UAE Golden Visa offers 5 and 10-year residency to foreigners, with or without investment

UAE golden visa is available to foreign nationals, with or without making an investment. This will depend on the category under which one is applying as an individual.

According to the UAE government’s official website, currently, there are four categories under which foreigners can apply for the UAE Golden visa – Business investors, Real estate investors, Entrepreneurs, Outstanding Specialised Talents, including doctors, scientists, outstanding students, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes.

The other important thing to know about the UAE golden visa is that it is available for either 5 or 10 years, depending on the category under which it is applied.

UAE’s Golden Visa offers some exclusive benefits, which include an entry visa for six months with multiple entries and a long-term, renewable residence visa valid for 5 or 10 years.

The UAE allows Golden Visa holders an unlimited stay outside the country. This feature removes the requirement for visa holders to return to the UAE every six months.

The UAE Golden visa is a long-term residence visa that enables foreign nationals to live, work or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits such as no income tax, capital gains or inheritance tax.

UAE Golden Visa – Investments

If you invest in an investment fund an amount of AED two million, you may be granted a Golden Visa for a period of 10 years without a sponsor.

Alternatively, you may submit a letter from an investment fund accredited in the UAE stating that the investor has a deposit of AED two million, or by submitting a valid commercial license or industrial license and a memorandum of association stating that the investor’s capital is not less than AED two million. One may also submit a letter from the federal tax authority stating that the investor pays the government no less than AED 250,000 annually.

UAE Golden Visa – Real Estate Investments

If you own a property or a group of properties, whose value is not less than 2 million dirhams, you may be granted a Golden visa for a period of 5 years on a renewable basis.

UAE Golden Visa – Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs can obtain a Golden visa for 5 years for technical or future economic projects with risk and innovation, and must have an UAE auditor’s approval letter stating that the project value is not less than 500,000 dirhams.

UAE Golden Visa – Outstanding specialised talents

UAE Golden Visa is also available to professionals, including doctors, scientists, creative people of culture and art, inventors, executives, specialists in scientific fields, athletes, doctoral degree holders, amongst others.

Specialists in the fields of engineering and science with majors in epidemiology and viruses, artificial intelligence, big data, Computer engineering, electronics, software, electrical, genetics and biotechnology are also recognised under the Outstanding specialised talents category.

For those applying for the UAE golden visa as students, there are two categories – Outstanding Students (High School Student) and Outstanding Students (University Student).

For High School Students, the duration of the Golden Visa is 5 years without the need for a Sponsor, while for University Student, the duration of the Golden Visa is 10 years.

UAE Government

The UAE Government has made it clear that all UAE Golden Visa applications are managed exclusively through official government channels within the country, and no internal or external advisory body is considered an approved party in the application process. The UAE government also made it clear that there is no golden visa for lifetime for certain nationalities, and the UAE golden visa is either for 5 years or 10 years only.