United Arab Emirates · investor · Leads to settlement
UAE Golden Visa
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
10-year renewable residence visa for investors, entrepreneurs, and outstanding talent across professional categories.
- Processing time
- Varies by category and emirate; typically 2–8 weeks with complete file.
- Government fees
- AED 2,800–3,800 depending on emirate, plus medical and Emirates ID fees.
- Typical duration
- 10 years, renewable.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Overview
The UAE Golden Visa offers 10-year self-sponsored residence to qualifying investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talent (healthcare, science, engineering, arts), outstanding students, and humanitarian pioneers. Unlike many residence visas, it does not require a UAE employer and permits multiple dependants.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Indian applicants
Indian nationals are the largest Golden Visa cohort. Both the investor track (property AED 2M+) and the specialised-tale…
Pakistani applicants
Pakistani nationals use the Golden Visa primarily on the investor and entrepreneur tracks. Source-of-funds documentation…
Egyptian applicants
Egyptian professionals feature heavily in the specialised-talent track, particularly in medicine and engineering. Syndic…
Bangladeshi applicants
Bangladeshi nationals form a large established UAE cohort, primarily routed via skilled-worker permits rather than the G…
Iranian applicants
Iranian nationals are a substantial Golden Visa cohort, particularly on the investor and entrepreneur tracks — the UAE i…
Russian applicants
Russian nationals became one of the fastest-growing Golden Visa cohorts post-2022 — the UAE has positioned itself as the…
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Qualifying investor category — public investment fund deposit, Dubai/Abu Dhabi real estate, or business ownership.
- ✓Specialised talent category — qualifying role in medicine, science, education, engineering, or arts with nomination/accreditation.
- ✓Outstanding student category — top academic performance at UAE or recognised global university.
Common blockers
- !Property investment below qualifying thresholds (generally AED 2m for ready property).
- !Talent category without required professional recognition.
Typical evidence
- ·Property title deeds, investment statements, or employment evidence.
- ·Professional accreditation letters.
- ·Passport and medical fitness certificate.
Application pathway
Identify qualifying category
Golden Visa has multiple sub-categories with distinct criteria; choose the right one.
Apply via ICP or GDRFA
Federal ICP or Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs, depending on emirate.
Medical, biometrics, Emirates ID
Standard post-approval steps.
Sponsor family
Spouse, children, and parents can be sponsored without UAE employment.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantApply for Golden Residency ↗
Eligible applicants use the ICP service page to assess Golden Residency criteria and access official filing channels.
Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security · verified
Fees and processing time
A typical UAE Golden Visa application runs about AED 5,343 in government fees (single applicant, inside UAE, with change of status). A decision then typically takes 2 weeks – 4 weeks. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Frequently asked questions
Does the UAE Golden Visa require me to live in the UAE?+
No. The Golden Visa does not require continuous residence to remain valid, though periodic visits are recommended. This is a material point of differentiation versus most employment residence visas.
Is UAE Golden Visa a path to citizenship?+
The UAE has historically not offered naturalisation to long-term residents. Recent reforms created a limited citizenship track, but it is highly selective and not a reliable path for Golden Visa holders to plan around.
Can I get a UAE Golden Visa as a recent graduate or top student?+
Yes, there is an outstanding-student category based on top academic performance at a UAE or recognised global university, and high-performing students are among those the Golden Visa suits. Confirm the current academic thresholds for your case on the official UAE Government Portal.
Can a skilled professional get a UAE Golden Visa without being a major investor?+
Yes, via the specialised-talent category for qualifying roles in medicine, science, education, engineering, or arts, which requires nomination or accreditation. Without that professional recognition, the talent category is a common blocker. It is a self-sponsored 10-year residence.
How much property do I need to buy to qualify for the UAE Golden Visa investor route?+
For the ready-property investor route, investment below the qualifying threshold (generally AED 2m for ready property) is listed as a common blocker, so roughly AED 2m in ready property is the indicative bar. Confirm the exact current threshold on the official UAE Government Portal.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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