Everything About The UAE Golden Visa: A Guide
The UAE is one of the top destinations of the world. For this reason, many foreign investors, professionals, and entrepreneurs look for ways to establish themselves in the UAE. Therefore, the UAE Government has launched several initiatives with the aim to attract top talent to boost the economy. One of these initiatives is the UAE Golden Visa that was implemented in 2019, and its purpose is to offer long-term residence visas for individuals and retain talented people in the country. By eliminating the restriction of needing a sponsor, individuals who meet the eligibility criteria can now apply easily.
What is the UAE Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa is a legal document that grants long-term residency to foreigners. The UAE has several visa schemes, so individuals can apply for the most convenient for them.
However, the most interesting aspect about the UAE golden visa is the fact that it offers residency for 5 to 10 years. This is highly appealing for foreigners that want to live in the UAE and don’t want to worry about renewals so often.
Who can apply for the UAE Golden Visa?
The government outlined a number of conditions which have to be met to qualify for a golden visa. In order to apply for this visa, you need to be from one of the following categories of residents:
- Scientists, PhD holders and data experts
- Chief executives
- Medical doctors
- Outstanding students (their family can apply to)
- University graduates with a 3.8 GPA score or more
- Investors
- Real estate investors
- Entrepreneurs
What are the new changes made to the UAE Golden Visa?
Recently, the UAE Authorities added some categories to the Golden Visa to expand the eligibility:
- UAE-based physicians
- Engineers: computer science, electricity, electronics, programming and biotechnology
What are the benefits of the Golden Visa?
With the UAE Golden Visa, the individual can receive the following benefits:
- Long-term residency in the UAE ( 5 or 10 years).
- Security about their future in the country.
- Live, work and study in the UAE.
- 100% ownership of businesses in the UAE’s mainland.
- No need to look for a national sponsor.
In addition to all the standard benefits mentioned above and according to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in the UAE, Golden Visa holders can get now a driving license in Dubai without the need for training if they already have a license issued by their home country.
The authority said Golden Visa Holders can skip training but they will have to complete the knowledge and road tests.
Service fees
- Dh100 for issuing a driving learning permit for the following categories: motorcycle - light vehicle - light automatic vehicle.
- Dh200 for opening a traffic file.
- Dh50 for the handbook manual.
- The electronic eye test at eye test centers: Dh140 minimum and Dh180 maximum.
Driving license fees
- Dh100 for issuing a new driving license if the customer is younger than 21 years old.
- Dh300 for issuing a new driving license if the customer is 21 years old and above.
- Dh20 Knowledge and Innovation fees.
Getting a driving license in UAE
To get a new driving license, a citizen or a resident needs to apply to a registered driving institute in the related emirate to attend driving training classes and pass all tests (if required). After finishing all classes and passing all tests, the applicant can get a new driving license valid for 2 years for citizens, GCC nationals, and other nationalities. Applicants can start the whole process from the authorized driving institutes, which are available in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
Individual customers, citizens, and residents, who are above the legal age and medically fit, are eligible to get a driving learning permit and apply for a new driving license. The minimum age requirement to obtain a driving license depends on the vehicle, for which you are obtaining the license. The minimum age requirement is as follows:
- 17 years for motorcycles and for vehicles for people with special needs.
- 18 years for cars and light vehicles.
- 20 years for heavy vehicles and tractors.
- 21 years for buses.
Documents required to open a traffic file include:
- Copy of passport and residence visa page.
- Copy and original emirates ID card.
- 2 photographs.
- Eye test report.
- No objection letter from the sponsor (if required by the related traffic department).
Procedures followed to learn car driving includes:
- Opening a traffic file in one of the registered driving centers in the related emirate.
- Conducting an eye test at any center approved by the traffic department.
- Completing all required driving classes.
- Passing all tests set by the related traffic department.
- Obtaining a driving license from the traffic authority.
Renewal of driving license
Driving licenses are renewable for 10 years for UAE and GCCC citizens and 5 years for residents. Renewal of driving licenses is available online in most of the emirates. To renew your driving license, you must settle all your traffic fines. A fine of 10 AED per month will be levied on customers who delay the renewal of their driving license for more than one month.
How much does the Golden Visa cost?
All golden visas apart from the ones for Investors into property or public sector have the same cost. It is 2,800 AED. This is a government processing fee.
When you apply for a golden visa UAE, the immigration authority checks your application in a few departments. It takes from 72 hours to 30 days.
In case the immigration authority rejects your application, 60% (1,680 AED) will be refunded back to you.
On top of that any applicant has to pay for a Medical check and Emirates ID. They will cost about 1,000 AED.
Don’t forget UAE health insurance too. The price can be different depending on your health conditions and requirements. The minimum basic insurance can be done for about 800 AED.
What are the requirements to obtain the Golden Visa?
The documents you need to submit vary depending on the category of applicant you belong to. Check the requirements for the most popular types of golden visa below.
Which requirements do real estate investors need?
There are 2 major ways to get a golden visa for investors, which depend on the areas of your investments.
1. Investment into real estate:
- The gross value of the property should be not less than 5m AED.
- The invested funds cannot be loaned. You should also maintain your property for a period not less than 3 years.
- Meeting those conditions will enable you to apply for a 5-year golden visa.
2. Investment into the public sector of the UAE:
- The amount of investments should be not less than 10m AED.
- It can be invested into a UAE investment fund or real estate. However, your real estate investments cannot exceed 40% of the total.
- You can also establish a company with the capital of not less than 10m AED or become a partner in a new or existing company. Your share value should also be not less than 10m AED.
- Meeting any of those conditions will entitle you for a 10-year UAE golden visa.
What are the requirements of the Golden Visa for Individuals with specialized talent?
Among the individuals listed with specialized talent are doctors, investors, artists, scientists and researchers.
They may receive a 10-year golden visa once they get the accreditations from their respective fields. In addition, they may sponsor their spouses and children.
- Doctors: doctors can obtain the golden visa by applying online between the months of July 2021 and September 2022. If you’re a Dubai licensed professional, you can also apply.
- Coders: if you’re looking for knowing how to apply for golden visa UAE for engineers, coders from all ages and nationalities can apply for the golden visa. They can do it through the Office of Artificial Intelligence in the UAE Government.
Regarding coders, those who can apply are distinguished experts and talents in the area of coding, individuals who have worked for pioneering technological firms and graduates of computer sciences, hardware engineering, artificial intelligence, software engineering, data science, electrical engineering and big data.
What is the procedure to obtain the UAE Golden Visa?
To obtain the UAE Golden Visa you must follow a straightforward process. It’s very easy, but you have to make sure to have your documents ready since you have to submit them too. In addition, even if you meet the eligibility criteria, you must comply with the requirements.
Here’s the steps you must follow to apply:
- Visit the website: https://business.goldenvisa.ae
- Apply for a nomination
- The UAE Authorities have 30 days to review your application
- You’ll receive an email with the outcome of your application
- If your nomination gets approved, you’ll receive a link by email where you have to upload the documents
- The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship will verify the application
- The Authorities will issue the Golden Visa
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FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About the UAE Golden Visa
Q: What is the benefit of Golden Visa in UAE?
The new framework of golden visa in UAE empowers the foreigners to live, study, and work in Dubai without any need of national sponsors and with 100% accountability for business on the land of Dubai. These visas are issued for either 5 or 10 years and will be renewed automatically. Golden visa holders will be entitled to discounts and offers on cars, property, health care, hospitality, health insurance and banking services.
Q: How much is Golden Visa in UAE?
All golden visas apart from the ones for Investors into property or public sector have the same cost. It is 2,800 AED. This is a government processing fee.
Q: Can you work on a Golden Visa in the UAE?
The golden visa grants qualifying residents and their family members the right to live, work and study in the UAE.
Q: Can Golden Visa holders sponsor parents?
The Golden Visa can be extended to include the sponsorship of spouses, children, parents and dependent siblings, depending on the visa category.
Q: Who qualifies for Golden Visa?
- Business owner
- CEO or Managing director of a business
- Highly educated individual (PhD holder)
- Representative of certain professions: Doctor, Engineer, Athlete
- Student
- Investor
Q: How can I get UAE citizenship?
You can acquire the UAE's citizenship only through the Rulers' and Crown Princes' Courts, Offices of the Executive Councils and the Cabinet based on the nominations of federal entities. Contact Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship for more information.
Q: What is the Golden Visa program?
In 2019, the UAE implemented a new system for long-term residence visas. The new system enables foreigners to live, work and study in the UAE without the need of a national sponsor and with 100% ownership of their business on the UAE's mainland.
Q: Can I live in Dubai permanently?
You may obtain a standard resident visa in the UAE If you buy a residential property in Dubai or any other Emirate worth at least one million Dirhams, you can obtain a UAE residence visa valid for two years.
