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UAE Golden Visa

Long-term UAE residency for property investors, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals and exceptional talent, handled from eligibility check to Emirates ID.

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Overview

The UAE Golden Visa is a 10-year renewable residence visa that does not need an employer or local sponsor. You apply under one category, such as property investment, skilled work or exceptional talent, and must prove you meet its conditions. We help you find the right category and prepare a complete file.

Categories include investors in property or public investments, entrepreneurs, scientists and specialists (including skilled professionals), people with exceptional talent, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers and frontline workers. Golden Visa holders can sponsor their family and can stay outside the UAE for more than six months without losing their residency. Final decisions are made by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or, in Dubai, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai).

Almahira checks your eligibility against current rules before you pay any government fees, gathers and reviews your evidence, prepares nomination applications where your category needs one, and manages the medical test, Emirates ID and family applications through to issue.

Key facts

Validity
10 years, renewable, under ICP's current Golden Residency guide
Property route
One or more properties worth at least AED 2 million; financed by an approved local bank or bought off-plan from an approved developer
Skilled professionals
Monthly salary of at least AED 30,000, a bachelor's degree and MOHRE occupational level 1 or 2
Family
Spouse, children regardless of age and parents can be sponsored, plus domestic workers
Time abroad and grace period
No six-month absence limit; 180-day grace period after expiry or cancellation
Decided by
ICP, or GDRFA Dubai for Dubai residency; UAE health insurance is required

Who it's for

Property investors
You own, or plan to buy, property in the UAE worth at least AED 2 million and want residency linked to it.
Skilled professionals
You earn a monthly salary of at least AED 30,000, hold a bachelor's degree and work at MOHRE occupational level 1 or 2.
Entrepreneurs and investors
You own a business or have invested in the UAE and want residency that is not tied to a single employer.
Talents, scientists and students
You have been recognised for your work in culture, sport, science or technology, or achieved outstanding academic results.

What's included

  • Eligibility checks across every Golden Visa category
  • Real estate investor visa support
  • Skilled professional applications
  • Support with entrepreneur and talent nomination applications
  • Family and dependant sponsorship
  • Medical fitness test and Emirates ID
  • Status change for applicants already in the UAE
  • Prompt submission and application tracking

Documents you'll usually need

  • Passport copy with at least six months' validity
  • Recent passport photo with a white background
  • Current UAE visa and Emirates ID, if you live in the UAE
  • Evidence for your category, such as a title deed, salary certificate or nomination letter
  • Attested degree certificate, for skilled professional and some talent categories
  • Health insurance valid in the UAE
  • Attested marriage and birth certificates, to sponsor family members
  • Bank statements or proof of funds, where your category requires it

The exact list depends on your nationality, activity and the authority involved. We confirm it with you before anything is submitted.

How it works

  1. Eligibility check

    We review your situation against each category's current conditions and tell you which route fits best, what evidence you need, and any gaps to fix first.

  2. Nomination or approval

    Depending on your category, this means a property title check, salary and degree verification, or a nomination letter from the relevant authority. We prepare the evidence and submit the application.

  3. Entry permit

    Once your application is approved in principle, you receive an entry permit to come to the UAE or, if you are already here, we apply to change your status to the Golden Visa.

  4. Medical and biometrics

    You complete a medical fitness test at an approved centre and give fingerprints and a photo for your Emirates ID. We book the appointments and tell you what to bring.

  5. Visa and Emirates ID

    Your residency is issued and your Emirates ID is delivered. We then apply for your family members' visas and note your renewal date so nothing lapses.

Typical timeline

Timing depends on your category and how quickly your evidence is ready. Property and salary-based applications with complete documents usually move faster than categories that need a nomination first, and medical and biometric appointments can add a few days.

Common questions

Who is eligible for the UAE Golden Visa?

Investors with at least AED 2 million in property or public investments, entrepreneurs, scientists and specialists, skilled professionals at MOHRE level 1 or 2 earning at least AED 30,000 a month, people with exceptional talent in fields such as culture, sport or digital technology, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers and frontline workers. Each category has its own conditions, such as an investment, salary, qualification or recommendation from an authority, so we check them against your documents first.

Can I get a Golden Visa by buying property in Dubai?

Yes. ICP accepts one or more properties worth at least AED 2 million in total, including property financed by an approved local bank or bought off-plan from an approved developer. In Dubai, the Dubai Land Department's investor service asks for a title deed, a bank no-objection letter showing the amount paid on any mortgaged property, and for you to be in the UAE when you apply. We check your documents against the current rules before you pay any fees.

Is the Golden Visa for 5 or 10 years?

Ten years, under ICP's current rules. ICP's Golden Residency guide, updated in September 2026, gives 10 years for every category, renewed as long as you still meet its conditions. Some older pages, including part of the UAE government portal, still mention 5-year visas for certain categories, so we confirm the duration for your route before you submit anything.

Can I sponsor my family on a Golden Visa?

Yes. Under ICP's rules, Golden Visa holders can sponsor their spouse, their children regardless of age and their parents, as well as domestic workers. If the main holder dies, family members can stay until their own permits expire. Each family member needs health insurance and Emirates ID biometrics, a medical test where required, and attested marriage or birth certificates. We prepare the family applications alongside yours so everyone's residency is in place together.

Do I lose my Golden Visa if I live outside the UAE?

No. Standard residence visas can lapse after more than six months abroad, but Golden Visa holders are exempt from that rule. If the visa expires or is cancelled, holders and their families also get a 180-day grace period to renew, change status or leave. You still need to renew on time, keep your Emirates ID up to date, and continue to meet your category's conditions.

How much does a Golden Visa cost?

It depends on the route and where you apply. For property investors applying through the Dubai Land Department, government fees total AED 9,884.75 for the investor's 10-year permit, including the medical test and Emirates ID, plus AED 5,774.50 for each family member and a one-off family file fee, as of October 2026. Health insurance and document attestation are extra, and other routes have their own fee schedules, so we confirm your costs before you start.

Can I apply for a Golden Visa from outside the UAE?

Yes, at least to begin. ICP grants eligible applicants who are outside the UAE a six-month multiple-entry visa, renewable for another six months, so they can come and complete the process. Some channels, including the Dubai Land Department's investor service, require you to be in the country when you apply. Either way, you need to be in the UAE for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics.

Can Almahira guarantee my Golden Visa approval?

No one can. Decisions are made by ICP or GDRFA Dubai, and they can ask for more information or refuse an application. Be wary of anyone selling a guaranteed or lifetime Golden Visa: in July 2025 ICP denied such reports and said all applications go through official government channels. What we can do is check your eligibility honestly, make sure your evidence is complete and consistent, and respond quickly to any request from the authority.

Guides on this topic

Last reviewed . Rules change often; we confirm current requirements during your consultation.

Sources

Tell us what you're planning

One short call is usually enough to recommend a jurisdiction, licence and visa route. A written quote follows.

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