What does a golden visa mean? What are the requirements and procedures to obtain long term visa in Dubai?

Created on Dec 07, 2021
Last updated on Aug 18, 2026

By Nikhil Skariah (Author) | Reviewed by Shibi Joseph On Dec 07, 2021

What does a golden visa mean? What are the requirements and procedures to obtain long term visa in Dubai?

The UAE implemented the Golden visa in 2019. The Golden Visa UAE enables foreigners to live, work and study in the UAE without the need of a national sponsor and with 100% ownership of their business on the UAE’s mainland. These visas will be issued for 5 or 10 years and will be renewed automatically.

The UAE government provides Golden Visas to entrepreneurs, investors, bright students with promising scientific capabilities, and specialized talents and researchers in various fields of science and knowledge.

What does the Golden Visa offer?

The Golden Visa offers a long-term residency for around 5-10 years to people belonging to the group of investors, entrepreneurs, individuals with outstanding talents the likes of researchers, medical professionals and those within the scientific and knowledge fields, and remarkable students.

How does one apply for the visa?

The person who is interested to apply for Golden in UAE has to go to the website of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) which works under the ministry.

ICA offers only online channels and GDRFA offers both online and offline channels. The process is very smooth with candidates who are willing to relocate to the UAE according to their business ventures. They have to submit the necessary documents in order to get dubai residency visa.

Requirements for the Golden Visa UAE 

The requirement of a visa depends on the organization but they are all subject to the persons adhering to the terms and conditions of the Golden Visa. The Golden Visa system offers long-term residency to people referring to specific groups. 

A. 10-year visa eligibility requirements

Below are the 10-year golden visa eligibility requirements.

  • A deposit of at least AED (United Arab Emirates Dirham) 10 million worth of public investment, either in the form of an investment fund or a company.
  • 60% of the total investment must not be in the form of real estate.
  • The invested amount must not be loaned, or in the case of assets, investors must assume full ownership.
  • The investor must be able to retain the investment for a minimum of three years.

This 10-year long visa may be extended to include business partners, providing that each partner contributes AED 10 million. The long-term visa can also include the holder’s spouse and children, as well as one executive director and one advisor. This visa may also be renewed 

B. Eligibility for a 5-year Golden visa 

Here are the 3 things that need to keep in mind before applying for the UAE Golden Visa.

  1. The investor must invest in a property of a gross value of not less than AED 5million.
  2. The amount that is invested in real estate should not be on a loan basis
  3. The property must be retained for at least 3 years.

C. What are the conditions for people with specialized talents?

To be eligible for residency, members of the specialized talent category must meet specific requirements

  1. While scientists must be recipients of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence or members of the Emirates Scientists Council, creative professionals in the arts and culture must become a member of the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development of UAE.
  2. The extraordinary abilities must be proved by patents or scientific studies published in peer-reviewed publications.

D. Doctors and Specialists

  • Has to be a Ph.D. from one of the world’s top 500 universities, an award or certificate of appreciation in the respective field of work.
  • Published articles or scientific books in prestigious publications in the respective field of work.
  • contribution to a major scientific research project in the respective field of work.
  • membership in a field-related organization
  • A Ph.D. and 10 years of professional experience in his field of specialization in areas of priority to the UAE.

 E. Entrepreneurs 

  1. Those having an existing project with minimum capital.
  2. Those who have the approval of an accredited business incubator in the country.
  3. Entrepreneurs are granted a six-month multi-entry visa that can be renewed for another six months.
  4. The spouse and children, partner, and three executives are included in the long-term visa.

F. Outstanding Students 

  • Outstanding students with a minimum grade of 95% in public and private secondary schools.
  • University students within and outside the country having a distinction GPA of at least 3.75 upon graduation.

G. Chief Executives   

  1. The Applicant must have a bachelor’s degree.
  2. To have experience of at least five years and above is a must.
  3. Should be earning a salary of 30,000 AED or more in the UAE under a licit job contract.
  4. The applicant must have health insurance which includes family members.

How to Overcome UAE Golden Visa Requirements?  

The easy way to get a Dubai Golden Visa is through company formation in UAE. By registering a company in Dubai, a person can easily get a 3-year residency visa. The visa has to be renewed after every 3 years. The process for opening a company in Dubai is simple. The person must apply for a general trade license and complete all the legal formalities on time.

Conclusion 

From company formation to Golden visa application, Danburite Corporate can help you at every step. You can register your company in Dubai with DED. Due to the above-mentioned restrictions for UAE Golden Visa, you may want to apply for other available Dubai visas. To resolve any of your queries, you can connect with the business setup consultants at Danburite Corporate. We will answer all your queries related to Dubai visas and assist you in every possible way.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who is eligible for the UAE Golden Visa?

Eligibility covers several categories: investors (real estate and public investment), entrepreneurs, specialized talent (scientists, doctors, artists), outstanding students, and senior executives earning AED 30,000 or more per month. Each category has specific financial, professional, or academic criteria to meet.

2. What is the minimum investment required for a UAE Golden Visa?

For a 5-year visa, a minimum property investment of AED 5 million is required, held for at least 3 years and not financed through a loan. For the 10-year visa, a public investment of at least AED 10 million is needed, with no more than 40% in real estate and fully owned (not loaned).

3. How do I apply for a Golden Visa in Dubai?

Applications are submitted through the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) via their online portal, or through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), which offers both online and in-person channels. Alternatively, registering a company in Dubai through a licensed formation consultant is a common pathway to UAE residency.

4. Can my family be included in my UAE Golden Visa?

Yes. The Golden Visa can be extended to cover your spouse, children, one executive director, and one advisor. For the 10-year investor visa, business partners can also be included, provided each partner individually meets the AED 10 million investment threshold.

✎ Author

Nikhil Skariah
Legal Advisor  Corporate Governance and Compliance Expert  Regulation  Legal Strategy  Contract Auditing  
I'm Nikhil, your friendly lawyer who cuts through the legal mumbo jumbo. No fancy suits or boring jargon here, just straightforward advice to help your small business thrive.

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