United Arab Emirates (UAE), a federation of seven emirates along the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, is a popular destination for tourism, business, and investment. Besides foreign tourists, the UAE is also expecting professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors. That is why a golden visa is launched. In this passage, we are going to introduce UAE golden visa requirements, visa benefits, application process, validity, fees, and other related issues.
What Is UAE Gloden Visa?
The golden visa in UAE is a long-term residence permit, allowing foreign talents to live, work, or study in the country without a resident or national sponsor. It is valid for 5 to 10 years. Launched in 2019, the visa aims to attract high-net-worth individuals and excellent talents.
UAE Golden Visa Benefits
Ordinary tourists are restricted on how long they can stay and what they can do in the UAE. This long-term residence visa grants more special benefits to the visa holders. The advantages of golden visa in UAE are listed below.
- Longer Duration of Stay
A standard residence visa is usually valid for 2-3 years and must be renewed regularly while foreigners with golden visas as well as their families are allowed to reside in UAE for up to 10 years.
- Self-sponsored Stay
Whether the applicants are employed in UAE or not, they can stay in the country for a long term without a sponsor.
- Eligibility to Sponsor Family and Domestic Helpers
Golden visa holders in the UAE can sponsor their spouses and children to live in the nation. Moreover, visa owners can hire and sponsor domestic helper(s).
- Extension of Stay Outside the UAE
Standard residents’ visas will be invalidated when the holder spends over 6 months beyond the jurisdiction while golden visas remain valid.
- Exclusive Healthcare Packages
The UAE government launched special health care and health insurance packages for those in possession of UAE golden visas and dependents without health insurance plans. This exclusive health insurance aims to provide high claims at a more friendly price.
- Dubai Police Esaad Privilege Card
Dubai Police issued Esaad Card in 2017 to provide discounts for shopping, education, healthcare services, housing, entertainment, dining, accommodation, etc. Since 2023, UAE gold visa holders have been eligible for the privilege card.
UAE Golden Visa New Rules 2024
Dubai golden visa rules are relaxed as of 2024. To obtain a 10-year residence visa, investors had to pay at least 50% of the property value as an initial payment in the past. Since January, the rate has been decreased to 20%. Moreover, according to the new rules, applicants can purchase a property that has been built or is under construction. The real estate market in Dubai has kept growing in the past few years. Lowering the down payment rate is beneficial to attract more investment.
Who Can Apply for UAE Golden Visa?
Due to the attractive golden visa benefits, many foreign visitors scramble for it. However, it is available to certain groups of individuals, such as investors, entrepreneurs, talents or professionals in major fields, or those with great contributions. You can also use a smart service on the ICP portal to check your eligibility.
- Investors
Investors in public investment should satisfy the following requirements to apply for a golden visa in UAE.
- Have a business plan on legally establishing a business in the UAE.
- Have a deposit of AED 2 million, or
- Invest at least AED 2 million in a company, or
- Pay tax of at least AED 250,000 as a company owner
As for real estate investors, the property should be worth no less than AED 2,000,000 and not subject to a loan.
- Entrepreneurs
Business owners or project sponsors who satisfy at least one of the following requirements might be qualified for the golden visa.
- Own a project with a value of at least AED 500,000.
- The applicant must be a joint partner or exclusive owner of a start-up SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) within the UAE which earns revenue of at least AED 1,000,000 per year.
- The applicant has been approved to start up a business by an official business incubator.
- Special Talents
They could be doctors, scientists, creative people of culture and art, inventors, executives, athletes, doctor’s degree holders, or specialists in the fields of science, technology, engineering and science, epidemiology and viruses, AI, IT, big data, computer engineering, electronics, software, electrical, genetics, and biotechnology.
- Outstanding International Students and Graduates
This regulation applies to high-performing students in UAE secondary schools and outstanding graduates from universities in UAE and the top 100 universities in the world. Applicants must satisfy the following requirements for academic performance, year of graduation, and classification of the educational institutions. Qualified students are allowed to sponsor their parents and brothers.
- Humanitarian Pioneers
It includes distinguished members of charitable organizations or associations of public benefit. Volunteers who work in related fields and who are commended might also be qualified.
- Frontline Heroes
The nation provides UAE golden visa for nurses, doctors, or other participants in front-line work who have made contributions in extraordinary circumstances (i.e. COVID-19 pandemic).
How to Apply for a UAE Golden Visa?
The UAE golden visa applications can be done online or offline depending on the government portal. To complete the UAE Golden Visa Application, let’s see what you should do.
Check Golden Visa Requirements
Applicants must submit a series of documents to prove their identity, nationality, and qualifications. Proof might vary depending on civil status. Here are the general UAE golden visa requirements.
- A valid passport copy
- ID copy
- A resume with contact, biography, achievements, and works
- Existing residency visa copy
- Colored biometric photograph
According to the category of eligible applicants, additional documents are required.
| Categories | Extra required documents |
| Investors | ✅ A letter from an investment fund approved in the UAE about deposits, or ✅ A valid commercial or industrial license with an incorporation contract, or ✅ Letter from the Federal Tax Authority, or ✅ Letter from the Real Estate Registration Department indicating the property value ✅ Proof of housing, such as certificate of property ownership or lease agreement |
| Entrepreneurs | ✅ Approval Letter from an auditor in the UAE indicating project value ✅ Approval Letter from an accredited business incubator ✅ Valid Health insurance Card valid for at least one year and renewable ✅ Proof of housing in the country (home ownership/house rental contract). |
| Doctors and Scientists | ✅ Approval Letter from the Ministry of Health allowing applicants to practice the profession of medicine (for doctors) ✅ Recommendation from the Emirates Council of Scientists or a letter from the Secretariat of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Academic Excellence verifying the Academic Excellence Medal (for scholars) ✅ An approved letter from the Department of Culture and Arts in the relevant emirate. (for talents in culture and art). ✅ A recommendation letter from the Ministry of Economy (for inventors). ✅ Valid Health insurance Card valid for at least one year and renewable |
| Executive Directors | ✅ A certified degree from the university ✅ Proof of work experience for at least 5 years ✅ Proof of salary of at least AED 50,000 ✅ A Valid work contract ✅ Valid Health insurance Card valid for at least one year and renewable |
| Specialists in Science and Athletes | ✅ A specialized certificate in rare fields (scientific fields of priority) ✅ A recommendation letter from the General Sports Authority or sports councils (for athletes) ✅ Valid Health insurance Card valid for at least one year and renewable |
| Holders of doctor’s degrees and specialists in engineering and science: | ✅ A certified copy of the Ph.D. degree in priority disciplines ✅ A certified copy of the university degree ✅ A work contract for a profession ✅ Valid Health insurance Card valid for at least one year and renewable |
| Outstanding High School Student | ✅ A recommendation letter from the Ministry of Education |
| Outstanding University graduates | ✅ A recommendation letter from the university indicating a GPA of 3.8 or higher |
Three Options for UAE Golden Visa Application
Applicants can apply for a golden visa in UAE from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) online or from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) online or offline. Here is a detailed instruction.
Apply Online via ICA
- Visit the ICA online portal.
- Navigate to Public Service > Golden Residency.
- Click on the “Start Service” button beneath “VISA – GOLDEN RESIDENCE – NOMINATION REQUEST FOR GOLDEN RESIDENCE – NEW REQUEST”.
- Select the Nominated Person Category and Sub Category.
- Provide personal information, such as identity number, name, nationality, passport number, gender date of birth, place of birth, and profession. Make sure all required fields with an asterisk are filled.
- Provide contact information. Make sure it is correct and valid, so the ICA can reach you through it.
- Check the box to verify “I am not a robot” and click on the “Next” button to continue.
- Upload the supporting documents. JPEG, JPG, and PDF formats are acceptable and the file size should not exceed 2MB. Click on “Next” button.
- Review the information that was filled in. If there is nothing wrong, move to the “Next” part.
- Pay for application fees on the sub-screen.
- Check the box next to the “I Agree on the terms and conditions”, and then click on the “Submit” icon to complete the process.
- Receive a message saying “Request Applied Successfully” and providing the “Request number”.
Supposing that you are not a resident of the country yet, you should apply for a 6-month entry permit to enter the country first.
Apply Online via GDRFA
- Visit the Golen Residency Application Page of GDRFA and log in. If you haven’t registered, click on “Register now” to create an account.
- Fill in the online application. Essential personal information is required, such as name, date of birth, nationality, sex, etc.
- Upload required documents. Make sure the scanned copies or photocopies are clear and distinguishable.
- Pay the service fees online.
- Wait for the notification from the respective authority and get ready to provide additional evidence or collect the visa.
Apply Offline via GDRFA
Provided that you don’t want to apply online, you can take the required documents to the nearest GDRFA typing centre where your golden visa application will be typed and handled. All you need is to follow the instructions from the staff there. Once approved, they will send you a message to inform you of the result and guidance to pick up the visa. Please note that the opening hours vary from centre to centre. Therefore, it is necessary to contact it for exact information.
UAE Golden Visa Processing Time
As e-channels launch, the processing time of the golden residence has been greatly reduced. Currently, it usually takes about 30 days to receive the visa. However, it might change due to the following factors.
- Category of Application
Golden visa requirements might vary according to the category. Some need extra time to verify the applicant’s eligibility.
- Number of Applications
The waiting time will be longer when applying from a busy branch or applying during peak seasons.
- Completeness and Accuracy of Applications
Lack of supporting evidence or wrong information will drag the progress or even lead to rejection.
- Background Check
Some nationals might undergo extra security checks, such as previous immigration history, violations or criminal, etc.
UAE Golden Visa Fee
In addition to investment amount or other related values listed in golden visa requirements, applicants will need to pay about AED 2,800 to AED 3,800 when applying from within UAE and about AED 3,800 and AED 4,800 (including application fee and medical examination fees) when applying outside UAE
It costs AED 1,250 to obtain a six-month entry permit, including AED 1,000 for insurance, AED 100 for application, AED 100 for smart service, AED 28 for electronic services, and AED 22 for ICP.
The fees might vary due to the service and category you choose. Please refer to the actual payment at the time of UAE gold visa application.
UAE Golden Visa Validity
The visa is valid for 5 or 10 years and renewable. Applicants are not required to stay for a certain amount of time within the country to maintain their residency. Therefore, you can travel in and outside UAE multiple times as long as your visa remains valid. The dependents are still allowed to stay until the expiry date even if the main holder passed away within the validity of the visa.
UAE Golden Visa Renewal
The golden visa will be renewed automatically as it expires. In this case, visa holders don’t need to worry about overstaying due to not renewing visas in time. or having to spend lots of time and effort re-starting a renewal process. All you need is to register for the “One Touch” Golden Visa service on the ICP website or the ICP App.
FAQ
📌 What is the salary requirement for UAE golden visa?
It applies to executive directors, which should be at least AED 50,000.
📌 Will UAE Golden Visa lead to citizenship?
You might be eligible after a few renewals, but the residence visa does not guarantee to lead to citizenship unless you satisfy the requirements for naturalization or exceptional merits.
📌 How to apply for golden visa UAE for students?
The golden visa process for students is generally the same as other applicants, which can be done online or at typing centres. A recommendation letter from the Ministry of Education is needed.
📌 How to apply for golden visa UAE for nurses?
The requirements are the same as that for frontline heroes.
Summary
Golden visa in UAE is a long-term residence visa for foreign investors, entrepreneurs, talents, professionals, excellent students, and graduates. The UAE golden visa requirements for them differ. Compared with a standard residence permit, it has more attractive benefits in work and life convenience within the country. The golden visa UAE application can be done on ICA portal, GDRFA portal, or typing centres. It takes about 1-2 months to receive the visa, so please apply for it as early as possible.
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