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Secure Your Future with a UAE Golden Visa

Unlock long-term residency, full business ownership and peace of mind. Our team of experts simplifies Golden Visa applications so you can focus on living, working and investing in the UAE.
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What is a Dubai Golden Visa?

The UAE introduced the Golden Visa in 2019 to attract investors, entrepreneurs, professionals and high-achieving students. Unlike standard visas, the Golden Visa grants a long-term residence permit that can be valid for five or ten years and is renewable. Holders can live, work and study in the UAE without needing a national sponsor and can freely leave and re-enter the country as often as they wish. The programme was designed to bolster the economy by rewarding people who make significant contributions through investment, innovation or specialised skills. A Golden Visa holder may own 100 % of a business on the mainland, sponsor close family members, access public services and benefit from various privileges that differ from emirate to emirate (such as discounts on healthcare, education and real estate).

Long-term residency is particularly attractive because residents in the UAE do not pay income tax and enjoy world-class infrastructure, high safety standards and strategic access to global markets. The Golden Visa programme has evolved to include more categories over time, ensuring top talent and investors have an accessible pathway to residency.

Who is Eligible to Apply for a Golden Visa in Dubai?

Investors and Property Owners

    • Real-estate investors qualify by owning one or more properties valued at a total of at least AED 2 million. Proof of ownership must be obtained from the land department, and applicants must have at least six months’ validity on their passports. Individuals who invest in UAE-based funds may also be eligible if they invest at least AED 2 million in a certified investment fund, own a company with a minimum capital of AED 2 million or show evidence of paying federal taxes of at least AED 250,000 per year.

Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs whose projects are technical or future-oriented and valued at no less than AED 500,000 may qualify. They need an auditor’s letter confirming the project’s value, a letter from the relevant authority affirming the enterprise’s futuristic nature, and an endorsement from a recognised business incubator in the emirate.

Senior Executives and Skilled Professionals

Senior executives (general managers, directors and CEOs) and professionals in disciplines such as medicine, science and engineering are eligible if they have at least five to ten years’ experience in a senior role and earn a minimum monthly salary of AED 30,000. The employment contract must specify the managerial position and an equivalency certificate may be required.

Outstanding Students and Graduates

  • High-achieving university students with a GPA of 3.8/4 or higher can apply. Foreign graduates must hold degrees from universities listed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ top-100 universities list and obtain an equivalency certificate; processing time for the certificate is generally one to two months.

Specialised Talent and Others

The Golden Visa also covers doctors, scientists, inventors, athletes, creative artists, humanitarian workers and frontline heroes. Each group must meet specific criteria, such as holding exceptional qualifications, awards or professional experience, and often must be nominated by UAE authorities or recognised bodies.

 

Advantages of Obtaining a Dubai Golden Visa

A Golden Visa is more than a residence permit it unlocks a suite of lifestyle and business privileges. Long-term residency means holders can stay in the UAE for up to ten years without needing to exit the country every six months.

They can sponsor their spouse, children and dependent parents and there is no limit on the number of domestic helpers.

Golden Visa holders may remain outside the UAE for more than six months without losing their residency status and can continue to reside in the country even if the primary visa holder passes away, until their own visa expires.

From a business standpoint, a Golden Visa enables 100% ownership of companies operating on the mainland.

 

The programme also eliminates the need for a local sponsor, making it easier to relocate or establish a business. 

 

Visa holders are eligible for national programmes such as the Esaad privilege card in Dubai, which provides discounts on healthcare, education and leisurecommitbiz.com, and the equivalent programmes in Abu Dhabi offering deals on real estate, health insurance and banking products.

Access to healthcare and education services, the ability to obtain driving licences without extra lessons and tax-free personal income make the Golden Visa a comprehensive lifestyle solution.

Eligibility Requirements for Golden Visa in Dubai

Eligibility varies by category but several core conditions apply. There are specific eligibility criteria that applicants should fulfil before applying for a Golden Visa in Dubai. Here are a few important points to consider when checking your Golden Visa eligibility in Dubai:

  • You must have the required funds to invest, with the amount depending on the category you are applying for.

 

  • Own a property valued at no less than D 2 million, in case you are applying for the visa as a real estate investor.

 

Pass the background verification.

 

  • If you are a student, a minimum score of 95 percent in your secondary school or grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.75 in graduation is required.

 

  • For skilled professionals, you must have a basic salary of at least D 30,000 per month, along with an ‘Equivalency Certificate’ from the Ministry of Education.
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  • For investors applying for the Golden Visa, invest at least D 2 million in a UAE investment fund, own a company with at least D 2 million capital, or provide proof of paying federal taxes of minimum D 250,000 annually.
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Steps to Apply for a Golden Visa in Dubai

1. Determine your eligibility and category.

Assess whether you qualify as a property investor, entrepreneur, senior executive, specialist, student or other eligible talent. DSA’s consultants conduct an initial review of your profile to confirm eligibility and advise on the most suitable category.

2. Prepare your documentation.

Gather the necessary documents, including passports, photographs, Emirates ID copies, investment proofs, educational transcripts and any nomination letters. Our team liaises with auditors and government bodies to obtain valuations, equivalency certificates and no-objection letters.

3. Submit your application and pay the fees.

We submit your applications via the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), or in person at Customer Happiness or Amer service centres. When applying through ICP/GDRFA’s online system, we select the Golden Visa service, complete the forms and upload documents before paying the required fees.

4. Await approval.

Once submitted, the application is reviewed by authorities. During this period you may be contacted for additional information or asked to undergo a medical examination. Notifications of approval or rejection usually arrive within three to four weeks.

5. Cancel any existing visa and receive your Golden Visa.

Successful applicants already holding UAE residence visas must cancel them before the Golden Visa can be issued. Upon approval, the new visa will be stamped in your passport and you will receive your Emirates ID.

Documents Required, Processing Time and Cost

Before beginning your Golden Visa application in Dubai, it’s essential to gather a set of important documents. At DSA, we recognise that compiling these documents can be both time consuming and complicated. That’s why we offer dedicated support to prepare the required documentation. Rely on our expertise in Dubai visa services to streamline the process and make your Golden Visa journey smooth and efficient.

To find out more about the specific documentation requirements for different categories, you can refer to the GDFRA website.

How DSA Can Help with Your Golden Visa Application

At DSA, we specialise in making the Golden Visa process seamless. 

Our consultants begin with a personalised assessment to determine eligibility and advise you on the most appropriate category and investment route. 

We help you gather and certify documents, coordinate with auditors and government agencies, and secure any equivalency or no-objection certificates required for your application. 

By handling form submissions and fee payments through official portals or service centres, we minimise delays and prevent mistakes that could lead to rejection. 

Beyond securing your visa, we support you in establishing businesses, opening bank accounts, obtaining UAE licences and relocating your family. 

Our experience in company formation, tax consultancy, VAT registration and ongoing corporate compliance means you have a single point of contact for all your business and residency needs.

Why Choose Us?

Choosing DSA means partnering with a consultancy that combines local expertise with global service standards. 

Our team has decades of experience assisting investors, entrepreneurs and professionals with UAE residency and company formation.

We offer transparent pricing with no hidden charges and provide a dedicated account manager who guides you through every step, ensuring compliance with federal and emirate-level regulations.

Our long-standing relationships with government departments and banks allow us to expedite approvals and arrange investment or property transactions quickly.

We prioritise confidentiality, offer multilingual support and stay updated with evolving regulations so that your Golden Visa remains valid and secure.

FAQs

A standard residence visa is usually tied to an employer or short-term investment and must be renewed every two or three years. The Golden Visa offers long-term residency for five or ten years, does not require a local sponsor and permits full business ownership. It also grants greater travel flexibility and allows holders to sponsor family members and domestic staff.

The Golden Visa is issued for either five or ten years, depending on the category. As long as the qualifying conditions continue to be met (e.g., property ownership or investment), the visa is renewable.

Yes. Mortgaged properties are eligible if the current value is at least AED 2 million and you provide a no-objection certificate from the bank and proof of payments. For properties purchased under instalment, a letter from the developer and the sales and purchase agreement may be required.

Family members holding dependent visas may remain in the UAE until their visas expire. They must apply for new visas before their current permits lapse if they wish to continue residency.

No. Holders can stay outside the UAE for more than six months without their residency status being revoked. This flexibility is ideal for frequent travellers and global business owners.

Yes. Golden Visa holders can sponsor spouses, children of any age and dependent parents. There is no restriction on the number of domestic helpers that can be sponsored under the visa.

 Costs include government fees (residency permit, medical test, Emirates ID) and consultancy or service fees. Depending on the category and duration, packages range from around AED 7,400 to AED 13,000, though property investors may pay about AED 12,870.

Most applications are processed in one to four weeks. Categories requiring equivalency certificates (e.g., executives or graduates) may take an additional one to two months.

Yes. All applicants must hold valid health insurance. For some categories, copies of the health policy and medical test results are mandatory documents.

The Golden Visa is a long-term residency programme and does not automatically grant Emirati citizenship. However, the government has separate pathways for awarding citizenship to exceptional investors and highly skilled professionals. Holding a Golden Visa strengthens your residency status and may improve eligibility should citizenship policies evolve.