The Golden visa is a long-term residence visa that enables foreign talents to live and work or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits. Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers, and frontline heroes are amongst those eligible for the Golden visa
The Golden visa benefits include:
- an entry visa for six months with multiple entries to proceed with residence issuance
- a long-term, renewable residence visa valid for 10 years
- a self-sponsored visa, as there is no need for an employment sponsor
- sponsoring their family members, including spouses and children regardless of their ages
- sponsoring an unlimited number of domestic helpers
The visa is mainly for Investors, Entrepreneurs, Exceptional talents, Scientists and Professionals, Outstanding students and graduates, Humanitarian pioneers, and Frontline heros.
Investors
Real estate investors can obtain a Golden visa in the UAE if they fulfill one of the following conditions:
- purchase a property worth no less than AED two million or
- buy one or more off-plan properties of no less than AED two million from approved local real estate companies.
Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs can obtain a Golden visa if they fulfill one of the following conditions:
- own or partner in a start-up registered as a small and medium enterprise (SMEs) in the UAE, and the company generates annual revenues of not less than AED one million
- must have founded an entrepreneurial project that was sold for a total amount of not less than AED seven million
Exceptional talents
Inventors, innovators, and exceptional talents in vital fields such as culture, art, sports, and digital technology can obtain a Golden visa regardless of their educational qualification, employment status, monthly salary, or professional level. The visa requires a recommendation or approval from a federal or local government entity.
Scientists and Professionals
Scientists and researchers with high achievements and influence in their field can get the Golden visa based on a recommendation from the Emirates Scientists Council. A candidate should have a Ph.D. or a Master’s degree in one of the disciplines of engineering, technology, life sciences, and natural sciences from the best universities in the world
Professionals or highly-skilled workers with high educational qualifications and professional experience in all disciplines, including medicine, sciences and engineering, information technology, business and administration, education, law, culture, and social sciences can get the Golden visa if they:
- have a valid employment contract in the UAE
- hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- have a monthly salary of not less than AED 30,000.
Outstanding students and graduates
High-performing students in the UAE’s secondary schools and outstanding graduates from the UAE’s universities and the best 100 universities worldwide can get the Golden visa. Criteria include academic performance/cumulative average, year of graduation, and the university classification.
Humanitarian pioneers
Humanitarian pioneers such as the following can get the Golden visa:
- distinguished members of international and regional organizations
- outstanding members of associations of public benefit
- recipients of recognition awards in humanitarian fields
Frontline heros
Frontline workers with extraordinary efforts in crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic can also get the Golden visa.
