Confused by the Golden Visa process in the UAE? Dealing with eligibility, paperwork, and approvals can be overwhelming. Safe Ledger’s expert-guided approach makes it simple for you.
The UAE Golden Visa is a prestigious long-term residency permit designed to attract and retain investors, entrepreneurs, exceptional talents, scientists, outstanding students, and professionals in key sectors. It is essentially a 10-year, self-sponsored visa that can be renewed upon meeting the eligibility criteria.
If you want to know how to get Golden Visa UAE, it allows you to live and work freely without a local sponsor. Business owners can also have full ownership, which is great for entrepreneurs.
The UAE offers several categories for the Golden Visa, ensuring the program attracts a diverse range of talents and investments. The main types of Golden Visa in UAE are tailored for specific profiles, from seasoned investors to brilliant students.
The 10-year Golden Visa is open to:
10 Year Golden Visa Requirements (2025):
The 5-year Golden Visa applies to:
5 Year Golden Visa Requirements (2025):
The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence permit designed to retain global talent, investors, and exceptional professionals. It allows you to live, work, and study in the UAE without a local sponsor, and includes extensive benefits such as family sponsorship and flexibility for travel or absence from the UAE.
Investors and entrepreneurs are a cornerstone of the Golden Visa program. Investors can qualify by investing AED 2 million or more in real estate or in a UAE-accredited investment fund
The UAE seeks to attract top-tier professionals with specialized knowledge and experience. A key Golden Visa requirement is having a valid employment contract and a salary threshold (typically a minimum monthly salary of AED 30,000) meets the quota.
Owning property in the UAE can be your direct ticket to a Golden Visa. This category is a prime opportunity for real estate investors seeking long-term residency.
A minimum property value is set to qualify for this category.
The UAE is keen on retaining bright young minds. Exceptional students and high-achieving graduates from accredited universities can secure their future in the country with a Golden Visa.
This applies to top students from UAE secondary schools and graduates from UAE-accredited universities, and the world’s top 100 universities are eligible. Specific GPA requirements apply when considering applying for the Golden Visa in the UAE for students.
The UAE highly values its healthcare professionals. Doctors, nurses, and other medical staff are encouraged to apply, especially in light of their critical contributions. The UAE Golden Visa for nurses has specific criteria to facilitate their application.
The Golden Visa for teachers program is designed to attract the world’s best educators and academic minds. This includes teachers from various educational levels and researchers with significant contributions to their fields.
The documents required for the UAE Golden Visa vary by category, but being well-prepared helps ensure a smooth application process.
Depending on the profession (e.g., executives, doctors, scientists, artists):
The application process for getting the Golden Visa is a multi-step procedure that requires careful attention to detail. While the specifics can vary slightly between emirates and application channels, the general workflow is as follows:
This is the most critical and often the most time-consuming phase. First, the applicant must accurately determine the visa category for which they are eligible (refer to the “Who is Eligible for a Golden Visa” section above). Once the category is identified, all required documents must be gathered.
For professionals with foreign degrees, this involves a multi-stage attestation process: certification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the home country, followed by attestation at the UAE embassy in that country, and finally, attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) upon arrival in the UAE. This process alone can take several weeks.
Applicants have several options for submitting their nomination request. Online submission is encouraged via:
The applicant must fill out the “Golden Visa Nomination Request” form, either online or at a service center. All prepared documents must be uploaded or submitted in the correct format. Upon submission, the applicant will be directed to pay the required government fees.
Authorities review your documents, eligibility, and conduct background checks. Processing times vary—typically 2–6 weeks.
Once the initial nomination request is approved, the applicant will receive a notification to proceed with a mandatory medical fitness test at a government-approved health center. This test typically screens for communicable diseases like tuberculosis and HIV. Expedited or “VIP” services are often available, which can deliver results in a matter of hours.
This step is a crucial prerequisite for those already residing in the UAE on a different visa. The current residency visa must be officially cancelled by the existing sponsor (usually the employer) before the Golden Visa can be processed and stamped. This step is external to the Golden Visa application itself and can sometimes cause delays if not handled promptly by the sponsor.
After the medical test is passed and the old visa is successfully cancelled, the immigration authorities will grant final approval. The Golden Visa is then issued, often as an electronic visa (e-visa).
The final step involves visiting a service center to have the visa stamped in the passport and to provide biometrics for the new 10-year Emirates ID card, which will be delivered a few days later.
It is vital to understand the legal framework and privileges that come with holding a Golden Visa.
Golden Visa holders are granted long-term residency, allowing them to live, work, and study in the UAE with full legal rights under this status.
This is one of the most significant Golden Visa benefits. Holders have enhanced sponsorship capabilities.
The visa offers complete flexibility in employment, empowering holders to pursue their career goals without restrictions.
The Golden Visa real estate path is directly linked to property ownership rights. Holders can own property in designated freehold areas across the UAE.
To maintain your visa status, you must continue to abide by all UAE laws and immigration regulations. This includes any reporting or renewal requirements.
Your visa can be canceled if you violate UAE laws or if it is discovered that the visa was obtained through fraudulent information. However, the visa remains valid even if you stay outside the UAE for more than six months.
Costs can be broken down into mandatory government fees and optional service fees.
| Fee Component | Estimated Cost (AED) | Notes / Source |
|---|---|---|
|
Application / Issuance Fee |
AED 2,800 – AED 4,000 |
The primary government fee for the visa itself. |
|
Medical Test |
AED 400 – AED 1,000 |
Standard tests are at the lower end; VIP/fast-track services cost more. |
|
Emirates ID (10-Year) |
AED 1,070 – AED 1,200 |
Calculated at approximately AED 100 per year plus administrative fees. |
|
Document Attestation/Equivalency |
AED 500 – AED 1,500+ |
Highly variable; depends on the document type, country of origin, and required steps. |
|
Health Insurance (Annual) |
AED 800 – AED 2,500+ |
Mandatory; cost varies significantly based on age, coverage level, and provider. |
|
Total DIY Cost (Estimate) |
AED 5,500 – AED 9,700 |
This is the estimated range for mandatory fees per applicant, excluding optional services. |
|
Consultancy/Agent Fees (Optional) |
AED 5,000 – AED 18,000+ |
A professional service fee for managing the application, not a government charge. |
The processing time is highly variable, ranging from a few days for straightforward cases to several months for more complex applications requiring extensive document verification and attestation.
The Golden Visa is granted for a validity period of either five or ten years, depending on the category of application. A key feature of the program is its renewability, which allows for a continuous, long-term residency.
The procedure for renewal mirrors the initial application process in many respects:
Crucially, they must also resubmit proof of their continued eligibility, such as a current property title deed for an investor or a valid employment contract and salary certificate for a professional.
The UAE Golden Visa benefits are extensive and can significantly enhance your life and career in the Emirates.
Get started with Safe Ledger today and ensure your UAE Golden Visa application is handled correctly, securely, and positioned for guaranteed approval.
The UAE Golden Visa aims to attract and retain global talent, investors, and entrepreneurs to contribute to the country’s economic growth. It offers long-term residency to individuals who can support the UAE’s strategic sectors, fostering innovation, economic development, and sustainability.
Yes, existing residents who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for the Golden Visa. If you are already a resident, you can upgrade your current visa to a Golden Visa, provided you fulfill the required conditions for your category, such as investment or professional qualifications.
Yes, health insurance is mandatory for all residents in the UAE, including Golden Visa holders and their family members. You must have valid health insurance to comply with UAE law and to ensure access to necessary medical care during your residency.
If your circumstances change and you no longer meet the eligibility criteria, your Golden Visa may not be renewed upon its expiration. It’s essential to maintain the conditions that initially qualified you for the visa to ensure continuous residency in the UAE.
The UAE has issued tens of thousands of Golden Visas since the program’s inception. While the exact number can fluctuate, the visa has successfully attracted global talent, investors, and professionals to contribute to the UAE’s growing economy, with new applicants being approved regularly.
Eligibility for the Golden Visa varies based on category. Key requirements include being an investor, entrepreneur, skilled worker, or having specialized talents like scientists, doctors, or artists. Specific criteria, such as minimum investment amounts or academic qualifications, may apply depending on your profession or industry.
The UAE Golden Visa is typically valid for 5 or 10 years, depending on your category and eligibility. It is renewable as long as you continue to meet the necessary criteria for your specific visa type, allowing for long-term residency in the UAE.
Yes, the Golden Visa allows you to secure a stable future for your entire family.
Yes, holders of the Golden Visa can work in the UAE, provided they meet the specific employment or business requirements of their visa category. The Golden Visa is ideal for investors, skilled professionals, and entrepreneurs who want to contribute to the UAE’s economy while enjoying long-term residency.
To apply for the UAE Golden Visa, you need to meet the eligibility criteria, gather the required documents (such as proof of investment, qualifications, or sponsorship), and submit your application through the UAE’s official government portals or through authorized service providers like SafeLedger. The application process is streamlined for ease of use.
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