How a Client from the UAE Gained Four Years of Legal Residence in the EU Without the Need for Repeated Schengen Visa Applications

An entrepreneur and tax resident of the UAE, permanently residing in Abu Dhabi, approached GARANT IN. His business pertained to international trade and investments, and a substantial proportion of his business meetings took place within the member states of the European Union.

Notwithstanding his UAE residency and a commendable visa history, the client regularly encountered the same predicament: the necessity of perpetually securing Schengen visas.

Even multiple-entry visas failed to resolve the principal issue — the limitations upon the duration of stay within the Schengen Area. To conduct his business, it was requisite to regularly visit France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and other EU nations, whilst remaining in Europe for as much time as the work demanded.

A specific objective was placed before the experts at GARANT IN:

• to acquire the right to the maximum possible legal stay within the European Union;
• to eliminate the necessity of regularly gathering documents for Schengen visas;
• to preserve mobility between EU countries;
• to formalise a status unlinked to employment within Europe;
• to formulate a long-term migration strategy encompassing several years concurrently.

The Solution: A Combined France + Spain Strategy

Following an analysis of the client's profile, the specialists at GARANT IN proposed a multi-stage solution.

In lieu of obtaining yet another multi-year Schengen visa, a decision was reached to formalise European residency via two consecutive programmes.

The inaugural stage was the French programme for financially independent persons (Visitor Visa / *Visa de Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour – Visiteur*), which permits residence in France upon confirmation of income and the absence of a necessity to seek employment in the French labour market.

Through the French consulate in Abu Dhabi, the client obtained a long-term category D visa and the right to reside in France for a period of one year.

Following his relocation to France and the acquisition of French resident status, the specialists at GARANT IN prepared the second stage of the strategy — the processing of a Spanish residence permit for a financially independent person (Non-Lucrative Residence Permit).

Why This Specific Scheme Was Selected

The majority of foreign entrepreneurs consider exclusively Schengen visas.

However, even a five-year multiple-entry visa does not confer the right to reside permanently in Europe, as the rule of «90 days within any 180-day period» applies.

Having acquired resident status first in France, and subsequently in Spain, the client gained the right to:

• remain within the countries of the Schengen Area without the 90/180 limitation;
• freely enter and exit the EU;
• dispense with the necessity of processing new Schengen visas prior to each journey;
• utilise the European banking infrastructure;
• conduct international activities from Europe upon a lawful foundation.

Stage 1. French Residency via the Visiteur Programme

• Documents Prepared for Submission

   

  For submission via the French consulate in Abu Dhabi, the following were prepared:

  • corroboration of income and savings;
  • documents attesting to UAE tax residency;
  • medical insurance;
  • confirmation of accommodation in France;
  • documents corroborating the absence of a necessity to work in France.

Following the adjudication of the application, the client received a long-term category D Visiteur visa valid for 12 months.

This status permitted residence in France and unhindered travel across the territory of the Schengen Area.

Stage 2. Acquiring the Spanish Residence Permit

Subsequent to his relocation to France, the specialists at GARANT IN commenced preparation of the Spanish dossier.

The Non-Lucrative Residence Permit programme was selected for the client — one of the most popular options for acquiring a Spanish residence permit for financially independent persons.

• The Principal Advantages of the Programme Were:

   
  • the absence of a necessity to invest substantial sums;
  • the prospect of residing in Spain on a long-term basis;
  • access to further renewal of the status;
  • unimpeded travel across EU nations.

Upon approval of the application, the client received a Spanish residence permit valid for 3 years.

The Result

The combined migration strategy enabled the client to resolve all established objectives.

Through the sequential processing of French and Spanish residency, he obtained:

• Advantages of the Acquired Statuses

   
  • 4 years of legal residence in the EU;
  • liberation from the necessity to process Schengen visas;
  • unhindered travel between the countries of the Schengen Area;
  • the capacity to remain in Europe for extended periods for business and personal matters;
  • supplementary legal and migration stability for himself and his family.

Effectively, the client attained that which is impossible to achieve with a standard tourist or business visa — a long-term, lawful presence in Europe devoid of constant interaction with consulates.

My primary objective consisted not in relocation, but in mobility. My business demands constant presence in Europe, and the regular processing of visas consumed time and engendered constraints. The team at GARANT IN proposed a solution that I had not even contemplated — to construct a strategy spanning two countries. As a result, I gained the ability to work and travel freely throughout Europe for several years without the necessity of constantly applying for new visas.

Entrepreneur, Resident of the UAE

Conclusion

This case demonstrates that competent migration planning permits the resolution of tasks that cannot be addressed by a standard Schengen visa.

The specialists at GARANT IN devise bespoke migration strategies that allow for the acquisition of maximal freedom of movement, legal status, and long-term stability in Europe.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is it possible to concurrently hold two residence permits in different EU countries?

   

  Formally, the laws of the majority of European countries do not prohibit holding parallel resident statuses in different jurisdictions. However, to maintain each of the residence permits, it is necessary to strictly observe the conditions of the programme, including requirements for actual residence. In the present case, the programmes were processed sequentially to ensure legal and uninterrupted mobility.

• Does the French Visiteur status confer the right to work in the country?

   

  No, the Visiteur programme in France is designed explicitly for financially independent persons. This status strictly prohibits engaging in employment within the French labour market or conducting commercial activities within the country. All your income must derive from external sources, independent of France.

• What financial requirements exist for the Non-Lucrative Residence Permit in Spain?

   

  For the approval of a Spanish visa without the right to work, the applicant is obliged to prove the possession of a stable passive income or substantial savings. The income must amount to a minimum of 400% of the IPREM indicator for the principal applicant, alongside an additional 100% IPREM for each dependent family member.

• Why is a standard Schengen visa inadequate for prolonged business travel?

   

  Even holders of a five-year multiple-entry Schengen visa are obliged to observe the stringent rule of «90 days within any 180-day period». If your business, projects, or personal interests necessitate a more prolonged or unpredictable presence in Europe, this limitation becomes a formidable barrier, which can only be surmounted by obtaining a residence permit.

• Is it necessary to pay taxes in the EU upon obtaining a residence permit for financially independent persons?

   

  The status of a tax resident is determined not by the mere fact of holding a residence permit, but by the domestic legislation of the country — as a rule, it is triggered by presence upon its territory for more than 183 days within a calendar year. When planning a migration strategy, it is of utmost importance to consult with tax specialists to avert the risk of double taxation.