Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) is a certificate of tax residency issued by the Federal Tax Authority of the UAE (FTA) for individuals or legal entities. TRCs are issued for countries with which the UAE has signed double taxation avoidance agreements.

How to obtain a Tax Residency Certificate for individuals?

The individual applicant must be a resident of the UAE for a minimum of 180 days. Additionally, an annual lease agreement for accommodation, attested by an official entity (e.g., EJARI in Dubai), is required.

Required documents:

• Copy of passport;
• Copy of Emirates ID;
• Proof of income (Salary Certificate, company license, etc.);
• Attested bank statement for 6 months (the statement must be from a bank in the Emirates);
• Statement from GDRFA (immigration service) showing the number of days the applicant has spent in the UAE (the applicant must be a resident for at least 180 days, i.e., their visa must have been stamped in the passport at least 180 days ago);
• Tax forms (if applicable).

How to obtain a Tax Residency Certificate for legal entities?

In order to be eligible to apply for a TRC, a legal entity must have been registered for at least 1 year. The company must also undergo an audit and provide the corresponding document, certified by the seal of an auditing company in the UAE. The audit must cover the year for which the company is requesting the TRC.

Offshore companies are not eligible to apply for a TRC, as they are not listed in double taxation avoidance agreements.

Required documents:

• Copy of the company’s license;
• Copy of the company’s memorandum of association or articles of association;
• Copies of passports of shareholders and directors;
• Copies of Emirates IDs of shareholders and directors;
• Copies of residency visas of shareholders and directors;
• Attested copy of the audit report;
• Office lease agreement;
• Attested bank statement from a UAE bank for 6 months;
• Tax forms (if applicable).

The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs, Ports, and Security in the UAE has introduced new rules for submitting documents to obtain a “Golden Visa”. According to the updated rules, any application for a Golden Visa that is deemed incomplete or ambiguous will be canceled within thirty days from the date of submission. As reported by the authority, multiple attempts to correct information will lead to rejection, and applicants will have up to three attempts to rectify any errors found in their applications.

Failure to resolve the issues within these attempts will result in application rejection, and in such cases, only the government fees for the visa issuance will be refunded. Expert Commission to Examine Documents Before issuing a “Golden Visa,” a government-appointed expert commission reviews the documents of individuals who have demonstrated their financial capability in various fields. More Options for Visa Application Applicants can apply for a “Golden Visa” through various channels, including the official website of the Authority, WhatsApp, or in-person at “Happiness Centers.”

Seamless Communication and Updates Throughout the application process, applicants will receive timely updates on the status of their applications and notifications on their registered mobile phone numbers. This will ensure transparency in the application process.

Updated Requirements for Different Types of Visas Requirements for Investor Visa Applicants for an investor visa must provide a certificate of establishment of an investment fund in the UAE. Additionally, applicants must invest a minimum of 2 million dirhams in the UAE or hold a valid commercial license issued by a commercial entity.

Proof of participation in establishing a company with a capital of no less than 2 million dirhams or investing this amount in the specified company is also required. Furthermore, a document from the federal tax authority confirming the annual payment of income tax of at least 2,500 dirhams will be considered. Criteria for Obtaining a Visa through Real Estate Investments To obtain a visa through real estate investments, applicants must provide registration documents issued by the Emirates authorities and prove ownership of property worth 2 million dirhams that is not mortgaged under any bank loans.

Documentation for Industrial Visa Applicants seeking an industrial visa must provide documents issued by an approved auditor. They must demonstrate ownership of an industry with worth at least five hundred thousand dirhams. Requirements for a Health Visa

Certificates of merits or services issued by approved medical centers or social services centers under the Ministry of Health will be considered valid for obtaining a medical visa. Recommendations from the UAE Council of Scientists will also be taken into account. Processing Visa in the Field of Arts and Culture Applicants for visas in arts and culture must obtain a recommendation letter from the Dubai Ministry of Culture. Criteria for Obtaining Executives Visa To apply for an executive visa, applicants must provide a salary certificate confirming a monthly income of no less than fifty thousand dirhams. Application for Sports Visa Certificates issued by the Sports Council must accompany applications for a sports visa.

Student Visa Requirements Students and talented individuals in the academic field must provide recognition certificates and relevant documents issued by local authorities to apply for a student visa.

In the first quarter of 2023, 137 companies in the UAE were fined a total of 65.9 million dirhams for non-compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) legislation. According to the Ministry of Finance of the UAE, inspections were conducted on companies in the non-financial sector, such as real estate agents, traders of precious stones, and precious metals.

The inspections were carried out in accordance with Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2018 “On Combating Money Laundering, Financing of Terrorism, and Illegal Organizations.” In total, the Ministry of Economy identified 831 violations of AML legislation, including the fined companies that failed to establish internal customer due diligence procedures based on the “UAE terrorist list” published in accordance with Cabinet Resolution No. 74 of 2020.