the business now so I can apply for the Golden Visa (or maintain it)?
- Decide the legal structure, location/emirate (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, free zone, mainland) and business activity. This will affect licensing, cost and ability to sponsor employees/family.
Step 2: Choose location & business structure (mainland vs free zone)
- If you want to trade within UAE local market, choose a mainland licence. For example, the Invest in Dubai site explains you can apply online to set up a business on the mainland.
- If you focus on international trade, export/import or prefer simpler ownership, a free zone company might suit.
- In many mainland cases 100% foreign ownership is now allowed for most activities. For example, a guide shows that mainland company formation in UAE 2025 allows 100% foreign ownership in most sectors.
- Choose your business activity (consultancy, trading, e‑commerce, manufacturing, etc.). The activity will determine which licence, which approvals, and thus cost/time.
Step 3: Company registration and licensing
Once you’ve picked structure and location:
- Reserve your trade name and legal form (LLC, branch, FZE etc). The MoET site states you must determine your company’s legal structure and trade name.
- Apply for initial approval/no‑objection from relevant authority. Example: for UAE mainland, follow process via MoET site.
- Secure physical office or flexi‑desk (Many free zones allow flexi‑desk; mainland often requires Ejari lease) – per the official setup steps.
- Submit incorporation documents: passport copies, business plan (if required for some activities), MOA/AOA, lease agreement etc.
- Pay licence fee, register company and receive your trade licence. Time‑frame: With complete docs, many licences can be issued in a few days. Meanwhile the MoET site mentions 15 minutes via Basher for some cases.
- If you’ll have employees: apply for visas, labour quota, bank account etc.
Step 4: Align company registration with Golden Visa requirements
Because you’re registering the company under the umbrella of your Golden Visa or applying for Golden Visa with the company in place, you must ensure alignment:
- If you’re Golden Visa “Entrepreneur” category: you’ll need a business plan, incubator endorsement or approved project, and/or the business must meet revenue criteria (for example AED 1 million annual revenue) depending on emirate.
- If you’re Golden Visa “Investor”: you may need to show investment capital (e.g., AED 2 million) or owning a company with certain paid‑up capital. The ICP site says for investor category: “A letter from an investment fund approved in the UAE stating that there is a deposit of 2 million dirhams or valid commercial licence…”
- Ensure the company is properly registered before or in parallel to your Golden Visa application, so evidence of the business or investment is available at the visa submission stage.
- Maintain your business activity and documentation: audited financials if required, shareholding proof, trade licence validity, and visa sponsorships if that is part of your credentials.
Step 5: Apply (or maintain) your Golden Visa
Once your company is set up and aligned:
- Submit your Golden Visa nomination & application via the platform of ICP (or emirate‑specific authority like the General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA)). Example: the Golden Visa service page lists investors, entrepreneurs, specialized talents.
- Attach business registration documents, trade licence, proof of investment or revenue, passport, health insurance, and other category‑specific documents.
- Once Golden Visa approved, you can use it to sponsor your family, employees (depending on category) and you may not need employer‑sponsorship if your category allows it.
- After issuance, maintain both the visa eligibility (business operating, investment maintained) and your company compliance (licence renewal, visa quotas, financials etc).
Step 6: Post‑registration obligations & renewal
- Your business licence must be renewed annually (or as per free zone rules). Renewal requires up‑to‑date fees, office lease, visa quotas etc.
- Your Golden Visa must also be maintained: ensure that your business continues to meet the required criteria (for example, you still run the business, still have investment etc).
- Keep records: audited financials if required, tax registration (you may need to register for corporate tax as per UAE rules) and ensure compliance.
- Avoid mis‑information: some companies market “lifetime Golden Visas” or shortcuts. The official authority (ICP) has clarified that the official rules remain unchanged.
Key FAQs about registering a company under Golden Visa sponsorship
Here are answers to typical long‑tail queries you’ll find from searchers:
Q: Can I register a company under my Golden Visa and sponsor staff and family through it?
A: Yes — once you hold a Golden Visa and you have a company registered in the UAE, you may use the visa to sponsor your family (depending on the visa category). Many Golden Visa categories allow sponsoring spouse, children and parents.
Q: Does the business have to be in the same emirate where I applied for my Golden Visa?
A: Not necessarily — the business can be in any emirate. But you must ensure the documentation matches (trade licence, legal entity). If you applied for the Golden Visa via Abu Dhabi criteria, your company may be there or registered accordingly.
Q: Can I change my business activity after I hold the Golden Visa?
A: Yes, you can change or diversify your business, but you must ensure you continue to meet the original Golden Visa criteria (investment, revenue, startup endorsement, etc). If your company shifts and no longer meets those conditions, this could affect the visa.
Q: What are typical costs for company registration in UAE (2025)?
A: For a mainland company in Dubai: licence fees + office costs + visa quotas may roughly range AED 12,000‑25,000 (basic) according to current guide. Free zone packages: around AED 10,000‑25,000 depending on zone and licence type.
Q: Do I need a local UAE sponsor for my company if I hold a Golden Visa?
A: For most free zones and many mainland activities, 100% foreign ownership is allowed in 2025 and you may not need a local partner. The Golden Visa status does not automatically require a local sponsor for business ownership, but your business activity licence may still require local approvals depending on sector.
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
- Mixing up business‑setup and Golden Visa rules: Just setting up a company doesn’t guarantee your Golden Visa eligibility — and having Golden Visa doesn’t waive standard business‑licensing steps.
- Overlooking license renewal/office lease: Many set up the company then neglect renewal or visa quotas, which can jeopardise both company and visa.
- Using incorrect licence/activity for Golden Visa category: E.g., applying as an “entrepreneur” but the business has no revenue or incubator endorsement, leading to rejection.
- Relying on third‑party promises of “lifetime Golden Visa” or fast‑track shortcuts: The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security (ICP) has explicitly warned that all Golden Visa applications must be submitted only through official UAE government channels. The authority also stated that it will take legal action against entities spreading unverified or misleading information.
- Failure to maintain business activity post‑visa issuance: You must keep the company operational, valid trade licence, and meet visa‑category criteria.
Why choose us at GoldenVisaUAE for help?
At GoldenVisaUAE, we’ve helped 2,500+ successful Golden Visa approvals (investment, entrepreneur, manager categories). We guide clients through both company registration and aligning the business with Golden Visa criteria. Smoother, faster and with fewer surprises.
Final Words & Call to Action
To summarise: registering a company under Golden Visa sponsorship in the UAE in 2025 is absolutely feasible — but it demands planning, alignment between the visa category and business set‑up, and ongoing compliance. Don’t assume one process replaces the other.
If you’re ready to take the next step, let’s talk. We can evaluate your strategy (which Golden Visa category suits you best), select the ideal emirate and legal structure for your business, and guide you through registration + visa submission with full clarity. Contact us now for a consultation tailored to your needs.
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