What is a golden visa for Dubai?
With a golden visa for the UAE, you have a residence permit for five to ten years. This residence permit is not tied to a specific employer and does not have to be renewed every two to three years. Result.
UAE Golden Visas allow expats to live, work and study in the UAE without the need for a national sponsor and to own 100% of their business in the UAE mainland.
Who can apply for the golden visa? Requirements
Following recent changes to the UAE’s residency and entry regulations, more people can apply for a golden residency visa.
Individuals who fall into the following categories are eligible to apply: Investors, Entrepreneurs, Exceptional Talents, Scientists and Professionals, Outstanding Students and Graduates, Humanitarian Pioneers and Heroes on the Frontline.
Below you will find further information on the individual categories:
1. investors (real estate)
Are you a homeowner in the UAE? Real estate investors can obtain the golden visa for the UAE if they purchase a property or off-plan land worth at least AED 2 million.
For help with the Golden Visa via real estate investment (e.g buying an apartment in Dubai) please feel free to contact us.
2. entrepreneurs
Real estate entrepreneurs can apply for and obtain a golden visa for the UAE if one or more of the following three conditions are met:
The applicant must be a partner or owner of a start-up company that is registered in the UAE as a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME). The company must have an annual turnover of at least AED 1 million.
The entrepreneur must have founded an entrepreneurial project that was sold for more than AED 7 million.
The applicant has a business start-up permit from an official business incubator.
3. exceptional talents
Individuals with exceptional talents, such as inventors, innovators and talents in important fields such as culture, arts, sports and digital technology, can apply for and receive a golden visa to the UAE, regardless of their educational qualification, employment status, monthly salary or professional level.
A recommendation or approval from a federal or local government agency is required for the visa.
4. scientists
Scientists and researchers who are highly successful and influential in their field can apply for a golden visa if they receive a recommendation from the Emirates Scientists Council.
In this category, potential candidates for a golden visa should have a PhD or Master’s degree in engineering, technology, life sciences and natural sciences from the best universities in the world, as well as significant research achievements.
5. skilled workers
Specialists or highly qualified workers with high educational qualifications and professional experience can also apply for the golden visa. This category applies to many fields such as medicine, science and technology, information technology, business and administration, education, law, culture and social sciences.
The prerequisite for the application is an employment contract in the UAE and a classification in the first or second professional level according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization. The applicant must also have at least a Bachelor’s degree and his salary must be at least Dhs 30,000 (per month).
6. outstanding students and graduates
Outstanding and high-achieving students from the UAE secondary school system and outstanding graduates from UAE universities are eligible to apply. This also applies to outstanding graduates of the top 100 universities worldwide.
There are several conditions, including academic performance/cumulative grade point average, year of graduation, and university classification.
Students from top universities worldwide with a grade point average of 3.8 and above are eligible to apply for the golden visa. High school students who have achieved a grade point average of at least 95 percent on their high school transcript from public or private schools are also eligible to apply. The families of these students are also included in the visa.
7. humanitarian pioneers
Humanitarian pioneers can apply for the golden visa for the UAE. Humanitarian pioneers include respected members of international or regional charitable organizations or members of non-profit associations.
Recipients of humanitarian and charitable awards are eligible, as are recognized volunteers who assist with humanitarian, crisis-related and charitable efforts.
8. heroes on the front line
Healthcare workers and other frontline workers assisting in exceptional circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic can also apply for the golden visa to the UAE.
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More InformationAdvantages
With a golden visa, you not only benefit from a long-term residence permit.
There are a number of advantages and benefits that are currently not available to holders of a normal UAE residence visa.
Extended residence rights
Anyone who has a golden residence permit for themselves and their dependents has a UAE residence visa for up to ten years, whereas a standard residence visa must be renewed every two to three years.
Self-financed work or residence
Holders of a golden visa to the UAE can live, work and study in the country for the entire duration of their visa, with or without taking up local or other employment. The holder can work for themselves or for another company (local or otherwise) without the need for individual sponsorship. Unlike the standard residence visa, the UAE Golden Visa allows holders to stay in the country for a long period of time without employment.
Possibility to sponsor family members and unlimited domestic helpers
The UAE golden visa allows the holder to sponsor family members, including spouse and children (regardless of the age of the dependents).
If the principal holder of the golden visa for the UAE should pass away during the term of the ten-year visa, his/her family members may remain in the UAE until the natural expiry of the visa.
Holders of this visa category may also employ and support an unlimited number of domestic helpers. The golden visa for the UAE does not limit the number of persons employed and supported.
Summary
The golden visa in Dubai or the UAE is a great opportunity to obtain a residence permit for up to 10 years. Mostly through investment in real estate, but also through other outstanding activities. The golden visa also has other advantages, such as the independent establishment of a mainland company or the sponsorship of family members.
