10 yr
Real estate investors
AED 2,000,000+
RESIDENCY & IMMIGRATION GUIDE
The UAE Golden Visa, Explained Clearly
Who qualifies, what it actually costs, and how the application works — a plain guide to the UAE's 10-year self-sponsored residency permit.
UAE GOLDEN VISA
RESIDENCY & IMMIGRATION GUIDE
Golden
Visa
Residence Permit
10 Years
Sponsorship
Self
AED 2M+
REAL ESTATE INVESTORS
QUICK ANSWER
The UAE Golden Visa is a renewable, self-sponsored residence permit — usually valid for 10 years, and 5 years for some categories — issued to investors, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals, and other qualifying individuals. It removes the need for a local sponsor or employer and lifts the six-month limit on staying outside the UAE. Common routes include a real estate or capital investment of at least AED 2 million, a monthly salary of at least AED 30,000, or nomination as a specialized talent. Government fees typically fall between AED 4,700 and AED 10,500, and processing takes roughly two to three weeks once a complete application is submitted.
01
What Is the UAE Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa is a long-term UAE residence permit created under Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021 on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners, together with its 2022 executive regulations. It was introduced in 2019 and has been expanded several times since, most recently with new eligibility routes added through 2025 and 2026.
What sets it apart from a standard UAE employment or residence visa is independence. A regular visa is tied to a single employer or sponsor and typically needs renewing every two to three years. The Golden Visa is self-sponsored: holders can change jobs, start a company, stop working, or spend extended periods abroad without their residency being cancelled. Eligible family members — generally a spouse and children, and in many cases domestic staff — can be sponsored under the same visa.
WHO ADMINISTERS IT
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) handles applications at the federal level,
the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) manages Dubai applications,
and the Abu Dhabi Residents Office (ADRO) handles Abu Dhabi.
02
Who Qualifies: Eligibility Categories
Eligibility depends entirely on which category an applicant falls into. Each has its own thresholds, nominating body, and document requirements.
10 yr
10 yr
Public investment investors
AED 2,000,000+
5 yr
Entrepreneurs
AED 500,000+
5 yr
Skilled professionals
AED 30,000/mo
10 yr
Specialized talents
Nomination-based
10 yr
Outstanding students
Top academic record
10 yr
Humanitarian pioneers & frontline heroes
Endorsement-based
Varies
2025–2026 expanded categories
Sector-specific
| Category | Term | Threshold / Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate investors | 10 yr | AED 2,000,000+ | Own one or more UAE properties with combined value of at least AED 2 million, evidenced by title deed and valuation. |
| Public investment investors | 10 yr | AED 2,000,000+ | Hold at least AED 2 million in an accredited fund, company capital, or personally-owned (non-financed) capital. |
| Entrepreneurs | 5 yr | AED 500,000+ | Own or found a project valued at AED 500,000+, approved by a UAE-accredited business incubator or authority. |
| Skilled professionals | 5 yr | AED 30,000/mo | Valid employment contract with minimum monthly salary of AED 30,000 and an attested relevant degree. |
| Specialized talents | 10 yr | Nomination-based | Scientists, doctors, executives, athletes, and creatives nominated or endorsed by a competent UAE authority. |
| Outstanding students | 10 yr | Top academic record | Top-ranked high school students, or graduates with a GPA of 3.75+ (95%+) and recommendation letters. |
| Humanitarian pioneers & frontline heroes | 10 yr | Endorsement-based | Recognized for humanitarian contributions or exceptional frontline service. |
| 2025–2026 expanded categories | Varies | Sector-specific | Content creators (Dubai Creators HQ), outstanding educators, nurses with 15+ years of service, and Waqf donors. |
NOTE
Requirements have been revised multiple times since 2019 and vary slightly by emirate. Always confirm current thresholds directly at icp.gov.ae or with GDRFA before relying on any figure, including the ones in this guide.
03 WHAT IT COSTS
AED
4,700 –
10,500
4,700 –
10,500
03
What It Costs
Golden Visa costs fall into two separate buckets: the qualifying amount for your category (such as the AED 2 million property or deposit threshold) and the government processing fees, which are much smaller and vary by emirate and channel.
Nomination / entry permit
350 – 1,250
Medical fitness test
500 – 700
Emirates ID (10-year)
370 – 1,150
Residency permit confirmation
2,800 – 3,000
Typical total, government fees only
4,700 – 10,500
Figures are indicative and change over time; service centers, typing centers, and PRO agents may charge additional fees on top of official government charges.
04
How to Apply
1
Confirm your category and gather documents
Collect the records specific to your route: property title deeds, fund or deposit statements, an attested degree and salary certificate, academic transcripts, or a nomination letter from a competent authority. Documents issued outside the UAE typically need MOFA attestation and certified translation.
2
Get nominated or endorsed (where required)
Talent, humanitarian, and several 2025–2026 categories require formal nomination or endorsement from a government entity or accredited institution before an ICP application can even be opened.
3
Submit through ICP or GDRFA
Log into the ICP Golden Services dashboard (or GDRFA smart services in Dubai) using UAE Pass, complete the application form, upload documents, and pay the applicable fees electronically.
4
Complete medical fitness and biometrics
Book an appointment at an approved medical center and complete the Emirates ID biometric capture, bringing your passport and entry/residence permit.
5
Receive your Golden Visa
Once approved — typically within two to three weeks of a complete submission — your residence visa and Emirates ID are issued, and family members can be added to the same application.
05
Family, Tax, and Renewal
Family
Sponsoring family members
Golden Visa holders can generally sponsor a spouse and children, and in many cases domestic staff, under one application. Rules for adult children and parents are less consistent across sources and are often assessed case by case — confirm the current position with ICP or GDRFA rather than relying on a single guide, including this one.
Tax
Tax residency is separate
Holding a Golden Visa does not, by itself, make someone a UAE tax resident. A Tax Residency Certificate from the Federal Tax Authority requires meeting a specific physical-presence threshold and is applied for independently of the visa.
Renewal
Renewal
The Golden Visa is not a one-time grant of permanent status — it's a renewable 5- or 10-year permit. Renewal requires continuing to meet the qualifying conditions for your category, such as maintaining the underlying investment or employment status.
06
Frequently Asked Questions
A long-term, renewable UAE residence permit — usually 10 years, 5 years for some categories — granted to investors, entrepreneurs, specialized professionals, outstanding students, and other qualifying individuals. It does not require a local sponsor or employer and removes the six-month limit on staying outside the UAE.
Real estate investors (AED 2M+ property), public investment investors (AED 2M+ in funds, deposits, or capital), entrepreneurs (AED 500,000+ projects), salaried professionals (AED 30,000+/month), nominated specialized talents, outstanding students, humanitarian pioneers, frontline workers, and — since 2025–2026 — content creators, educators, long-serving nurses, and Waqf donors.
Direct government fees generally run AED 4,700 to AED 10,500 depending on category and emirate, covering the entry permit, Emirates ID, medical test, and status change. This is separate from the underlying investment amount and any service-center charges.
Most categories run for 10 years, with some entrepreneur and specialist routes issued for 5 years. It renews indefinitely as long as the holder still meets their category's requirements.
No. The Golden Visa is self-sponsored — holders can change jobs, start a business, or remain unemployed without losing residency status.
Yes, generally a spouse and children, and often domestic staff, under the same visa. Rules for adult children and parents vary and are worth confirming directly with ICP or GDRFA.
No. Tax residency requires a separate Tax Residency Certificate from the Federal Tax Authority based on physical-presence rules, independent of Golden Visa status.
Roughly two to three weeks once a complete file is submitted, though this varies by category, emirate, and how quickly attestations and valuations are provided.
This guide is for general informational purposes and reflects publicly reported requirements as of August 2026. Golden Visa rules are revised periodically — always verify current criteria, fees, and documents directly with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (icp.gov.ae) or GDRFA before applying. This is not legal or immigration advice.