The UAE is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. The country’s economy is expected to grow by 4% in 2024, which is higher than the country’s average CAGR of 3.7%. The country is a business hub with one of the lowest tax rates globally.
Many foreign business owners and investors have set up their businesses here. Foreign students and workers also find the country attractive due to world-class attractions and the high quality of life here.
To facilitate living in the UAE for such people, the UAE government has introduced many programs to bring top talent and boost the economy. Hence, the government introduced the Dubai Golden Visa, a new framework for long-term residence visas, in 2019.
Check your eligibility if you fall under any of the categories below.
| Category | Property Owner | Skilled Professional | Investor/Entrepreneurs |
| Eligibility Requirement | Worth 2M | Salary 30k | Bank Deposit 2M |
The new framework empowers foreigners to live, work, and study in the UAE without the need for the support of any local sponsor and with 100% ownership of business in the UAE Mainland. The Dubai golden visa will be given for 5 or 10 years and renewed automatically.
What is Dubai Golden visa?
The Golden Visa in the UAE is a long-term residence visa offered to foreigners who fulfil specific requirements. One of the most appealing features of this visa is that you do not need to renew it for 5-10 years.
The Golden Visa in Dubai comes with a number of exclusive benefits, and the process to obtain one is not too complex. The UAE government offers various visa programs, which we will discuss in detail later.
What are the Benefits of Golden Visa Dubai?
The Golden Visa in the UAE has become one of the most sought-after visas lately. It allows long-term residence as well as a long list of unique benefits.
Here are some of the benefits offered by the Golden Visa Dubai:
Long-Term Residency
You get a long-term residence visa valid for 5-10 years and is renewable.
No Need for National Sponsor
You do not need a local sponsor.
Entry Visa
You get a 6-month entry visa with numerous entries.
0% Income Tax
Since the UAE is a tax-free country, investors and foreign nationals can enjoy the benefits of avoiding tax in their country by issuing a tax residence certificate from the UAE. All the income and profits are tax-free in the UAE. One can enjoy these benefits by investing in Dubai either in properties, bonds, or businesses.
Travelling Privileges
The golden visa holders are treated like they are nationals of the UAE. Hence, it gives an easy hand in regards to travelling. So, you do not need to apply for the visa again; you can live, study, and work throughout the UAE without any inconvenience.
You also get the privilege to stay outside the UAE for more than 6 months without affecting your residency status.
Sponsor Family Members
You can sponsor your family members regardless of their ages. You can also sponsor domestic helpers.
Permit to Family Members
A permit is given to the family members after the passing of a Golden Visa holder to stay in the UAE for a specific duration.
Who can apply for a Golden Visa in UAE?
As stated earlier, the Golden Visa is only given to individuals who meet certain criteria reserved by the UAE government. People who make outstanding contributions to the country, are highly skilled, or work in specific sectors are only considered eligible.
If you want to apply for the Golden Visa, you must fall into one of the following groups:
- Public investors
- Real estate investors
- Entrepreneurs
- Executive directors
- Doctors and scientists
- Lawyers
- Students
- Athletes
- Creative people in the fields of culture and art
- Specialists in engineering and science
Golden Visa Requirements
To apply for the Dubai Golden Visa, you must fulfil certain requirements based on the visa program you are applying for. Here we take a look at the Golden visa requirements for all types of visa applicants:
Investors
For the 10-year visa, investors with at least AED 2 million worth of public investment can apply.
You must submit a letter showing you have invested AED 2 million in an approved UAE investment fund.
Or, you can submit a valid company licence and memo of association showing an investment of at least AED 2 million in the company’s capital.
You can also submit a letter proving you paid at least AED 250,000 to the Federal Tax Authority.
The investor must:
- Fully own the invested money – no loans
- Have health insurance for them and their families
Property Investors
Real estate investors can get a 5-year renewable Golden visa If they own property worth at least AED 2 million.
They must provide:
- Letter from the land department proving at least AED 2 million property value
- Purchase the property through loans from approved local banks only
P.S. Property owners were required to make a down payment of at least AED 1 million before. The UAE government has removed this requirement. You can apply for a 10-year residency visa now, regardless of the down payment amount.
Entrepreneurs
If you own a project that is innovative, technical, or future-focused, you can get a 5-year Golden visa by providing:
- Auditor letter showing project value of at least AED 500,000
- Approval letter from Emirate authorities calling it a technical/innovative project
- Letter from an accredited UAE business incubator agreeing to host your project
Executive Directors
Executive directors need a Bachelor’s degree or higher that is certified by the Ministry of Education. They must have 5+ years of experience without switching positions and a salary of over AED 50,000. Executive directors must also have a valid UAE work contract.
Doctors and Scientists
Doctors have to provide approval from the Ministry of Health to practice medicine in the UAE.
Scientists need to present a letter showing they have won the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence or have a recommendation from the Emirates Council of Scientists.
Inventors can also apply by providing a letter from the Ministry of Economy that their patent brings value to the UAE economy.
Students
High school students with outstanding performance can get a 5-year visa. He/she must be a national-level topper with a minimum of 95% marks in a public or private sector school.
Students from highly rated universities with high GPAs can get a 10-year visa. Foreign university students can also apply if they have graduated from a university rated among the world’s top 100 universities. They must have graduated at most 2 years ago, and their GPA should be at least 3.5.
For high school and university students, you would require a letter of recommendation or certificate accredited by the Ministry of Education.
Athletes
Athletes must provide a recommendation from the General Sports Authority or emirate sports councils.
Creative people in the fields of culture and art
Creative people require an approval letter from the arts and culture department in their respective emirate.
Specialists in Engineering and Science
Specialists in science and engineering need to provide the following:
- Bachelor’s/Master’s degree certified by the Ministry of Education
- A Valid UAE work contract
Humanitarian Work
You can get a 10-year visa if you have been involved in humanitarian work. To meet the criteria, you must:
- Have worked for 5+ years in international and regional organisations.
- Have received awards for humanitarian work
- Have worked for institutions that work in the public interest
- Have donated over AED 2 million for humanitarian causes
Frontline Heroes
Frontline workers who have showcased extraordinary effort during crises can also get the Golden Visa. They must provide a recommendation letter from any competent authorities.
How to Apply for Golden Visa UAE?
First, to apply for a Golden Visa in the UAE, check if you are eligible. Ensure you select the right visa type you want.
You can follow these steps:
- Visit the official website and click on “Services”
- From the drop-down menu, select “Golden Residency Services”
- Scroll below and click on “Applying for Golden Visa”
- Now, you can choose the type of Golden visa you want to apply for
- Click “Start Service” to begin the application
In the next step, you are required to
- Fill in your personal details
- Attach required documents
- Review your visa application before submission
- Pay the visa fees
You must ensure that you accurately provide personal details and attach correct documents. The immigration office reviews your application, which can take 5-30 days.
What is the Cost of the Golden Visa in Dubai?
The price for the Golden Visa is not fixed. The cost will differ for public or real estate investors as they must show proof of investments in the UAE. And different for other categories.
You have to pay for a medical exam and an Emirates ID as an additional cost.
How Avyanco Can Assist with Your Golden Visa Application?
Avyanco Business Setup is a leading business setup consultant in Dubai. We have expertise and years of experience managing our client’s visa applications. We help foreigners with business setup in Dubai and assist with visas for them and their employees.
Our professional visa experts have significant experience helping our clients with Golden Visa applications. We have a proud team of pro executives, tax advisors, business consultants, seasoned lawyers, and visa experts.
Our consultants are known for their customer-centric approach. We assist you with your visa applications and a wide range of services, including business registration, VAT assistance, auditing, and compliance.
We ensure you move to Dubai and scale your business as smoothly as possible.
Our scope of services include:
- Visa Services
- Company Registration and Formation
- UAE Local Sponsorship
- Corporate PRO
- Accounting and Bookkeeping
- Trademark Registration
- VAT Consultation and Registration
- Internal and external audit
- Ultimate Beneficial Owner Disclosure
- AML Regulations
- Company License Renewals
- Document Clearing
- Economic Substance Regulation
To check your Golden Visa application status, you can visit the UAE Government website. Click on ‘Track Your Visa Application’ and enter your ‘Request Number’ to check status.
Golden Visa holders can claim an Esaad card by visiting the official Esaad website and registering from there. They must provide registration details, such as name, contact information, and Emirates ID.
Golden Visa holders can stay outside the UAE for as long as they want. Other visa holders cannot stay outside the UAE for more than 6 months, but there are no such restrictions for Golden Visa UAE holders.
You can visit the official website to apply for the Golden Visa in the UAE.
The Golden Visa approval can take 2-5 days. If you apply for nomination, you will get your results in 30 days.
Yes, Golden Visa holders can sponsor their families, including spouses and children, regardless of age. It is one of the many benefits of a Golden Visa in Dubai.
The students applying for Golden Visa UAE must check their eligibility first. To apply for the Golden Visa, a high school student must be a national topper with at least 95% marks in public or private secondary school.
Such students can get a 5-year residency visa. However, they must also obtain a letter of recommendation from the Emirates Schools Establishment, a branch of the Ministry of Education.
To apply, they can visit the official website.
Engineers must have a work contract in the UAE. They must also get their graduation certificate accredited by the Ministry of Education.
To apply, they can visit the official website.
Frontliners include nurses, pharmacologists, lab technicians, medical assistants, and other groups approved by the Frontline Heroes Office. They can apply by visiting the official website and following the application steps.
Yes, the Golden Visa automatically gets renewed.
As a Golden Visa holder is not under any sponsorship, the Golden Visa does not get revoked or cancelled due to third-party reasons.
