Dubai: Do you call the UAE home? The Golden Visa may be the best way for you to live and work in the country. In 2026, there are several categories open to residents, along with the option for self-nomination – so it’s not as difficult to get as you may think.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Golden Visa, eligibility criteria, and how to apply.
What is the Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa is a long-term residency programme that enables eligible foreign nationals to live, work, invest and study in the UAE without a local sponsor. It targets specific categories of expatriates, such as investors, entrepreneurs, outstanding students, and others.
The visa is issued for five or 10 years, depending on the category you fall under, and is automatically renewable.
The framework for the Golden Visa is based on Cabinet Resolution No. 56 of 2018, and was expanded through Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022 and Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021 on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners. The programme is administered by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) at the federal level and by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai.
What are the key benefits of a Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa is designed to provide long-term stability in the country, while supporting confident business and investment planning. It comes with a range of benefits, according to the Emirates Government Services Hub, a centralised government services centre in Dubai:
- Long-term residency: The Golden Visa is issued for five or 10 years, and is renewable.
- Self-sponsorship: It is not tied to employer or local sponsorship, so one’s residence is not dependent on an employer or family member. This gives residents flexibility in changing jobs or business structures over time, without affecting their visa status.
- Family sponsorship: Golden Visa holders may sponsor their spouse and children, regardless of age. There is also no maximum limit for the number of domestic workers a Golden Visa holder can sponsor, as long as all labour and immigration requirements are met.
- Legal continuity for family: As per the law, if a primary Golden Visa holder dies, their sponsored family members may remain legally in the UAE, until the expiry of their own residence permits.
- Consular support: In October 2025, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) launched a suite of dedicated consular services for Golden Visa holders travelling abroad. These services include a 24/7 emergency hotline, inclusion in evacuation plans during crises, and an electronic return document that can be issued within 30 minutes if a passport is lost or damaged outside the country.
Who is eligible to apply for a Golden Visa?
According to the ICP, individuals who meet certain categories, and prove eligibility and qualifications, can apply for a Golden Visa. Since the visa’s launch, the ICP has expanded eligibility in 2025, as well as this year, to include several new categories.
Check if you are eligible through the ICP’s ‘Check Your Eligibility’ tool.
Here is the complete list of eligibility categories and core criteria, according to the ICP:
Investors in public investments
Visa duration: 10 years
Main criteria: Must have an investment of at least Dh2 million in an approved fund, or company capital of over Dh2 million, or an annual tax contribution of at least Dh250,000 to the government.
Investors in real estate
Visa duration: 10 years
Main criteria: Must own a property or portfolio of properties valued at Dh2 million or more, with mortgage-financed purchases from approved banks also accepted. For property investors who do not meet the Golden Visa threshold, the Dubai Land Department offers a separate two-year investor visa.
Entrepreneurs
Visa duration: 5 or 10 years
Main criteria: Eligible for a five-year visa if you own a project of a technical or future nature, based on risk and innovation, with a minimum value of Dh500,000. Eligible for a 10-year visa if you have an established business or successful business plans, whether inside or outside the UAE.
Exceptional talents and specialists
Visa duration: 10 years
Main criteria: This category includes the following professionals and experts in their field:
- Healthcare professionals: Doctors, scientists, researchers, and other specialists in healthcare. You must obtain an approval letter from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) or other relevant health authority to confirm you are a practicing healthcare professional. Scientists also need a recommendation from the Emirates Scientists Council.
- Specialists in engineering and science: Individuals with at least a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in priority fields, such as epidemiology and virology, artificial intelligence (AI), computer and software engineering, electrical engineering, and biotechnology. The GDRFA also specifies a minimum monthly salary of Dh30,000 for specialised professionals.
- Executive directors: Individuals must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree and have five years of experience in the same position, earn a monthly salary of Dh50,000 and hold a valid work contract.
- Inventors and innovators: Individuals must provide a recommendation from the Ministry of Economy stating that their patent provides added value to the UAE’s economy.
- Athletes: Individuals must provide an official nomination letter from the Dubai Sports Council or relevant sports body in your emirate.
- Creative professionals in culture and arts fields: Individuals require an approval letter from the relevant emirate’s department of arts and culture.
Outstanding students and graduates
Visa duration: 5 or 10 years
Main criteria: The duration of visa depends on the type of student or graduate you are:
- High-school top achievers may receive a five-year visa if they are national-level top students with a grade of at least 95% in public or private secondary schools.
- UAE university graduates may obtain a 10-year visa if their university is classified as A or B by the Ministry of Education, and they achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 (A-class) or 3.8 (B-class), and no more than two years have passed since graduation.
- Foreign university graduates may receive a 10-year visa if they graduate from a university ranked among the top 100 globally, according to Ministry of Education approved rankings. They must also have a GPA of at least 3.5, graduate within the last two years, and obtain a Ministry of Education equivalency for their degree.
Pioneers of humanitarian work
Visa duration: 10 years
Main criteria: Exceptional employees or members of international or regional organisations with over five years of service, or members and employees of public-benefit associations with over five years of outstanding contributions. They could also be recipients of awards in humanitarian fields, volunteers with over 500 hours or over five years of service, or financial donors contributing more than Dh2 million to humanitarian causes.
Frontline heroes
Visa duration: 10 years
Main criteria: Medical staff, healthcare and support professionals such as nurses, medical assistants, laboratory technicians, pharmacists and similar roles who demonstrated exceptional efforts during crises. The visa is based on nominations or recommendations from the competent authorities overseeing their work.
What are the expanded categories for Golden Visa eligibility?
Aside from the above categories, the ICP expanded eligibility in late 2025, and early 2026, to include several new categories:
Content creators and influencers
Visa duration: 10 years
Main criteria: Influencers, digital content creators, podcasters, photographers, filmmakers and visual artists who demonstrate a track record of creative work and potential contribution to the UAE’s creative sector. Applications are submitted through Dubai’s Creators HQ platform, a government-backed creative ecosystem and community hub.
Educators
Visa duration: 10 years
Main criteria: Exceptional teachers in the UAE’s private education sector qualify, based on outstanding performance and contributions to education quality in their respective emirates. Applications are assessed by the respective emirate’s education body, such as the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai, or the Department of Knowledge (RAK DOK) in Ras Al Khaimah. Learn more about the Golden Visa for educators.
Nurses
Visa duration: 10 years
Main criteria: Nurses employed with Dubai Health for more than 15 years became eligible for the Golden Visa from May 2025, under a directive issued by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
Islamic endowment (Waqf) donors
Visa duration: 10 years
Main criteria: Under an agreement between the GDRFA and the Endowments and Minors Affairs Foundation (Awqaf), in October 2025, qualifying Waqf donors – both residents and non-residents – can be nominated for a Golden Visa under the ‘financial supporters of humanitarian work’ category, if they have contributed at least Dh2 million to a certified Waqf or approved humanitarian project.
E-sports professionals
Visa duration: 10 years
Main criteria: E-sports professionals, competitive gamers, streamers and game developers can qualify for a 10-year visa if they obtain formal endorsement or accreditation from the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, or relevant local sports/cultural councils. The visa is part of the Dubai Programme for Gaming 2033, an initiative designed to transform Dubai into a top global gaming destination.
Can I nominate myself for a Golden Visa?
For most categories, a nomination or a recommendation from an associated government body, such as MOHAP for doctors, is required – in fact, it is a prerequisite for applying for a Golden Visa.
However, Awatif Al Khouri, senior Emirati advocate and founder of Dubai-based Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates and Legal Consultancy, explained that self-nomination is possible, in some cases: “Individuals can independently apply for a UAE Golden Visa without requiring an employer or entity to initiate the process. However, specific categories, such as doctors or creatives, must still obtain an approval or recommendation letter from the relevant government authority, such as the Ministry of Health and Prevention or the Ministry of Culture, to support their application.”
Categories that allow self-nomination include investors and outstanding students, who just need to prove eligibility through financial documents, in the former case, and attested certificates and academic records, in the latter case.
What is the cost of a Golden Visa?
The cost may vary depending on your visa category, where you are applying from, and whether you are requesting express services.
The cost starts from Dh3,500 for skilled professionals and entrepreneurs, according to the GDRFA, and from Dh9,800 for an investor (in real estate) visa, according to the Dubai Land Department (DLD). Musa Dayani, a Dubai-based public relations officer said: “It can go up to Dh11,000 for a 10-year visa, including the cost of medical fitness exam, Emirates ID and processing fees.”
What documents are required for the Golden Visa?
While you will need to provide category-specific documents, there are a few general documents that are required for a Golden Visa, according to the ICP:
- Passport copy.
- Passport-sized photograph.
- Emirates ID copy (based on your current visa), if applicable.
- Updated CV with achievements, exhibitions and awards, if applicable.
- Proof of eligibility, based on your category.
- Nomination or recommendation letter from the relevant authority, based on your category, if applicable.
How to apply for a Golden Visa
The application process for the Golden Visa is “completely digital”, according to Awatif. Follow these steps to apply for a Golden Visa:
Step 1: Confirm eligibility and obtain required nominations
Before starting an application for a Golden Visa, ensure you are eligible for it via the ICP’s ‘Check Your Eligibility’ tool. This will allow you to ascertain which Golden Visa category best fits your profile.
If you require an external recommendation or nomination letter, as per the criteria set out by the ICP, ensure you obtain the document before applying.
Step 2: Gather all documents
Since Golden Visas depend on specified categories, you will need to provide evidence that your qualifications, professional background, projects, investments or work meet the category’s eligibility requirements.
This can be done by compiling all the relevant documents, such as attested degrees, tax certificates, bank deposit letters, salary certificates, property ownership and valuation certificates, financial statements, and other similar documents.
Step 3: Apply online or in-person
Awatif said: “Applicants can submit their requests directly through the ICP website (for federal applications) or the GDRFA portal (for Dubai residents). Alternatively, individuals can apply through authorised immigration service centers, such as Amer centers, which assist with document verification and submission.”
Follow the steps below to apply through each of these avenues.
Apply via the ICP website:
Once your nomination application has been approved, follow these steps to apply for a Golden Visa:
- Visit the ICP’s Golden Visa services dashboard, at smartservices.icp.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/goldenServicesDashboard. Log in with your UAE PASS.
- Navigate to ‘Golden Services’, then select ‘Visa Services’.
- Here, you will find a number of options, based on the categories available for application (such as ‘investor in public investments’, or ‘entrepreneur’). Select the one that best suits your profile. Click ‘Start Service’.
- Fill out the application form and provide your personal and professional information.
- Upload category-specific proof, such as title deeds for real estate investors, attested bachelor’s degree, and so on, as well as the other required identification documents.
- Pay the fees and submit the application.
The processing time for the visa is two working days, according to the ICP.
Apply via the GDRFA portal (for Dubai residents):
Once your nomination application has been approved, follow these steps:
- Visit the GDRFA website at gdrfad.gov.ae, and log in using your UAE PASS.
- Navigate to ‘Services’ and select ‘Residency Services’. Then click on ‘Golden Residency’.
- Here, you can choose your category and ‘Start Service’.
- Fill in the application form and specify your personal and professional information.
- Upload your documents, including any certificates, bank statements, or attested documents.
- Pay the service fees. Submit the application.
The processing time is two working days, according to the GDRFA.
Apply via an Amer service centre (for Dubai residents):
You can apply for a Golden Visa in person at an authorised Amer service centre. Discover Amer centre locations here: amercenter.ae/en/contact-us. Follow these steps to apply for a Golden Visa:
- Visit the nearest Amer service centre.
- Get an automated ticket and wait your turn.
- Upon meeting a customer service representative, provide your application details and all requisite documents, based on your specific category.
- Pay the fees.
- Submit the application.
The processing time is between five to seven working days.
Step 4: Continue with medical fitness test and Emirates ID application
Once the Golden Visa application has been approved, and you are physically in the UAE, you can complete the medical fitness test and Emirates ID application procedures, as per the usual visa processing schedule.
Learn how to undergo a medical fitness examination here, and how to complete Emirates ID application here.
After successful medical results and completion of Emirates ID procedures, the Golden Visa permit is issued by the relevant authority and your Emirates ID is printed. Final approval and renewal decisions remain at the sole discretion of the ICP or the GDRFA.