What is Golden Visa?
Golden visa services
The UAE’s ‘Golden Visa’ is a long-term residence visa that enables foreign talents to live, work or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits which include:
- A long-term, renewable residence visa valid for 5 or 10 years
- The privilege of not needing a sponsor
- The ability to stay outside the UAE for more than the usual period of six months to keep their residence visa valid
- The ability to sponsor their family members, including spouses and children regardless of their ages
- The ability to sponsor an unlimited number of domestic helpers
- The permit for family members to stay in the UAE until the end of their permit duration, if the primary holder of the Golden visa passes away.
Investors in public investments
Investors will be granted Golden Visa for a period of 10 years without a sponsor, subject to the:
- submission of a letter from an investment fund accredited in the UAE stating that the investor has a deposit of AED two million, or
- submission of a valid commercial licence or industrial licence and a memorandum of association stating that the investor’s capital is not less than AED two million
- submission of a letter from Federal Tax Authority stating that the investor pays the government no less than AED 250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand) annually.
Additionally, the investor must:
- own the invested capital completely; it must not be a loan and
- provide proof of medical insurance for himself and his family (if any).
Real estate investors
The real estate investors may be granted a Golden visa for a period of 5 years, renewable on the same conditions and without a sponsor subject to the:
- provision of a letter from the land department of the respective emirate stating that he owns one or more properties whose value is not less than 2 million dirhams
- purchase of a property with a loan from specific local banks approved by the competent local entity.
Entrepreneurs
The entrepreneurs, may get a Golden visa for a period of 5 years, if they own an economic project of a technical or future nature based on risk & innovation. In addition, they must have an approval letter from each of the following:
- an auditor in the UAE stating that the project value is not less than 500,000 dirhams
- the authorities in the emirate stating that the project is of a technical or future nature
- an accredited business incubator in the UAE to establish the proposed activity in the country.
Outstanding Specialised Talents
Doctors and scientists
- An approval Letter from Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE to practice the profession of medicine (for doctors)
- A letter of recommendation from Emirates Council of Scientists or a letter from Secretariat of the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence stating that the applicant has been awarded the Medal of Scientific Excellence (for scientists).
Inventors
- A recommendation letter from Ministry of Economy stating that your patent has an added value to the country’s economy
Creative people in the fields of culture and art
- An approval letter from the department of culture and arts in the respective emirate.
Executive Directors
- A copy of a university degree accredited.
- A letter of experience of no less than 5 years holding the same position
- A salary certificate with a salary of AED 50,000 at least
- A valid work contract.
Athletes
- A recommendation letter from General Sports Authority or one of the sports councils
Specialists in engineering and science
- A copy of a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree certified by Ministry of Education and a work contract.
Outstanding Students
High school students
- High school students and national-level topper, (with a minimum grade of 95 per cent in public or private secondary school) you may be granted a Golden visa for 5 years without a sponsor, subject to submission of a recommendation letter from Ministry of Education (Emirates Schools Establishment). Duration of the Golden visa for students is 5 years and may be extended if he/she is enrolled in one of the majors/colleges in the country that requires a study period of more than five years.
University students
The pioneers of humanitarian work, will get a Golden visa for 10 years. The person must be one amongst the following categories to qualify as a pioneer of humanitarian work:
- Members and outstanding employees who have worked for international and regional organisations for a minimum of five years
- Members and outstanding employees who have worked for civil associations and institutions of public interest for a minimum of five years
- Individuals who have received an appreciation award from a local, regional or international organisation that focuses on humanitarian work
- Funders of humanitarian work provided that the value of the support does not fall below two million UAE dirhams or its equivalent.
Outstanding students of foreign universities may be granted a Golden visa for a period of 10 years without a sponsor, provided that:
- The university is rated among the best 100 universities globally according to the rating system recognized by Ministry of Education
- The student’s cumulative GPA is not less than 3.5
- It has not been more than 2 years since the student is graduated
- Graduation certificate is accredited by the Ministry of Education
Pioneers of humanitarian work
The pioneers of humanitarian work, will get a Golden visa for 10 years. The person must be one amongst the following categories to qualify as a pioneer of humanitarian work:
- members and outstanding employees who have worked for international and regional organisations for a minimum of five years
- members and outstanding employees who have worked for civil associations and institutions of public interest for a minimum of five years
- individuals who have received an appreciation award from a local, regional or international organisation that focuses on humanitarian work
- funders of humanitarian work provided that the value of the support does not fall below two million UAE dirhams or its equivalent.
Frontline heroes
Frontline heroes who displayed extraordinary effort in crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic also may get the Golden visa with a recommendation from a competent authority. Frontline heroes include nurses, medical assistants, lab technicians, pharmacologists and other cadres approved by the Frontline Heroes Office.