If you are considering an investment, a professional relocation, or studying in the United Arab Emirates, you have probably come across the term Dubai Golden Visa. It is a long-term, renewable residency visa – valid for 5 or 10 years – that lets you live, work, and run a business in the UAE without needing a local sponsor. The programme covers the whole country, though Dubai, given the scale of its property and business market, remains the place where foreigners most often apply for this visa.
Find out who can apply for the golden visa, what requirements apply to each category, what the application process looks like step by step, and how much it costs.
What is a Golden Visa in the United Arab Emirates?
The golden visa programme was launched in 2019 under UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 56/2018. Its legal framework was later reinforced by Federal Decree-Law No. 29/2021, which introduced formal rules for long-term residency without a sponsor. The programme is administered at the federal level by the ICP, while in Dubai applications are also handled by the GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs).
Four features distinguish the Golden Visa from a standard residency visa:
● Validity of 5 or 10 years – renewable for the same period.
● No sponsor required – neither an employer nor a local partner. You are your own sponsor.
● Allows you to stay outside the UAE for longer than the standard 6 months without risking the visa’s validity.
● Gives you the right to sponsor family members – a spouse and children.
With a standard residency visa, your status depends on the employer or company sponsoring you. Lose your job and you lose your visa. The golden visa removes that dependency, which makes it especially attractive to investors and professionals who want residency stability that isn’t tied to a single place of employment.
Who can apply for a Golden Visa? Categories and requirements
The programme covers several categories of applicants, from major investors, through entrepreneurs and specialists, to outstanding students.
Investors – real estate and public investment
This is the most popular route to a Dubai golden visa. It splits into two variants:
Real estate investment – if you own one or more properties in the UAE with a combined value of at least AED 2 million, you can apply for a 5-year visa. The property must be free of any mortgage – full ownership confirmed by a document from the relevant land registry authority is required.
Public investment – this covers depositing capital worth at least AED 2 million into an accredited investment fund, demonstrating equity of that value in a commercial or industrial licence, or holding a stake in a company that pays at least AED 250,000 in annual tax to the Federal Tax Authority. This route qualifies you for a 10-year visa.
It’s worth noting: the capital must be your own. It cannot come from a loan, and maintaining it is a condition for renewing the visa.
Entrepreneurs
If you are running an innovative, technology-focused or forward-looking project, you can apply for a 5-year visa. The condition is approval from an accredited business incubator in the UAE, from the ICP, or from the relevant authority of the emirate where you plan to operate. You must document the project’s value and provide evidence of its innovative character.
An alternative route applies to people who have previously founded and sold a startup; in that case, confirmation of the transaction value by the relevant authority is required.
Exceptional talents and specialists
This category qualifies you for a 10-year visa and covers a broad range of professions. Each sub-category has its own requirements, but the common denominator is a documented, outstanding track record in the given field:
● Doctors – a licence issued by UAE regulatory bodies, a degree from one of the world’s top 500 universities, or at least 10 years of professional experience and published research.
● Scientists and researchers – a doctoral or master’s degree in a priority field (engineering, natural sciences, technology), significant research achievements, and a recommendation from the Emirates Scientists Council.
● Specialists and executives – a valid UAE employment contract, first- or second-level professional classification under the Ministry of Human Resources, at least a bachelor’s degree, and a monthly income of no less than AED 30,000.
● Creators of culture and art, inventors, athletes – recommendations from the relevant institutions (e.g. Dubai Culture, the Ministry of Culture and Youth) and a portfolio documenting their achievements.
Outstanding students and graduates
Top-scoring high-school graduates can obtain a 5-year visa, while outstanding university students can obtain a 10-year visa. These are based on certificates with distinction and letters of recommendation from the school or university.
Humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes
People with a documented humanitarian contribution or at least 5 years of “frontline” service can apply for a 10-year visa. Certificates of recognition and supporting documentation of the activity are required.
New categories from 2025–2026
The ICP has expanded the programme with several additional groups. The new categories include digital content creators and influencers (application via the Creators HQ programme, launched after the 1 Billion Followers Summit), teachers with outstanding results in the private education sector, nurses with long professional service, and e-sports athletes. The conditions for these categories are still being finalised – check the current requirements directly on the ICP website before applying.
| Category | Visa length | Key requirements |
| Investors (public investment) | 10 years | Min. AED 2 million in equity capital; stake in a company paying ≥ AED 250,000 in annual tax |
| Investors (real estate) | 5 years | Property worth at least AED 2 million, full ownership |
| Entrepreneurs | 5 years | Innovative project approved by a business incubator or the relevant authority |
| Exceptional talents and specialists | 10 years | Depends on sub-category – recommendations, track record, experience, degrees |
| Outstanding students | 5 or 10 years | Certificates with distinction, university recommendations |
| Humanitarian pioneers | 10 years | Certificates of recognition, min. 5 years of service |
What benefits does the golden visa offer?
Besides the four features described earlier – no sponsor, long validity period, freedom to travel, and the ability to sponsor family – the golden visa gives you several additional, practical advantages.
Above all, you can run your own business in full, without a local partner, who was previously required in many UAE business structures. A stable long-term resident status also makes it easier to open a bank account, obtain financing, or sign lease agreements on more favourable terms. Your family retains the right of residence for the entire validity period of the visa, regardless of changes in your professional situation.
This marks a significant difference from a standard work visa, where losing your job means you must leave the country within 30 days. The golden visa gives you time and flexibility – you can change employer, start your own project, or simply wait for the right opportunity without the pressure of losing your status.
How does the golden visa application process work?
The procedure varies depending on the category and emirate, but the general outline covers the following steps:
1 – Eligibility check. On the smartservices.icp.gov.ae portal you’ll find an eligibility-check tool. It lets you assess whether you meet the requirements of your chosen category before you start gathering documents.
2 – Document preparation. Depending on the category, you will need: a valid passport, a passport photo, proof of investment or a property title deed, bank statements, degrees (preferably attested), letters of recommendation, a professional portfolio, or confirmation of company activity. All foreign documents should be properly attested.
3 – Submitting the application. You can do this via the ICP platform (applicable across the whole UAE), via the GDRFA portal (if applying in Dubai), or through authorised service centres (e.g. VFS Global, Tas-heel).
4 – Entry permit for applicants outside the UAE. If you are not in the Emirates, after initial approval you will receive a 6-month entry permit with multiple-entry rights. This gives you time to complete the formalities on the ground.
5 – Medical examination, biometrics, Emirates ID. Within the UAE you undergo a mandatory medical examination at an authorised centre, submit your biometric data, and apply for an Emirates ID – the resident identity document.
6 – Issuance of the visa and resident card. Once all stages are successfully completed, you receive the visa stamp in your passport and the Emirates ID card. The whole process – from application to issuance – usually takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on how complete the documentation is and how busy the authorities are.
How much does a Golden Visa cost?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions and one of the hardest to answer definitively. Official fees depend on the visa category, the application channel, and whether you are applying from within the UAE or from abroad.
The 6-month entry permit alone (for applicants outside the UAE) costs around AED 1,250. The standard visa application fee is roughly AED 2,800–4,800, depending on the category and place of submission. On top of that come the costs of the medical examination, the Emirates ID, and any authorised-centre services: VIP-type packages (e.g. in Abu Dhabi) run to around AED 3,500–4,000.
These amounts can change – the ICP has already updated its e-services fees. For that reason, the only reliable source for the current price is https://icp.gov.ae/, where you’ll find a detailed fee breakdown for your chosen visa category.
What should you watch out for when applying for a Dubai Golden Visa?
In 2025 the ICP officially denied media reports circulating about an alleged “lifetime visa for a one-off payment of AED 100,000 with no investment requirement.” Offers of this kind have no legal basis.
Keep three rules in mind:
● You submit a golden visa application exclusively through official channels – the ICP, the GDRFA, or authorised centres such as VFS Global and Tas-heel. No private company can “grant” you a visa on its own.
● If someone offers you a visa without meeting the official requirements of the category – that’s a scam. There are no shortcuts or “alternative routes” beyond those described by the ICP.
● Before submitting your application, check that the requirements are current directly on u.ae or icp.gov.ae – the programme is regularly updated, and outdated information found online can cost you a rejected application and a lost fee.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Golden Visa grant UAE citizenship?
No. The golden visa is a residency visa – it grants the right to reside, work, and run a business, but it is not equivalent to citizenship. The process of obtaining UAE citizenship is separate and subject to different, considerably more restrictive rules.
Do I have to live in the UAE permanently to keep my Golden Visa?
No, you don’t need to stay there continuously. One of the golden visa’s key advantages is the ability to remain outside the country for longer than 6 months without losing its validity – unlike a standard residency visa, which expires after 180 days of absence.
Is my family covered by the programme?
Yes. As a Golden Visa holder you can sponsor your spouse and children for the entire validity period of the visa. The detailed rules regarding children’s age limits and any sponsorship of parents are worth verifying with the ICP when submitting your application, as they can vary by category.
How long does it take to process an application?
There is no single official answer – the timeline depends on how complete the documentation is, the category, and how busy the authorities are. In practice, the whole process (from submitting the application to receiving the resident card) takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. An incomplete application is returned for completion – after the third return, it is rejected.
Can I lose my Golden Visa?
Yes – if you stop meeting the conditions of the category under which you obtained it (for example, if you sell the property that qualified you), the visa may not be renewed. The programme requires that you continue to meet the criteria throughout its entire validity period.
The golden visa is a multi-category, long-term residency visa programme that the UAE is systematically expanding with new beneficiary groups. Requirements differ significantly depending on whether you apply as an investor, entrepreneur, specialist, or student – which is why correctly matching yourself to the right category is a key step before you even start gathering documents.
As of: August 2026. Programme conditions may change – verify the current requirements on the official UAE government portals before submitting your application. https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/residence-visas/golden-visa
