Five or ten years, automatic renewal, no sponsor required. The category you fall into decides the term, the evidence and the desk you apply to.
Establish the category first. It sets the duration, the evidence and the authority that issues the visa. Any one test in a row is enough.
| Category | Term | Threshold or test |
|---|---|---|
| Investor in public investments | 10 years | AED 2,000,000 deposit with a UAE-licensed investment fund, company capital of AED 2,000,000, a share worth AED 2,000,000, or taxes of AED 250,000 a year |
| Real estate investor | 5 years per ICP, 10 years as issued by DLD | Property valued at AED 2,000,000 |
| Entrepreneur | 5 years | Auditor letter confirming project value of no less than AED 500,000, plus incubator or authority confirmation that it is innovative or technology-based |
| Exceptional talent and specialised expertise | 10 years | Doctors, scientists, inventors, creatives, executive directors, athletes and PhD holders. Executive directors need a salary certificate of no less than AED 50,000 |
| Humanitarian pioneer or frontline hero | 10 years | Five years in humanitarian organisations, 500 volunteer hours, or AED 2,000,000 of support for humanitarian initiatives |
| Outstanding university student | 10 years | Cumulative GPA of 3.8 or above from an accredited university, no more than two years since graduation |
| Outstanding high school student | 5 years | Ministry of Education recommendation and a score of 95 per cent or above |
| Retiree, Dubai property route | 5 years | Aged over 55 with property investment of AED 1,000,000 paid in full and unmortgaged |
The category is only as good as the paperwork behind it. These are the documents the authorities ask for.
For a property-based visa in Dubai, the Land Department publishes one all-inclusive price covering the medical, Emirates ID and residency confirmation. Compare the three before deciding.
| Golden, investor | Golden, retiree | Investor, Taskeen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | 10 years | 5 years | 2 years |
| Property value | AED 2,000,000 or more | AED 1,000,000 or more | Any value if solely owned; a co-owner's share must be at least AED 400,000 |
| Age | No requirement | 55 and over | No requirement |
| Mortgage | Permitted with a bank letter | Permitted if AED 1,000,000 is paid | Not stated |
| All-in fee | AED 9,884.75 | AED 6,984.75 | AED 10,212.50 |
| Can sponsor | Spouse, children and parents | Spouse and children | Spouse, children and parents |
| Turnaround | 7 to 10 business days | 7 to 10 business days | 7 to 10 business days |
ICP, GDRFA Dubai and the Dubai Land Department all issue golden visas, with different fees, documents and published rules.
Dependants are priced separately from the principal and are issued for the same duration. The golden visa carries no salary requirement for family sponsorship, unlike a standard residence permit, which needs AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus housing. These are the Land Department figures.
| Item | 10-year investor | 5-year retiree |
|---|---|---|
| Principal, all-inclusive | AED 9,884.75 | AED 6,984.75 |
| Family residence permit, per person | AED 5,774.50 | AED 4,968.50 |
| Parents residence permit, per person | AED 5,774.50 | AED 4,968.50 |
| Family sponsorship file opening, once | AED 318.75 | AED 318.75 |
| Added for each sponsored person | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Principal plus spouse | AED 15,978 | Not stated |
Government fees shown on this page are the published ICP and Dubai Land Department amounts. Fees and criteria are revised periodically, so we confirm the live figures before you pay anything.
Government charges are separate and are paid to the authority, not to us.
Send us your situation and we will tell you which route fits, what it proves and which desk to use.
Tell us what you own, earn or hold, and we will map it to a category and a desk.
Tell us your situation and a consultant replies with what actually applies to you, what it costs and what we need from you to start.