The UAE’s Golden Visa offers long-term residency (5 or 10 years) to investors, entrepreneurs, outstanding talents, and others. It’s designed to attract people who contribute significantly to the economy, innovation, culture, or science. For many, it’s a gateway to living, working, studying, or investing in the UAE without needing a local sponsor. But eligibility isn’t automatic, there are specific conditions depending on the category you apply under. This article explains who qualifies and what requirements must be met, and how to apply to the Golden Visa.
The Golden Visa is open to various categories of individuals. Below are some of the main eligible categories and their own set of detailed requirements, durations, and rights:
1. Investors in Public Investments
Duration of Visa: 10 years
Key Conditions/ Criteria:
- Deposit AED 2,000,000 into an approved investment fund or have a valid commercial/ industrial license with paid-up capital greater than or equal AED 2,000,000.
- Must own the investment outright (not financed by loan).
- Payed taxes of not less than AED 250,000 annually to the Federal Tax Authority.
- Medical insurance for self and family.
2. Real Estate Investors
Duration of Visa: 5 years (renewable under conditions)
Key Conditions/Criteria:
- Own one or more properties in a UAE emirate with value greater than or equal AED 2,000,000.
- Must provide title deed/land department proof,
- Sometimes property must not be under loan, or equity portion must meet value, and
- Valid health insurance.
3. Entrepreneurs
Duration of Visa: 5 years
Key Conditions/Criteria:
- Must have project/ business with an economic project of technical or future nature.
- Project value not less than AED 500,000.
- Approval from authorities in the emirate that the project is innovative.
- Accreditation from a UAE business incubator.
- Valid passport, health insurance, and proof of housing.
4. Outstanding Specialized Talents
Duration of Visa: 10 years
Key Conditions/Criteria:
- Includes scientists, inventors, creative people in arts & culture, engineers, doctors, etc.
- Specialized credentials: degrees (often advanced, relevant fields), recommendation/ nomination letters from relevant ministries or councils.
- In many cases, must have work contract or license where applicable.
- Health insurance, passport copies, sometimes proof of accomplishment (research , innovation, patents).
5. Outstanding Students
Duration of Visa: 5 or 10 years
Key Conditions/Criteria:
- High school students with exceptional academic performance
- University graduates within 2 years of graduation, with high GPA (certified by accredited universities.)
- Graduation certificate
- May sponsor family
Additional Conditions Common Across the Categories:
- Medical insurance for applicant and family members is required
- Proof of residence/housing: either ownership or a valid lease agreement
- Valid passport copy and other national documentations
- Some specific bodies or nominating entities’ letters (for example, incubators for entrepreneurs, Ministry approvals for scientists or talented professionals).
Mechanism of Applying to the Golden Visa:
- Check your eligibility category carefully and gather all required documents
- Ensure your proofs are valid and recognized (for example: academic certificates often need to be attested, degrees recognized by UAE Ministry of Education, etc).
- Maintain compliance: for investors, ensure investment isn’t loan-financed, for property, ensure ownership matches requirements.
- Use official channels: Applications are submitted via ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security), sometimes in coordination with emirate-level authorities or incubators.
- Nomination or recommendation letters: for many talent and special-fields categories, obtaining a nomination or approval from specific ministries or councils will be necessary.
The UAE’s Golden Visa is a powerful residency option for investors, entrepreneurs, specialized talents, and outstanding students. With its long-term nature, freedom from sponsorship, and extensive family sponsorship rights, it offers stability and opportunity. But meeting the conditions requires careful preparation, ensuring your investment or credentials meet the monetary or professional thresholds, securing required recommendation or nomination letters, complying with residency or academic requirements, and using official application channels.
Source:
- Golden visa – U.ae
- Golden Visa Services – Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP)
- UAE Golden Visa – CitizenRemote
